What Is A Moka Coffee Pot?

A Moka coffee pot is a small coffee pot used on top of the stove to make coffee. You may never have used one but I am sure it looks familiar to you. It works by passing hot water that has been pressurized by steam through ground coffee beans and produces a hot beverage similar to espresso.

The New York Times says, "The Moka Express is a beautifully designed example of the ingenuity that can arise from adversity." It was invented by Luigi De Ponti in 1933 for use at home. In the 1930s, Italy was in an economically difficult time, which made making coffee at home appealing. This simple little device crafted from aluminum was extremely popular and is still crafted by Bialetti, the same firm that produced it in the 1930s. The original model is called the Moka Express.

The Moka is more popular in Europe and Latin America than it is in North America and, according to the New York Times, 9 out of 10 Italian households own a Moka pot.

On this page, learn a bit more about the Moka coffee pot, watch a video that explains the simple method used to make Moka coffee and let us know what you think of Moka coffee. In the interest of full disclosure, please note that I am not a coffee drinker. I put tea in my coffee mug but I have a coffee-loving family!

The picture of a Moka pot in action shown here was shared kindly by Beat Rice on Flickr who says that the only thing missing from this page is, "a mention of the coffee smell spreading throughout the house in the morning, which is the only thing that can cheer up an Italian who gets up too early to face a working day..." I expect that the aroma of freshly brewed Moka coffee would work for you, too, even if you are not an Italian.

Why Is Moka Coffee Stronger Than Drip Coffee?

Moka coffee is stronger than drip coffee because the temperature of the water and steam is higher, which causes a better removal of caffeine and flavours from the coffee grounds. Not only is it stronger but it also has a different flavour.

How Do You Brew Moka Coffee?

I am not going to try to answer that question myself. However, I am happy to recommend Brewing Italian Coffee With A Moka Pot, which does a fine job of summarizing what is involved in making moka coffee. 

How Does Moka Compare to Espresso Coffee?

The coffee produced from a Moka pot is considered similar to the coffee from an espresso machine. A Moka pot can produce foam emulsion (crema) that is similar to but not exactly like espresso's. (And yes, espresso is spelled with an 's' and not an 'x' as in expresso, a common spelling error.)

You can learn more about the variety of sizes and colors of Moka pots available on Amazon by clicking right here.

Would you recommend Moka coffee? Would you like to try it?

See you
in the kitchen!
Brenda

More Moka Resources

Who Made That Moka Express? - NYTimes.com
"In 1933, when Alfonso Bialetti introduced the Moka Express, Italy's economy wasn't doing much better than it is today. The Great Depression was in full swing, major banks were failing, unemployment was rampant and Italians were forced to curtail the

More Coffee Reading

31 Days of Coffee Mugs
Love mugs? Check out 31 days worth of fabulous, fun coffee cups.



© 2011 Treasures By Brenda (Previously published elsewhere.)

What Is Kopi Luwak Coffee?

Kopi Luwak Is The Most Expensive Coffee Available

In Vietnam, ca phe Chon as Kopi Luwak is called, translates, appropriately, as weasel coffee.

If you don't know what Kopi Luwak is, you are not alone. I stumbled across it recently in reference to Jack Nicholson and the movie The Bucket List in which Jack says, "Kopi Luwak is the world's most expensive coffee though for some it falls under the category of too good to be true."

The coffee Kopi Luwak really does not have much to do with Nicholson, of course, although I certainly believe that the references to these coffee beans in the movie heightened awareness in North America of one of the most expensive types of coffee in the world.

Click here to see Amazon's complete collection of Kopi Luwak coffee beans.

Kopi Luwak Coffee Explained on Video

How Is Kopi Luwak Made?

Simply put, Kopi Luwak is made from coffee berries eaten by a creature called the Asian Palm Civet and processed through its digestive system. The enzymes in the stomach enter the beans altering them in a process, which makes them the most desired coffee bean in the world. The beans are then defecated and, apparently, retain their shape. The people of Indonesia and the Philippines gather them and they are washed, dried in the sun, roasted and brewed resulting in a coffee bean that is aromatic and smooth.

What Does Kopi Luwak Coffee Taste Like?

I am not a coffee drinker so I will never be able to answer that question from personal experience. However, all of my reading indicates that people find this coffee to be nutty, smooth and not bitter, and as the video says, a bit earthy...that part is not hard to understand once you realize where these coffee beans come from. Kopi Luwak is, of course, not to everyone's taste.

Is It Safe To Drink?

WHAT ABOUT BACTERIA?

