Best Coffee Grinder for Moka Pot: 5 Grinders For Perfect Stovetop Espresso

Clint Doerfler
Clint Doerfler
 | 
Updated: August 11, 2022
       
*This site contains product affiliate links. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. This, however, has no bearing on our reviews and comparisons. Disclosure
People have been brewing ground coffee beans for hundreds of years. From the stove top to modern household machines, we’ve seen many ways people try to make coffee at home.

But few methods compare to Moka pot espresso—and you can make it in just a few minutes!

So how do we do it? And what’s the optimum way to grind our coffee beans?

You need a good coffee grinder capable of grinds specifically intended for Moka pots.

Fortunately, it will serve you for many other brewing methods as well.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the 5 best coffee grinders for brewing in a Moka pot. We discuss the reasons why each burr grinder might may or may not be a good fit.

Top 5: Best Coffee Grinder for Moka Pot

Based on extensive research, we’ve hand-picked the best coffee grinders for brewing the best coffee your Moka pot can whip up.

With so many things considered in this comprehensive guide such as features & benefits, pros/cons on each model, etc., we’ve done our best to present a grinder that will accommodate just about anybody’s needs based on performance, reliability, and budget.
Best Overall: OXO Conical Burr Grinder
OXO Brew Burr Grinder
  • Large, 12 oz. hopper
  • Very reliable auto-stop and timer
  • Consistent grind particles
  • 2-year warranty
All factors considered, the best coffee grinder for Moka pot is the OXO Brew Conical Burr Grinder. It’s a well-rounded, versatile grinder at a nice price.
➔  Click To Check Price
Continue reading to see how we reached this conclusion…
Category Product Link Price
Best Overall Coffee Grinder - Details OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder* Price Meter - 2 Stars
Best Runner Up Grinder - Details Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder* Price Meter - 3 Stars
Best High End Grinder - Details Baratza Virtuoso+ Conical Burr Coffee Grinder* Price Meter - 4 Stars
Most Versatile Coffee Grinder - Details Capresso Infinity Plus Burr Grinder* Price Meter - 2 Stars
Best Manual Coffee Grinder - Details 1Zpresso JX Manual Coffee Grinder* Price Meter - 2 Stars

What Is a Moka Pot and Why Is It Better Than Other Methods?

Moka pot with bag of coffee
Bialetti Moka Pot – Photo by Nadya Filatova
Moka pots are a popular and traditional way to brew coffee. While the stovetop espresso maker has been around since the 1930s, it remains relevant in kitchens worldwide because of its ability to make delicious java at home without using an electric device or expensive equipment.

If you want to make your delicious espresso taste exactly as it should be, then look for the best grinder on the market – one suitable for use with stovetop coffeemakers!

Hint: These grinders are also great for just about every other brewing method as well!

To get the perfect cup of coffee with a Moka pot, it’s all about the grind.

Whether you use a Moka pot or anything else for your brew method of choice, it’s important to use fresh coffee beans and an appropriate grind size—not too coarse nor too fine.

Otherwise your coffee won’t reach its true taste potential!

Moka pots have been popular for decades because of their convenience to brew an incredibly strong cup quickly and easily.

Using a Moka pot, your tasty “espresso” is just minutes away.

Automatic (Electric) Coffee Grinder Pros and Cons

Moka pot and ground coffee - garden background
Photo by @m.tichakorn
Coffee snobs would agree that electric grinders are a must-have for everyday coffee bean grinding because they the legwork out of grinding, and produce uniform grind sizes for most brewing methods.

The electric grinder is the perfect tool for those who like to experiment with their coffee grind sizes to achieve a variety of different tastes.

Most people opt for an electric grinder over a manual one, mainly for their speed. Electric grinders also usually offer a wider range of grind settings when compared to manual hand grinders.

An electric burr coffee grinder is obviously more expensive than a manual grinder, but worth the extra cost for the extra convenience if you’re a true coffee lover.

If you’re after the best coffee grinder for Moka pot, then an electric grinder is what you seek.

