Moka Pot – Tips For How to Brew

If you’re like most people, then you rely on coffee for your morning energy boost. But sometimes it’s a hassle having to go out to buy a decent cup.

What if you could brew a delicious, rich espresso without needing any electricity or expensive equipment?

Well, you can — by using a Moka pot.

What is a Moka Pot?

The Moka pot relies on simple physics to brew deliciously rich coffee. A Moka pot is made of stainless steel and consists of three chambers that house the water, a hopper with the coffee grounds, and the finished brew.

Once you put the pot on the hot stovetop, the water begins to heat up. This creates steam that forces the water up, through the coffee grounds, and into the top chamber, where the finished blend is ready to be poured and enjoyed. The pressure creates a rich, espresso-style coffee with a nice crema, without an expensive espresso machine.

The Origin of the Moka Pot

The Moka pot was invented in Italy during the 1930s by a metalworker named Alfonso Bialetti. One day, he was inspired by examining his washing machine and created a coffee-maker based on a similar mechanism.

Moka pots gave the average person the ability to make delicious espresso in their own kitchen, and by the 1950s, they were all the rage.

Moka Pot Brewing Guide

Wondering how to use your Moka pot? Follow these simple steps to brew delicious Moka pot espresso:

Step one: Bring water to a boil and pour it into the bottom chamber of the pot.

Step two: Grind some quality coffee beans and put the granules into the filter basket. Make sure to fill the entire basket and level off the top.  But don’t worry about packing or tamping it in like an espresso hopper.

Step three: Screw the top and bottom of the Moka pot in place.

Step four: Put the pot on the stovetop, being sure to use medium heat. You want the flames to stay under your pot and not creep up the sides – so use your smallest burner.  Brewing your Moka pot coffee should take about 5 minutes. If it’s taking longer, then turn up the heat, but only a little! You don’t want to burn the coffee.

Step five: Watch as the coffee is forced up into the top compartment. Once you hear a gurgling sound coming from the pot (or it’s about 80% of the way up to the top), the coffee is ready to pour.

Step six: Take your Moka pot off the heat and cool it down by putting it straight onto a cold towel. This will prevent over-extraction.

How to Get the Best Coffee

Finding the best kind of coffee for your Moka pot will take some experimenting. Try different ones to find your favorite. For example, a fine grind might yield a rich, dark espresso. But if you don’t like your coffee too bitter, you may want to try a coarser grind.

Make sure to use the amount of water and coffee that your pot was designed for. If you try to use too much or too little, you may either be too weak or too bitter coffee. Be sure not to fill the water chamber above the pressure valve.

Types of Moka Pots

The original Moka pot was made for use on a stovetop burner, but these days, it’s also possible to buy electric Moka pots. Most coffee nuts would agree that the stovetop variety is the best one, as a stovetop Moka pot makes for a more authentic coffee experience.

With a stovetop Moka pot, you have to control the heat manually. Because of this, there’s always a chance you might accidentally burn your coffee. With an electric pot, there’s no chance of this happening. All you have to do is push a button and wait! Easy peasy.

But what’s the best Moka pot? That’s for you to decide.

Result of Moka Pot Brewing

Because of the way a Moka pot works, the coffee isn’t as concentrated as a regular espresso. Having said that, if you follow our Moka pot instructions above, you can expect a rich and delicious cup of brew that rivals any coffee you’ve had before.

Shop Our Coffee

Now that you know how to make great-tasting coffee on your stovetop using this unique, decades-old Italian coffee maker, why not consider giving Moka pot brewing a try?

But first, you’re going to need some top-notch Hugo Coffee beans.

For that, we welcome you to check out our selection of coffee. All our beans are ethically sourced and sustainably roasted. With every online purchase, we are able to support small animal rescues throughout the nation.

Try a cup in your Moka pot today. And if you think our coffee is as tasty as we do, remember to leave a review!