How to make mocha

Long before fully automatic coffee machines and espresso makers existed, people were already preparing mocha — probably the oldest method of coffee brewing in the world.

The key to making mocha is an especially fine grind of the coffee beans, almost as fine as flour.

Unlike espresso, where hot water is forced through the coffee under high pressure, mocha is made by boiling finely ground coffee together with the water for a single cup. Traditionally, this is done in a copper pot with a long handle, known as an ibrik.

As soon as a delicate foam appears on the surface during the first boil, the pot is removed from the heat and a small spoonful of this foam is placed into the coffee cup. The coffee is then brought to the boil once more and only then poured into the cup. Mocha is enjoyed once the coffee grounds have settled at the bottom.

It is often sweetened with a small piece of sugar.

Incidentally, the name “mocha” is derived from the city of Al Mukha in Yemen, once an important port for the coffee trade.