Moka Pot Ratios: The Guide to the Perfect Coffee from a Moka Pot

Moka Pot Ratios: The Guide to the Perfect Coffee from a Moka Pot

You just can't get your Moka pot to brew you delicious coffee? Or you just got your Moka pot and want to do everything right from the get go?  The water to coffee ratio is one of the most important aspects for the perfect cup of joe. Let's see how much coffee and how much water are required for a Moka pot coffee.

What Is the Best Coffee to Water Ratio for the Perfect Moka Pot Brew?

Brewing the perfect cup of coffee in a Moka pot is a rather simple process but there are a few things you should know. No matter if you're making espresso, Moka pot coffee or pour over, there are a few variables that you should take into consideration. To get the best tasting Moka coffee you need a high quality Moka pot. Get yours now.

To get the perfect brew out of your coffee, you'll need the right water temperature, the right amount of water and the right pressure. Depending on the brewing method you've picked, these can vary and you might not have control over all of them, but generally you do. 

When it comes to the Moka pot, something very important that you should know is not to tamp your coffee after you put it in the filter. This will only give you a bad cup of coffee and might potentially ruin your Moka pot. 

When it comes to the water pressure, a Moka pot generates 2-3 bars which is if everything goes smoothly while brewing. This will give you a strong and rich tasting cup of coffee. To get exactly that much pressure you'll need to precisely measure the amount of water you're pouring in. Generally the rule of thumb is to pour water to the bottom edge of the safety valve. For different Moka pots that amount can be different. Let's see how much water you need for the most widely spread Moka pot sizes.

One Cup Moka Pot

Generally the rule most coffee enthusiasts go by when it comes to brewing coffee in a Moka pot is 2 grams of coffee for each ounce of water. While this makes calculating the correct ratio significantly easier, it's not very accurate. 

The more coffee you're making, the more tightly compressed it is, and the more water you need. This is why the bigger your Moka pot is, the higher the water to coffee ratio should be. Let's see how the ratio will change with bigger Moka pots.

Three Cup Moka Pot

The Moka pot for three cups of coffee is among the most widely spread models out there. If you want to brew the perfect round of Moka pot coffee in one of them you'll need to use 11-12 grams of coffee. It's not an exact number as some Moka pot producers consider 6 ounces three cups and others 6.5 ounces.

Six Cup Moka Pot

A Moka pot for six cups of coffee is another one that you'll find very often. The reason why so many choose this pot is that it can brew the right amount of coffee for the entire day for a couple or two roommates for the entire day. 

Now, let's talk ratios. Just like for the three cup Moka pot, here you'll need a higher water to coffee ratio than if you were brewing only one cup of coffee. The perfect ratio is 18 grams of coffee per 10 oz of water. If this means that the water will cover the safety valve, though, pour some of it out. It should always only get to the bottom edge.

Nine Cup Moka Pot

A Moka pot that can brew nine cups is getting into serious territory. This is around 18 oz of strong coffee and if you're not used to a strong brew, it'll last you two or three days. We wouldn't recommend drinking it all in one day as drinking coffee too often or in too big quantities can be harmful to your health.

About the water and the coffee you should put into the pot. Coffee aficionados agree that 33 grams of coffee and 18.5 oz of water will give you a delicious brew. This will achieve an even extraction of coffee without giving you a burnt brew.

Twelve Cup Moka Pot

A Moka pot for twelve cups of coffee is the biggest you can find on Amazon. It'll brew enough coffee for an entire office or a university dorm floor and it's all going to be delicious if you pour the right amount of water and put the right amount of coffee. 

Most coffee enthusiasts agree that to brew the perfect coffee in such a large pot you'll need 25 oz of water and 47 grams of coffee. Here we should also advise you not to drink too much of it in a single day and under no circumstances to finish it all at once.

How Do You Brew Coffee in a Moka Pot?

Brewing coffee in a Moka pot is a very simple process. You'll only need the pot itself, some coffee, water and of course a stovetop. Here we should mention that if you have an induction stove, you'll only be able to brew coffee in a stainless steel Moka pot. Let's get brewing.

1. Put a wet towel in the freezer. This will help you stop the brewing process, preventing you from getting a burnt coffee.

