6 Best Moka Pot: Stovetop Espresso Maker Guide and Reviews

When it comes to seeking the best Moka pot, not all are created equal. The Moka pot goes by many other names: Bialetti, percolator, or a stovetop espresso maker.

Whatever you call it, it’s hard to deny that it is one of the best ways to make a great tasting coffee.

If you own a stovetop espresso maker, it can be made from stainless steel or aluminum, we will discuss later why one of these is worse than the O.

In this article, we will look closer at Moka pots and what makes them work so well, divide them into stovetop and electric coffee makers, and also by the material they are made of, and of course, our recommended Moka pot.

---

Best Moka Pots: Our comparison

The following models are the best Moka pots from 2021 that we found. When it comes to making the best stovetop espresso these machines will be your best bet!

Coffee Maker	Product	Features	Price
Top Pick	Bialetti Express Moka Pot	Variety of sizes Affordable Sleek 2 year warranty Made in Italy	CHECK PRICE
	Bialetti Kitty Espresso Coffee Maker	6 cup capacity Stainless steel 25 year warranty Ergonomic handle	CHECK PRICE
	Cuisinox Roma 6-cup Stainless Steel Stovetop	Induction base Modern design 10 cup capacity Extra parts included	CHECK PRICE
	DELONGHI EMK6	Brand reliability Electric heat source included Changeable capacity Auto-shut off	CHECK PRICE
	Bialetti - New Venus Induction Stovetop	Durable Safety handle Works on all stovetops including induction	CHECK PRICE
	Farberware Yosemite	Dishwasher safe Durable 12 cup capacity Permanent filter basket	CHECK PRICE

---

1. Bialetti Moka Express – The top pick

---

2. Bialetti Kitty Espresso Coffee Maker – The runner up

The Bialetti Kitty is also suitable for gas, electric, and ceramic stovetops. Another fantastic feature of this model is that it has a 25-year warranty covering any manufacturer defects.

---

3. Cuisinox Roma – The induction stove choice

---

4. De longhi EMK6 – Electric moka pot

---

5. Bialetti New Venus Induction – Safe and ergonomic

---

6. Farberware Yosemite – Dishwasher safe

---

---

Is a moka pot worth it?

Is the Moka pot an essential item? Well, that depends on how you like your drink. If you don’t care about the taste of your morning drink and want it as quick as possible then you would probably be better off with a drip coffee maker on a timer.

But, if you want a solid, good-tasting cup of coffee that is way stronger than your average drip, then yes, the Moka pot is worth every penny.

Should you buy this item if you are serious about your caffeine? From one coffee friend to another, yes. Buy a Moka pot if you are serious about your beverages and know how to handle yourself at the barista counter.

There is even a Moka pot with a 25-year warranty, so you know these guys are made to last!

Benefits of a moka pot

The Moka pot is an incredibly user-friendly and quick brewing process. An espresso machine is an incredibly complex system of buttons and knobs when compared to the easy-to-use Moka pot design.

All you really need to know is how to operate your stove (and some models don’t even require that!).

Not only is a Moka pot incredibly easy, but it’s also affordable. Moka pots hit a way better price point than fancy bean-to-cup units and other barista-level coffee machines.

Don’t bother wasting your money on espresso makers that can cost you thousands of dollars when a Moka pot will do an amazing job for less than $100.

Moka pots are eco-friendly too! They don’t require any paper filters or those pesky plastic pods. If you know how to compost your coffee grounds, then it will be completely zero-waste. They’re also super easy to clean, a quick rinse is all you really need.

Finally, these are usually analog devices. You can use your gas stove as your heat source. If gas stoves aren’t your thing then fret not!

You can also find one of the best Moka pots that works with an electric heat source. The versatility of gas and electricity is a great benefit to this device.

Drawbacks of a moka pot

Moka pots do have some problems. One of the biggest complaints that these coffee makers get is that the coffee comes out really bitter.

Bitter taste is usually the result of over-extracting your coffee beans, but we have some tips for you later to ensure that you don’t let that happen.

Another issue with Moka pots is that they don’t yield that much, even for the bigger models. But, since Moka pots make such strong coffee you can increase your output by adding water to your final product.

Another issue is that no matter how much volume you really want, you are required to make a full pot of coffee every single time you brew it.

The way that these coffee makers work requires you to fill the water chamber completely- more on that later. Another drawback is the Moka pot requires a supremely consistent grind for your beans.

If you’re using your home blender to make your coffee grounds you may want to consider getting a burr grinder.  A high-quality burr grinder will allow you to grind coffee consistently and allow you to brew great quality coffee.

Is a moka pot an espresso maker?

No, the Moka pot cannot make espresso. Even though they are sometimes called stovetop espresso makers, this is a misnomer.

Espresso requires you to push nine bars of pressure through your coffee grounds, but this method doesn’t come anywhere close to that.

