So you want to learn how to use a stovetop espresso maker? Here are 7 steps to perfect Italian Moka Stovetop espresso coffee! A stovetop espresso maker is also called an Italian coffee maker, moka pot or a coffee percolator.
It is a great stovetop coffee maker to making a rich dark coffee or a stovetop espresso. It is a budget-friendly and easy to clean alternative to expensive electric espresso machines.
What is a Stovetop Espresso Maker?
Stovetop espresso makers were first introduced in 1933 by Alfonso Bialetti in Italy. It is generally called an Italian coffee maker, or a Moka pot. It is a type of Italian percolator for making stovetop espresso coffee.
This is an easy to use stovetop coffee maker that makes a high quality stovetop espresso coffee. They are very popular around the world, especially in Europe and Latin America. That is because they make a very rich and tasty cup of coffee.
The highest quality stove-top espresso makers have Italian safety valves. These safety valves make sure the coffee percolator can withstand the high water pressure that develops during the brewing process.
Stovetop Espresso Maker vs. Espresso Machine
You’d be surprised how good espresso from a coffee percolator tastes. A stovetop espresso maker produces a richer and tastier coffee than your regular coffee machine. But it’s lighter and not as heavy as that from an electric espresso maker. Stovetop espresso makers are small and sleek and don’t take up a lot of counters or cupboard space.
It’s a budget-friendly alternative from bulky electric espresso machines. And all you need is an electric or gas stove-top.
Interested in a premium stainless steel moka pot? Check out our MILANO Steel here.
How Do They Work?
A coffee percolator has three main parts.  First, there is a bottom chamber for water. Secondly, a funnel to hold the coffee grinds. Finally, there is a top chamber that holds the coffee once it’s brewed.
How an Italian coffee maker works is easy. The boiling water from the bottom of the chamber makes steam. The steam reaches enough pressure to force the hot water up the funnel.
The hot water goes through the coffee grinds and into the top chamber. The steam brewing water gives a bold coffee flavour. This way an Italian stovetop coffee maker brews a thick and rich Moka coffee. Also commonly known as Italian espresso.
VIDEO: How to make stovetop espresso easily in a grosche milano
So are you ready to use an Italian Coffee maker to brew a stovetop espresso? Follow our quick step-by-step instructions on how to make espresso in a stovetop espresso maker.
Aluminum Stovetop espresso makers come in many shapes and sizes. They range from a single serve coffee maker to multiple cups to accommodate groups. Â The most common sizes are 3 cup, 6 cup and 9 cup.
But remember these are 3/6/9 “espresso cup” sizes, not 3 large cups or mugs of coffee! An “espresso cup” is also referred to as an espresso shot.
What is the actual liquid capacity of each size of moka espresso coffee maker? View our GROSCHE Milano stovetop espresso maker page for this and more information about moka pots.
—–Perfect For Camping Too! —–
Want an easy way to brew coffee while camping? Turns out stovetop espresso makers are perfect to take to a picnic, camping, or to your cottage.
They are convenient, easy to use, and don’t need any electricity. In fact, you can even place them on your fire. All you need is fresh coffee beans, a manual coffee grinder, and your Italian stovetop espresso maker.
How To Make Stovetop Espresso Coffee At Home Easily With a Moka Pot:
Step 1: Disassemble your Moka Pot Stovetop Espresso Coffee Maker
First, take apart your coffee percolator into its three pieces. They are the bottom boiler, the middle coffee funnel, and the top coffee chamber.
Next, check to make sure the silicone seal on the bottom of the coffee chamber is there and is kink free. It should be in good condition for a good seal.
Step 2: Add in Filtered Water
After that, pour filtered water into the bottom chamber. Fill it to just below the safety valve for a classic Italian style Moka coffee.
Safety tip! Â Don’t fill water above the safety valve. The safety valve is there to release pressure in case the pressure is too high. That can be due to any blockages.
The safety valve avoids a possible explosion of the pot from high pressure. Make sure the stovetop coffee maker you use has an Italian safety valve. Some coffee percolators use cheap valves that can lead to dangerous accidents while making coffee. Check out the MILANO if you’re interested in buying one.
