How to brew coffee with a moka pot

The moka pot is a stovetop brewer that pushes hot water up through a basket of coffee using steam pressure. It makes a strong, concentrated coffee that is good on its own, diluted with hot water or with milk.

Most bitter moka pot coffee comes from too much heat for too long. Starting with hot water and taking the pot off the heat early fixes most of it. Quantities below are for a typical three cup pot; fill your basket and base to their own lines.

Moka pot recipes

Everyday

Start hot, keep the heat low and stop early.

17 g · 1:10 · 4:00 to 5:00

With a paper filter

A round paper filter on top of the coffee for a cleaner cup.

17 g · 1:10 · 4:00 to 5:00

Recipe

The size of your pot sets the amounts, so fill the basket and base to their own lines.

Coffee: 17 g
Water: 170 g
Ratio: 1:10
Water temperature: Start with just-boiled water
Grind: Fine-medium, coarser than espresso
Time: 4:00 to 5:00

What you need

Moka pot
Kettle
Burr grinder
Tea towel or cloth
Stove

Method

1
Boil the kettle and fill the base of the pot with hot water to just below the safety valve.
2
Fill the basket with ground coffee, about 17 g for a three cup pot. Level it with a finger but do not tamp it.
3
Using a cloth, as the base will be hot, screw the top on firmly.
4
Put the pot on a medium-low heat with the lid open.
5
When the coffee starts flowing steadily and turns pale and frothy, take the pot off the heat and run the base under cold water to stop it brewing.
6
Stir the coffee in the top chamber and serve straight away, on its own or with hot water or milk.