I was given an old moka pot (this one in particular is a Junior Express pot) and noticed this buildup in the water well - it seems to be a little different from the typical scale buildup that I googled (it's grainy, thick, and hard). It has a metallic odor to it that seems to affect the flavor of my coffee. Is this just normal scaling, or something else?
I know that people feel really strongly about not cleaning these things, but I think I may have to in this case since it's affecting the flavor of the coffee. If you do think I have to clean it, what would you recommend for clearing this buildup out?
For the record, this was after I brewed a cup this morning, so it looks darker than it did before. The buildup had some white in it.
Also, how often/how do I know when I should replace the rubber gasket? I have no idea how old this thing is.
Thanks in advance for your help!