Last updated on October 22nd, 2024
Do you love Italian coffee but you’re worried about not being able to make it correctly at home?
Maybe you think you can’t make Italian coffee because you don’t have a fancy espresso maker.
Well, here in Italy almost every Italian starts their morning with coffee from a Moka pot, not some fancy machine that costs hundreds of dollars!
In this article, I will show you how to make coffee in a moka pot in 8 easy steps. I will guide you through specific instructions, picture guides and answer every question you might have, from coffee grinds and espresso drinks to cleaning and storing your Moka pot.
Learn More: Read about the 40+ Ways to Drink Coffee in Italy and Coffee in Italy – Types & How to Order!
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What Is A Moka Pot?
A Moka pot is a coffee maker that produces coffee by heating water and through stream pressure, the water is filtered through the coffee grinds into the top chamber of the pot.
Fun Fact: The most famous of all Moka pots is the Bialetti Moka invented in 1933 by Alfonso Bialetti and is today the most commonly sold and used brand in Italy.
The moka pot consists of:
- a bottom chamber
- a filter funnel
- a top chamber with a second removable filter (which needs to be changed from time to time), held in place by a rubber gasket
The Moka pot also comes in an electric version, as opposed to the classic stovetop version.
Gift It: A Moka pot is one of my top picks for Handpicked Gifts for Italian Food Lovers.
Moka Pot Pronunciation in Italian
Moka pot is simply called Moka in Italian. Moka is pronounced moh-kah in Italian.
Listen to the pronunciation of Moka:
The Difference Between A Moka Pot And An Espresso Machine
The Moka pot passes pressurized hot water through a filter with coffee grounds into a top chamber in anywhere from 4-10 minutes, depending on the Moka pot size and heat source with about 1-3 bars of pressure.
An espresso machine uses a very fast method of brewing espresso with about 9-10 bars of pressure.
For this reason, Moka pot coffee is technically not espresso. It also does not have thin golden cream or crema as it’s called in Italian on top as a true espresso does that is made from an espresso machine.
Good To Know: Use Moka pot coffee interchangeably with espresso in coffee drinks.
Moka Pot Size
Moka pots come in various sizes, depending on how much coffee you want to make. Here are the most standard sizes you will come across:
| Moka Pot Size | Fluid Oz of Coffee it Makes | Milliliters of Coffee it Makes |
| 1-cup | 2 | 60 |
| 3-cup | 6.5 | 200 |
| 6-cup | 10 | 300 |
| 9-cup | 18.5 | 550 |
| 12-cup | 25 | 775 |
Parts Of The Moka Pot
Bottom Chamber
Also known as the heating vessel, the bottom chamber is where the cold water is added.
Valve
The valve marks the level to which water should be added to the bottom chamber.
Funnel
The funnel is where the coffee grinds are added to the Moka pot.
Gasket
The gasket is a small rubber ring that helps to seal the filter plate to the upper chamber and keep the Moka pot pressurized under heat.
Filter Plate
The filter plate is what keeps the coffee grinds from making their way into the upper chamber.
Upper Chamber
Also known as the coffee collector, this is where the brewed coffee is pushed up into through steam.
Best Grind for Making Coffee With A Moka Pot
You should be using coffee that is ground finely but not quite as fine as espresso grade. It should be similar to table salt.
If you want to grind your own coffee, look for an espresso grade such as Lavazza, a famous and reliable Italian brand comparable to Illy.
If you buy coffee, you can find ground coffee specifically made for the Moka pot such as this one. If you can only find espresso grade ground coffee such as what Illy makes, that will do.
Italian Coffee Brands: Learn all about Italian Coffee Brands – To Enjoy in Italy and at Home
Step-By-Step Instructions To Make Coffee With A Moka Pot
- Fill the bottom chamber with cold (preferably filtered) water up to the bottom level of the valve on the side.
- Insert the filter.
- Grind your coffee slightly finer than for a drip coffee, about the size of table salt.
- Fill the filter with ground coffee, just slightly mounded but do not pack it down.
- Screw the two chambers tightly together.
- Place the Moka pot on the stove over low heat, being sure the handle is not directly over the flame.
- Remove the Moka pot from heat just when coffee starts to gurgle and whistle, being careful not to let the coffee boil in the top chamber, ensuring the best possible coffee.
- Open the lid and mix the coffee with a spoon before pouring into small cups.
Listen to the gurgle and whistle sound you want to listen for when making coffee in a moka pot here:
Tips For Making Coffee With A Moka Pot
- Use filtered, cold water for the best coffee
- Don’t overpack the coffee, which can lead to
- Don’t over tighten the two chambers
- Use low heat to avoid burning the coffee
- Make sure the filter and rubber gasket are in place
- Be careful not to burn yourself when picking the moka pot up after brewing. The handle shouldn’t be too hot but depending on how it was positioned on the flame it can burn it.
- Remove the Moka pot from the flame as soon as the coffee rises into the top chamber.
Troubleshooting For Making Coffee With A Moka Pot
The Coffee Isn’t Rising Into The Top Chamber
This does happen from time to time. The trick is to remove the pot from the heat, tip it slightly to an angle and run the bottom chamber until cold, running water for a few seconds (turning it as you do this). Return to the heat and the coffee should rise.
The Coffee Tastes Soapy
Soap accidentally got into the pot when you were doing dishes. Moka pots should be rinsed out without soap. I recommend cleaning the pot before you start washing dishes with soap to avoid this.
