Bialetti Brikka fix, repair and clean
Bialetti Brikka Fix and Clean
My way to a better coffee…
Brikka is the brand name of a Coffee maker / Coffee pot / Stove pot / Macchinetta / Caffettiera line of products made by Bialetti from Italy.
Brikka produces great coffee beverage which is called Moka with relatively rich crema, better than any other coffee pot due to its higher brewing pressure.
The patented innovation behind the Brikka is a small weight added to the brewed coffee exit which increases a bit the brewing pressure from ~1.5 bar of common coffee pot to ~2 Bar. (For reference, Espresso brewing pressure is 9 Bar)
If you use the Brikka, Brikka2, Brikka-Elite, Brikka-2020 coffee pot and use it correctly (*), you can trust it will serve you for long time without any needed maintenance out of washing it after each use.
Please note:
This post describes and relates to Brikka models with the weight pressure system.
(*) Correct use of Brikka means:
1. Using correct amount of water as recommended by the manufacturer. (Use the measuring container or fill up to the mark on the inside of water container)
2. Using water without or with very low degree of scale.
3. Using the right ground degree of coffee which is MEDIUM and not fine.
4. Filling the funnel basket completely with coffee WITHOUT pressing / tamping it.
5. Assembling the 2 parts (coffee and water containers) tightly.
6. Applying small but intense heat source that will not exceed the coffee pot base.
7. Brikka is made from Aluminium and therefore will not work with Induction stove unless you use an Induction diffuser/adapter.
DISCLAIMER – Important!
Over the years Bialetti introduced several models of the Brikka coffee maker. (Brikka, Brikka2, Brikka-Elite, Brikka-2020)
Basically all models are the same with changes made to the cover/lid , its handle hinge and its funnel gasket.
Late models are supplied without a funnel gasket and with additional H2O water level marking inside the top container.
Each model comes in a 2-cups version and in a 4-cups version.
In mid 2020 Bialetti introduced its new Moka pot Brikka models which uses a new pressure valve system that claims to enhance creaminess.
You can read my Brikka 2020 review here.
Solid lid model with center handle
Transparent lid model with center handle
Open lid model with side handle
After extensive usage or due to use of wrong ground coffee and/or scale water, your Brikka might get clogged, release pressure through the valve or between parts, use only part of the water etc. It will stop acting normally and will not produce your favorite Moka.
The reasons might be one or few of the following:
1. Clogged filter.
2. Worn filter gasket that does not allow pressure to build.
3. Clogged funnel.
4. Worn funnel gasket.
5. Clogged coffee center pipe that does not allow coffee to flow to upper container.
6. Clogged / stuck weight that blocks the coffee from flowing to upper container
If one of the above happens, it’s time you’ll send your Brikka to Bialetti’s service center or clean/repair it yourself.
First, let’s examine and get familiar with Brikka’s parts:
Note:
Part #6 – Funnel’s gasket is not present in late models.
A. To clean the filter plate and check/replace the gasket:
Unscrew the water container and look at the bottom of the coffee pot top container. You’ll see the filter and the gasket.
Take the gasket and filter plate out and clean it thoroughly.
In order to take the gasket out, use a blunt knife edge or a small screwdriver and insert it between the gasket
and the filter plate (see image). Raise the gasket a bit and then pull it out. The filter plate will follow.
If the filter plate is stuck, use the screwdriver to lift it a little on one side and then it will be released.
To clean the filter plate, use an old toothbrush with liquid dish washing soap and make sure filter’s mesh is open.
If scale is clogging it, soak it for half an hour in warm vinegar and if this doesn’t help, soak it in Citric Acid solution (1 teaspoon of Citric Acid powder in one cup of room temperature water).
Please note:
The use of dish washing soap / Vinegar / Citric acid is recommended only if you have a non functioning Brikka.
Regular cleaning of Brikka should be done with clean water only.
Check the gasket. If it is worn, too thin, dry or rotten, replace it.
Genuine replacement gasket can be obtained from Bialetti.
You can also use replacement gasket from a 3rd party.
For the Brikka 2 cups, original gasket size is:
Outer diameter OD = 66.7mm (2″ 5/8), Inner diameter ID = 50mm (2″)
Any standard 3 cup coffee pot gasket (with outer diameter OD of ~ 65mm, 2-1/2”) is OK.
For the Brikka 4 cups, any standard 6 cup coffee pot gasket (with outer diameter OD of 70mm (2-3/4”) and Inner diameter ID of 54mm (2.126″) is OK.
Clean the lower part of the coffee container, especially the area where it meets the filter’s flange and the thread.
If needed, clean the coffee pipe from this side as well (see D).
When done, rinse in water and dry all parts. Assemble the filter plate and gasket to its place. Pay attention that the flanged part of the filter plate is facing toward the coffee container.
B. To clean the water container:
Check that the pressure valve is moving freely by pressing it from the inside.
If it’s stuck, use some force to release it and/or clean the container with warm vinegar
If this does not help, replace the valve! Don’t play with this unit as it is your safety that we are dealing with here.
Check and clean/remove scale from the container thread. It should be clean and free from any residue / scale.
If the internal bottom surface is stained and ugly looking, this is normal. It is oxidation of the Aluminum. You can clean it with Vinegar and if this doesn’t help, use Citric Acid solution (1 teaspoon of Citric Acid powder in one cup of room temperature water).
