Making coffee in a mocha teapot

Making coffee in a mocha teapot

If you like a really strong coffee in a small volume, then a moka pot is ideal for you. One cup is around 50 ml, and in terms of strength, coffee from a moka pot is compared to espresso. Of course, it will never be as strong as true espresso, but it is very similar. After all, that is why Alfonso Bialetti invented it in 1933. He wanted Italians, espresso lovers, to be able to enjoy a strong coffee like from a café in the comfort of their own home. If you have just bought a moka pot, now is the perfect time to find out how to prepare specialty coffee in it so that it is simply fantastic.

Recommended coffee | Grind size | Water | Preparation instructions | Everything for preparation

The main advantage of a moka pot is its very low cost compared to espresso machines. Often, a moka pot for a few hundred can produce significantly better coffee than a coffee machine for 1-5 thousand CZK, or capsule coffee machines.

 

Recommended coffee

Perhaps the most important thing for preparation in a moka pot is the choice of coffee. The coffee should always be as fresh as possible, ideally only a few days from roasting. Do not buy coffee in chain stores, but rather visit a specialized shop that will provide you with freshly roasted coffee. For preparation in a moka pot, we find that intense coffees such as Costa Rica Tarrazu or Kenya Top Masai are perfect. But your imagination has no limits.

Grind size

Coffee for the moka pot should ideally be ground right before preparation. Forget about pre-ground coffees from supermarkets. If you don’t have a grinder, have the coffee ground in a coffee shop and don’t forget to mention that you will be using it in a moka pot. The grind size for a moka pot is finer than for drip, but coarser than for classic espresso, i.e. approximately the consistency of sand.

Water temperature

Opinions differ on whether the water should be warm or cold. Some people find the coffee from a moka pot slightly more burnt when using cold water due to longer heating. Many baristas, however, consider cold water better because of the fuller body of the resulting beverage. Try both and find out which suits you. For the most demanding coffee lovers, we recommend filtered water.

GRIND SIZE: medium-fine grind

With a moka pot, incorrect grinding will show very quickly. Coffee will not flow out gradually from the “volcano,” but will spurt everywhere. In that case, you need to select a medium-fine grind. Conversely, if the coffee tastes too weak, grind it a bit finer.

HOW TO PREPARE COFFEE IN A MOKA POT?

✔ Total preparation time in a moka pot: about 5 minutes, extraction time (the flow) about 1.5 minutes

✔ Amount of coffee: depends on the size of the pot, but ideally fill the funnel in the middle part of the pot completely

We have described the preparation of coffee in a moka pot in more detail for you, even though the actual preparation is simple and basically just involves filling the bottom container with water, filling the middle part with coffee, and placing it on the stove. Yes, it’s really that simple, but if you want truly good coffee, read our instructions below.

Instructions on how to prepare coffee using a moka pot

  1. Fill the bottom container with water (ideally filtered water), up to the level marked by the safety valve.
  2. Grind the coffee medium-fine (see “grind size”).
  3. Insert the funnel and pour in the required amount of ground coffee. For 3 cups of moka coffee, you need 15 g of coffee and about 160 ml of water. The coffee filter should always be full, leveled to the brim. However, if you want weaker coffee, you can remove a small portion of the coffee. Do not tamp the coffee, just smooth its surface and make sure there is no coffee on the edges of the funnel and in the thread. 
  4. Attach the top container and screw it sufficiently tight by twisting (do not press on the handle, otherwise it could break)!
  5. Place the moka pot on the heat source and let it cook. If you are cooking on a gas stove, make sure the flame does not exceed the size of the bottom of the pot and does not go over its edges. Always cook at medium heat to avoid rapid extraction and burning.
  6. Never wait for all the water from the bottom container to rise to the top. The moka coffee will start to overheat and burn over time, and the resulting beverage won’t be as good. Try to remove the pot from the stove just before the extraction finishes, at the moment you hear a pronounced “gurgling” sound. You can also stop the extraction by submerging the moka pot in cold water after it is done.
  7. You can now serve the moka coffee.
  8. After the pot has completely cooled down, unscrew it and clean it (water is enough) and dry it to prevent corrosion! Do not use cleaning products and do not wash in a dishwasher!

Choose from our selection of quality coffee, grinder, coffee machine, French press, moka pot, dripper, cezve and more.

DO YOU WANT TO BUY A MOKA POT?

Dominik Škoda
Article author: Ing. Dominik Škoda
Owner and CEO of GourmetKava s.r.o. operating for 15 years an e-shop with freshly roasted coffee and accessories for alternative coffee preparations. Holder of the prestigious Barista Skill Foundation certificate from The Specialty Coffee Association. He is also a lover of nature, DIY and music.

 

Related products

Bialetti Moka Express 4 Moka kettle Bialetti Moka Express 4 Moka kettle 2
In Stock
Moka kettle Bialetti

Bialetti Moka Express 4 moka kettles

Bialetti
495
The legendary Bialetti Mo ka Express moka pot from the Italian company Bialetti for the traditional preparation of stronger coffee. Suitable for 4 cups, i.e. approx. 190ml.
In stock
€27.90
Bialetti Venus 10 cups, induction moka kettle Bialetti Venus 10 cups, induction moka kettle 2
In Stock
Moka kettle Bialetti

Bialetti Venus 10 cups, induction moka kettle

Bialetti
586
All-stainless luxury mocha pot Bialetti Venus from Italian company Bialetti for traditional preparation of 10 cups of stronger coffee (approx. 450ml). Suitable for induction hobs too!
In stock
€49.90
Moka pot Kaffia 2 cups stainless steel Moka pot Kaffia 2 cups stainless steel 2
In Stock
Stainless steel mug kettle

Moka pot Kaffia 2 cups stainless steel

Kaffia
366
Kaffia stainless steel mocha pot for preparing 2 cups of mocha coffee. A simple preparation method very close to espresso, but at a fraction of the cost. Volume: approx. 137.5 ml. NOTsuitable for induction hobs !
In stock
€12.90
Moka pot Kaffia 4 cups stainless steel Moka pot Kaffia 4 cups stainless steel 2
In Stock
Stainless steel mug kettle

Moka pot Kaffia 4 cups stainless steel

Kaffia
166
Kaffiastainless steel moka pot for preparing 4 cups of mocha coffee. A simple preparation method very close to espresso, but at a fraction of the cost. Volume: approx. 201.5 ml. Suitable for induction hobs.
In stock
€14.90
Moka pot Kaffia 6 cups stainless steel Moka pot Kaffia 6 cups stainless steel 2
In Stock
Stainless steel mug kettle

Moka pot Kaffia 6 cups stainless steel

Kaffia
167
Kaffiastainless steel moka pot for 6 cups of mocha coffee. A simple preparation method very close to espresso, but at a fraction of the cost. Volume: approx. 302.2 ml. It is also suitable for induction hobs!
In stock
€16.90
See the author's articles
Dominik Škoda

Owner and CEO of GourmetKava s.r.o., operating an e-shop for 11 years with freshly roasted coffee and accessories for alternative coffee preparation. Holder of the prestigious Barista Skill Foundation certificate from The Specialty Coffee Association. Also a nature lover, DIY enthusiast, and music fan.

Blog