A moka pot makes strong, rich coffee on the hob. It is not true espresso, because it brews at much lower pressure than an espresso machine. What you get is a short, strong coffee to drink as it is or top up with hot water or milk. We sell the Pezzetti Steelexpress in 2 cup, 4 cup and 6 cup sizes, and the Italexpress aluminium 6 cup. The coffees that suit them best are in our dark roast collection.
What you need
- A moka pot. It has three parts: the base, which holds the water, the funnel-shaped basket, which holds the coffee, and the top, which collects the brewed coffee.
- Ground coffee, a little coarser than espresso. More on grind below.
- A kettle. Starting with hot water means the pot spends less time on the heat, which helps stop the coffee tasting cooked.
- A gas or electric hob. Induction depends on the pot, see below.
- A tea towel, because the base will be hot when you screw the pot together.
How to use a moka pot, step by step
- Boil the kettle. Unscrew the pot and fill the base with hot water to just below the safety valve, the small round valve on the side. Never fill above it.
- Fill the basket with ground coffee until it is level with the rim. Do not press or tamp it down. Run a finger across the top to level it and brush any loose grounds off the rim.
- Put the basket in the base. Holding the base with a tea towel, screw the top on firmly. It needs to be tight enough not to leak, but there is no need to force it.
- Put the pot on a medium-low heat with the lid open. On gas, keep the flame under the base so it does not creep up the sides or reach the handle.
- Coffee will start to rise into the top. You want a steady, dark stream, not a spurt. If it spits, turn the heat down.
- When the stream turns pale and the pot starts to hiss and sputter, take it off the heat straight away. Leave it any longer and the coffee turns bitter.
- Run the base under the cold tap for a few seconds, or wrap it in a cold, damp tea towel. This stops the brewing.
- Pour and drink straight away. Moka pot coffee does not improve sitting in a hot pot.
The whole thing takes four to five minutes.
The best coffee for a moka pot
A moka pot makes a short, heavy cup, and it suits coffee with plenty of body. Darker roasts work best. Lighter coffees, such as our Costa Rica, are better suited to filter or pour over.
From our range, these are the three we would point you to:
- Flying Scotsman. The darkest and strongest coffee we roast, 5 out of 5 for strength. If you take your moka pot coffee with milk, this is the one, as it is dark enough to come through.
- Continental Blend. A South American dark roast, 4 out of 5. Smooth and full-bodied, and a little less intense than Flying Scotsman.
- Milan. Our most reordered coffee. Medium-dark, 4 out of 5, and the only one of the three that also comes in an espresso grind.
All three come in 250g or 1kg bags, whole bean or ground, at £8.95 for 250g and £19.95 for 1kg. You can see them side by side in our dark roast coffee beans collection.
Moka pot grind
The right grind for a moka pot is a little coarser than espresso and a little finer than filter. Too fine and the water struggles to get through, the pot spits and the coffee tastes bitter. Too coarse and the water rushes through and the coffee comes out weak.
If you buy whole bean, grind just before you brew. Ground coffee starts to lose flavour once it is exposed to air, and with a brew this short you will notice. We roast to order and print the roast date on every bag, so the beans arrive fresh. Grinding them yourself keeps them that way.
If you buy ground, Milan in espresso grind works in a moka pot as long as you keep the heat moderate and do not press the coffee into the basket. If it runs very slowly or tastes harsh, the grind is too fine for your pot. For the other coffees, or if you are not sure which option to pick, get in touch and we will tell you.
Which moka pot to buy
We sell two Pezzetti ranges, both made in Italy:
- Steelexpress, enamelled stainless steel: 2 cup at £22, 4 cup at £26 and 6 cup at £32.
- Italexpress, enamelled aluminium: 6 cup at £24.
The cup sizes are small espresso cups, not mugs. A 2 cup pot makes one short, strong coffee. A 6 cup pot makes roughly a mug's worth, or two or three small cups. A moka pot is made to be filled to the valve and brewed full, so pick the size that matches how much you usually drink.
If you cook on induction, check before you buy. Aluminium does not work on induction, so the Italexpress is for gas and electric hobs only. Some stainless steel pots work on induction and some do not, so ask us about the Steelexpress size you want before you order. With a small pot, also check that your smallest induction ring will pick up a base that size.
Looking after your moka pot
- Before you use a new pot, wash it in warm water, then make two or three brews and pour them away.
- After each use, let it cool, take it apart, knock out the grounds and rinse every part in warm water. Check the small holes in the basket and the filter plate are clear.
- Go easy on washing-up liquid, especially on the aluminium Italexpress. Hot water is usually all it needs.
- Neither pot should go in the dishwasher.
- Dry every part and store the pot unscrewed, so no damp is trapped inside.
- Replace the rubber seal when it goes hard, cracks or starts to leak around the join, and at least once a year.
We sell filter and seal kits at £5 each, matched to the pot: Steelexpress 2 cup, 4 cup and 6 cup, and Italexpress 6 cup. If an old pot has started to leak around the join, a new seal is usually the fix.
Moka pot coffee FAQs
Is moka pot coffee the same as espresso?
No. An espresso machine forces water through the coffee at high pressure. A moka pot uses the steam pressure that builds up in its base, which is much lower. The coffee is strong and similar in style, but a little thinner, with little or no crema.
Why does my moka pot coffee taste bitter or burnt?
Usually the heat is too high, or the pot stayed on after it started to sputter. A grind that is too fine, or coffee pressed into the basket, can do it too. Turn the heat down, take the pot off sooner and fill the basket loosely.
Can I use a moka pot on an induction hob?
Yes, with a pot made for it. Aluminium pots, including the Italexpress, do not work on induction. Many stainless steel pots do, but check with us before you buy a Steelexpress for an induction hob.
How do I make a longer coffee or a milky one?
Pour the moka pot coffee into a mug and top it up with hot water for a longer black coffee, or with hot milk for something closer to a latte. For milky drinks, Flying Scotsman or Milan will hold their own.