Best Electric Grinders for Moka Pot Coffee

The following are our top picks for the best electric grinders for Moka pot coffee:
OXO Brew Burr Grinder

OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder

Best Entry Level Grinder
"The OXO conical burr grinder features excellent craftsmanship at an entry level price."
  • Grind Speed: 2.5 grams per second / 400 rpm
  • Grind Settings: 15 (43 including micro settings)
  • Burrs: 40mm stainless steel conical burrs
  • Bean Hopper Capacity: 12 ounces (340 grams)
  • Grounds Bin Capacity: 3.8 ounces (110 grams)
  • Weight: 5.6lbs (2.5kg)
  • Grinder Dimensions: 12″ x 7.4″ x 16″
  • Warranty: 2 years
Price
OXO brew grinder - large coffee bean hopper capacity
The OXO has an impressive 12 oz hopper capacity.
The OXO Brew Conical Burr coffee grinder is the ideal morning companion for brewing in your Moka pot. But it’s also superb at automatic drip, French press, preparing a batch of cold brew, and more.

The precise 43-setting grind selector dial (15 main settings with 2 micro settings between each) helps to dial in the perfect grind for a perfect cup of coffee.
The OXO Brew Grinder has a
“No Spill” hopper design
Empty the hopper with the coffee beans still in it thanks to its “mess-free” trap door design, allowing you to remove it—cleaning and swapping out beans has never been easier.

For those wishing to improve their specialty coffee game, this model is a fantastic choice. The auto-stop function/timer is very useful. Once you get it dialed in, it makes brewing very consistent by delivering the same amount of ground coffee every time. This is, of course, the lazy alternative to using a coffee scale, but still very accurate.

I’ve found it helpful to keep a little cheat sheet where I can jot down brewing methods, coarseness of grind, and timer settings—that way my dose and grind size are always consistent.
Easily remove the burrs for cleaning
Easily remove the burrs for cleaning
Some people have complained that when this coffee grinder makes a loud buzzing or humming sound when it’s plugged in and not in use. I own this grinder and have not experienced this phenomenon.

So far, I’m thrilled with this grinder and the 2-year warranty provides me with peace of mind knowing they built it to last.
The Good
  • Very consistent grind size
  • Accurate timer/auto-stop feature
  • Large, 12 ounce bean hopper
  • Longer 2-year warranty
The Could Be Better
  • Some experienced a buzzing noise when idle
  • Louder than other grinders
The Baratza Encore on Amazon

Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder

Best Runner up Grinder
"Baratza grinders are specialty coffee association award-winning grinders, and backed by Baratza's world-class customer service."
  • Grind Speed: 0.8 – 1.1 grams per second
  • Grind Settings: 40
  • Burrs: 40mm hardened alloy steel burrs
  • Bean Hopper Capacity: 8 ounces (227grams)
  • Grounds Bin Capacity: 5 ounces (142grams)
  • Weight: 7lbs (3.1kg)
  • Grinder Dimensions: 4.7″ x6.3″ x 13.8″
  • Warranty: 1 year
Price
The Baratza Encore looks great in any kitchen
The Baratza Encore looks great in any kitchen.
The Baratza Encore grinder is one of the most well-liked coffee grinders in the specialty coffee realm. It’s ideal for anybody that values consistency in their cup, and doesn’t want to spend a lot of time grinding.

Whether you’re grinding at home or at the workplace, this grinder is quiet so you can grind your beans without annoying everyone around you.
Available in black and white
This well-equipped burr grinder will give you the perfect grind for Moka pots—delivering rich flavor without the guesswork.

The Encore produces a consistent grind in a short amount of time, so you can enjoy your coffee instead of slave over it.

This grinder doesn’t produce a lot of static like blade grinders do, which leads to messes and frustration.

The Baratza Encore features a low RPM motor that crushes slowly—keeping the burrs from heating too much from friction. This is important because it ensures that your coffee doesn’t taste burnt.
This also ensures you can grind as much coffee as you want for you and your guests without the motor giving up the ghost.

