The Moka Pot Standoff: Tradition Versus Innovation
In a London flat, a cultural clash over coffee brewing methods has been simmering for eighteen months. Lucia, who grew up in Italy, finds herself at odds with her partner Hamad over the correct way to use a traditional stovetop moka pot. The dispute centres on one fundamental technique: whether to compress the coffee grounds.
The Italian Method: Following Sacred Rules
Lucia insists that compressing coffee grounds in a moka pot breaks all the sacred rules of Italian coffee culture. Having made coffee since she was nine years old, she argues that the grounds should remain loose to allow air circulation. "The moka pot was invented in Italy, where I grew up, and there it is taboo to compress the coffee grounds," she states.
Lucia claims Hamad's compression method causes the pot to hiss loudly and sometimes spill coffee, which never happens with her technique. She's particularly concerned about safety implications, suggesting that the built-up pressure could potentially damage the pot. The situation has become more complicated as her 11-year-old son Noah has begun copying Hamad's method, despite Lucia teaching him the traditional approach.
The Barista's Defence: Enhancing Flavour Through Pressure
Hamad, who hails from south India and has completed a barista course, defends his technique as a matter of physics and flavour enhancement. He argues that compressing the grounds creates more pressure, resulting in a stronger-tasting coffee. "I learned that if you want a stronger-tasting coffee you need more pressure. So that's my reasoning behind compressing the coffee in the moka pot slightly," he explains.
Hamad uses his own moka pot without the hissing issues Lucia experiences with hers. He views Lucia's insistence on Italian methods as "food fascism" and questions why her cultural approach should automatically be considered superior. "Different parts of the world have different coffee-making techniques, but Lucia thinks her method is the best," he observes.
The Wider Implications of a Kitchen Dispute
The coffee conflict has evolved beyond mere technique into discussions about cultural ownership and tradition versus innovation. When Lucia involved her Italian friends in the debate, sending a video of Hamad's method to a group chat, he felt unfairly ganged up on. "If you have to use groupthink to prove your point, it means your argument is weak," he counters.
Currently travelling together and using filter coffee methods, the couple has found temporary peace. However, the fundamental disagreement remains unresolved, highlighting how everyday domestic practices can become flashpoints for deeper cultural and personal values.