However, the coffee produced by percolators is so much stronger than drip coffee that it will taste like espresso to anyone who has been drinking canned coffee from their local diner’s drip machine.

---

Can a moka pot blow up?

The thing about Moka pots is that you can definitely make them blow up but you would have to actually try to do so. If you are using a  Moka pot completely incorrectly then of course there will be a chance that it will explode.

However, this is such a rare situation due to the safety valve included on every Moka pot that releases excess steam as pressure increases. Moka pots often come with safety valves that allow the steam to escape when the pressure builds up too much.

Keeping this part clean is incredibly important because if too much steam is accumulated in the bottom chamber and cannot escape through a valve, you’ve essentially created a ticking steam bomb.

A clean filter in the other chamber will also help to prevent unnecessary steam build-up because it is the main way where steam will pass. Keeping it clean will also ensure a finely brewed cup of coffee.

If you don’t clean yours correctly, then there is a good chance that the safety valve will become clogged with old coffee grounds and then you may be in danger of a coffee themed fireworks display in your kitchen.

Make sure to check if your unit is dishwasher safe, since most models are not.

---

Aluminum vs. Stainless steel – toxicity

Moka pots are available in both stainless steel and aluminum and with the growing concern over what we put in our bodies, it’s important to take a look at which metal is better and why.

Obviously, stainless steel is a more durable metal than aluminum, if you want your stovetop espresso machine to last longer then stainless steel is definitely the way to go.

However, stainless steel doesn’t conduct heat as well and it is significantly heavier than the aluminum models.

It is also important to note that neither of these materials are dishwasher safe.

It should also be noted that an aluminum Moka pot is capable of delivering trace metals into your morning coffee if the pot isn’t well seasoned.

These coffee makers also tend to be cheaper than stainless steel models and a lot easier to clean.

Something to consider about aluminum pots is that because aluminum deposits small amounts of metal into the Moka pot when high heat is applied, there is a metallic taste when the coffee is brewed.

These levels of aluminum that do leech out are totally safe for human consumption, but the coffee taste is impacted negatively.

Aluminum also distributes heat much better than stainless steel and the result is that it’s a lot easier to brew in an aluminum pot. Even though it isn’t as strong as stainless steel, it is still quite durable.

Actually, some of our favorite stovetop espresso makers are aluminum! Another perk is that the pieces for aluminum pots are a lot easier to find when it’s time to replace a part.

Replacement gaskets and filter screens are easily found for even the cheap aluminum pots. A pricier brand will prove much more difficult to find replacement parts for over the cheap brands.

Bialetti’s all around the globe commonly look a bit dirty. That is because the metal is sealed and this helps the coffee to taste better.

Stainless steel causes hot spots because of uneven heat distribution, aluminum pots don’t have these problems and therefore just simply work better at producing an even brew.

---

How does a moka pot work?

But if you opt for a stainless steel stovetop espresso maker then you will likely be able to use it on anything, from an electric stove to gas stove to induction cooker.

---

How is moka coffee?

Moka coffee is somewhere between an espresso shot and a cup of drip. How you grind your beans, how you go about boiling water, and how much water you use all links to how the flavor of your cups of coffee will turn out.

The ratio of water per coffee bean is very important as it plays a major part in how the flavor of the coffee will turn out.

Knowing how much water  to use also serves the purpose of  keeping the unit from generating too much pressure and reducing the quality of the coffee and increasing the risk of damage to the pot itself.

How many cups can a moka pot make?

How many cups of coffee a moka pot can make is entirely dependent on the size of the model you buy. Bear in mind that the measurement in terms of cups is for espresso shots, not mugs.

---

---

How to pick the best moka pot

Choosing which stovetop espresso maker is not an easy task, that’s why we have established the top five things to look for when comparing coffee pots.

What to look for in a moka pot

• Price point- First things first, what is your budget? Some of the best stovetop espresso makers on our list can be found for under $100 but it may not be best for you. Take some time to establish what you can spend.
• Cup sizes- A stovetop espresso maker is not particularly well known for it’s output volume. If you are looking to feed just you and a friend, then a smaller cup capacity will be just fine. If you need to feed a group then maybe a 6 cup model will be better.
• Heat source- How are you going to boil your water? A moka pot can be heated on both a gas and electric stove. There are also fully electric moka pots that don’t require an external heating source.
• Metal type- As mentioned before, there is a difference between aluminum and stainless steel construction. This will also have an impact on whether or not it is dishwasher safe, so make  sure you know what material you want beforehand. Generally speaking, these types of coffee makers are not dishwasher safe, but they are very easy to clean.
• Design- This will have an impact on your decision for a few reasons. A coffee percolator can look like a part of your camping kit, or it can look like a high-quality addition to your barista counter. Make sure you know what you want so you will remain happy with it for years to come.

---

---