Are you ready to improve the quality of your morning coffee? The Baratza Encore is a great option for use with your Moka pot. It’s simple to use. It offers great taste for your stovetop espresso, taking the fuss and frustration out of your mornings.
The Good
  • Small footprint - saves space
  • Quiet, low RPM motor produces minimal heat
  • Grinder for most brewing methods
  • Replaceable parts make it a great investment
The Could Be Better
  • Might clog with dark roasts on finer settings
  • No timer functionality
Baratza Virtuoso+ Coffee Grinder

Baratza Virtuoso+ Conical Burr Coffee Grinder

Best High End Grinder
"With its digital timer, intuitive control, and versatile grind adjuments, the Baratza Virtuoso+ is a balance between budget and perfection."
    • Grind Speed: 1.5 – 2.4 grams per second / 550 RPM
    • Grind Settings: 40
    • Burrs: 40mm hardened alloy steel burrs
    • Bean Hopper Capacity: 8 ounces (227 grams)
    • Grounds Bin Capacity: 5 ounces (142 grams)
    • Weight: 8lbs (3.6kg)
    • Grinder Dimensions: 6.69″ x 6.69″ x 12.6″
    • Warranty: 1 year
    Price
Baratza Virtuoso+
The Baratza Virtuoso+ Conical Burr Coffee Grinder is a beautiful, precision coffee grinder for die-hard coffee enthusiasts.

It features an adjustable digital timer (up to 40 seconds) for accurate coffee dosing. This means once it’s dialed in, you won’t have to mess with it to maintain consistent results.

Also, in the event you’re not working under the best lighting, it has an LED back-lit coffee grounds bin for easy visibility.
Baratza Virtuoso+ grinder - front view
Aside from perfecting your Moka pot brew, the fine tuning on this burr grinder (40 different grind settings) allows you to explore different grinds for many other brewing methods, such as Hario v60, Chemex, Aeropress, and French Press.

It’s not the ideal grinder for grinding coffee beans fine enough for use with espresso, though. If that’s something you’d like to explore, then the Baratza Sette 270 grinder is a much better option.

Some customers say that its digital timer is a little wonky because it goes up by one-second intervals when turned clockwise and only goes down by tenth of a second intervals when turned counter-clockwise.

It’s also been said that it’s a little slow, but it does a fantastic job of producing uniform ground coffee perfect for stovetop espresso.
The Good
  • Consistent, uniform grind
  • Superb craftsmanship
  • Admirable "Don’t Dump it, Fix it!" company policy
The Could Be Better
  • Users state the timer can be wacky
  • Others say it's slow to grind
Capresso Infinity Plus Burr Grinder

Capresso Infinity Plus Burr Grinder

Most Versatile Coffee Grinder
"The Capresso Infinity Plus Burr Grinder is a versatile, affordable coffee grinder for those who want to up their coffee game."
    • Grind Settings: 16
    • Burrs: Commercial-grade, solid steel conical burrs
    • Bean Hopper Capacity: 11 ounces (312grams)
    • Grounds Bin Capacity: 4 ounces (113 grams)
    • Weight: 7lbs (3.1kg)
    • Grinder Dimensions: 5″ x 7.75″ x 11.25″
    • Warranty: 1 year
    Price
Capresso Infinity Plus grinder
The Capresso Infinity is a highly capable burr coffee grinder that coffee drinkers love (mostly, keep reading).

It can handle many grinds, from coarse grinds like French press and cold brew, to fine grinds like Turkish and espresso grinds, which many coffee grinders aren’t capable of.

With its gear reduction motor, the Capresso grinder reduces friction and heat buildup on the conical burrs, ensuring maximum aroma and flavor. It also makes very little noise compared to other coffee grinders.
Capresso Infinity - removable upper burr for ease of cleaning
It also has a removable upper conical burr for easy cleaning, and it comes with large see-through coffee bean hopper that allows you to check the amount of beans inside without taking off the cover, which helps you keep your coffee fresh.

The cup selector function allows you to set the amount of coffee grinds required from one to twelve cups at a time.

You can also pulse grind your beans to get the precise dose (amount of ground coffee).

However, users have reported that coffee grounds accumulate in the burrs and as a result, they’ve gotten into the habit of brushing off the burrs after each use.

