How to Make Espresso-Style Coffee With a Moka Pot

Have you ever wondered how to make espresso-style coffee or latte’s at home without breaking the bank on an expensive espresso machine? Fortunately, there is a solution: a Moka Pot. This stovetop coffee maker can brew great espresso-style coffee at a very affordable price. In this article, we’ll share our barista basics recipe for using a Moka Pot.

What is a Moka Pot?

A Moka Pot is a stovetop coffee maker invented in the 1930s by Alfonso Bialetti, an Italian engineer. The Moka Pot was quickly popularised in Italy during Mussolini’s reign and has since become a staple in Italian kitchens. Bialetti himself claimed that anyone could make an espresso in their home just like one in a coffee bar, without requiring much technical skills or other expensive equipment.

How to Use a Moka Pot

Using a Moka Pot is fairly simple, but there are a few things to keep in mind. First, fill the bottom chamber of the Moka Pot with hot water up to the level of the safety valve. Next, fill the coffee basket with freshly ground coffee, making sure to level it off without packing it too tightly.

There is an old school myth that says you should create a mound / mountain shape with your coffee grounds, this however is not the best way to brew your Moka pot and by doing this you prevent your coffee from extracting evenly. I recommend you to just level out your bed for an even extraction.

Screw the top and bottom of the Moka Pot together tightly and place it on a stovetop burner at medium heat. Keep the lid open so you can see the coffee rising in the upper chamber.

Once the coffee starts to rise, decrease the heat to a low setting and wait for the coffee to finish brewing. You’ll know it’s done when you hear a hissing sound and the coffee stops flowing. Remove your Moka Pot from the heat and carefully hold your Moka Pot under a running tap to cool it down as quickly as possible, make sure to just wet the outside and not to get any water in the Moka Pot top chamber.

Choosing the Right Coffee

When it comes to using a Moka Pot, selecting the right coffee is crucial. You’ll want to choose a coffee that’s well-suited to the Moka Pot’s brewing method. Generally, medium to more developed roasted coffees work best with the Moka Pot however it depends onyour taste. More importantly try to grind your coffee beans using a coffee burr grinder or a quality coffee grinder, as this will help you achieve a way more consistent grind size, freshness and gives you a great tasting coffee every time.

How to Make a Moka Pot Latte

Ok so for all the espresso lovers out there skip this part because this next section we are going to walk you through how you can make a creamy, full strength Latte using a Moka Pot!

This first step is optional but will help out heaps! Place your coffee basket and tare out the weight, add your coffee grounds and now you know how much you are dosing! Let’s say you weigh out 20g (This will depend on what size Moka pot you use as well as the coffee you are using.) Now times your dose by 2, in this example this gives me 40 and this is how much water I am going to use in my Moka Pot. Now for the milk, heat up some milk and pour it into a milk pitcher. Using the Nano Foamer you can texture your hot milk to create perfect milk for coffee with cafe-quality nano foam and as little or as much froth as you like.

To control how much foam your milk has, simply submerge for a thin texture or raise your Nano Foamer higher to add more aeration and foam to your milk.

After texturing your hot milk pour over your espresso base and voila, you just made a Latte with cafe quality texture milk.

Cleaning and Maintaining Your Moka Pot

Cleaning your Moka Pot is easy. Simply rinse it with hot water and let it dry. Avoid using soap, as it can leave a residue that affects the taste of your coffee. Over time, you may need to replace some coffee parts like the rubber gasket or the filter plate, so make sure to keep an eye on these components and replace them as needed.

Brewing coffee with a Moka Pot is an excellent way to enjoy coffee at home without spending a fortune. By following these barista basics, choosing the right coffee, and properly cleaning and maintaining your coffee gear, you can achieve a great cup of coffee with minimal effort. And if you’re feeling adventurous, make sure you try the Moka Pot Latte!