The Moka Pot sometimes gets a bad rap. And that’s because it produces strong, full-bodied coffee that has a tendency to become bitter when it’s not handled right. Unfortunately that can be easy to do with this brewer because by its very design the Moka Pot uses very, very hot water to brew the coffee. And brewing coffee at high temperatures can start to extract bitter compounds that can leave you with a less than savoury result.

But now we’re finding out better ways to brew with the Moka Pot to counteract those bitter tendencies. And we’re learning to love it again!

So, whether you already love your Moka Pot, or you’re learning to love it, too, our Moka Pot Brew Guide will help you with the best way to use your Moka Pot to create a beautiful brew.

BREW GUIDES: Moka Pot Brew Guide

The Moka Pot works through a process called pressurised brewing. The water is heated in a sealed environment and while that is happening a lot of pressure is created. The pressure eventually causes the water to vaporise and shoot up to the grounds, which then initiates the brewing process. The pressure then forces the coffee liquid up through the funnel, where it fills up the chamber ready to be enjoyed!

The pressurised brewing method makes a nice strong coffee—in fact, it can sometimes be stronger than a regular coffee. So, it’s fantastic for espresso lovers and anyone that loves strong coffee. We have some tips to help you avoid the more bitter results, too! Read on to find out everything you need to know.

The Basics

You’ll need:

Beautifully roasted beans with fine to medium grind
Filtered water
A Moka Pot

Your ratio of coffee to water:

As with all our suggested ratios, give it a try and then personalise it from there.

Steps to Brewing Coffee with a Moka Pot

1. Source beans and grind them (or have them ground) to a fine grind. Tip: We also recommend using freshly roasted 100% arabica coffee with a medium roasted profile. This ensures that you’re working with beans that have caramelized more than a light roast and will most likely contain higher sugar content for those nice fruity, chocolatey and nutty flavours. It will also help stop extractions that can lead to a bitter brew which can usually be found from darker roast profiles as well.

2. Measure out (via weight) to the right amount using the ratio guide on this Moka Pot Brew Guide.

3. Fill the base of the Moka pot with water to just below the release valve (making sure to keep clear of actual valve). Tip: Using already heated water helps the coffee to brew faster and save time.

4. Fill the funnel with weighed ground coffee. Try not to pack the funnel too densely, as this can cause clogging. Once it’s filled, use your finger to level the grounds.

5. Insert the funnel with level coffee grinds into the bottom of the Moka Pot.

6. Tightly screw the upper part of the pot on to the base.

7. Place the Moka Pot on your stovetop burner on medium heat. If you’re using a gas stovetop, make sure the flame stays contained to the bottom of the base and doesn’t rise up around the bottom of your pot or up the sides.

8. As the pot begins to boil, coffee will begin to gurgle out of the centre of the pot. You want it to be a steady stream. If it’s exploding upwards, turn the heat down. And if it’s burbling out too slowly, turn the heat up.

9. When the top of the Moka Pot has your desired amount of espresso and a light caramel coloured crema, remove it from the heat.

10. We recommend using a hand towel to hold the moka pot handle before pouring your coffee into a cup to stop you from getting burnt.

11. Enjoy your Moka Pot coffee (with or without milk)!

12. Remember to discard the grounds (responsibly!).

It’s your coffee!

At the end of the day, it’s your coffee. Our Moka Pot Brew Guide is just that… a guide. If you find that the coffee is too strong or bitter, use a slightly coarser grind. Or you can even try diluting it with a bit of hot water. And if you want to use steamed milk you can find out how to do that on our video (you can skip directly to 3:45)!

If you’ve given up on your Moka Pot because it just wouldn’t produce a nice cup of coffee, why don’t you dig it out of the cupboard and give it another go. The tips in our Moka Pot Brew Guide might be just what you need to learn to love it again! You might be pleasantly surprised!

Our Brew Guides

If you liked our Moka Pot Brew Guide check out our other Brew Guides. You can find out the specifics about other brewing methods, including all our tips and tricks.

We’ve got some excellent coffee beans and blends ready for you and your Moka Pot. Grab a bag at our shop today and give Italy’s number one coffee brewer another go!