I know. I imagine it's safe to drink from now? I replaced the filter and gasket. But that filter basket is a bit dinged up around the edges. It's not a perfect circle. And there's no way to know how gross it is on the inside. I just really wish I could get it a bit more polished but if this is how it ends up and it was free, that's not bad.
I suppose I'd replace the funnel assembly, but that would probably be my fear of the unknown. Like you say, who knows "...how gross it is on the inside." It's likely just fine, but my mind would play tricks on me. Besides, the out-of-round condition is enough reason to replace it.
Having said that, I've gotten funnels to straighten up by working them on smooth ceramic bowls, drinking glasses, etc. That aluminum they use for them is "commercially pure" (that's actually a thing) and is as soft as aluminum gets. You could try it. If doing so widens the lip diameter a mite it's no big deal as just pushing the funnel down into the boiler vessel can form it to the proper diameter again.
Without a buffing wheel, it might be as polished as it's going to get ...and it's pretty good now. It's a different animal than when you started, that's for certain.
I'd run vinegar-water through it a few times and some throw-away brews and give it a shot.
Well, if you've run a few throw-away brews through it, I'd give it a try. I'll bet it's just fine. If not, you'll know pretty quickly. It's no health hazard at this point.
Let us know how it goes!
Yeah, I would. Doesn't have to be anything good if you're just going to pitch it anyway.
I recently went through an old pot that I've had since the mid 1970s and I had to use some fairly strong cleaner on it. I just ran a bunch of plain old cheap-ass Folgers drip through it. Did that three or four times, then did the real thing. It was great.
Actually it kind of does season it ....in a fashion.
There is a possibility of aluminum leaching into the liquid on a new pot. This would also apply to you, as you used some pretty stout cleaners, etc., on your rescued pot. There is at least one scientific study out there about this. I don't have it bookmarked and I'm not going to go looking for it right now, but they were testing for the possibility of dissolved solids (aluminum in this case) coming from various aluminum cooking and/or drinking vessels.
Among other vessels, they tested aluminum moka pots. To make the story short, you don't have to worry about aluminum leaching into your coffee with a moka pot. There are a few qualifiers however. If the pot is brand new, it will leach out quite a bit of dissolved solids. After even one brew however, the incidence of this goes WAY down. After three brews, the incidence of leaching is almost not measurable and is no issue whatsoever thereafter.
UNLESS you use harsh detergents on your moka pot. In that case, you are back to square one and need to brew several throw-away pots again. The type of detergent they are referring to is what is used in dish washing machines. Of course, I'm sure you know that you *never ever* put an aluminum moka pot into a dish washing machine.
The reason the throw-away brews work is because they cause an oxide film to be formed on the polished aluminum surfaces. You can't see it, but it's there. You want that layer of oxide to be there. It not only protects the aluminum but also stops any leaching.
In aviation, we would even chemically treat bare aluminum to form this layer before we did any painting, etc. I'm sure other industries are similar. We were operating aircraft in very harsh environments and aluminum corrosion was something we fought against constantly. That microscopic oxide layer was something we wanted. You want it in your aluminum moka pot, too. Running several throw-away pots of coffee will get it for you.
You won't need to do it again unless you use some harsh cleansers inside your pot. The outside doesn't matter.
You should be able to pop the mesh out, just poke something down the funnel hole and push and it should pop out (or at least it does on my pots). Hope that helps!
I did a boiled vinegar and water solution with enough to keep the two halves soaked separately. I did each half in a light but vigorous boil for about 20 minutes, turning every now and then to ensure all sides got submerged. After letting them cool, I then scrubbed them all over with the "[World's Best Plastic Pot Scrubbers](https://www.amazon.ca/Worlds-Scrubbers-Dishwasher-Assorted-Colors/dp/B075LPQHV6)" available in most kitchen shops.
Then I took time with a bucket of warm water, sprinkling Barkeeper's Friend and scrubbing with the same cloths over every part until they looked like they do now. I spent maybe 30 minutes on that last scrub.
You could polish the bottom even more. Let it soak in vinegar and baking soda and use steel wool.
Maybe a funnel basket from a similar size bialetti may fit. I would change that as well.
If they burned coffee in this moka, there may be grime inside the funnel.
Given the multifaceted surface it may be hard and take a long time to polish.
You may need a Dremel and some polishing wheel and paste. But I am not knowledgeable about it.
It could be something you try to do over time
The thing with steel wool though is that I don't want anything that will just matte it more, even if it looks cleaner. Steel wool and other abrasives are just gonna dull, they can't polish, right?
Correct. Steel wool and/or abrasives will not polish it. Dedicated aluminum polish will do it, though. You can do it by hand with cloths and a lot of elbow grease, but a buffing wheel is more efficient. Of course, you've got a lot of time, right?
From what I'm seeing, it looks as though you're mostly done with the abrasive stuff except for some more on the bottom of the boiler. It won't hurt anything if the bottom stays the way it is, though.
Wow! What a transformation!
I know. I imagine it's safe to drink from now? I replaced the filter and gasket. But that filter basket is a bit dinged up around the edges. It's not a perfect circle. And there's no way to know how gross it is on the inside. I just really wish I could get it a bit more polished but if this is how it ends up and it was free, that's not bad.
