I have just a single shot of coffee everyday in the morning at 5:00 a.m. and my coffee cup has always been the strong decoction from the Indian filter coffee method.

I also have the Wacaco Espresso Press, where you need to press the plunger for the press to develop the pressure which would then extract the coffee but this kind of espresso coffee has always been tedious

However the last 6 months I have moved to the Mocha pot version and at some point move to the belonging espresso machine

Bialetti Moka Express · Daily Ritual

1. VNR Third Wave

2. Double Filter

3. Stovetop

Six months with the Bialetti Moka Pot - my setup, my questions

Been brewing daily on a Bialetti Moka pot for the past six months and it's become one of those morning rituals I didn't know I needed. I wanted to share my current setup and get some honest feedback from the community.

My Setup

Coffee: Third Wave Vienna Roast — been sticking with this for a while now and I enjoy the cup it gives me, but I'm wondering if I'm getting the most out of it.

Coffees I've tried so far in the Moka Pot:

1. Third Wave Coffee – Instant Arabica

2. Toffee Coffee Roasters – Baban

3. COPHI Coffee Philosophy – Moka Pot Blend

4. Third Wave Coffee Roasters – VNR Roast

Filter mod: I run two paper filters stacked just under the rubber gasket in the upper chamber. Did this after reading about it reducing sediment and bitterness — and it has made a noticeable difference in clarity.

Questions for the community:

1. Grind size is my biggest confusion right now. I'm using a medium-fine grind that is finer than drip, slightly coarser than espresso. Is this the right ballpark for Moka, or am I leaving extraction quality on the table?

2. I preheat the water to boiling levels. Does anyone pre-heat the water before filling the boiler? I've seen conflicting takes - some say cold water is fine, others swear by hot water to avoid over-extracting the grounds during the heating phase.

3. The double paper filter under the gasket - anyone else doing this? Has it affected your brew time or flow rate noticeably? Mine seems slightly slower but I haven't measured it precisely.

4. Heat management - I brew on a "low/sim" flame. Should I be pulling the pot off heat the moment I hear the gurgle, or letting it finish on the flame? The "gurgle = done" rule feels right but I second-guess it every time.

5. Any other Indian roasters worth trying in a Moka pot? Happy with VNR but curious what else pairs well with stove top brewing specifically.

Open to being told I'm doing it wrong - six months of habit doesn't mean six months of doing it right.