There’s something nostalgic about brewing coffee with a Moka Pot. Maybe it reminds you of camping with your family when you were young, or maybe it reminds you of a coffee loving relative. Whatever it is, there is no doubt that Moka Pot coffee has been a staple in the home for many generations, providing a rich, bold cup of coffee.
What is a Moka Pot?
Invented in 1933 by a gentleman named Alfonso Bialetti, a Moka Pot is a stovetop coffee maker that uses pressure to push hot water through coffee grounds. Moka Pot coffee is characterized as a rich, strong, espresso-like coffee that is deep in flavor. The resulting coffee can be used as a great base for typical espresso drinks (lattes, cappuccinos, etc) and can even be enjoyed as-is (if it’s the kind of Monday that requires such drastic measures).
What size Moka Pot should I use?
When looking at the size of a Moka Pot, typically they come in different “cup” measurements. Keep in mind that the Moka Pot definition of a cup is quite different from a standard cup in relation to coffee. Where a standard cup of coffee comes in somewhere between 8-12 ounces, a Moka Pot cup comes in at the 2 ounce mark. Here’s a good reference for when you are deciding on what size Moka Pot you should use:
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1-Cup Moka Pot - Great for brewing a single strong serving, similar to a single shot of espresso.
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3- Cup Moka Pot - Want a larger serving for yourself? This is in the realm of 2 shots of espresso.
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6- Cup Moka Pot - If you want to share a cup of coffee with another person, this is the size for such occasions.
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9- Cup Moka Pot - This is a great size for when you want to make coffee for everyone around the campfire.
The sizing you want to use really depends on what your goals are. If you are hoping to make just yourself a cup or two, stick to a 1 or 3 cup Moka Pot. If you plan to have multiple servings for yourself or even more to accommodate guests or friends, then step the sizing up to a 6 or 9.
How to use a Moka Pot: A Walkthrough
Step 1: Get together equipment
Here’s what you need:
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A Moka Pot of your chosen size (obviously)
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Some freshly ground coffee. We will get to the amount in the next steps, and you will see why.
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The grind size should be a medium-fine grind. Think table salt.
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Water. We use soft, filtered water for brewing coffee.
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A way to heat it up.
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A stove, an electric burner, a camping burner, or even a campfire work for this, which is one of the reasons a Moka Pot is so versatile.
Step 2: Load up the water
Check out a Moka Pots’ 3 parts; the top (where the resulting coffee pools), the bottom which we fill with water, and the coffee basket (the piece between the top and bottom that rests in the bottom).
To add water, first unscrew the top from the bottom. Next, pull the coffee basket out. What you are left with is a cup. Pour water into the bottom chamber, stopping just below the safety valve (a small, round metal piece designed to release excess pressure). Here’s a quick hack: using hot water at this step speeds up the brewing process and can help keep your coffee from getting that burnt, over-extracted taste.
Step 3: Load up the coffee
Remember that coffee basket we pulled out? We are going to fill that up with our ground coffee. Earlier when we said “we will get to the amount in the next steps” this is what we are referencing.
What you need to do is fill the basket completely (underfilling will give you a weak coffee and overfilling will cause clogging). Using whatever you like, a finger works, level the coffee to the top of the basket by scraping off what's above the rim.
DO NOT TAMP the coffee down or put any pressure on the coffee grounds, this will cause too much pressure when brewing.
Step 4: Put everything together
Take the filter basket and place it into the bottom piece, coffee side up. Screw the top to the bottom without over-tightening.
Step 5: Let's Brew!
Place the Moka Pot on your chosen heat source. Keep in mind we want heat, but not too much heat as that can lead to over-extraction and bitter tastes. Conversely too little heat can lead to under-extracted coffee, leaving you with a weak, sour cup. In our experience the brewing process should take somewhere in the 3-4 minute range.
Step 6: Listen for the “Gurgle”
When you hear a gurgling sound, the brewing is nearly complete. This sound indicates that there is little to no water remaining in the bottom chamber, which is the goal!
Step 7: Take it off heat
Now we take the Moka Pot off heat. Note that the Moka Pot will be hot after brewing- hence the handle, so keep that in mind!
We recommend pouring the coffee out right away, if you want to leave some in there to pour later, wrap a damp towel around the pot to cool it faster. The excess heat can make coffee bitter and astringent.
Step 8: Pour and Enjoy!
Grab a mug and pour yourself a fresh cup and relish in your accomplishments. Watch as your friends' eyes light up when they taste what you have just crafted, especially if you pour the coffee over ice and with milk, getting close to that true latte flavor.
Tips for the best Moka Pot Coffee
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Use filtered water for a crisp, cleaner cup of coffee and best extraction.
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Use fresh, high-quality coffee.
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DO NOT tamp the coffee grounds, just level them off.
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Clean your Moka Pot. This isn’t the navy, we're not looking for that old-school “It’s seasoned” look.
- Pour out the coffee just after brewing finishes instead of leaving it in the pot.
Using a Moka Pot is a simple and rewarding way to make delicious coffee at home. Experiment with drinking it black, adding milk, and even using it as a base for cafe style espresso drinks both hot and cold!
Let us know your favorite way to use a Moka Pot!