Another setback is that this burr grinder seems to be a little more electrically charged with static when grinding, but there’s an easy fix you can use to eliminate static almost entirely (which will work for all grinders).

Another note, don’t remove the coffee bean hopper when it has beans in it unless you want to play “how many beans are on the floor”.
Rainman - Toothpicks on the ground
Even with these minor setbacks, users still stand by this burr grinder wholeheartedly.

While it can achieve very fine grinds for Turkish and espresso, it won’t be the best coffee grinder suited for those brewing methods. If that’s what you’re after, consider a burr coffee grinder that’s explicitly intended for fine grinds.

All things considered, the Capresso Infinity is an excellent grinder for the money, and it will complement virtually any kitchen design thanks to its stainless steel or black (heavy duty zinc die-cast housing).
The Good
  • Large range of grind versatility
  • Price - Under $100
  • Fairly large hopper at 11 ounces
The Could Be Better
  • Tedious to clean - grounds stay in burrs
  • Can't remove hopper with beans in it

Best Manual Coffee Grinder for Moka Pot Coffee

Pros and Cons of Manual Coffee Grinders

Manual coffee grinders (or hand grinders as some have dubbed them) are small, do not require electricity, and because they are burr grinders, can produce uniform ground coffee that ensures an enjoyable cup of joe.

With a little elbow grease, this tool can produce the coffee grounds necessary to achieve the perfect extraction when brewing in Moka pots.

Although a manual coffee grinder won’t always offer as many grind sizes as electric grinders, their small sizes and independence from electricity make them noble companions for travel and camping.

They’re also competitively prices as well, so their affordability makes them a great option for coffee enthusiasts on any budget.

If you’re feeling lazy, you can get a battery-operated hand grinder as well!

Clearly, the con to owning a manual coffee grinder is that you will need to grind the coffee by hand.
1Zpresso JX Manual Coffee Grinder

1Zpresso JX Manual Coffee Grinder

Best Manual Coffee Grinder
The JX Manual Coffee Grinder is a very well-made, easy-to-use grinder that quickly produces extremely consistent grind sizes.
  • Grind Settings: 40
  • Burrs: 48 mm Stainless Steel Conical
  • Capacity: 30 – 35 g (1.2 Ounces)
  • Weight: 1.5 Pounds (683 g)
  • Grinder Dimensions: 17 x 18 x 5.7 cm (6.7″ x 7″ x 2.24″)
  • Warranty: 1 year
Price
JX Grinder - Fits comfortably in hand
The 1Zpresso JX is a simple to use, ergonomic, and reliable coffee grinder that produces an excellent, consistent grind every time.
1Zpresso - The JX is easily disassembled for cleaning
It costs less than many of the best-selling electric grinders on the market, yet it outperforms them in terms of grind particle uniformity (even the well-respected Baratza Virtuoso+).

It's also one of the fastest manual grinders available today, with a grinding speed of up to 20g beans in around 30 seconds.

You can take the JX with you anywhere since it is so tiny and needs no power, whether hiking, camping, or even to the office.
Some of the key benefits of the JX are:
  • 48mm stainless steel burrs with excellent uniformity and very few fines when compare to almost any other grinder
  • Extremely quick grinding speed of 1g coffee for each 1.5 seconds
  • Great for travel; durable, yet solid, aluminum lightweight housing.
  • The ergonomic handle and high quality bearings allows for smooth cranking that's effortless, with no burr wobble.
  • Because it's simple to take apart and requires no additional tools to do so, cleaning is a breeze.
JX - Small, but with a large 35g coffee bean capacity
If you're looking for a hand grinder that can also grind espresso, the JX isn't the best suited for it. The JX grinder CAN grind espresso, but you'll have to rely on dosage, tamp pressure, and/or the use of a pressurized basket to get it right.
JX - Numerical grind settings dial
Since the JX lacks the micro-adjustments needed to produce a consistent shot of espresso on grind size alone, it's not going to give you the same results.

If you want a quality hand grinder that is capable of making espresso as well, take a look at the JX-Pro instead. It has all of the great features of the JX, plus a finer grind spectrum.

