How to make coffee in a moka pot

What you need

• A moka pot in the right size. Moka pots work best filled to the top, so choose by the number of cups you usually make.
• Coffee ground for moka: fine, but slightly coarser than espresso.
• Filtered water and a kettle.

Step by step

1. Heat water in a kettle and fill the base to just below the safety valve. Starting with hot water shortens the time on the stove, so the coffee doesn't "cook" and turn bitter.
2. Fill the basket with coffee to the rim and level it with your finger. Don't tamp: pressing blocks the water and adds bitterness.
3. Wipe any grounds off the rim and screw the pot together firmly. The base is hot, so use a towel.
4. Set it on medium-low heat with the lid open so you can watch.
5. The coffee starts to rise in a calm, honey-brown stream. When the stream turns pale and starts to sputter and gurgle, take it off the heat.
6. Stop the brew: run the base under cold water for a few seconds, stir the coffee in the top chamber and pour right away.

Common mistakes

• Heat too high: the coffee rushes up and tastes burnt and bitter.
• Grinding too fine or tamping: water struggles to pass, the cup is bitter and the valve may release pressure.
• Leaving it on until the end: the last gurgle is mostly boiling water and steam, which adds bitterness.
• Soap or the dishwasher: they damage aluminium pots and the taste. Rinse with hot water and let it dry open.

Classic moka pot or Brikka?

Bialetti's Brikka has a special valve that builds more pressure before the coffee rises. The result is closer to espresso, with a pale layer of foam on top. A classic moka pot gives a gentler cup, like a strong filter coffee.

Which coffee for the moka pot

Medium to dark roasts with chocolate and nut notes shine in a moka pot, and with milk. Try Mexico, Peru, El Salvador or Blend 1983, and order them ground especially for you for moka.

Frequently asked questions

How much coffee goes in a moka pot?

Fill the basket to the rim and level it, without tamping. A 3-cup moka pot takes about 15–17 g, and a 6-cup about 28–32 g.

Can I make fewer cups than the pot is made for?

It's better not to. A moka pot is designed to work with a full basket and water just below the valve. A half-empty basket gives watery, uneven coffee, so choose a size that matches what you usually drink.

Why does my moka pot coffee taste bitter?

Usually because the heat is too high, the coffee was tamped or ground too fine, or the pot stayed on the stove through the final sputtering. Medium-low heat, hot water from the kettle and taking it off when the stream turns pale fix most cases.

When should I replace the moka pot gasket?

When steam or coffee starts escaping between the two halves, or when the gasket hardens and loses its flexibility. With daily use that's roughly once a year. We stock gaskets and filter plates for every Bialetti size.