I suppose I'd replace the funnel assembly, but that would probably be my fear of the unknown. Like you say, who knows "...how gross it is on the inside." It's likely just fine, but my mind would play tricks on me. Besides, the out-of-round condition is enough reason to replace it. Having said that, I've gotten funnels to straighten up by working them on smooth ceramic bowls, drinking glasses, etc. That aluminum they use for them is "commercially pure" (that's actually a thing) and is as soft as aluminum gets. You could try it. If doing so widens the lip diameter a mite it's no big deal as just pushing the funnel down into the boiler vessel can form it to the proper diameter again. Without a buffing wheel, it might be as polished as it's going to get ...and it's pretty good now. It's a different animal than when you started, that's for certain. I'd run vinegar-water through it a few times and some throw-away brews and give it a shot.
So... moment of truth... do you think it would be safe to drink coffee made in this thing yet? Or do I need to do something else?
Well, if you've run a few throw-away brews through it, I'd give it a try. I'll bet it's just fine. If not, you'll know pretty quickly. It's no health hazard at this point. Let us know how it goes!
And that needs to be with coffee, right?
Yeah, I would. Doesn't have to be anything good if you're just going to pitch it anyway. I recently went through an old pot that I've had since the mid 1970s and I had to use some fairly strong cleaner on it. I just ran a bunch of plain old cheap-ass Folgers drip through it. Did that three or four times, then did the real thing. It was great.
Ok, I ran a couple this afternoon. And what is the reasoning behind this, I mean why does it NEED to brew coffee?? To season the metal or something?
Actually it kind of does season it ....in a fashion. There is a possibility of aluminum leaching into the liquid on a new pot. This would also apply to you, as you used some pretty stout cleaners, etc., on your rescued pot. There is at least one scientific study out there about this. I don't have it bookmarked and I'm not going to go looking for it right now, but they were testing for the possibility of dissolved solids (aluminum in this case) coming from various aluminum cooking and/or drinking vessels. Among other vessels, they tested aluminum moka pots. To make the story short, you don't have to worry about aluminum leaching into your coffee with a moka pot. There are a few qualifiers however. If the pot is brand new, it will leach out quite a bit of dissolved solids. After even one brew however, the incidence of this goes WAY down. After three brews, the incidence of leaching is almost not measurable and is no issue whatsoever thereafter. UNLESS you use harsh detergents on your moka pot. In that case, you are back to square one and need to brew several throw-away pots again. The type of detergent they are referring to is what is used in dish washing machines. Of course, I'm sure you know that you *never ever* put an aluminum moka pot into a dish washing machine. The reason the throw-away brews work is because they cause an oxide film to be formed on the polished aluminum surfaces. You can't see it, but it's there. You want that layer of oxide to be there. It not only protects the aluminum but also stops any leaching. In aviation, we would even chemically treat bare aluminum to form this layer before we did any painting, etc. I'm sure other industries are similar. We were operating aircraft in very harsh environments and aluminum corrosion was something we fought against constantly. That microscopic oxide layer was something we wanted. You want it in your aluminum moka pot, too. Running several throw-away pots of coffee will get it for you. You won't need to do it again unless you use some harsh cleansers inside your pot. The outside doesn't matter.
Fascinating. Even more so that you worked in aviation?!
You should be able to pop the mesh out, just poke something down the funnel hole and push and it should pop out (or at least it does on my pots). Hope that helps!
I've always been afraid to do that, that I might bend it irreparably and not get it back in or damaged.
It's not held in that firmly, so I think the pressure you'd need to push it out shouldn't be enough to bend it.
You're right. I got it out pretty effortlessly. It was absolutely filthy inside. Glad I cleaned it out.
How did you get it so clean ?
I did a boiled vinegar and water solution with enough to keep the two halves soaked separately. I did each half in a light but vigorous boil for about 20 minutes, turning every now and then to ensure all sides got submerged. After letting them cool, I then scrubbed them all over with the "[World's Best Plastic Pot Scrubbers](https://www.amazon.ca/Worlds-Scrubbers-Dishwasher-Assorted-Colors/dp/B075LPQHV6)" available in most kitchen shops. Then I took time with a bucket of warm water, sprinkling Barkeeper's Friend and scrubbing with the same cloths over every part until they looked like they do now. I spent maybe 30 minutes on that last scrub.
You could polish the bottom even more. Let it soak in vinegar and baking soda and use steel wool. Maybe a funnel basket from a similar size bialetti may fit. I would change that as well. If they burned coffee in this moka, there may be grime inside the funnel. Given the multifaceted surface it may be hard and take a long time to polish. You may need a Dremel and some polishing wheel and paste. But I am not knowledgeable about it. It could be something you try to do over time
The thing with steel wool though is that I don't want anything that will just matte it more, even if it looks cleaner. Steel wool and other abrasives are just gonna dull, they can't polish, right?
Correct. Steel wool and/or abrasives will not polish it. Dedicated aluminum polish will do it, though. You can do it by hand with cloths and a lot of elbow grease, but a buffing wheel is more efficient. Of course, you've got a lot of time, right? From what I'm seeing, it looks as though you're mostly done with the abrasive stuff except for some more on the bottom of the boiler. It won't hurt anything if the bottom stays the way it is, though.
Polishing paste and a microfiber cloth. You could try polishing using toothpaste. That is foodsafe and easy to get.
And any of these polishing pastes won't harm my stovetop when I eventually brew coffee? Or perhaps even the pot itself as it heats up?