It’s 2023, and I still make coffee – espresso – everyday, with a Moka Pot. Perhaps the simplest and purest form of espresso making, the Moka Pot was invented by Italian engineer Alfonso Bialetti in 1933 and is still very popular all over the world. The stovetop percolator consists of just three parts: a bottom chamber for water, a middle filter basket for fine-ground coffee, and an upper chamber for collecting the brewed coffee. It’s a very basic device that offers a robust and flavorful coffee-drinking experience.
The design remained unaltered since 1933, say for a few decorations, so Miir saw this as an opportunity to create a new standard with their latest release. So sit back, relax, and pour yourself a cup of joe – let’s get into this review of The New Standard Moka Pot from Miir.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS & UNBOXING
Miir does packaging extremely well. Eco-friendly and minimalist, the Miir unboxing experience is always interesting and engaging – read more about it, here. The New Standard Moka Pot came in a very premium, entirely paper box that included tons of literature about the pot, the brand, and of course a Miir sticker. After unfolding the protective paper layers, the brushed stainless steel lid of the New Standard Moka Pot was finally exposed. While the New Standard Moka Pot comes in two colors (brushed stainless and black), I opted for the classic brushed stainless version, which allows you to really see all of the new design cues Miir was able to sneak into this otherwise simple device. After a quick rinse, I was ready to brew my first pot!
BREWING EXPERIENCE
I wanted to make sure that my first brew with the New Standard Moka Pot was a good one, so I went to the store and got a fresh pound of beans and ground them myself. Ideally, you would store the whole beans yourself in a cabinet or somewhere dark, dry, and cool, but I don’t have a grinder at my apartment, so I made due.
The New Standard Moka Pot will brew about 10 ounces of espresso-strength coffee, which is enough for six 50ml servings or 2-3 double Americanos – for those who partake. While functionally no different from other moka pots, the New Standard stands out in other ways. Notably, the New Standard has a rounded, flask-style base which is a departure from the classic flat-bottomed moka pots. I’ve noticed that the rounded base lends itself to a more even boil, especially on gas stoves.
Brewing with a Moka Pot is half art and half science, and coffee nerds are like the audiophiles of the food world – obsessed. I enjoy coffee, and I am Italian, but I am not a coffee nerd, sorry to disappoint. There are tried and true techniques to using a Moka Pot, and I tend not to deviate.
Starting with warm water, I’ll fill the base chamber to just below the pressure release valve. Then I’ll fill the funnel with fine ground espresso coffee creating a small, fluffy mound – be careful not to tamp or flatten the coffee, you want it to be loose so the water can easily pass through the ground coffee. Place the Moka Pot on the stove over medium heat, and wait for that perfect cup of coffee to fill the top chamber.
The New Standard Moka Pot creates great coffee, is mostly dishwasher safe, and very easy to clean, unlike a Bialetti Moka Pot, whose filters often get stuck. Miir recommends that the funnel and gasket be hand-washed.
I’ve been using the New Standard for a little over a month now, and I’ve enjoyed just about every cup. I would caution new owners to make sure the seal is tight when screwing the top and bottom chambers together. I’ve made the mistake of threading it and got hot coffee all over my stove.
VALUE
My last Moka Pot was the classic Bialetti Moka Express, and while a timeless original, I felt that the unboxing and owning experience wasn’t nearly as exciting as using the Miir New Standard. For $60, you’re paying a little bit of a premium, but when you consider the brand name and the fact that this may be the first Moka Pot innovation to happen in the last 80 years – it’s well worth the price.
In addition to its unique shape and style, The New Standard Moka Pot also boosts an innovative blend of materials. The New Standard is partly made from durable, non-corrosive stainless steel, ensuring long-lasting quality and performance, as well as being easy to clean and care for. It also contains components made from post-consumer recycled materials. Miir is a company that prides itself on sustainability, so it’s good to see their continued adherence to environmentalism even in their latest products.
Overall, the New Standard Moka Pot by Miir is the perfect alternative to the Bialetti Express of yesteryear, offering a refreshingly modern take on a classic design from an American brand with a mission I think we can all stand behind as gear nerds and outdoor enthusiasts.
Be sure to check out the New Standard Moka Pot from Miir!
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