What is a Moka Pot?
摩卡壺是什麼？
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Moka pots are stovetop coffee makers that produce a distinctly strong brew. The stovetop’s heat creates pressurized steam that eventually forces boiling water upward through the grounds.
Moka pot，中文就叫『摩卡壺』，是一種在爐灶 (電爐瓦斯爐均可) 使用的咖啡器具，煮出來的咖啡非常濃鬱。其大體原理是，爐灶加熱形成的蒸汽最終將煮沸的水自下而上從咖啡粉末中穿過，從而萃取咖啡液。
How does a moka pot work?
摩卡壺的工作原理
Source: Wikipedia
Moka pots work by passing hot water through coffee grounds, forced through steam pressure. Because the water is stored in a (mostly) enclosed space, pressure builds as heat is applied. This pressure forces the water upward through a filter basket (aka funnel), which holds the coffee grounds. The brew then continues to travel upward and eventually outward through the top of a small column, and gentle oozes into a holding chamber.
如上圖所示，摩卡壺的底部是一個密閉的儲水箱。加熱時箱內氣壓增高，從而逼迫沸水由漏鬥狀裝有咖啡粉末的過濾器；萃取好的咖啡液再繼續上行，通過摩卡壺上半部分中心的罐裝通過，流入頂部的咖啡壺內。
How to Use a Moka Pot – The Basics
摩卡壺的基本操作要領
Source: mokabee.com
Fill the bottom reservoir of the moka pot with hot water up to the bottom collar of the pressure release valve.
在摩卡壺底部的儲水箱倒入熱水，水位不能超過摩卡壺側面的壓力釋放閥下緣.
Fill the filter basket with ground coffee. I like a grind consistency about half-way between espresso and drip grind. Not too fine, not too coarse. Do not overfill or tamp.
在漏鬥狀的過濾籃中倒入咖啡粉。咖啡粉的粗細介於濃縮咖啡和滴濾咖啡之間。咖啡粉不要太多，也不要壓實。（Jack在使用時，放入咖啡粉後輕輕搖晃，看著均勻就好。）
Replace the filter and run your finger around the lip to remove any stray grounds. Screw the moka pot together tightly.
將過濾器放回摩卡壺，並用手指將邊緣的咖啡渣抹掉，將摩卡壺擰緊。
Place the moka pot on a stovetop at medium-low heat (lower if using a gas stove.)
將摩卡壺至於灶臺上，用中低溫加熱（煤氣爐用小火，也就是灶頭中間那圈火就足夠）。
After 5-10 minutes,the brew should start oozing into the upper chamber. Sputtering or spitting means the heat is too high.
5 -10分鐘後，咖啡將溢出至咖啡壺中。如果咖啡壺發出噼啪聲或有咖啡濺出則說明溫度過高。
When the brew is about 80% complete, remove it from the heat. You can optionally wrap the bottom with a chilled bar towel to halt the brewing process.
製作過程基本完成後，將咖啡壺從加熱源移開。你還可以選擇用一條冷毛巾包住摩卡壺底部，以快速終止咖啡萃取。
Jack: 摩卡壺在高溫時容易過度萃取。使用這種快速降溫方式，可以減輕咖啡的焦糊味，但對於喝咖啡口味比較重的夥伴，可以不用降溫，讓咖啡壺的餘熱繼續萃取過程。
Pour and serve immediately. Moka pot coffee is quite strong, so many enjoy it diluted 50/50 with hot water, Americano-style.
將咖啡倒出並儘快食用。摩卡壺製作的咖啡非常香濃，所以很多人喜歡加入一半開水稀釋，也就是我們說的美式咖啡。
In our next article, we will introduce some common problems people have when using the moka pot, and how to avoid them. Stay tuned.
在下一篇文章中，我們將和大家分享大家在使用摩卡壺中所遇到的比較普遍的問題以及如何避免，歡迎繼續關注。