The Coffee is Overly Bitter
You may have filled the filter too much with coffee grinds. Just slightly mount it, ever so slightly but do not pack it down.
The Coffee Has A Burnt Taste
Remove the Moka pot from the flame as soon as the coffee rises into the top chamber. Once the coffee is brewed, it will continue to “cook” and taste burnt if it’s left on the heat source. You can also try lowering the heat as it brews.
Very Little Coffee Has Been Brewed
There are several reasons for this:
- You have packed the coffee too much into the filter
- You used not enough water in the lower chamber
- The filter is dirty and needs to be either cleaned well or replaced
Ways To Use Moka Pot Coffee
Moka Pot coffee can really be used for any coffee drink. In Italy, we use it at home to make almost any kind of standard coffee that you can buy at a bar. Here are some of the most popular ways it’s used in Italy:
- Caffè Latte: Espresso mixed with hot milk
- Cappuccino: Italy’s favorite breakfast drink made with espresso, steamed milk and foamed milk
- Macchiato: an espresso finished with just a drop of foamed milk.
- Caffè Freddo: Iced coffee. Just let your moka pot coffee chill before serving over ice. Add sugar to hot coffee and let cool or sweeten with simple syrup when cold
- Affogato: an easy Italian dessert made with ice cream and espresso
- Caffè Corretto: a ‘corrected’ coffee
Make Affogato: Follow our step-by-step instructions for Italian Affogato Recipe – Italy’s Five-Minute Dessert
Italian Coffee Drinks: Read more in 47 Ways to Drink Coffee in Italy + Pronunciations and try replicating some of these at home with a Moka pot.
Where To Buy An Italian Moka Pot
Nowadays it’s very easy to find real Moka pots outside of Italy. In the US you can find them at specialty coffee shops or gourmet food stores but the easiest way is to purchase online at Amazon. They have various sizes and brands but my favorite (along with all Italians) is the Bialetti Express.
Check for sizes and pick a size that suits your personal needs or your family size. My family of 6 has the 2-cup, 3-cup and 6-cup.
Fact: Moka pots cost a fraction of the price in Italy which is why they are one of our top picks for Handpicked Gifts for Italian Food Lovers and Best Italian Food Gifts to Bring Back From Italy.
Moka Pots For Induction Burners
The classic Moka pot is not suited for induction burners but Bialetti has come out with a version that is compatible. The Bialetti Venus is sleek and elegant and will work on both an open flame and with an induction burner.
Moka Pot Maintenance
Caring for your Moka pot is just as important as using it to brew coffee.
How To Clean A Moka Pot
- Wait until the Moka pot is cool enough to handle
- Separate the two chambers and remove the filter.
- Rinse the two chambers and the filter well with hot water being sure to remove any coffee grinds on the gasket and filter plate.
- Allow to dry thoroughly before screwing chambers back together.
How to Store A Moka Pot
You should screw the two chambers lightly together and place the filter upside down on top of the small column in the upper chamber where the brewed coffee comes out, allowing the lid of the top chamber to remain propped open.
Replacing Parts of Your Moka Part
Keep in mind that the gasket and sometimes filter plate need to be replaced. If you have trouble brewing your coffee with a Moka pot then you might need to replace one or both of these.
The gasket should be replaced on a periodic basis, every three months (or when it becomes very discolored or visibly damaged).
The filter plate does not need to be replaced unless you are having problems when brewing your coffee and it cannot be solved using our troubleshooting techniques.
How to Make Coffee in a Moka Pot
Equipment
- 1 Moka pot
Materials
- ground coffee enough to fill the filter of the Moka pot
Instructions
- Fill the bottom chamber with cold (preferably filtered) water up to the bottom level of the valve on the side.
- Insert the filter.
- Grind your coffee slightly finer than for a drip coffee, about the size of table salt.
- Fill the filter with ground coffee, just slightly mounded but do not pack it down.
- Screw the two chambers tightly together.
- Place the Moka pot on the stove over low heat, being sure the handle is not directly over the flame.
- Remove the Moka pot from heat just when coffee starts to gurgle and whistle, being careful not to let the coffee boil in the top chamber, ensuring the best possible coffee.
- Open the lid and mix the coffee with a spoon before pouring into cups.
Making Coffee In A Moka Pot FAQ
It’s not quite as strong but it’s very close. You can use it in place of espresso made by an espresso machine in any coffee drink in even parts. By definition, it’s not exactly the same because it’s not made with the same amount of pressure and does not have a slight golden foam on top.
You can change the strength of Moka pot coffee in two ways: Either change the grind by using a coarse grind or you can add hot water to your brewed Moka coffee.
Made in Italy in 1933 by Alfonso Bialetti, the Bialetti moka is the preferred brand among Italians and despite the increase in one-cup pod coffee makers, such as Nespresso, you won’t find a home in Italy that doesn’t have a Moka pot.
You should use a grind that is slightly courser than espresso grade, about the size of table salt. It’s better not to use an espresso grade because it can clog the filter. If you only hav espresso grade, don’t sweat it, it will be fine.
The coffee from a Moka pot is done when it begins to whistle or a small hiss sound escapes from the top chamber. Remove from the heat immediately when you hear this or the coffee can burn.
You can put less coffee in but it will result in a different coffee than what is typically made. Most likely, the coffee will be over extracted because there wasn’t the correct ratio of coffee to water.
You should not wash a Moka pot with soap under any circumstances because the flavor can remain in the pot. Rinse well with warm water and set to dry completely before putting away.