So it tastes good but....what about bacteria? Is Kopi Luwak SAFE to drink? Researchers at the University of Guelph report that these beans are more contaminated than ordinary coffee beans but that the beans you buy are quite clean. They are very well washed and a lot of bacteria is dislodged in that process. What remains, they say, is insignificant.

In addition, Real Kopi Luwak says that IF the washing process misses any bacteria, the roasting and brewing will catch the rest.

Click here to buy Exotica Kopi Luwak coffee on Amazon.

Share A Cup of Kopi Luwak With Jack Nicholson

The most expensive coffee is, of course, served in tiny servings and you won't want to waste a drop...

"Kopi Luwak is the world's most expensive coffee though for some it falls under the category of too good to be true." - Jack Nicholson in The Bucket List

Whether or not Kopi Luwak coffee beans are on your bucket list, you might like to give them a try. They would also make a truly unique although not inexpensive gift for a coffee lover you know. Because these are amongst the most expensive coffee bean in the world, they are an expensive, luxury gift choice.

Were You Familiar With Kopi Luwak Coffee BEFORE You Visited This Page? Have You Ever Heard Of Kopi Luwak Coffee? Have you had a cup? What did you think?

See you
in the kitchen!
Brenda

More Coffee Reading

31 Days of Coffee Mugs
A series devoted to the humble but mightily important coffee mug.


Please Note: This page was originally written in 2011 on another website.

Five Fun Inexpensive Kitchen Gifts For Men

If you are looking for a fun, practical and inexpensive kitchen gift for a man in your life and are looking to spend $20 or less, you will appreciate the five items that I found on my search for the same. Whether it is for a Secret Santa, Christmas, stocking stuffer, birthday, workplace, thank you or other gift exchange, you will find some fun and interesting options, all guaranteed to make you smile, right here on this page. Best of all, they are all suitable for men both young and old and they are all easily purchased from Amazon so that you can find your gift item without leaving the comfort of home!

First up is a very interesting cookbook called Eat Like a Man: The Only Cookbook a Man Will Ever Need. Written by Ryan D'Agostino, it offers up an interesting collection of recipes and has real food that men love to eat and wish that they knew how to cook. It includes recipes for soups, chicken and beef dishes, pizza, eleven types of hamburgers and more. Amazon calls this cookbook satisfying, sexy, definitive and doable and the customer reviews are solid. What more could a man want in a cookbook? Learn more or order your copy of Eat Like a Man: The Only Cookbook a Man Will Ever Need from Amazon by clicking right here.

Next is a simple bottle opener, which is definitely a practical gift but also a fun one. It is a stainless steel card themed, credit-card sized opener. Perfect for the card shark in your life! Not only is it suitable for a man's kitchen but it is equally at home wherever he hangs out be it in the man cave, bar, game room, cabin or cottage. It's slim and easily slips into your pocket if you are on the move. The best part? It's attractive and retails for considerably less than $10, which makes it a good gift idea and a great stocking stuffer, too.   You can find this clever bottle opener on Amazon here.

How about an apron? If the man on your list loves his BBQ, then this apron is a great choice.  I'm pretty sure my own personal grill master would love to own it.  You can find the Grill Master: The Man The Myth The Legend Apron on Amazon by clicking here. Yes, it is under our $20 goal and yes, it has top notch Amazon customer reviews with customers saying things like "he won't barbecue without it" and "cute apron or, rather, masculine and sexy apron."

Since bacon is hugely trendy right now you might consider the unusual  and definitely unique gift idea of bacon-covered chocolate. Marini's bacon-covered chocolate, which is shown here, is dipped in yummy Ghiredelli Chocolate. Noteworthy is the fact that it is Amazon's top-rated chocolate covered bacon. It is a novelty gift item that will surely generate conversation. Find Marini's bacon-covered chocolate on Amazon here.

Many men, I am sure not just the men in my family, love duct tape. It's an important part of their lives. It can be used to hold things together short or long term. My father-in-law actually had duct tape on his car bumper when I met him and my oldest son for years carried a wallet hand crafted by himself from his favourite colour of duct tape. Therefore, it only makes sense that a man would love a duct tape-themed coffee mug like this one.  If you know the king of duct tape or at least someone who uses it and laughs about it or thinks he is the king of duct tape, then this would be a great gift item. Heck you could even add a couple of rolls of duct tape to this gift idea and still be under our $20 budget! And yes, in our family it is more than OKAY to give the gift of duct tape at Christmastime, LOL.  You can find this duct tape mug on Amazon by clicking here.

