You love cappuccino or latte and want to make it in your Moka pot? Can you do it in a Moka pot, though? Well, yes you can use it for that but no, you shouldn't pour milk into the coffee maker. This can be very dangerous.
Do Moka Pots Work with Milk?
Moka pots are known for the delicious coffee they make but can you make anything else? A cappuccino is one of the most widely drunk coffee and milk drinks and it's absolutely delicious. While the coffee you've made in a Moka pot can be used as the base for a cappuccino, it's not as simple as simply heating up milk and adding coffee.
So a Moka pot uses hot water when brewing coffee so it should also work with milk, right? Well, not exactly.
A Moka pot makes coffee by heating up water to its boiling point and then pushing the steam up through the coffee in the filter basket. That process will only work with water.
It's effortless to get a delicious cup of coffee from a Moka pot. All you need is water, coffee and of course a high quality Moka pot. If you're using a cheap aluminum Moka pot, your coffee might have a metallic taste. Get your stainless steel Moka pot now.
The issue with milk is that, even though, it's mostly water, there's a bunch of other ingredients as well, among which proteins and lactose. Even though the water that's inside the milk will boil and eventually evaporate, the other ingredients won't. That's why the milk (or what's left of it) will burn, curdle and leave residue behind.
This milk residue will negatively affect the taste of your coffee, and will be a pain to clean. In addition, it might block the holes in the filter or even worse, the pressure valve. It's there to release any excessive pressure, built by the water. If it's filled with milk, the pressure will have nowhere to go and your morning cup of coffee can go very VERY wrong.
We get that you were probably wondering if you can put milk in a Moka pot because you want to make a coffee and milk drink. The most widely spread such beverages are the latte and cappuccino and we'll look into how you can make them by using coffee from a Moka pot as a base.
Can You Make a Moka Pot Latte?
A latte is based on an espresso and all you need in addition is milk. To get a latte you first pour the milk, and then the coffee as you make sure there is a layer of foam on top.
The key element to a good latte is the espresso you're using. It's important that you start with a strong shot of coffee as with the added milk, the taste will be watered don and you might not feel like you're actually drinking coffee. To get it right you'll need to make sure your espresso is not burnt or under extracted.
Now, about the Moka pot latte. The coffee that comes from a Moka pot, even though strong, is around half as strong as espresso. It's significantly easier to make though, and a Moka pot only costs a fraction of the price of an espresso machine.
Check out our article on how do you make Moka pot latte if you want to get a better understanding of what is and why a Moka pot is the perfect option for this drink.
We recommend a Moka pot latte to those who are not used to drinking strong coffee. Despite the fact that it's not as intense, as espresso, it's still very strong and will give you a solid kick in the morning.
Now, let's get to latte-ing up your life. The best way to make a latte is by using a handheld frother. We know that it's very likely that if you're here you don't own one so we'll also show you how you can make a latte based on Moka pot coffee without one. Let's get going.
Using a Handheld Milk Frother
This is the easiest way to froth your milk. Such a frother is easy to find on Amazon and it's by no means expensive. If you prefer your espresso or your coffee with a bit of milk and want to experiment, it's definitely worth the investment.
1. Make a cup of coffee in your Moka pot.
2. Heat the milk to 150 degrees F. This is the perfect temperature when it's too hot to the touch but not boiling.
3. Froth the milk by moving the frother up and down, and around, until it turns into even tiny bubbles.
4. Pour the coffee into the cup.
5. Pour the milk into a large cup or glass but make sure you're separating some of the foam with a spoon.
6. Add the foamy milk on top.
7. Enjoy your personal latte based on Moka pot coffee.
Make a Latte by Frothing your Milk with a Whisk
Using a whisk for the milk in your latte is a little more time consuming and requires a little but of endurance on your part. The main difference is that, while the frother will shake automatically and turn your milk into bubbles, with a whisk, you'll have to do that yourself.
Here the steps you'll have to take are the same with the difference that instead of using a frother, you'll have to use a whisk for the milk.
1. Make a cup of coffee in a Moka pot.
2. Heat the milk to 150 degrees F. Be careful not to burn yourself, as it'll be too hot to touch.
3. Whisk away. You should your milk all bubble up in a few minutes, depending on the amount. You should know that the bubbles are probably not going to be as small as if you were using a frother, and they are probably not going to be as even.
4. Add the coffee to the milk.
5. Pour the milk into a large cup/glass and keep some of the foam. You'll want to add it on top of the coffee.
6. Add the milk foam on top.
7. Enjoy your Moka pot latte.
Is Moka Pot Coffee Good for Cappuccino?
A cappuccino is one more coffee and milk drink that you might want to try to make yourself. The difference between a latte and cappuccino lies in the amount of milk you're using with the coffee. That's why a Moka pot coffee will work just fine for cappuccino. How do you make one, though?
It's literally the same process as with the latte. You start by brewing a cup of Moka pot coffee (or espresso as is the original recipe), you froth or whisk the milk, pour the coffee and then the milk. The key difference is in the amount of milk you're going to use. For a cappuccino you'll want to have a cup that's 2/3 coffee and 1/3 milk.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do Moka Pots Make Coffee?
As we already mentioned, a Moka pot makes coffee by heating water and pushing the steam into the grounds above under pressure. As the coffee is brewing, it keeps going up through the tower and into the top chamber of the pot. Once you hear the gurgling sound, your coffee is done.
What's the Perfect Coffee Grind for a Moka Pot?
Just like espresso, a Moka pot coffee is made by using pressure and pushing it through coffee. This is why the water stays in contact with the coffee for a very short time. To make sure your coffee is brewing correctly, you'll need to use medium to fine grounds. This way the water will extract more coffee for less time. This will give you your delicious cup of morning (or afternoon) brew.
Is a Moka Pot the Same as Stovetop Espresso Maker?
Yes, a Moka pot is the same as a stovetop espresso maker. It's called Moka pot as a reference to one of the most important cities on the ancient coffee routes - Mocha. The name stovetop espresso maker comes from the fact that you're brewing your coffee on the stove and that it's made by using pressure. Espresso is the Italian word for pressed out, just like your coffee is made.
What's the Difference Between a Moka Pot Latte and Cappuccino?
The only difference between these two types of coffee is the amount of milk used in each. A latte has a more intense coffee flavor for that reason.
Conclusion
Even though a Moka pot is probably the smallest coffee maker you can find, it also gives you a very wide application. The coffee is rather strong, which makes it perfect for latte and cappuccino, among other things. Don't pour milk instead of water, though. This can potentially ruin your pot and under no circumstances is it going to give you anything drinkable.
If you want to make a regular coffee with milk, you'll want to make sure you're using a quality pot. Get your food safe stainless steel Moka pot now.