How to Make Delicious Coffee with a Moka Pot

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Enjoy a coffeehouse flavor in the comfort of your own home

Co-authored by Lois Wade and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: September 29, 2024 Fact Checked

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Filling the Moka Pot

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Brewing and Serving Coffee

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Cleaning

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Video

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Q&A

ARTICLE

VIDEO

Do you want to make strong, flavorful coffee at home on a budget? Then a Moka pot is the perfect way to brew your next cup. This classic coffee maker makes super smooth coffee that tastes similar to espresso without needing a fancy machine. Moka pots are great alternatives to drip machines and they’re so easy to use too. Keep reading and we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about brewing your first coffee and maintaining your Moka pot for years to come!

Things You Should Know

Fill the bottom of your Moka pot with hot water up to the fill line. Grind coffee beans to the same consistency as table salt.
Add the coffee grounds to the pot’s filter and set it inside the bottom portion of the pot. Screw on the top half of your Moka pot.
Put the Moka pot over medium heat for 5–10 minutes. When the coffee starts bubbling and gurgling, remove the pot from heat and serve your coffee.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Filling the Moka Pot

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1
Grind coffee beans to the consistency of table salt. Place 18–20 grams (0.63–0.71 oz) of coffee beans into a burr coffee grinder and turn it on. Set your grinder to a fine consistency that’s similar to salt or sugar for the perfect, flavorful brew.^{[1]
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- While any coffee beans will work, espresso roast and dark roast varieties will make your cup the most flavorful.
- Always grind coffee beans just before you are going to use it since fresh grounds have a stronger flavor.
2
Pour hot water into the bottom half of the Moka pot up to the fill line. Unscrew the top section of your Moka pot and pull out the filter basket sitting in the bottom half, which is called the boiler. Use the hottest water from the tap or heat some up in a kettle to pour into the boiler. If there is no fill line, fill up the boiler to just below the steam release valve on the side of the pot.^{[2]
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- Using hot water reduces the amount of time that it takes for the coffee to brew, and also prevents the grounds from overheating or burning.
- Be careful when you’re handling your Moka pot after you fill it since the water will make the metal very hot.
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3
Place the ground coffee into the filter basket. Scoop your coffee grounds into the filter basket so it’s loosely filled. Avoid tamping the coffee down because water won’t be able to move through the grounds if they’re too tightly packed. Level the coffee grounds with the top of the filter basket so they don’t spill out.^{[3]
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- If you overfill your Moka pot filter, the grounds may prevent a tight seal when you screw the top back on, or you may have grounds in your coffee once it’s finished brewing.
4
Assemble the Moka pot. Place the filter basket so it sits inside of the bottom boiler of your pot. Then, screw the top of the Moka pot onto the bottom so it forms a tight seal.^{[4]
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- Hold the boiler base with a towel if it is too hot to the touch.

Part 2

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Brewing and Serving Coffee

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1
Heat the Moka pot over medium heat for 5–10 minutes. Set your Moka pot on a burner that’s close to the same size as the pot’s base, and turn the stove to medium heat. As the water heats up in the bottom portion, it percolates up through the coffee grounds into the top portion. Once the coffee starts gurgling or sputtering out of the spout in the top half of the pot, remove it from the heat.^{[5]
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- Avoid leaving your Moka pot over heat when it’s nearly finished. The residual heat will finish brewing your coffee without giving it a burnt flavor.
- If the coffee rises very fast and almost explodes out of the Moka pot, reduce the heat. If the coffee only rises in tiny droplets with no consistency, turn the heat up slightly. It may take a few tries to find the perfect heat setting that works for your Moka pot.
Once you take the Moka pot off the heat, carefully stir it. This helps mix the strong coffee that brewed first with the weaker coffee that brewed last to create a smooth, consistent flavor.^{[6]
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Serve the Moka pot coffee immediately. Pour the coffee from your Moka pot into your favorite mug and enjoy it while it’s still steaming hot and fresh. If you want to sweeten your coffee, stir in a little bit of sugar, honey, syrup or vanilla extract before taking a sip.^{[7]
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Research source} Moka pot coffee can be quite strong, so don’t be afraid to add hot water to make an Americano or mix in some milk for to create a latte.^{[8]
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- Even though Moka pot coffee is similar to true espresso, it’s not exactly the same. True espresso is usually a little thicker and brewed under more intense pressure than what you can achieve with your Moka pot. Use about 5 fluid ounces (150 ml) of Moka pot coffee in place of a double shot of espresso.
- Be careful when you take your first sips since the coffee could be hot and burn your tongue.

Part 3

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Cleaning Your Moka Pot

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1
Rinse your Moka pot with hot water after each use. Once your Moka pot cools down, unscrew the top half and empty the used grounds into your trash. Clean your Moka pot by running warm water through each section to remove any residual coffee or grounds left inside.^{[9]
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- If you notice an excess of coffee buildup, wipe the inside of the pot with a dry paper towel.
- Avoid using soap or detergents on your Moka pot since the coffee oils that build up inside help add more flavor to your drinks.
- Avoid putting your Moka pot in the dishwasher or using harsh abrasives since you could damage it.^{[10]
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Dry each piece of your Moka pot by hand with a clean towel. Thoroughly go over all the pieces of your Moka pot with a soft, clean towel to remove as much of the water as you can. Once you finish drying your Moka pot, leave it out to completely air-dry for a few hours before reassembling it.^{[11]
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- Keep your Moka pot in a cool, dry place like your pantry or a kitchen cabinet when you’re not using it.
3
Heat vinegar in your Moka pot every few weeks. If you notice hard water or clogs in the filter, fill the bottom half of your Moka pot with distilled white vinegar up to the fill line. Reassemble your Moka pot without any grounds and place it over medium heat to run the vinegar through it. Once the vinegar fills the top half of the pot, dump it out and rinse the pot with warm water.^{[12]
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- Vinegar acts as a descaler and cleaner to break down hard water stains and small particles inside the filter basket.

Community Q&A

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Question

What type of coffee do I use?

Community Answer

Ask some people around you what they like, then go try some different brands/kinds until you find out what you like.

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How to make cappucino without a frother?

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All you need is a microwave-safe jug and milk. Pour in the milk, shake it for 30 seconds, then microwave it for 30 - 40 seconds. The milk should come out foamy; take the foam and make a cappuccino.

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Why does my pot only brew about 1/3 cup and then only steam comes out?

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It sounds like you need to add more water. If not, you may need a new pot.

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