How to Brew the Perfect Moka Pot Coffee
A moka pot turns your stovetop into a tiny Italian café, no barista, no $2,000 machine, just you and a little bit of pressure doing its thing. It brews a bold, rich, concentrated cup that sits right between espresso and drip. Strong enough to wake you up, smooth enough to keep you coming back. Affordable, durable, and compact, it is the kind of coffee maker that proves you do not need fancy gear to make something seriously good.
What You’ll Need
Coffee - 30g
Chutzpah's Choice - Morning Maccabee
Grind Size - Medium-Fine, 11 on a Baratza Encore/ 14 clicks on a Timemore Chestnut C2
Moka Pot - we recommend a Bialetti Brand moka pot
Water - 300mL Use filtered water for best results!
Ratio - 1:10
Brew Time: ~5 to 7 minutes if using 30 g coffee. Time scales up if using a bigger moka pot.
Step by Step Brew Guide
- Prep the pot. Place your grinds in the moka pot. make sure the funnel is close to full. Most standard sized moka pots take ~30g of coffee, but if your funnel needs more you will just need to add more water in the next step. It is important your funnel is relatively full.
- Load in the water. Fill your base with the water, we recommend using boiling water to ease extraction and speed up brew time. While your water is boiling, pre heat the stove to a medium heat.
- Close the brewer! Be careful, because the base can be hot. We recommend using a towel when sealing the moka pot together. Pro tip: before sealing the moka pot, put a wet AeroPress filter on top of the grounds for an extra smooth cup!
- The brew. Put your moka pot on the stove top with the lid open. Watch carefully for the coffee to emerge from the spout. Lower the heat if needed to keep the flow steady, the second it starts to sputter or gurgle, remove it from the heat. If you are able, run the base under cold water to stop the brewing process.
- Enjoy! The delicious coffee should be ready to pour and enjoy! Drink it straight or enjoy in latte style drinks!
What You Should Taste
When you nail it, the moka pot gives you a bold, rich, concentrated cup that can be treated like espresso.
Tips and Adjustments
Adjusting for Light Roasts:
Light roasts are denser and harder to extract, do the following to ensure a better brew:
Grind a touch finer
Extend your brew time
Adjusting for Dark Roasts:
Dark roasts extract faster and can get bitter, do the following to ensure a better brew:
Grind a touch coarser
Shorten your brew time
Pro Tips
Use fresh coffee! A fresh roast means better extraction and stronger flavor
Coffee Feedback
Every bean is different! If your coffee tastes bitter, you most likely over extracted, follow the same adjustments for darker roasts. If your coffee tastes sour or watery, you most likely under extracted, follow the same adjustments for lighter roasts.
Enjoy your perfect cup!
L'chaim!