How To Use Moka Pot For Epic Espresso Without A Machine
Heads up: this content is reader-supported, meaning we may earn a small commission if you click on some of our links.
Yep, you read that right. You don’t have to spend hundreds (err, thousands) of dollars on a fancy espresso machine to enjoy espresso at home.
Sure, there are some trade-offs here. But life and brewing delicious coffee on the cheap are not without a little compromise.
Here we’ll walk you through how to use Moka Pot to make delicious espresso without a machine.
Spoiler alert: this may become your favorite way to brew coffee at home.
But first, let’s take a look at the components that go into making espresso with a Moka pot.
What Is A Moka Pot?
The Moka Pot is often referred to as a stovetop espresso maker. It originated in Italy and is incredibly popular all over Europe and Latin America.
While it can’t quite replicate the pressure produced by an espresso machine (ideally 9 bars), Moka Pot does utilize 1-2 bars of pressure in the form of steam to create that unmistakable espresso flavor and mouthfeel.
Moka Pot will save you a ton of cash and is truly the next best thing to an espresso machine. Learning how to use Moka Pot to brew espresso isn’t complicated, but it may take you a few tries to get it just right.
Coffee Beans Vs. Espresso Beans
Are espresso beans the same as coffee beans?
In a sense, yes. Coffee beans and espresso beans are technically the same things.
But not quite. All espresso beans are coffee beans, but not all coffee beans are espresso beans.
The differences between the two beans lie in the roasting process and grind size (more on that later). An espresso bean is simply a coffee bean that’s roasted for a longer time.
This extra roasting time results in a darker bean that is more oily and less acidic than its lighter counterparts.
The coffee roasting scale includes light roast, medium roast, medium-dark roast, and dark roast. Espresso beans fall into the dark roast category.
Coffee Versus Espresso
The coffee brewed in a Moka pot is often referred to as stovetop espresso.
But, technically, when you use a Moka pot to brew espresso, you’re actually brewing coffee. (gasp)
The reason being that espresso brewed using a Moka pot lacks the rich layer of crema on top. This distinctive creaminess is only possible with a machine that uses a tremendous amount of pressure to extract the perfect shot of espresso.
We mentioned there’d be trade-offs, right? But, fear not. Once you know how to use Moka Pot to make stovetop espresso, you won’t miss it one bit.
Grind Size
Every brewing method requires a different grind size for optimal results. A quality grinder is necessary to achieve a consistent grind for Moka Pot.
The best grind for Moka Pot espresso is fine. The consistency should resemble table salt or caster sugar. This is finer than what you would use for drip coffee and much finer than the grind size for french press or pour over.
We always recommend grinding your own beans using a high-quality burr grinder. Grinding the beans yourself will ensure consistency in the grind size, keep your beans fresher longer, and allow you to experiment with multiple grind sizes and brewing techniques.
How To Use Moka Pot
Ready to make espresso without a machine? Let’s review what you’ll need to learn how to use Moka Pot to make espresso:
- Moka Pot
- High-Quality Coffee Beans (Dark Roast)
- Burr Coffee Grinder
- Scale (to measure coffee)
- Kettle (gooseneck or classic)
Step 1: Pre-heat Water
Using a kettle, pre-heat the water until boiling. Remove from heat.
This step is important to ensure that the Moka pot doesn’t get too hot during brewing and impart a metal taste.
Step 2: Measure And Grind Coffee
Measure 22 grams (4 ½ teaspoons) of coffee. Use your grinder to achieve a fine grind size resembling table salt.
Step 3: Add Water To Moka Pot
Add hot water to the bottom portion of your Moka Pot to the fill line. Be careful not to overfill the reservoir.
Step 4: Add Coffee To Moka Pot
Add your ground espresso to the Moka Pot’s filter basket. Attach the spouted top portion of your Moka Pot.
Step 5: Boil Water And Brew
Place your Moka Pot over a heat source with medium heat (gas burner, electric burner, induction burner, open flame, whatever you’ve got). The pre-heated water will begin to boil pretty quickly, so don’t walk away during the brewing process.
When you hear a subtle hissing sound, the water is boiling, and the pressure is driving a stream of coffee into the upper chamber.
Step 6: Finish Brewing Stovetop Espresso
You’ll know your espresso is finished when you hear the tell-tale gurgling sound. This means the upper chamber is full of delicious stovetop espresso and is ready to be enjoyed.
Important: don’t leave your Moka Pot on the heat once the espresso is finished brewing! This will result in an over-extracted, burned flavor that nobody wants. Pour the espresso immediately upon completion.
Step 7: Sit Back, Sip, Enjoy
You’ve earned the right to gloat a little at this stage. After all, you’ve just learned how to use Moka Pot to brew an epic espresso without a machine. Boom.
Pour your stovetop espresso over steamed milk for a frothy cappuccino, let it cool and pour over milk and ice for a delicious iced latte, or enjoy it exactly as it is.
The possibilities are endless once you know how to use Moka Pot to make espresso. It’s an easy, quick, and completely affordable way to make espresso (or the next best thing) at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Moka Pot Coffee Strong?
If by strong we’re talking about caffeine content, then yes. While caffeine amounts vary dramatically across all brewing methods, ‘espresso’ made with a Moka Pot will have a comparable amount of caffeine to traditional espresso.
Moka Pot espresso is consumed in smaller quantities, like traditional espresso (2 oz), whereas regular drip coffee is consumed in 8 oz servings. A cup of coffee has about 105 mg of caffeine, and a 2 oz serving (or double shot) of espresso has about 95 mg of caffeine.
Are Moka Pots Dangerous?
Traditionally Moka Pots are made with aluminum, which might raise concerns for people who take what they put into their bodies seriously.
But, in actuality, there is not much cause for concern. Studies have demonstrated that the amount of aluminum that migrates into the coffee brewed in a Moka Pot is negligible, even when the tested Moka Pot was washed in the dishwasher (something the manufacturers strongly recommend against).
If you’re concerned about using an aluminum Moka Pot, simply opt for a model that’s made with stainless steel (like this one) instead.
Can You Use Regular Coffee In A Moka Pot?
Absolutely! For the purpose of this tutorial on how to use Moka Pot to make espresso, we opted for dark roast beans (which are our usual go-to for Moka Pot).
But if dark roast, espresso-style coffee isn’t your thing, simply swap the beans for a medium or medium-dark roast (like this one). The result will be less potent and won’t really resemble espresso, but it’ll still be a delicious cup of coffee.
