Moka Pot: Espresso-Style Brew
The Moka Pot is your stovetop gateway to rich, espresso-like coffee.
What You Need:
Finely Ground Coffee: Finer than pour-over, but not espresso-fine. Enough to fill the filter basket.
Hot Water: Pre-heated.
Moka pot: enough for the relevant serving
The Steps:
Fill the Base: Pour hot water into the bottom chamber, up to just below the safety valve. Hot water is best to avoid overheating the coffee and causing bitterness
Add Coffee: Fill the filter basket with ground coffee. Level it off, but don't tamp.
Assemble: Screw the top chamber onto the base tightly.
Heat: Place on medium-low heat.
Listen: As soon as you hear a gurgling, hissing sound, remove it from the heat as immediately and run the base under running cold water to stop the boil.
Serve: Pour and enjoy!
Top Tip: Don't let the Moka Pot boil dry!
Taste Tweaks:
Strength:
Stronger: The Moka Pot is inherently strong aka heavier coffee taste vs more watered down flavour. To make it even stronger, use a slightly finer grind (but be careful not to go too fine, or it will clog).
Weaker: Use a slightly coarser grind and/or remove the pot from the heat a little earlier, before the gurgling gets too intense. You can also dilute the finished coffee with a little hot water (making it more like an Americano).
Bitterness: Moka Pot coffee can be prone to bitterness.
Less Bitter: Use a coarser grind, lower heat, and pre-heated water. Make sure you remove the pot from the heat as soon as it starts gurgling. Don't overfill the coffee basket.
Acidity:
Try using a lighter roast of coffee.
See our home brewing fundamentals guide on how to get the best out of your beans!