What is a moka pot?
And no, it's not just for making mochas
What is it?
The moka pot is a coffee maker that works by pushing water through coffee grounds using vaporized pressure. There are two variants: the stovetop (the most popular) or electric. There are a few key compartments to this device, the first being the water heater at the bottom, which, you've guessed it, heats the water that will pass through the coffee in the funnel that sits on top. This results in the collection of espresso-like coffee in the collector chamber. If you want to dilute your coffee to make an americano or latte, for example, you can do this easily by adding boiled water or steamed milk.
Its origins lie in Piedmont in northern Italy, created by Italian engineer Otello Amletto Spadini upon agreement with aluminum vendor Alfonso Bialetti; the rest is history. This name might be familiar to you if you own a moka pot yourself—the Bialetti Moka Pot Express is one of the most popular models out there today.
Why is the moka pot still so popular today?
One of the reasons why you may want to opt for the humble moka pot over something like an espresso machine is the cost. Like it's similar French counterpart, the cafetiere or french press, the moka pot is fairly inexpensive, ranging from anything between $10-40 (£15-30).
Also, given the right technique, it is easy to use with little time or effort—all you need is a stove and the thing itself—oh, and coffee (duh). Perfect for camping trips where instant coffee just won't cut it!
Also, if you want to impress people by possessing a rustic sophistication, telling them you use a moka pot might just do that. Or if you want to be subtle, put it on display on your countertop, and your kitchen will look like any Pinterest lover's dream.
The perfect moka recipe
The benefits of a moka pot are that it practically weighs everything for you. The size of your Moka pot will determine the amount of coffee that you use. The general rule of thumb is to use around a 1:10-1:12 coffee to water ratio. So for a 3 cup Moka pot, you’d need to grind around 12–15 grams of coffee beans depending on the roast and the exact grind size you’re using, and use around 144–180 ml of pre-boiled water.
You're not going to get more than three cups out of a moka pot so savor the flavor (Image Credit: Hips Social)
It's also a good idea to level off the ground coffee once you’ve placed it into your coffee basket. You can do this either with your hand or with the edge of a knife (please resist the urge to tamp it!).
For a three-cup Moka pot
- 12-15g coffee beans
- 144-180ml pre-boiled water
- A tea towel (to screw the top and bottom half together, burn-free)
- Something to level off the coffee with
- Coffee grinder
- Set of scales or V60 measuring cup / measuring jug
Process notes
Like the cafetiere, the filter in a moka pot has large holes that finer grinds can easily pass through. So protect your cup of coffee from grainy granules and use a medium to fine grind!
It's also important to bear in mind that the finer the grind, the quicker the coffee will heat up, increasing the chances of overheating, which will leave it with a bitter taste. On the topic of heating, it's also important to remember that the type of hob you have will determine the efficiency of your Moka Pot.
If using an electric hob, it's a good idea to pre-heat it so the water boils more evenly. If using an induction hob, you’ll need to use slightly different equipment if you want to use a moka pot; otherwise, you may be waiting a very long time for your cup of coffee. Moka pots are usually made out of aluminum, which will not create the magnetism that induction hobs use to function. So you'll either need an induction-safe moka pot, like you would with pots and pans, or an induction adaptor.