To avoid / reduce it, make sure the container is perfectly dry before you store it.
C. To clean / check the funnel:
Clean the funnel mesh with toothbrush as described above. Check that water flow freely if you fill it.
Check the funnel gasket, (Late models do not have gasket, so skip this section if you have a late model).
If gasket is worn, too thin, dry or rotten, replace it or replace the whole funnel with its gasket.
If you have a late model without a gasket, check the funnel flange surface consistency, if you find it is bent, you may add a funnel gasket or replace the funnel with a new one.
D. To clean the center column / coffee pipe and weight:
Remove the gasket and filter from the coffee container bottom part. (as described in section A)
Remove the weight upper part (11 in the drawing).
The weight is made of 2 parts, upper weight (11 in the drawing) and lower flange (10 in the drawing).
Upper weight is attached to lower flange by a screw thread.
Hold tight the lower flange (10) with one hand and rotate the upper weight (11) CCW (counterclockwise) to release / unscrew it. You might need to use some force to do this.
Now after the upper weight (11) was removed, the pipe upper end is seen and you can clean it from both sides.
If needed, use hard wood tooth stick to clean/open the upper pipe hole. If scale is blocking the pipe, use warm vinegar to remove it.
Check the weight’s inside gasket and thread and clean it. If gasket is worn, replace it.
When done, assemble the weight (11) to the weight flange (10).
Don’t use excessive force as you’ll want to be able to open it again in few months.
Assemble the filter plate and the gasket to the coffee container bottom part.
Now, when everything is clean and assembled, test your work.
Prepare your Moka and see if all is working as expected, coffee is flowing freely, crema is built and no pressure leaks from the pressure valve or between water and coffee containers.
That’s all, we are done. Enjoy your coffee
Avi
Addendum:
Due to many questions about the correct water level for the Brikka, I added 2 images that show the recommended water level.
If your Brikka does not have that H2O protrusion in the upper container (with or without the H2O text), use the following:
for Brikka 2: use 80cc (2.70 fl. Oz.) of water.
for Brikka 4: use 140cc (4.73 fl. Oz.) of water.
Never reach the safety valve!
Always keep the water level below the safety valve.
Don’t forget to transfer the water to the lower container!
Using the upper container is just for measuring the needed amount of water.
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Hi. I think my Brikka is missing the silicone component to reduce pressure because when It gets hot, it just shoots out and splatters everywhere. I took it apart and its not there. Its the solid lid one. Any idea where I can get it?
Solid lid Brikka never had a silicone cap. Those caps arrived only on Brikka models from ~2020.
Brikka models such as those in my post have a metal cap and inside it there is a rubber disk.
I suggest you’ll change your coffee grinding level to medium (not fine) and make sure you brew it over an intense flame that
does not exceed the Brikka diameter. Good luck
I hardly believe this myself, but I already have five of the pre-2020 old style Brikka pots all brand new. All purchased at half price. I may will end up with eight of them, if I decide to get the very last three on display.
That’s great Gary, please send me a photo of your gallery…
I wish I could collect the whole series of old model Brikkas.
I am finding it very difficult to unscrew the centre column and weight. Your instructions say to hold the flange and unscrew anti clockwise but I just can’t. Do you have any tips?
Hello Molly
1. The center column can not be taken apart.
2. If you find the weight part too hard to unscrew, try to soak it in warm water with a soap for several hours and try again,
this may remove some of the sticky oils that might clogged it.
3. Follow the instructions in part D. of my post and pay attention to directions of the screw.
Good luck
Hi Avi, and thanks for this excellent guide to the Brikka. I gave my old trusty model a through clean after a few years of storage. Upon testing, i realized the funnel gasket (older 4 cup model with pressure weight) had hardened and split causing a leakage between the thread of the top and bottom parts. I have, for the life of me, looked everywhere, but can not find a replacement gasket. Could you please let me know if these are still available, or am i just looking in the wrong places? Thanks again
Thank you Ash
Try Bialetti service in you country and also look for it on online stores.
Follow the size and not ‘4 cups’ as gasket from another product might fit to it.
Good luck
Hello,
My 4 cup Brikka was working fine until the last 3 days. Even on low heat, the coffee boils into the upper chamber and then overflows. Any ideas?
Hello William
If no pressure in releasing between the two parts, all is good and you should check the coffee freshness and its grinding degree.
Good luck
Hi
Thanks for this page. Super useful.
I had another issue not listed here which I thought I would share.
The Brikka started only producing steam or at most a very small amount of bitter coffee. I cleaned all components and replaced the gasket but the problem remained. Then I realised there is a very small crack in the funnel – big enough to allow steam through and prevent pressure building up in the bottom section. Replacing the funnel fixed the problem.
I actually threw away a Brikka a few years ago because of identical symptoms (which I obviously now regret!). I assume it was the same underlying issue as I tried everything else, so perhaps this is a common failure mode.
Hope this is useful to someone
Thank you Dominic for this valuable input.
As I mentioned in my Brikka 2020 review, “The funnel/coffee basket is made of a very thin aluminum with no gasket, similar to the funnel found in latest models”
This funnel is a joke, extremely low quality.
Thank you and good luck