Step 3: Add fine ground coffee in the filter funnel
You want a medium to fine grind size for stovetop espresso. Fill the filter funnel with the freshly ground coffee or espresso grinds. The grinds should be level with the top of the filter.
Slightly pat the grinds down but don’t compress the grounds in the funnel or the water will not flow through. Tamping the coffee should only be done in electric high pressure espresso makers.
Also, compressing the grinds can make excess pressure buildup in the boiler (bottom) water chamber. That can create a potentially unsafe situation.
Step 4: Re-assemble the espresso maker
After that, place your filter into the bottom chamber and screw the upper chamber to the bottom securely.
Step 5: Place on the stove top
Next, put your stovetop coffee maker on low to medium heat of your electric or gas stove. Make sure the handle is not in contact with the heat.
Step 6: Once coffee starts to brew, turn heat down to the lowest setting
Once you hear the coffee start to emerge from the filter funnel, turn down the heat and leave it to complete percolating.
Step 7: Coffee is ready!
When the ‘gurgling’ stops in your stovetop coffee maker and top chamber is full of espresso, your coffee is ready.
How to clean your stovetop espresso maker
Now that you know how to use a stovetop espresso maker, it’s time to clean it. Cleaning your coffee percolator is important for maintaining great tasting coffee.
We don’t recommend putting it in the dishwasher to prevent any salt-like built up from occurring. Also, the aluminum will oxidize and turn black and tarnish, and look rusted too.
The best way to clean your stovetop espresso maker is using warm water and a tough sponge. They say the older a moka pot gets the better its coffee tastes. And using soaps remove the conditioning that a moka pot gets with time.
Detergent is not necessary and also not recommended. That is why they say that the older these coffee makers get, the better the coffee tastes. You may have heard that in Italy grandma’s Moka espresso maker is the prized possession of the family.
Replace the seals for your coffee percolator every 6 months!
Once you know how to use a stovetop espresso maker, you have to know about the seals. When cleaning your pot, take a look at the rubber seal and gasket for any hard build up.
So if you find any build up or if the seal appears to be damaged, it’s time for replacements. Usually, the seals should be changed every 6 months. Also if you are a heavy user of the Moka pot you may need to replace them more often.
The gasket keeps the seal and safety of the pot, so it’s very important for it to be in good shape.
What are the sizes for Italian espresso maker seals and gaskets?
There are three common sizes to the espresso maker gaskets. The seals come in 3, 6, or 9 cup sizes and are mostly universal in their fit. You should carefully remove the seal in your espresso pot and measure it and compare to the chart below. Then you can select the right one to buy for your Moka pot gasket replacement.
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I used my 9cups Moka Pot for the first time this morning and, unless I’m in a real hurry and can’t waste any time staying by the stove, I don’t think I’ll be able to drink any other kind of coffee anymore. It’s so smooth and tasty! Though, it may say it’s a 9 cups, I think it’s more like a 3 (because I like large coffees). I did need to check up instructions, though, because I really thought the Pot was supposed to whistle like a Tea Kettle once the coffee was ready. And since the warnings said not to open the lid while the Pot was on the stove, I may have left it on a little too long. Maybe you could include some basic how-to-use instructions for newbies like me out there? That would really help. Thanks!
Hi Mel, thanks for the suggestion. We have a couple of youtube videos on the Milano product page, hope they can help. And yes, moka pots dont whistle, but on the contrary when they have brewed they go quiet!
Also a moka pot is a bit of an art, more than a science. The type of coffee, the roast, the exact grind size, the water temperature, and your stove and even the burner and heat setting all affect how it brews. How fast, how strong, etc. So it definitely takes some experimentation but as you said the results are well worth it!
Happy moka coffee making!
I really Love your milano moka pots! they make the best coffee ever . I have 3 different colors already and 3 sizes lol
no more dunkin donuts coffee for me.. since i bought my Grosche moka espresso maker pot ive been hooked! best coffee Ive ever had. Even using dunkin donuts coffee beans lol!
I received this as a gift from a family friend. We have and electric stove and the card inside the box said do not use in induction stove however the article says for use in electric or gas stoves. Can I use this in my electric stove without damaging the Moko Espresso Maker? Thank you in advance.
