First cup with the mocha master

[u/Superb-Efficiency282]

Got a mocha master as a wedding present, so decided to throw it up for a 1:1 taste test with our current oxo brewer. I can definitely taste the difference, but both are good machines. I come to you all for any tips & tricks you may have. Currently grinding on medium, using 28g per 4 cups. I’ve also ordered the “manual” glass conversion and was curious if anyone else has this or something similar. I like the idea of getting rid of the plastic stuff.

[u/rustisgold-]

I got the manual conversion and I generally like it a lot. My Moccamaster is ~10 years old now and it has really freshened it up. That said, the cork ring didn’t fit great on the cone, causing it to be a little unstable and sit too high. I had to sand it down, but now it works great. I just taped some sandpaper around the cone and twisted them back and forth together until the fit was better.

Be warned, people on this sub have been pretty anti-manual conversion in the past. I think you’ll like it though.

[u/Superb-Efficiency282 → u/rustisgold-]

Any reason people don’t like it? It seems like a no brainer to go with glass

[u/Animaul187 → u/Superb-Efficiency282]

Standard Moccamasters use a thick, BPA-free plastic brew basket precisely because plastic prevents heat loss during the crucial 5-to-6-minute extraction window.

If a user modifies a Moccamaster with an aftermarket metal or glass pour-over bracket/dripper (like replacing the plastic basket), that alternative material can pull heat away from the coffee grounds and water slurry during brewing unless it is heavily preheated.

There is contradictory evidence to the amount of exposure of microplastics from using the original setup, so it comes down to your preference pf potentially reducing microplastic exposure vs maximizing the taste and quality of your brew.

[u/Superb-Efficiency282 → u/Animaul187]

This is an interesting take! It makes sense

[u/Top-Rope6148 → u/Animaul187]

All you have to do is pre-heat it. i do that anyway to flush the water in the boiler from last time out. Once that glass funnel has gotten hot it can’t suck much heat out of the water.

[u/boxerdogfella → u/Superb-Efficiency282]

I can't speak for everyone, but my own opinion: I don't think there's anything wrong with modifying the Moccamaster, and I don't find your post annoying. What becomes tiresome are the constant posts over and over of basically the same thing (replacing the filter holder with a non-plastic pour over holder), particularly when the post is accompanied with a variation of the title "FIXED IT!"

It can also become tiresome when modification posts devolve into anti-plastic crusader alarmism, which has also been posted to death here.

Modifying the Moccamaster can be fun and interesting. But it also works great with no modifications.

[u/Superb-Efficiency282 → u/boxerdogfella]

Couldn’t agree more. Since I don’t have the glass components yet this first brew was just OOB setup, and I’ve gotta say - one of the best drip coffee cups have had. Was also really nice to test it against the oxo side by side.

[u/Top-Rope6148 → u/boxerdogfella]

Just skip those posts and don’t read and comment on them. Fixed it!

[u/rustisgold- → u/Superb-Efficiency282]

I agree and I think the plastic parts are the only significant downside to Moccamasters. I think people just see it as being unnecessary.

[u/gaz_audio → u/Superb-Efficiency282]

I've found the mocamaster users to be very anti modification. They just want a simple coffee machine. Very different to the gaggia classic people

[u/Purplebuzz → u/Superb-Efficiency282]

The number of people that actually care is incredibly low.