Also, those with poor grip strength or medical conditions that restrict them from turning a crank may find the JX too hard to operate. Other grinders on the market may be easier to use (but they won't output the same amount of grinds in the time it takes the JX).
The Good
  • Excellent grind particle uniformity
  • Extremely fast manual grinder
  • Lightweight, yet durable
  • Superb ergonomics
  • Easy disassembly for cleaning
The Could Be Better
  • May struggle with fine tuning for espresso grinds
  • Harder to turn than some grinders
  • Costs more than other grinders
The bottom line is that the 1Zpresso JX is a great choice for those who want a manual grinder that can produce consistent, uniform grinds quickly and easily.

Albeit, not the cheapest grinder, but it will outperform expensive grinders 9 out of 10 times.

Grinder for Moka Pot Considerations—“Burr or Blade?”, “Conical vs Flat”, “Stainless Steel or Ceramic Burrs?”

Choosing the right coffee grinder is important if you want to get a consistent, uniform grind for your Moka pot.

As discussed, Moka pot grinders can be manual crank (hand operated) or electric and come in two variations for grinding; blade grinders or burr grinders. And of the burr variety, they come in stainless steel or ceramic burrs.

Blade grinders are not as consistent or uniform as a burr grinder; giving burr grinders many advantages over blade models that make it worth the investment if you’re serious about your coffee ritual.

Burr grinders are safer, more efficient, and less noisy than blade grinders and provide very consistent particle size distribution when compared to blade grinders, which allows for optimum flavor extraction.

Burr Grinder vs. Blade Grinder–Why a Burr Grinder Is Better

Blade grinders have a blade that’s attached to a motor that rotates at high speeds, similar to a food processor or blender. The problem with this type of grinder is that it produces very inconsistent grind sizes. This is because it pulverizes only some of the coffee beans over and over, while leaving some parts of the bean untouched.

The inconsistency of the blade grinder leads to poor extraction when brewing. In contrast, burr grinders crush coffee beans between two plates of metal, aligned at different angles. They’re able to crush the coffee beans with enough force to break them apart.

Burr grinders allow the user to control the desired grind size, which is absolutely critical when choosing your brewing method! The importance of grind size cannot be overstated!

Grind Consistency Is Vital

You want to make an excellent cup of Moka pot coffee, with a lovely hue and evenly distributed taste, therefore your burr grinder must produce uniform coffee grounds.

Size variations (fines and boulders) caused by blade grinders affect the speed at which your hot water extracts the flavor from your coffee grounds. It also controls the speed at which the water flows through your coffee grounds, which also affects extraction!

This is why grind consistency is so important.

It will affect the extraction of your coffee, which will make or break the taste.

The moral of the story? Burr grinders win bar none.

Can I Get Away With Using a Blade Grinder for Moka Pot Coffee?

Sure you could, but wouldn’t you prefer the best coffee in the world instead?
World's best cup of coffee meme
A blade grinder can never produce the consistent grounds necessary for the best stovetop espresso in your Moka pot. A blade grinder will cause a very inconsistent grind that has many fines (powdered grounds basically) and large chunks in it.

For the best Moka pot coffee, invest in a burr grinder that has an adjustable setting. You’ll thank yourself later.

The Relationship of Grind Size and Brew Time

As stated above, the grind size for your chosen brewing method will make or break the taste of your coffee. Here’s how:

With many brew methods, you can’t control the brew time. For instance, with a Moka pot, the water is going to flow through the grounds at the speed it flows through, unless you try to control the boil, which could prove extremely difficult.

The reason this comes into play is that if you can’t control the brew time, you must control the grind size. Controlling the grind size will allow you to slow down or speed up the rate at which the water flows through your grounds.

Also, grind size directly affects the extraction of your grounds. The finer the grind size, the faster the hot water will extract the coffee. Conversely, the coarser the grind, the slower the extraction rate. This means finer grinds need less contact time with the water to achieve the same extraction a coarser grind would give you at a longer time.

So, brewing with a Moka pot, as with other brewing methods, requires a specific grind size.

