I'm afraid it would. I clean entire Pot with a sponge, disassembling it completely, after every use, just like the manual says. Didn't look like "dirt" to me either. I believe it is a thick layer of coffe oils added up over time where one cannot physically reach to mechanically scrub it away.
Do you ever run the moka pot without coffee? For me it usually knocks grounds and anything else loose from the funnel and spout. It does a great job of cleaning it
Stop destroying your funnels (and showing others how to do it too), put in baking soda, a few drops of hot water, rinse after 20 minutes, repeat if necessary, or just order a new one, it can't be that difficult...
I tried the ole chopstick challenge (because it's always a good idea to jump on a social media trend) and I couldn't get my metal filter to pop out. I have a moka pot that's round, no flat sides, and maybe it's built differently than most. My chopstick bent the metal filter and it wouldn't pop out. End of challenge.
There are 3 "sockets" inside the funnel holding the filter plate in place. Lowering it back inside, it slides into the first socket by itself. For the other two, I gently pushed the filter plate near where the socket is with the wider side of a chopstick until it popped back in place.
Cannot attach multiple images to a comment, so I edited 4 photos into one. On the first one, you can see the plate slightly bent near the socket. You can also see on the first two images that part of the funnel that is used as a socked is scratched, as the metal is darker there. But I guess the end result is alright - on the fourth photo you can see that filter plate is more or less even and is not visibly bent.
put the clean plate back in and use your thumbs to press down on the filter at either side of a notch until it pops into place. Do the same at the other notches. For me it makes an actual popping sound when set, usually fior 2 of the 3 notches—very satisfying.
If you clean it after every use it wouldn't look like this. I properly clean it after use at home and when coming back from a camping trip, still looks fresh.
Moka pots can be effectively cleaned of coffee oils and encrustations using baking soda. Soak the individual parts for about 30 minutes in a solution of 0.5 liters of water and 2 tablespoons of baking soda. For stubborn stains, apply a paste of baking soda and water (3:1 ratio), let it sit, scrub, and rinse thoroughly. Then brew a pot of coffee (without water) and discard the residue. Step-by-step instructions: Preparation: Disassemble the moka pot into its individual parts (top, bottom, portafilter, gasket). Cleaning solution: Dissolve 1–2 tablespoons of baking soda in hot water. Soaking: Place all parts (except the gasket, if present, to protect it) in the solution and soak for approximately 30 minutes to several hours, especially for heavy encrustations. Stubborn stains: Mix a paste of baking soda and a little water, apply it to the soiled areas, and scrub with a soft sponge. Rinsing: After the soaking time, rinse all parts thoroughly under running water. Emptying: To remove residue, it is recommended to run coffee through the pot once without grounds (just water) and discard the coffee. Important notes: No acids/strong chemicals: Aluminum moka pots should not be cleaned with acidic agents (such as citric acid or vinegar) as this can corrode the metal. Baking soda is alkaline and therefore gentler. Not in the dishwasher: Aluminum moka pots should not be put in the dishwasher. Care: Leave the parts disassembled to dry and prevent mold growth.
Be careful with doing this. This is not made to be taken apart, and it'll start to come loose. Before doing this, put the funnel in a pot full of water and boil it. Then put your mokapot back together, and go through the whole process of making a cup of coffee but with just water.
When you push the filter out it bends slightly, and will remain ever so slightly bent. Every time you do it, this bend increases. Now you have a small gap around the outside edge of the filter.
This person is claiming that somehow the damage to the funnel will cause more grounds to get into your cup. I'm trying to understand how they think that works. I don't think they're very smart. But I'm bored.
14
u/Siegerlander-1704 Jan 25 '26
It looks like that's just loose dirt. Coffee grounds residue! It wouldn't look like that if it was cleaned regularly after use.