Be your own barista with a simple moka pot coffee maker and brew super smooth espresso style coffee at home on a gas or electric stove top.
Moka pots come in a variety of sizes, so it’s easy to brew a cup just for yourself or for friends. Coffee from a moka pot is not a true espresso like you get from an espresso machine, but it’s strong enough to kick you in the pants. And remember, you don’t need a degree from Coffee College to brew awesome coffee; the foundation for a great coffee is using freshly ground coffee beans that you love.
View current prices for Moka Pots on Amazon, here are affiliate links for
2-3 cup Moka Pots
6-cup Moka Pots
9-cup Moka Pots
How Does a Moka Pot Work
A moka pot is made up of 3 parts:
- The bottom boiling chamber which is filled with water.
- The middle funnel/filter which is filled with the ground coffee.
- And the top coffee pot chamber where the brewed coffee collects.
When heated, the water comes to a boil in the bottom chamber and rises up the funnel and passes through the ground beans where it brews the coffee, continuing up through the funnel where it collects in the top chamber as strong, ready to drink coffee, or it is often mixed with hot water to make an Americano or with hot milk to make a cafe au lait.
How to Use a Moka Pot
Fill the bottom chamber with hot water from the tap; fill to the pressure valve level, not above. Some folks fill the bottom chamber with almost boiled water, and if you’ve got time for that, do so; usually when I want a cup of coffee, I want it as soon as possible, so heating it to completion in the actual moka pot works just fine for me, and it cuts out an unnecessary step, I think.
Fill the middle funnel/filter with ground coffee. Using freshly ground coffee beans you love is the single greatest thing you can do to accomplish the perfect cup of coffee. Unremarkable coffee beans will make unremarkable coffee no matter how you brew it.
Do not compact the ground coffee into the filter, simply fill it level to the top and level it off. Use a medium grind of coffee, just like you put in an electric coffee machine. Don’t use a course grind as in a French press, or as fine a grind as used in an espresso maker where pressurized water is forced through the grounds.
Securely screw on the top pot, but no need to overtighten.
Place the moka pot on the stove on low heat with the top up. A moka pot coffee maker can be used on a gas or electric stove.
Low and slow is the moka pot mantra. Even on low heat, it will brew in a timely fashion, so no need to rush.
Be sure the moka pot handle is not overly exposed to the heat, or the handle may become too hot and become damaged.
After only a few minutes, the water will begin to boil and reach a temperature where it rises through the funnel, pass through the coffee, and pour through the funnel top into the upper chamber. If your heat is correct, the coffee comes through slowly and fills the upper chamber steadily. The coffee shouldn’t gush out of the top, but rather pour gently out of the funnel.
As brewing nears completion, the coffee will quicken and become lighter and have a final push through the funnel top.
Immediately close the top and remove the pot from the heat.
It’s not a true espresso, but it can be a very strong coffee, especially if using a darker roast. If that’s how you like your coffee, then drink away!
I like mine mixed with a bit of hot water to make an Americano-style cup of coffee, or mixed with an equal amount of hot milk or cream to make a cafe au lait. Take a peek at current prices for Moka Pots on amazon
Is a French Press better for brewing coffee?
I’m a big fan of the French press, and you can check out my blog and video all about French press coffee brewing.
The perfect pairing for coffee is a fresh, home-baked Scone Recipe.
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