Coffee Brew Guide - Stovetop Espresso (Moka Pot)

Do you love espresso but don’t like the cost of buying it on a regular basis? And you don’t want to invest in a bulky, expensive coffee machine for your home. Also, heading to your local coffee shop to get a perfectly pulled shot every morning seems tedious, right?

If you’re a coffee lover who craves espresso every morning, it’s time to consider a stovetop espresso maker. Commonly known as Moka Pot, the stovetop espresso is a staple of Italian culture that helps you brew a perfect espresso-style coffee without investing in a spacious espresso machine. 

Being an unexplored hero in the coffee world, the Moka pot can instantly take your coffee game just okay to out-of-this-world. The pot can easily fit on the burner of your stove, letting you make a great cup of espresso whenever the mood strikes.

Ready to learn how to use a stovetop coffee maker, even if you’re just embarking on your coffee brewing journey?

Here is our detailed guide to making cafe-quality espresso in a Moka pot. From skillfully assembling your brewer and selecting and preparing the beans to pulling the shot, this guide will walk through every step of brewing espresso using a Moka pot.

So, without further ado, let’s explore the brew-tiful world!

Understanding Moka Pot 

The Moka pot (a stovetop coffee maker) was invented by Luigi De Ponti for Alfonso Bialetti in 1933. Also known as the Moka Express, the original aluminum pot gained immense success all over Italy. 

This Italian percolator is well-recognized for its ability to bring commercial espresso-like coffee to the average home. Coffee lovers everywhere, especially in Latin America and Europe, love brewing coffee in the Moka pot to enjoy a rich and tasty shot at home.

Additionally, this easy-to-use coffee maker is suitable for both seasoned baristas and beginners. Also, it features a variety of cup sizes to help you make from one cup to six cups of coffee every morning, every night, and whenever your mood strikes.

The stovetop coffee makers are equipped with safety valves to ensure that the coffee percolator can withstand the high water pressure and temperature that develop during the brewing process. 

How Does Stovetop Coffee Maker Work?

One of the mesmerizing aspects of the Moka pot is its simplicity combined with the ability to produce great espresso shots. This Italian coffee maker flaunts three parts: a bottom chamber for water, a funnel to hold coffee beans, and a top chamber to keep coffee once it is brewed. 

When you add water to the bottom chamber, it gets boiled and makes steam. It reaches enough pressure to push the hot water up the funnel. This hot water reaches the coffee grind and into the top chamber. 

The steam brewing technique used in the Moka pot gives your espresso a wild, bold flavor. This way, the pot brews a rich and thick Moka coffee, which is also known as Italian espresso. 

So, if you want to enjoy a rich, intense coffee that you can use in various ways, go ahead and get yourself a Moka pot!

Our Ultimate Guide to Making Perfect Coffee with a Moka Pot

So, are you ready to brew a perfect espresso shot using an Italian coffee maker? Follow the following step-by-step instructions on how to use a stovetop coffee maker.

Ingredients Needed

• 24g fresh medium-fine-grind (We recommend this )
• Filtered or bottled water 
• Measuring jug 
• Moka pot
• Kettle 
• Mug
• Spoon
• Tea towel
• Coffee grinder 

How to Make Cafe-Style Espresso with a Moka Pot?

Finally, it’s time to brew some liquid happiness!

Step 1: Filling the Moka Pot

The adventurous journey of coffee brewing with a Moka pot starts with grinding coffee beans. 

• Place 24 grams of coffee into a burr coffee grinder and turn it on, and set it to a fine consistency. While any coffee beans will work well, dark roast and espresso roast varieties make your shot the most flavorful. 
• Always make sure to grind coffee beans just before you’re going to use them since fresh ground beans have a stronger and rich flavor.
• Unscrew the top section of the stovetop coffee maker and pull out the filter basket sitting in the bottom chamber. 
• Heat some water in a kettle to pour into the bottom half of the Moka pot. Usually, Moka pots have fill lines. But if there is no fill line, pour hot water just below the steam release valve on the pot’s side. Handle the pot carefully after filling it with hot water since the water will make the metal hot. 

Step 2: Filling the Basket with Fine Grind Coffee

Now it’s time to scoop your finely ground coffee into the filter basket.

• Avoid tamping the coffee down so it’s loosely filled.
• Ensure to level the coffee grounds with the top of the filter basket to avoid spilling out.
• Place the filter basket inside the bottom chamber of the pot.
• Now, screw the top chamber of the Moka pot onto the bottom so it forms a tight seal. 

Step 3: Brewing and Serving Coffee

• Set your Moka pot on the stove’s burner and turn the stove to medium heat. 
• Remove the Moka from the heat once the coffee starts sputtering or gurgling out of the spout from the top chamber.
• Reduce the heat immediately if the coffee almost explodes out of the Moka pot. In contrast, turn the heat slightly if the coffee only rises with no consistency. It will take you 2 to 3 tries to find the perfect heat setting that works for your stovetop coffee maker.
• Once you take the pot off the heat, stir it carefully with a spoon. This will help you mix the stronger coffee that brewed first with the one that brewed last to create a consistent flavor.

So, your liquid happiness is ready to serve! Pour the coffee from the pot into your favorite mug and savor every drop.

It is worth mentioning that the Moka pot coffee can be pretty intense. So, don’t be afraid to add some milk to make a latte or mix in some hot water to enjoy an Americano. Also, you can use about five fluid ounces of Moka pot coffee in place for enjoying a double shot of espresso.

Step 4: Cleaning Your Moka Pot 

Cleaning your Moka pot is essential for maintaining great-tasting coffee. 

• Once the pot cools down, unscrew the top chamber and empty the used grounds into your trash.
• Clean your stovetop espresso maker by running warm water through each section to remove any grounds or coffee residual left inside. 
• Wipe the inside of the Moka pot with a dry paper towel to remove an excess of coffee buildup. 
• Avoid using detergents and putting the Moka pot in the dishwasher since it could damage it.
• Go over all the pot pieces with a soft towel to remove as much water as possible. 
• Make sure to keep the pot in a cool. Dry place when you’re not using it

Wrapping Up!

You should be looking at your empty pot while sipping a lip-smacking cup of espresso if you’ve followed the above-mentioned steps carefully. 

The Moka pot is a vessel of the ultimate flavor and traditions that brings the masterpiece of Italy to your home. With a few simple steps, you can make a rich and finest shot that tastes better than your local espresso cafe.