The Moka Pot was first introduced in 1933 by Italian coffee maker, Bialetti who still manufacturers them today. Given the bold taste, syrupy body, and their ability to create a slight crema atop their brews, Moka Pots are generally known as “stovetop espresso machines.” In reality, though, the finished coffee ranks somewhere between a French Press and Pour Over in terms of intensity and clarity.
Unlike most other brew methods, when brewing a Moka Pot, you are limited by the size of the vessel both ways—that is, you can’t make more than the maximum volume and you can’t make less than the maximum volume. For the Moka Pot to function properly, the coffee basket must be full of grounds when brewing. The three most common sizes of Moka Pots make three, six, and nine cups. For this brewing guide, we’re going to use the six cup Moka Pot; however, we have included recipes for all three sizes in the chart below.
