20 Most Recent Bialetti Moka Express 6-Cup Coffee Maker - Page 2 Questions & Answers

vinegar and water, the white crystals is just calcification build-up from the water.

You cannot wash aluminum items in a diswasher with phosphate based detergent. You'll corrode the aluminum. Best practice is to handwash any aluminum items. Phosphate over time will also etch your glasses, so I suggest always using a non-phosphate detergent - look for Seventh Generation or similar "Eco-friendly" detergents - it will save your glassware too.

The same thing happened with mine. Try replacing the screen cup, which can get dented and create gaps for steam to escape. The other trick when using a new gasket is to brush a little cooking oil on the screw threads, tighten it down pretty hard, and use a high flame. It's really hard to undo for a while, but after a half dozen times the gasket has expanded enough so that you don't have to do this.

This happened to me, too....the gasket needs to be broken in so that it seals properly, which will happen once it's been used several times. In the meantime, just tighten the pot together extra tight and that will help to seal the gasket properly. After several uses, you won't have to tighten it so much and can go back to how you've always done it. I hope this helps!!

I just had this same problem and after reading this blog I went downstairs, tightened the pot down more and it worked! I usually don't tighten it this much, but will continue to tighten it down hard until the gasket is broken in. Thank you sooooooo much!!!

Yep, load of suggestions. Moka are quite difficult to use if you are not used to them:

Try cleaning the filter. It may be clogged after brewing in the wrong way.To clean, remove rubber gasket, remove filter disk from upper part of the Moka, and clean it.
The gasket must be replaced if there had been overheating. In that case the gasket looks stiff, melted, and the moka may drip water from water container sides while brewing.
If gasket looks Ok, leave it.

Ensure that water level is BELOW the valve, if water is covering the valve, there will be no space for air chamber before reaching coffee, and you get only steam. If there is water getting inside the coffee basket before pouring coffee, then water level is too high.

Put coffee until you reach more or less the edge of container basket. DO NOT PRESS coffee, or you will get a strong bad-testing coffeee or only steam.

About the flame, use a small hob, with flame staying below the base of the water container. A technique is keeping flame lower while reaching boiling point, then putting it up when the moka starts brewing. I suggest just keeping a well heating flame on a small knob and ensuring that the flame is staying below the base of the moka.

Ensure that the coffee mix is not too fine-grinded, even if Italians use often electric coffee machines in moka, it may result more difficult to get a brew out of thin-grinded coffee.
Percolated machine coarser mixtures will give a milder brew, but they are easier to use. Mokas brew like Lavazza are the best.

If that still does not do the job, try doing a couple of brews with water only, then do a coffee brew following hints above.

Extra hint: to get the best brew use purest possible water. Use Arabica blend for a fuller taste.

Let me know if the moka is finally working, in that case please do not forget to accept the solution.

All the best.

Ginko.

Flame is too high and the top is not screwed tightly enough to the bottom. Also make sure there is enough fine ground coffee in the funnel.

It IS the gasket!!!!! Store the pot with the two parts screwed TIGHTLY together for about a week. Tighten it up as the new gasket compresses. Problem solved in two weeks or less. Funnel had NOTHING to do with my problem. Also cook on medium to low heat. High flame seems to make the problem worse.

Try a lower flame and screw the top to the bottom as tightly as possible.

Sat on the stove and did nothing! Fire the credent!!!Is the water getting hot enough? Here is an idea, take it back to the store and get a dufferent model, or a straight across echange.I have a notion to buy one just to take it apart and see whats going on, There are so many on this forum I don't knpw whythey are bothered wirh. No offense to your preference and good taste but if twas and seriously fond of expresso, buy one at a t a restaraunt supply store. I'm sorry that was not an answer abd I know those machines are way over priced. It is frustrating me and I don't care for expresso myself. Take it bake and raise cain over it.. Expired warrantee or not. Send me a copy of the receipt and I'll write or call the manufacturer myself. Let me have their phone number, also. Ned Cook

There is a tiny pin at the top where the handle slides into a slot between 2 aluminum walls. That pin needs to be "punched" out. I used a nail and hammer, but a tiny nail punch might be safer if you have one.

Did you two buy the machine in europe and travelled back to the USA? If so, the machine can't be used there. You will need a 230V power plug in the house before it can do anything. Otherwise you have to buy a power converter from 115 to 230 V. Hope this helps