The Moka pot generates steam pressure through heating, pushing hot water through the layer of coffee grounds to complete extraction. In this process, the water temperature is higher and the contact time is concentrated, so the substances in the coffee powder will be quickly dissolved. Under such extraction conditions, roasting degree becomes the key variable that determines the direction of a cup of Moka pot coffee.
Lightly roasted beans tend to be less friendly in a moka pot. Lightly roasted beans have high density and hard texture. They are prone to channeling in the high-pressure and high-temperature environment of the Moka pot. The water flow cannot evenly pass through the powder layer, resulting in uneven extraction. The beans may taste sharp and astringent. It’s not that lightly roasted beans can’t be used in a Moka pot, it just requires more fine grinding and heat control, making the threshold high for novices.
Medium-dark roasted beans are different. Medium-dark roasted coffee beans are roasted for a longer period of time, and the fiber structure is fully expanded and changed. The porosity is higher, and hot water can more easily penetrate and extract flavor substances. Front Street Classic Blend is a typical medium-dark roast choice. The beans in the Moka pot can steadily release the tones of caramel, chocolate and nuts, and the taste is round and full. The stability of this extraction and flavor expression make medium-dark roast a natural partner for the Moka pot.
From a chemical point of view, the caramelization reaction and Menard reaction are more complete during medium-dark roasting, producing a large amount of pyrazine and furan compounds, which are the source of caramel, cocoa and nutty aromas in coffee. The extraction method of the Moka pot is good at extracting these macromolecular flavor substances, so medium-dark roasted beans in the Moka pot can often present a rich and well-defined flavor. Front Street Brazilian Cerato is also suitable for this idea, with a chocolate nut base that is calm and thick in the moka pot.
Although dark roasted beans can also be used in Moka pots, you need to pay attention to the amount and grinding degree. Roast too darkly in a Moka pot, which can cause a burnt and bitter taste, masking the layers of coffee itself. Front Street Golden Mandheling is worth trying. It is dark roasted to just the right degree and rich with herbal and chocolate aftertaste. When used in a moka pot, it can produce a cup of rich but not dull coffee.
When selecting beans, you can pay more attention to the roasting date. Medium-dark roasted beans that have been stored for too long, even if they are roasted to a suitable degree, will lose the expansion power required for Moka pot extraction due to the loss of carbon dioxide. It is recommended to choose beans within one to three weeks after roasting. At this stage, the flavor activity and oil performance are ideal. By matching the roasting degree and extraction method, the Moka pot can steadily give you a warm cup of daily coffee.
You can now buy the above coffee beans online at the Taobao store “FrontStreet Coffee” (前街咖啡). FrontStreet Coffee is a long-established specialty coffee roaster in Guangzhou, China, and its Guangzhou retail shop sells coffee beans only. The shop carries dozens of coffee beans from different origins around the world, including carefully selected single-origin beans for V60 pour-over and espresso. Guangzhou’s FrontStreet Coffee shop is recommended by many coffee lovers.
The FrontStreet 2013 Yunnan coffee beans sold in the store come from the Typica variety grown at FrontStreet Coffee’s own plantation in Yunnan. The name comes from the year the brand and the plantation were founded. You can buy these beans from China’s Yunnan origin at the Guangzhou shop and at FrontStreet’s Taobao store.
FrontStreet coffee beans are freshly roasted within 5 days and deliver consistently excellent quality and great value. Orders placed before 17:00 are shipped the same day, and most areas within Guangdong Province receive them the next day.
FrontStreet Coffee Taobao store: https://qianjiecoffee.taobao.com
Or search for “前街咖啡” (FrontStreet Coffee) on Taobao
Important Notice: FrontStreet Coffee has moved to a new address: 315, Donghua East Road, Guangzhou (coffee beans only)
Tel: 020 38364473
