Moka pot are created at a time when espresso machines were very expensive. They allowed the general public to access, at home, coffee close to espresso. It is actually possible with espresso maker moka pot to have a mousse very close to the cream of an espresso. To get there, you have to use some coffees and have some technique.

Let’s see how to make a coffee with an Italian espresso maker moka pot.

Before giving the protocol for a successful coffee with an Italian coffee maker, here are some generalities.

Some generalities

What coffee to use with an espresso maker Moka pot ?

The type of coffee to use with Italian moka pot should have a similar grind to that used for an espresso without being too thin.

• If the grind is too thin, some of the coffee grounds will come up with the water and finally end up in a cup. We agree, this is not the ideal sought.
• If the grind is too big (grind for French press for example), then the extraction will be very light. You will get a coffee that will seem diluted.

Ideally, I recommend weighing the coffee you put in the filter. Thus, you will have a better regularity in your preparations. If you do not have a sufficiently precise scale, I invite you to consult my comparative following this link.

Should we brew the coffee in the filter of a moka pot ?

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No, do not brew the coffee in the filter of moka pot.

Another important thing: try using a spoon to smooth out the small mound of coffee that is in your filter. The idea is to have a regular layer of coffee so that the water has the same density of coffee to cross.

• In case of regular coffee density: the water passes through the coffee homogeneously and has a good extraction.
• In case of uneven coffee density: the water passes through the coffee in a heterogeneous way (it will go through the low density areas first) and we will have a bad extraction (see image below).

Protocol for making a successful coffee with a espresso maker moka pot

• The first thing to do is to fill the water tank up to the safety valve (without exceeding it).
• Then put the filter back on the tank.

• Grind the coffee and grind it into the filter. I recommend you apply the advice I gave you just before: to spread the coffee.

• Once done, you can place the tank with the filter on the fire over low heat. Personally, I do not immediately put the complet moka pot on the fire. In use, I noticed that the top of the coffee maker becomes very hot before the coffee arrives. So when the coffee arrives it will burn with the hot walls of the coffee maker.
• After a few moments, complete the coffeemaker adding the top part. Be careful not to burn yourself.

• Allow the water to warm over low heat. After a while we will hear the coffee maker make noise. All the water has evaporated and the coffee is ready. Be careful not to continue to leave the coffee maker on the fire for too long at risk of burning coffee.

• That’s it, it’s ready, you can enjoy your coffee 🙂

Think that you can easily value the coffee grounds.

How to maintain an Italian coffee maker?

Italian coffeemakers (moka pot type) require a regular change of seals. As soon as it is observed that there is a loss of pressure / steam from the contours of the machine, it is necessary to change the seal. They are often sold by lot, check that they match the diameter of your machine.