The distinction in grind sizes may seem minor, but will make a significant impact on the final flavor of the coffee.

If your grind is too fine, it will over-extract and result in a bitter tasting coffee. If the grind is too coarse, it may yield an under-extracted cup that is sour and weak.

Conical Burr vs. Flat Burr

A conical burr grinder is better suited for Moka pot brews since it is quieter, generates less heat (permitting more oils from your coffee beans to shine through in the flavor), and allows you greater control over your coffee grounds.

They are also good at grinding coarser grounds for French press and cold brew, too.

Flat burr grinders, incidentally, excel at producing finer grinds, like those intended for espresso or Turkish coffee. You’ll have much more flexibility between the range of fine to super-fine with flat burrs.

Stainless Steel Burrs vs. Ceramic Burrs

A conical burr coffee grinder comes in two varieties—metal (stainless steel) and ceramic.

Aficionados will argue that stainless steel burrs have sharper blades to start, but ceramic burrs will stay sharper longer.

Hardcore enthusiasts say a conical burr coffee grinder with ceramic burrs is the better choice if you do not want to impart any additional metallic flavors into your grounds.

To actually taste the difference, I’d concur you’d probably need to have an expert palette.

The good news is, most conical burrs in coffee grinders are easy to replace if they get dull. So I wouldn’t worry too much about the materials of different burr types, but more about the quality and precision of the grinder instead.

What Is the Best Grind Size for Moka Pot?

Medium to medium-fine. Slightly finer than your average drip grounds.

The perfect way to get to the proper grind size for a Moka pot is to start at a medium grind, and slowly work towards a finer grind a little at a time until you get to your Goldilocks cup.

Can You Use Espresso Grind?

It’s not recommended. Using a finer grind you would use in a standard espresso machine is likely to clog up the metal filter in your pot, which could lead to an increased pressure that surpasses what’s safe for the appliance.

This could lead to an enormous mess, or worse, injure you or others.

Instead, use a medium to medium-fine grind for best results (and don’t tamp it). This will be fairly coarser than your conventional espresso grind, but finer than your standard Folgers or Maxwell house.

Can I Use Any Grind Size?

We don’t recommend it. Too fine a grind = not a good time.

If you want to make excellent coffee with your Moka pot, you’ll need to use a medium to medium-fine grind setting on your grinder.

Becoming accustomed to your new grinder’s settings will allow you to make perfect stovetop espresso by simply knowing which settings to use instinctively after a couple uses.

What Size Moka Pot Should I Get?

The capacity of a Moka pot can be quite limiting. The size of the container you choose determines how much coffee will percolate out at a time.

Short of buying a bigger Moka pot, there is no way to change this capacity later, so make sure you buy the size that fits your needs.

If you are the only coffee drinker in your household and you’re only accustomed to drinking one cup of coffee in the morning, a 1-Cup Moka pot might suit you fine.

Keep in mind, however, that a 1-Cup Moka pot will only produce about a shot’s worth of stovetop espresso (around 2 ounces), so if you’re accustomed to drinking at least half a pot of coffee each morning, then definitely go for a larger sized Moka pot.

For most households, a standard 6 cup Moka pot is the way to go.

It will produce around 12 ounces of concentrated coffee (“espresso”) at a time, which is probably enough for one person who really loves coffee or a moderate dose for two people.

For those who need a bigger kick in the morning, or for those who have friends, roomies, and family that also enjoy drinking Italian stovetop espresso with them, a 9 cup or 12 cup Moka pot might be a better choice.

A 12 cup Moka pot will produce around 24 fluid ounces of stovetop espresso, which is enough for two people to enjoy a thorough Moka pot experience.

Should You Tamp the Grounds?

Never!

Tamping is a common and effective practice for making espresso, but it’s highly unrecommended for your Moka pot.

Moka pots brew at much lower pressures than espresso machines and aren’t capable of forcing water through tamped, compacted grounds.

Tamping increases the chances of clogging the metal filter basket, which could create an unsafe situation.

If you want to tamp your coffee grinds, you’ll need to pick up an espresso machine.

Instead of tamping, simply use a medium-fine grind setting on your coffee grinder and level off the basket.

