Comparing two popular methods, the Vietnamese Drip (Phin) or the Moka pot. Which is the better option?
The Moka Pot
Moka pots have been around since the 1930’s traditionally made on the stovetop, but you can purchase them completely electric. Moka pots are an excellent option for people who prefer their coffee to be on the firmer side or enjoy espresso taste.
A Moka pot is made up of three chambers, a bottom chamber for the water, a middle chamber for the coffee grinds, and a top chamber for the finished coffee. When the water heats up, it generates steam pushing the water up through the coffee grinds chamber where the coffee will be poured from.
How to brew coffee in the Moka pot
1. Best practices suggest preheating the water in a kettle before using the Moka pot.
2. Pour your water into the bottom chamber.
3. Measure out your coffee grinds and place them in the middle chamber and close the filter.
4. Heat the Moka pot up on the stove and allow it to boil.
5. Once you hear a gurgling noise that indicates the brew is complete.
A Moka pot uses pressure to brew the coffee, creates an extraction and sometimes a crema similar to espresso. Moka pots come in various sizes and allow you to brew more than one cup of coffee if that’s what your day calls for.
Vietnamese Drip
Vietnam is the second-largest exporter of coffee in the world. So you can say coffee is essential to the culture. They traditionally use Robusta coffee being which has a strong acidic taste.
The Vietnamese Drip method uses a Phin device, a small metal cup with a filter designed to fit like a pour-over top of a coffee cup.
How to brew coffee using the Vietnamese Drip method
1. Start by boiling water in a kettle.
2. Place your preferred amount of coffee grinds into the Phin and place it on a coffee cup.
3. Once the water has come to a boil, slowly pour water into the Phin to the fill line and wait as your water slowly drips through the filter.
4 . After all the water has passed through the cup, press the grinds to extract any remaining water.
The Vietnamese drip process is a slower brewing process and takes, on average, 10 minutes. However, the wait is worth the delicious, concentrated cup of coffee it delivers.
The End Results
If you are looking for an easy-to-use, quick way to brew more than one cup of coffee and enjoy the taste of espresso, the Moka pot is the clear winner in all these categories.
The Vietnamese Drip wins hands down in style and class and is an elegant way to make a single cup of coffee.
The best coffee brewing method truly depends on your tastes. However, there is no wrong way to enjoy a good cup of coffee so try them all.