I just made delicious coffee in my new red 6 cup moka pot. It was so easy to use and the red color cheers me up during this pandemic! How wonderful to be able to support your cause – everyone deserves fresh water Thank you
I just received my Grosche Moka Pot! I looked only be for the instructions since there really weren’t any included. As with the earlier poster, I don’t hear any sound coming from the pot. How long should the process take for the coffee to be ready?
I recently found my grandmother’s Moka pot from the 1950s. De-scaled it and started using it over my pour-over methods. My wife cautioned against cooking with aluminum so I ordered your 9-cup stainless steel Moka pot, which makes great coffee. What’s the verdict on aluminum Moka pots regarding aluminum leaching into coffee, which is highly acidic? Lastly, anodized aluminum seems safer than non-anodized cookware since it mitigates leaching. Are your Moka pots anodized? Thanks.
Hello,
I always use this type of coffee makers, but many others make a noise indicating the coffee is ready, this one makes not sound. I got mine from Amazon. Can you tell me how im going to know the coffee is ready?Any advises?
Hi Elizabeth, thank you for reaching out!
The Milano Moka Pot should make a low gurgling noise when the coffee is finished brewing, however it is not extremely loud. It is possible when brewing the coffee at a very low heat you may not hear any noise. If this is the case, keeping an eye on the coffee when it starts flowing into the top funnel will help you determine when it is finished.
If you have any concerns, feel free to reach out to sales@grosche.ca and we can assist you further.
Thanks again!
I purchased your red 9-cup moka pot and I love it. I’m still trying to get the ratio’s right but the last few pots I made coffee that wasn’t clear…it looked muddy or opaque. In the box were no directions so I was hoping I didn’t get a fake one from Amazon or someone’s return. What am I doing wrong?
Hi Barbara! Thanks for reaching out to us. If you can send an email to victoria@grosche.ca we can assist you further with your Milano Moka Pot.
I have enjoyed moka espresso coffee for many years. a good Moka pot is worth its weight in Blue mountain coffee beans! have been happy with mine for a long time. nice to see the different colors like the red and the white its a nice touch.
That would be a dripolator. I only know because the coffee shop up the street shares the name, and has a collection of antique ones laying about. Rather unusual to come by these days, especially the type you described!
Is it possible to get a smaller filter to produce just one serving. I realize I could just pour less than the full amount in the 3 cup model, but it seems like a waist of the coffee. I love the Milano Moka 3 cup espresso maker, just wish I could make less!
HI Pat, Ideally you would fill it all the way to the top. But you can fill it halfway and just use less water and adjust the ratio according to your taste and your preference. Thats not an issue. Its about getting the ratio right, and the way you like it. Filling it gives the ideal coffee and water combination, but you can certainly adjust it a bit. The only thing you should never do is to compress the coffee in the funnel filter in a moka coffee maker. Otherwise, go ahead and experiment.. The taste will still be the great classic moka pot flavor! Thanks for your comments!
I’m trying to find a source to replace the small pressure relief valve in my unit. Over time, the relief pressure has gone down to the point where I do not get the crema anymore, and even with a relatively coarse grind, steam will escape the relief valve during brewing. I’m fairly certain that I won’t find this as an order-able spare part because it is a safety device (correct me if I’m wrong), so I’d be fine with ordering from a original supplier of these things. Where do these valves come from?
This article is very misleading as this coffee maker does not make espresso. It is a moka pot and the pressure produced is about 1.1 bars; an espresso maker generates about 9 bars of pressure. A moka pot produces what is known as Turkish or Italian style coffee, darker and stronger than drip coffee but weaker and lighter then espresso. Do not buy a moka pot expecting to produce espresso.