How Do You Use a Moka Pot? 5 Simple Steps for Perfect Stovetop Espresso

People often overlook the Moka pot as a viable brewing device, but it can make a fantastic cup of coffee.

When you’re traveling, be it on the road or hiking trail, this beauty can create a thick and flavorful “espresso” with no dependency on electricity.

Easy steps to get the most out of your Moka pot:

Step #1: Preheat Your Water

This is an important step that many ignore or aren’t aware of. When you start with cold water, a couple of things happen.

First, you’ll end up heating your coffee grounds up before any water even touches them. You don’t want this, as this will lead to a burnt, metallic tasting coffee.

Second, water that isn’t up to temperature yet can extract your grounds prematurely. This will end up over-extracting your grounds and lead to much disappointment.
Doge meme
Always start with water that’s brought up to the proper temperature (between 195°F and 205°F). This is easiest when done with an electric gooseneck kettle with a thermostat, which comes in handy for pour over brews too.

If you don’t have an electric kettle, just bring your water to a boil, take it off boil, and wait for one minute before adding it to your Moka pot.

Step #2: Use High-Quality Coffee Beans, Ground to the Proper Size, and Ground Just Before Brewing.

You can perform this step while you’re waiting for your water to get up to temp.

Coffee is primo when it’s brewed with coffee beans that are fresh. You don’t want to use stale or even pre-ground coffee, as this will also lead to a poor tasting coffee.

Properly ground beans are another key element of fantastic tasting coffee. When you grind your own, you can make sure that they’re ground to the correct size.

Start with a medium-fine grind size (think of a grind in between espresso and drip coffee). You want your grounds slightly coarser than table salt, but finer than regular sand.

Fill the filter basket with your fresh grounds and level off. Don’t tamp the grounds!

Step #3: Fill Your Moka Pot, Place Filter Basket In, and Screw the Top On

Using your hot water, fill up the bottom water chamber of your Moka pot to just below the safety valve, then carefully place the filter basket into the bottom chamber.

Using a towel or hot pad, hold the bottom in place while you screw the top of the Moka pot on.

Step #4: Place on Heat and Brew

Set your stove or burner to medium heat.

If using a gas stove or burner, ensure the flame doesn’t come past the outsides of the water chamber. This will protect the handle from damage.

Pay attention to the brew process.

You want your water to boil to where it forces the water through our grounds and into the upper chamber, but not so violently that it explodes out like a geyser.

On the contrary, if your pot isn’t brewing coffee into the upper chamber after a while, you’ll need to increase your heat.

Step #5: Wait for the Gurgling Sound

This is how you know it’s done.

Once the bottom chamber runs out of water, you’ll hear a hissing or gurgling sound—your coffee is ready.

Remove from the heat and run the bottom chamber under cool running water or wrap with a cold towel. This will immediately stop the extraction process.

Pour into your favorite mug and enjoy this authentic Italian experience!

P.S. – Don’t forget to keep your Moka pot clean for optimal results.

Is It Possible to Brew Normal Coffee in a Stovetop Espresso Maker?

Essentially, the Moka pot brews regular coffee, albeit stronger than regular coffee, but weaker than true espresso. It’s sort of in between drip coffee and espresso. It’s not nearly as intense or bold as espresso, but still very delicious.

If it’s regular coffee you’re after, consider diluting the coffee made from the stovetop espresso maker with hot water to suit your tastes.

Why Does My Moka Pot Coffee Taste Bitter?

To ensure a good cup of coffee, preheat your water before brewing to prevent over extraction. Also, be sure to remove your Moka pot from your heat source when it starts “gurgling” or shortly before.

Not removing your Moka pot from heat immediately after this gurgling will also result in over extraction and can lead to bitter tasting coffee. This is also why it’s a good idea to run the Moka pot under cool running water immediately after removing from your heat. This immediately ceases the brewing process.

Can They Make Genuine Espresso?

Technically, no, Moka pots cannot brew authentic espresso. The term “stovetop espresso” unfortunately is a little misleading; although much more rich and robust than regular coffee.