2. Heat up some water. This way you'll make sure your coffee doesn't burn while the water is heating and you'll more easily brew a delicious cup.

3. Pour the right amount of water into the pot. The amounts we put previously might not be exact for some models of Moka pot. You should make sure that the water doesn't cover the safety valve.

4. Add the coffee. Make sure you don't tamp it but that it's evenly spread in the filter basket of the pot.

5. Turn on the stove. If it's an electric stove you should wait for it to heat up before you can start.

6. Put the Moka pot on the hot stove. Your coffee will start brewing when the water gets hot enough.

7. Wait for the gurgling sound. When you hear it it's time to remove the Moka pot from the stove. 

8. Cover the pot with the wet towel from the freezer. This will instantly cool down the Moka pot and stop your coffee from being over extracted.

9. Enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the Best Coffee for a Moka Pot?

There's no single best coffee for a Moka pot. This depends on your taste and preferences. If you like stronger and sweeter coffee with fruity notes you'll enjoy a light roast. If you're more of a "I like my coffee slightly burnt and bitter" kind of person, dark roast is the way to go. If you have no preference or aren't sure, then probably a medium roast would be perfect as from there you can go experimenting till you find the right one.

What Is the Best Grind for a Moka Pot Brew?

The grind of your coffee is what you should be careful about. As the Moka pot uses pressure to brew it should be finer than drip coffee. The pressure is not nearly as high as it is on an espresso machine, though. An espresso machine works best with finely ground coffee but that won't do for a Moka pot.

The perfect coffee grind for a delicious cup of coffee from a Moka pot is medium to fine. This will give you that rich Moka experience without any burnt or under extracted notes in the flavor of your brew.

Is Moka Pot Coffee as Strong as Espresso?

The reason why you might be asking that question is because you've heard a Moka pot be called a stovetop espresso maker. This is because espresso is also made using water under pressure and "espresso" is the Italian word for pressed out. 

As an espresso machine uses powerful pumps or a lever it can generate a much higher pressure than a Moka pot. That's why an espresso is around twice as strong as a cup of Moka coffee. 

Is a Stainless Steel Moka Pot better than an Aluminum?

Stainless steel and aluminum are the two metals used to make a Moka pot. While the original Bialetti Moka Express was made of aluminum, nearly a century has passed since then and there's been a lot of development not only with Moka pots but with metal production as well. That's why stainless steel pots have gotten more accessible.

They have a few major advantages over an aluminum Moka pot. The biggest is that they're significantly more robust. As stainless steel is a nonporous metal, it won't rust even if you scratch the surface or use strong detergents. That's not the case with an aluminum Moka pot. 

In addition, a stainless steel Moka pot doesn't need to be seasoned and will work just fine on an induction stove. A seasoning is needed for an aluminum Moka pot as otherwise your coffee will have a metallic taste. A seasoning is done by brewing a few rounds of coffee and throwing them out. This will leave a thin layer of build up coffee which will keep the aluminum from affecting the taste of your coffee.

How Do You Choose the Right Size of Moka Pot?

It's very important to choose the right size of a Moka pot as if it's too big you'll be left with too much coffee and if it's too small you'll need to brew multiple rounds. You should know that you can't simply pour less water and put less coffee in the Moka pot if you prefer brewing a smaller batch. This won't generate enough pressure to give you a good extraction. 

The right Moka pot size depends mainly on your preferences and lifestyle. How much coffee do you drink? Do you make coffee in the morning for the entire day? Do you only make coffee for yourself? By answering these questions for yourself, you should have the answer. 

You should know that even though a cup of Moka pot coffee is significantly smaller than a cup of drip coffee, it has around the same caffeine level. This is the compound that energizes you.

Final Thoughts

The ratio of water to coffee is one of the most important factors when brewing a cup of joe. While Moka pots are generally easy to use, if you get that wrong, your coffee will come out bland or burnt. That's why you should always make sure you're putting just enough coffee and water before you start brewing. 

The perfect ratio isn't all you need for for the perfect brew though. You'll also need a high quality Moka pot. Get your LuxHaus stainless steel with a lifetime quality guarantee now.

Back to blog