I am wife to a man who prefers not to spend much time in the kitchen cooking though he does not mind cleaning up after someone else cooks his meals and I am mom to two twenty-something year old men who have flown the coop.  My sons were quite well trained in regard to the kitchen even if I do say so myself and they have a fair amount of cooking ability. More importantly, they do not mind being in the kitchen. I know that all three of the men in my life would enjoy receiving any of the fun kitchen-themed gifts on this page although the cookbook would not be a very practical gift choice for my husband.


See you
in the kitchen!
Brenda

A Film About Coffee

Friends and family know that I do not drink coffee but that I have a keen interest in coffee mugs and the coffee world.  (I just happen to prefer tea in my coffee mug, LOL.)

Despite the fact that I do not drink coffee, a documentary film that I just read about is intriguing.

A Film About Coffee looks like an interesting film that touches on many aspects of the world of coffee -- from the beans to the cup before you.  It premièred on April 26, 2014, in Seattle.  

Check it out here in the official trailer: 

You can watch A Film About Coffee here, on Vimeo.

See you
in the kitchen.
Brenda

Starbucks Never Empty Coffee Mug

  

What fun! These new Starbucks mugs never need to be refilled. The mug is a simple white mug with an unusual graphic detail on the bottom.   That is, the bottom is illustrated with your choice of a full Americano, a latte or a caramel macchiato. When you turn them upside down, they appear full...Never Empty. They were created for Starbucks in Japan by a company called Nendo.  

If you cannot make it to Japan, you might be lucky and find one on eBay. A look right now reveals a one of these mugs is available.  You can check for Starbucks' Never Empty mug by Nendo on eBay by clicking here.

See you 

in the kitchen! 

Brenda 

Beauty and the Beast Fairytale Designer Collection Coffee Mug

Every now and then I stumble across a simply handsome mug and have to share it here with you.

This time, I have found a Disney Store mug from the Fairytale Designer Collection that features Beauty and the Beast.

It holds 12 ounces of your favorite hot and steamy beverage and is both microwavable and dishwasher safe.

It is a handsome piece, in keeping with the collection and perfect for any fan of Disney's Beauty and the Beast movies.

I love coffee mugs because they are usually practical and affordable gifts that can be customized to the recipient's interests. Of course, when an item is rare, which is the case with this mug the price often goes up.

If you are interested in buying this mug, you can check to see if it is available on eBay by clicking right here. Good luck with your search!

Be our guest!
Brenda

Quick Links:

Buy this Beauty and the Beast coffee mug from eBay.

Peanuts Christmas Coffee Mug

Charlie Brown and Snoopy enjoy continued popularity and actually rank fourth on T.V. Guide's list of the 60 greatest cartoons of all time.  This popularity ensures them a placement on many popular household items as well as collectibles like these handsome Christmas coffee mugs.

I love the image of Snoopy and his Christmas tree both before and after the winter snow has arrived.

The first mug reads, "There's no sense in barking if you don't really have anything to say."

The second mug reads, "It's nice to wake up in the morning with a feeling of well being."

This mug would be especially fun to use in December but of course true Peanuts would use it all year long. 

It is a great gift idea for a Snoopy fan, even if that fan is you! We love giving and receiving coffee mugs because they are not only affordable but practical, too. 

To order your Snoopy coffee mug, visit Amazon by clicking right here.   Unfortunately, this mug is out of production but you can try looking for it on eBay by clicking right here. 

Merry Christmas!

Brenda

10 Habits of Starbucks Coffee Drinkers

A friend discovered this fun Youtube video called 10 Habits of Starbucks Drinkers, which showcases some things you may or may not recognize from amongst your coffee drinking friends or, quite possibly, yourself.  Someone obviously had a lot of fun putting it together! Personally, I am not a coffee drinker but my family and friends would tell you that I am rather particular about my tea!

Enjoy!

See you
in the kitchen
(or at the coffee shop!)
Brenda

Mr. Coffee Cafe Latte Machine

The Mr. Coffee BVMC-EL1 Cafe Latte machine is an interesting little machine. One that boasts, "Delicious lattes in one simple touch." It's a small appliance for the home that makes lattes. Who knew? Not me! I discovered it by accident recently when it was on sale on Amazon.  It is still on sale though not at quite the discount it was at on October 23, 2013.

I cannot personally vouch for this machine but the Amazon customer reviews can and do.  Amazon customers like that it makes it easy to make a latte at home, that they can save money and that they can also make hot chocolate and tea lattes.  The biggest complaint is that it does not make a 'true' cup of latte. 

If you'd like to check Mr. Coffee's latte machine out on Amazon for yourself, just click here. It would make a great gift idea for someone who loves a latte.

Updated to add that this item appears to be discontinued. You can find it on Amazon by using the "See all buying options" tab on the right where it is available from private sellers. Or you can look for Mr. Coffee Cafe here on eBay.   


See you
in the kitchen!
Brenda

Giles' Coffee Mug From Buffy and the Vampire Slayer

Do you sit up and take notice when a coffee mug or a coffee shop shows up in the movies or on your favorite television program? Many people do and sometimes those movie props go on to become quite well known and even sought after.

Recently an online friend told me that she gained a new appreciation for coffee mugs after she saw Giles of the television program Buffy and the Vampire Slayer drinking from a green Jadite mug like the one shown here.

As it turns out, the mug Giles used is a heavy vintage Fire-King Jadeite / Jadite cup that is sometimes known as restaurant ware.

As a mug fan who tries hard not to increase her collection regularly and as a seller of mugs on eBay, I thought it was pretty cool to see the Fire-King mug shown here that was listed on eBay by eBay seller deztiques who does not appear to be selling on eBay anymore.  Not only is it the mug Giles used but it is a vintage piece that has NEVER been used and that actually still wears the original Fire-King sticker. That is pretty unusual and makes this particular mug particularly valuable. However, if you want to own the mug that Giles used, there are plenty of used mugs available here on eBay that are quite a bit more affordable.

Have you spotted any mugs in your favorite movies and television programs?  Do tell!

See you
in the kitchen!
Brenda

Quick Links:

More coffee mug reading.

New, used and vintage coffee mugs in my eBay store.

A Charlie Brown Christmas Happy Holidays Coffee Mug

A Charlie Brown Christmas was the first animated television special based on the Peanuts comic strip by Charles M. Shulz.

The program first aired in 1965 and while I likely did not watch it in 1965, I did watch it almost every year whilst I was growing up.

Nothing, therefore, says Christmas to me more than Charlie Brown and I was impressed when I discovered this handsome Peanuts themed Christmas coffee mug that features Snoopy and Charlie Brown wishing you a Happy Holiday.

Happy Holidays!
Brenda

Quick Links:

Order your A Charlie Brown Christmas Coffee Mug from Amazon.

Grasslands Leprechaun Irish Coffee Recipe Coffee Mug

Perhaps I'm a bit late for St. Patrick's Day on March 17, but then again perhaps I am not. If you love Irish Coffee, you'll drink it any time of the year.

I stumbled across this fantastic Leprechaun Irish Coffee recipe mug, which I think is smashing and I just had to share with you. This ceramic mug is by Grasslands and features a high-gloss finish (and a wee leprechaun on the handle.) It measures about 5 inches by 3 inches and holds 13 ounces of your favourite hot beverage including but not limited to Irish Coffee. Don’t miss the fact that it has the recipe for Irish Coffee printed right on the back...

And did you know that Irish Coffee has all four food groups? Alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.

See you
at the pub!

Quick Links:

Order this Irish Coffee mug and the matching accessories from Amazon.
Pick out a great Leprechaun movie to watch with the family.

Kopi Luwak: One of the World's Most Expensive Coffees

Kopi Luwak coffee is one of the most expensive coffees you can buy.

It is the coffee featured in the Jack Nicholson movie called The Bucket List.

It is the coffee that is made from the droppings of the Asian Palm Civet.

It is the coffee that my husband received under the Christmas tree from his sister and has yet to try...perhaps because he is a bit nervous about drinking a beverage with the background of this one.

If you've already tried Kopi Luwak, be sure to let us know whether you liked it or not. If you've yet to try it, we're curious about whether you would drink it if you were given the opportunity.

Click here to find this Kopi Luwak coffee on Amazon.

See you
in the kitchen!
Brenda

Coffee From a Bodum A French Press

This weekend, we purchased a Bodum Chambord French Press coffee maker. My husband had fond memories of a tiny French press style coffeemaker he had owned previously and so we picked this Bodum up to try out while we had extra coffee drinkers visiting for the weekend.

Well, it turned out that making French Press coffee is very EASY and the result was a delicious cup of coffee. Our new 3-cup Bodum is definitely a keeper. It made three smallish cups of coffee, which was enough to give each of our house guests a taste, but it will actually be perfect for when we are home alone since I don't drink coffee and it will yield about two generous cups of coffee for my husband.

Bodum is actually a well-made brand of French Press coffee maker. It is one of Starbuck's recommended presses and is widely available in three sizes including 3-cups, 8-cups and 12-cups, so you can pick your press according to how much coffee you want to be able to make at a time.

To order your own French Press coffee maker directly from Amazon, click here.

And, no matter how you make it, here's to a great cuppa coffee!

Brenda