Yes, Moka pots and espresso machines both use boiling water to create pressure that forces hot water through ground coffee, but Moka pots don’t have the pressure a true espresso machine has.

A Moka pot only has around 1-2 bars of pressure, whereas an espresso machine has as much as 8-10 bars.

The coffee is still rich, heavy-bodied, and great for creating some “espresso” based beverages such as cappuccinos and Americanos. However, if you want to make genuine espresso, you’ll need an actual espresso machine.

Brewing times are much different as well. Brewing in a Moka pot takes around 3-5 minutes to complete. Conversely, an espresso machine only takes around 25-30 seconds to brew from beginning to end.

Regarding flavor, an authentic espresso is dense and rich, whereas Moka pot coffee is sometimes bitter and more robust.

However, once you figure out the proper brewing techniques (described below), the Moka pot offers a rewarding taste and experience worth pursuing.

How Many Grams of Coffee Do You Need for Your Moka Pot?

The cool thing about the Moka pot is that it isn’t necessary to measure the precise amount of coffee and water to use.

Instead, it’s suggested to fill the filter basket level to the top with medium-fine grounds and fill the bottom chamber with water just until it’s under the pressure release valve.

That said, you’ll want to buy the Moka pot size that’s right for you (if you already don’t own one).

Also, because the Moka pot already accounts for the coffee to water ratio, the grind size becomes crucial here. The grind size determines the speed at which the water flows through the grounds, which ultimately affects the extraction.

Too coarse (water flows through too quickly), and your coffee will be under-extracted, weak, and sour.

Too fine (water flows through too slowly), and your coffee will be over-extracted, bitter, and disgusting. Not only that, but you risk injury from your Moka pot exploding.

Stick to the rule above, fine-tune your grind size with your wonderful new grinder, and you’ll be ready to roll.

In Conclusion

The best coffee grinder for brewing with your Moka pot is an important decision for avid coffee drinkers.

If you’re looking to brew authentic espresso, however, a stovetop espresso maker won’t do the trick—but it’s perfect if you want rich and robust tasting coffee and would love to brew some “espresso” based beverages such as cappuccinos and Americanos without spending a fortune.

We hope this guide has served you with the necessary info so you'll be well on your way to some delish Moka pot coffee.

Best of luck on your coffee journey!
Clint Doerfler
From a very young "growth-stunting" age, Clint Doerfler has had a deep-rooted love for coffee. As a result, he founded Coffee Gear Gurus® to share his passion for incredible home brewed coffee with others. When he's not watching true crime shows with family or playing music, he's devoted to helping fellow coffee feins make amazing coffee at home - regardless of their experience.
This article was last updated: August 11, 2022

— Keep Exploring —

Do You Have To Brew Cold Brew in the Refrigerator?

Is cold brew coffee always cold? Let's spill the beans in this exploration of coffee's cooler side.

Read More
What Is Fair Trade Coffee, and What Does It Mean?

Transform your coffee into a force for good. Learn about fair trade coffee, its benefits and the brands that support farmers and the planet. Discover now!

Read More
Top Rated Espresso Machines For Home

Based on extensive research, we've hand-picked the top rated espresso machines for home—plus, everything else you need to know to get the most out of your machine.

Read More
Best Grind For French Press Coffee Maker

What is the best grind for French Press Coffee Maker? And does it REALLY matter?

Read More
What Almond Milk Does Starbucks Use? [A Milk Like No Udder]

In this post we'll look at the almond milk brand used by Starbucks and discuss its nutritional value. So, what almond milk does Starbucks use? The milk most...

Read More
Reviewing The Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder: Is It Worth All The Hype?

When it comes to coffee grinders, Baratza is one of the best-known brands in the industry. But do they live up to the hype? Find out in this Encore review!

Read More
Embark On Your Journey To Amazing Coffee.
Copyright © 2022

Products

We’re an affiliate and work hard to find products you’ll love.

When you click our links, then buy on Amazon, we earn from qualifying purchases (at no extra cost to you), and we sincerely appreciate it.

It helps us to continue doing what we love—finding & reviewing the best coffee gear for awesome readers like you.
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram