What size of Moka pot do I need?

If you don't have an espresso machine at home (like most of us), this method can create an espresso cup without one.

The Moka pot is an Italian stovetop coffee maker designed in the mid-1930s by Alfonso Bialetti. You can find it made of stainless steel or aluminum. Although the original Moka pots material was made of aluminum, we recommend using the stainless steel version. 

It uses a bottom-pressure system that sends boiling water through ground coffee held in a filter basket and then allows the brewed coffee to go up to the top, where it can be already served once the extraction is finished.

Also known as a stovetop espresso maker, this Coffee Maker consists of three chambers:

1. One for water
2. Another for the coffee grounds
3. The third for receiving the brewed coffee includes a gasket, also called "upper chamber".

This is a low-maintenance coffee maker; you only need to change the gasket once it is dry or melted after some months/years of use. If you don't change it, the pressure escapes through cracks in the gasket.

Another cool thing is that the Moka pot is compatible if you have an induction stove.

Image by Techabettor

 

There are many differences between an espresso machine and a moka pot, the main we would say is this coffee maker doesn't build up enough pressure to create a true espresso crema.

But if you follow these steps you will prepare a great espresso-like americano.

What grind is used in the Moka pot?

You should use fine ground coffee, not super fine like an espresso machine, but finer than in a drip coffee maker. 

If you have a grinder at home, try using the finest setting and go from there, test depending on your coffee beans and find a fine setting that doesn't block your moka pot filter.

How To Prepare a Moka Pot Coffee

You will need the following:

• Ground Coffee medium roast.

• Hot water at 195 F / 90C

• A Moka Pot Coffee Maker (Bialetti Moka Pot is our favorite brand)

Directions:

• Fill the basket/funnel for a single or double cup with Coffee: A mark is inside the basket to guide you with a single/double charge.
  
  
• Then, tamp a little of the coffee in the basket (not too much not to block the water flow when brewing).
  
  
• Fill the lower portion with hot water over the chamber valve.
  
  
• Place the Moka pot into fire/heat for about 4 minutes or until the brew comes out in the collector part.
  
  
• When all the coffee rises to the upper chamber, remove the Moka pot immediately and serve; we want to stop the heating process to avoid burning your coffee (we don't want a bitter cup). Alternatively, you can cool the Moka under the tap with cold water, thus preventing it from heating up and burning the coffee.

Why don't we use grams or milliliters?

Bialetti Moka Pot Sizes by FriedCoffee

This all depends on the size of your Moka Pot! You can find 1, 3, 6, 9, or more cup sizes.

What size of Moka pot get for one person?

We recommend a 3 cups size Moka Pot for one person (they come in European sizes, like an Espresso Cup) and fill it to double line.

For 2 people we recommend using a 6 cup size, since this coffee maker gives a concentrated coffee you can split the liquid in two coffee cups and add water to your taste to have a nice americano.

 

What type of coffee roast is recommended for a moka pot?

Medium roast is vital since young generations don't love this method due to our grandparent's traditions: they've always used dark roast=super bitter coffee.

If you are a fan of complex flavors and still looking for an intense cup, Medium-Dark is the perfect roast, simply because this coffee maker works with high temperatures, and we don't want to burn your coffee extraction quickly.

On the other hand, if you like an Americano Espresso result (strong coffee), use a medium roast coffee, and be careful with the extraction time, which can vary between 4-8 minutes.

You will pour your moka pot extraction and then add some extra hot water to make your black coffee as you have it in your favorite coffee shop.

 

Instant coffee for a Moka Pot?

This is a total NO. This method uses a funnel chamber to infuse natural coffee grounds to deliver a delicious full-bodied cup.

An instant coffee passes through a chemical process to dissolve in water (which is not natural) and will deliver a weird, unpleasant coffee flavor.

Super Tip: If you use hot water to fill the stovetop espresso maker, this is going to help to reduce the preparation time since the water is taking less time to reach the boiling temperature and, therefore, won't burn your coffee.

 

How to clean your Moka pot?

Contrary to the myth, you must clean it with soap to remove the coffee oils. Soap is the only thing that will remove grease; be sure to rinse well afterward. Drying it well with kitchen paper is essential to avoid mold formation.

Annnnd! use non-scented soap, we had many times coffee cups and coffee makers with soap smell/taste when drinking our coffee, what a downer!

* Tips*

• Always use heated water to prepare the moka pot; it is going to be a faster process
• Use a timer to measure when the coffee starts to emerge from the top. This will provide an accurate measurement of the length of time the coffee was in contact with the water. Ex. 27 seconds extraction.
• Put a bit of cold water in the top part of the Moka; this way, you avoid a temperature shock when the coffee starts coming out, but mainly to not burn it.
• When the coffee is halfway up, turn down the fire to avoid the aggressive coffee expulsion from the "hole."
• Close it when it's done and immediately turn off the fire and take the moka pot under water (it can be under the faucet) to stop the heated metal from burning your coffee.

Recipe Flash Card

Moka Pot Coffee Recipe	Prep Time: 2 min
	Cook Time: 8 min total
	Total Time: 10 min
Enjoy a delicious, smooth, and strong coffee without the hustle.
Ingredients	Servings: 1
-Fine ground Killer Coffee medium roast.
-Hot water at 195 F / 90C
-A Moka Pot Coffee Maker (Bialetti is our favorite brand)
Directions
1.-Fill the basket/funnel for single or double cup with Coffee: There is a mark inside the basket to guide you with single/double charge.
2.-Then, tamp a little the coffee in the basket (not too much to not block the water flow when brewing).
3.-Fill the lower portion with hot water over the chamber valve.
4.-Place the Moka pot into fire/heat for about 4 minutes or until the coffee starts to come out in the collector part.
5.-When all the coffee is up, remove the Moka pot immediately and serve, we want to stop the heating process to avoid burn your coffee (we don't want a bitter cup ).
Note:
If you use hot water to fill the Moka pot, this is going to help to reduce the preparation time since the water is taking less time to reach the boiling temperature and, therefore, won't burn your coffee.

ALSO, TRY THESE RECIPES:

Cold Brew Recipe: Prepare a Coffee Concentrate that lasts 14 days

French Press Recipe: How to prepare a French Press Coffee?

Coffee Maker Recipe: A better way to prepare coffee with your machine at home