How to make stovetop coffee
A stovetop pot (also called a moka pot) makes strong, bold coffee that is great on its own or with hot milk. Steam pressure pushes hot water up through the coffee and into the top chamber. The pot’s basket sets how much coffee you use, so there is no ratio to choose.
The quick recipe
For a 3 cup stovetop:
- Coffee: about 16g, enough to fill the basket level
- Water: about 150ml, just-boiled, up to just below the safety valve
- Grind: fine to medium, a little coarser than espresso
- Heat: medium, lid open
- Time: about 4 to 5 minutes, until it starts to gurgle
How much coffee for each size?
| Pot size | Water | Coffee |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cup | 60ml | 7g |
| 3 cup | 150ml | 16g |
| 6 cup | 300ml | 30g |
These are starting points. The exact amount depends on your pot, so fill the basket level each time. The stovetop calculator shows the amounts for your size.
What you need
- A stovetop pot
- A kettle
- A tea towel, because the base gets very hot
Step by step
- Boil the kettle. Starting with hot water means the coffee spends less time on the heat, so it tastes less burnt.
- Fill the base. Pour just-boiled water into the bottom chamber, up to just below the safety valve. Never cover the valve.
- Fill the basket. Fill it with coffee until it is level. Brush off any extra around the rim. Do not press it down.
- Screw it together. Use a tea towel to hold the hot base while you screw on the top.
- Put it on medium heat with the lid open. On a gas stove, keep the flame smaller than the base of the pot.
- Watch it. Coffee will start to flow into the top. Once it turns pale and starts to gurgle, take it off the heat straight away.
- Stop the brew. Run the base under cold water for a few seconds, then pour.
Fixing stovetop coffee that tastes off
- Burnt or bitter: the heat was too high, or it stayed on too long. Use a lower flame, start with hot water, and take it off as soon as it gurgles.
- Sour or weak: the grind may be too coarse. Try a little finer, and make sure the basket is full.
- Splutters a lot, or hardly flows: the grind is too fine, or the coffee was pressed down. Go a little coarser and fill it loosely.
Good to know
- Do not tamp. Unlike espresso, stovetop coffee should not be pressed into the basket.
- Rinse, do not scrub. Wash it with warm water and let it dry in pieces. Check the rubber seal now and then, and replace it when it gets hard or cracked.
- Make it milky. For a stovetop latte, pour the coffee into a mug and top it up with hot, frothy milk.
- Use fresh beans. Try one of Perth’s local roasters.