Hi Kevin, you are right in that this isn’t the same as a high pressure espresso which brews around 7 bars of pressure. The Moka pot is known in the industry as a “low pressure espresso” since it does brew under some pressure, usually 1.1 to 2 bars as you have said (depending on the pot, the pack, and the coffee grind). Boiled coffee like Turkish coffee does not use pressure at all (just atmospheric) since its made in an open pot. A moka pot will brew at 1-2 bars of pressure max (up to 2 times atmospheric max). The safety valves in a moka pot are set to release before/at 3 bars as a precaution. When your pot is seasoned and the pack is right, its normal to get some crema when pressure exceeds around 1.2 bars. So yes, you are right! A low pressure espresso or just Moka coffee would be a more correct term for this type of coffee. Thanks for the great insight!
Recently someone gave me this coffee is white and I love it, the only problem is that when I used it I ran a little coffee on the outside and I used different things to try to wipe the stain but it does not come out, maybe someone can suggest something that is really effective to remove stains from outside my coffee maker
HI Georgina, the best thing is to try to wash it with a soft sponge and some dish soap. All Moka pots will eventually tarnish from use over heat, that is their nature and the natural ageing process. It wont affect the use in any way, however.
I have a 9 cup Bialetti that is fairly old. It simply does not work well anymore. I have replaced the gasket and cleaned the screen, which when held up to the light, is clean. The only thing I can see that might be wrong is the coffee tray (holder) is somewhat distorted, not entirely round anymore. Last time I tried to use it without any coffee, just water, it would barely function at all even with high heat. Any idea what is going on?
thanks, Mario
P.S. I am very familiar with these pots and use a 3 cup every morning.
HI Mario, would you be able to send us a picture to get a better look at it?If the coffee funnel isnt sealing well against the water boiler (where it sits in the boiler pot), you could have some water bypassing around the coffee giving you inconsistent results.It doesn’t take much, even just a little bit can really change the taste of the coffee. Think of it like watering down the coffee, randomly, giving you inconsistent flavor. Id suggest trying to get a replacement funnel and hopefully that may fix it.
Also (I’m sure you’ve already tried this), but the funnel has a screen that can get plugged, and it should be cleaned. As well as there is a screen that the silicone seal holds down, all those can be cleaned to keep the steam flowing through the pot properly.
Also if you have hard water, try de-scaling it with some vinegar. Though Im not sure if that will tarnish the aluminium or not. Id suggest replacing the funnel as a start, and hopefully that will get you brewing again. Really hope that helps!
That white espresso maker is beautiful! And this is a good article about making Italian style moka coffee. It really is so tasty, and once you make it its hard to go back to regular coffee. i find its a quite a bit stronger, though, than regular drop or french press coffee. and the caffeine levels are high too. So I dont drink it later in the evening as caffeine bothers me.
Love Love Love the white espresso pot! So beautiful!
It is more popular to make the Italian style coffee as well. I picked up a second hand Grosche moka pot in Sweden from a small gourmet shop and am happy with how it works. I didnt know about your charitable work until recently, keep up the good work. I am happy when I chose to buy products from companies that do such good works, and your water projects are quite amazing. do you ship the rubber gaskets for the moka pot to Europe? I will need to replace them soon.
Hi Goran, please reach out to our customer service by email and we will try and get you setup with spares as you need. thanks !
I thought it was a lot harder to use than this, but its pretty simple. Id suggest you add a little video to your blog to show how to make moka coffee. Its really quote delicious and easy to make. But l learnt the hard way not to put it in a dishwasher! with I had read your article sooner.
My grandmother used to make this for us in Italy, we just called it Coffee, not moka coffee or espresso. It is really so much better tasting than the standard American electric drip coffee, and has a rich flavor and aroma. These pots are so easy to use as well, its surprising more people dont use them to brew their coffees on a daily basis.
Wow that was unusual. I just wrote an very long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t appear. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyways, just wanted to say great blog and good article about espresso makers!
I dont know if I would call this an espresso, as most people prefer the machine made espresso which is even thicker than this. But more of a concentrated percolator coffee or Moka coffee Maker. Regardless, if you are a coffee lover you need one of these in your toolkit. A small cup does me well. I have a 3 cup for me and a 9 cup for when I have friends over.
No more Bialetti for me, I prefer the soft touch handle on the grosche moka pot and its performed as well or better than my old Bialetti. And of course I like your social work too. My grandmother in Italy used to use these in her home and I have always as well. They make the best coffee, Italian style!