Nadia recommends starting with a medium to fine grind size; finer than you would for pour over, but not as fine as espresso. Using a grind size that is fine enough for espresso will lead to over-extraction and a bitter cup. For more insight into how a person can improve the way they brew with a moka pot, I spoke to Nadia Bachur. Nadia is a barista at Athanasiou, a Greek coffee shop in Panama. Creation Consumer Finance Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Register no. 311518). To brew coffee using a moka pot, start by adding hot water to the bottom chamber. There is usually a safety valve around three-quarters of the way up – pour water in until it is just touching the bottom of the valve.

Bialetti New Moka Induction Induction Coffee Maker, 6 Cups Bialetti New Moka Induction Induction Coffee Maker, 6 Cups

If you’ve ever used (or even seen) a stovetop espresso maker, it’s thanks to the founder of this company, Alfonso Bialetti, who invented the classic aluminium moka pot in 1933. Ever since then, Bialetti have focused on marrying world-renowned Italian style with equally famous Italian coffee, creating a range of espresso and coffee makers that deliver an amazing brew. She says: “You can brew high-quality coffee in a moka pot [no matter the origin], all with similar roast profiles to filter coffee.” He brews the coffee as normal on medium-low heat, but once the coffee starts collecting in the upper chamber, he stirs it to ensure it is well-mixed for a balanced flavour. Luca also tells me that he uses an AeroPress filter with smaller moka pots to retain more of the oils from the coffee. This leads to brighter acidity, reduces bitterness, and creates an overall cleaner cup. Valentina Palange and Luca Rinaldi are two content creators who operate Specialty Pal in Milan, Italy. They tell me that their mission is to develop specialty coffee culture in Italy, and they have tried to get local coffee drinkers to experiment with the moka pot. Despite this repeatability, however, there are still plenty of ways to experiment with the moka pot. If you’ve been drinking filter coffee for a while and want a switch to something different yet versatile, it might be time to give it a try.Designed to be easy to use, it will work just as well on gas, electric and ceramic hobs as on induction ones, has an ergonomic handle with a textured anti-slip grip, and a flip-top lid for easy pouring. And it goes in the dishwasher too. Luca takes a slightly different approach. For starters, he tells me that he often uses a recipe designed by Lorenzo Baffi, the current Professional Moka Challenge champion. This recipe uses 11g of coffee per 100ml of water – a slightly higher ratio than usual. It works in exactly the same way as a classic stovetop espresso maker (put water in the bottom chamber, freshly ground coffee in the middle, heat on the stove to send coffee bubbling up into the top chamber) – but is sleekly made from high-quality 18/10 stainless steel rather than the classic faceted aluminium.

Moka Induction InBialetti Moka Induction Bialetti New Moka Induction InBialetti Moka Induction

Valentina also tells me that she adjusts her recipe slightly depending on the coffee’s origin. While Nadia recommends against using cold water in a moka pot, Valentina says she uses it when brewing a coffee from Brazil, for instance, to bring out some of the more chocolatey flavours. Finally, Nadia says that filling the lower chamber with hot water (freshly boiled, ideally) will speed up extraction, prevent the coffee from burning, and keep the brew from developing a metallic taste. John Lewis plc, registered office: 171 Victoria Street, London SW1E 5NN. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Register no. 724309) for the purpose of introducing the credit provided by Creation Consumer Finance Ltd, registered office: Wellington Buildings, 2-4 Wellington Street, Belfast BT1 6HT. The top is crafted from aluminium to preserve the delicious coffee aroma, while the boiler and funnel are made from durable steel and the handle and knob are coated with soft-touch silicone for safe use. Most moka pots are made from aluminium or stainless steel, and consist of three parts: a lower chamber, a filter basket (where to put the ground coffee), and an upper collection chamber.Nadia says the most common errors that people make involve the water, not the coffee. “Most moka pots have a safety valve in the bottom chamber,” she says. “If you fill water past this level, too much pressure will build up.” A gorgeous gift for anyone who loves making espresso the old-fashioned way on a hob, but has a new-fangled induction hob that refuses to ‘talk’ to their old, well-loved stovetop percolator.

Bialetti New Moka Induction InBialetti Moka Induction

The moka pot is an instantly recognisable symbol of Italian coffee culture, and one of the world’s most famous brewing devices. Its iconic design, ease of use, and wide availability make it an accessible entry point for specialty coffee.Valentina says that even though the moka pot is traditionally associated with darker roasts (similar to espresso), it can actually be used to brew a variety of different coffees with surprising success. Conversely, she uses hot water for coffees from East Africa (such as Ethiopia and Kenya) to speed up extraction. She says that this helps to highlight their floral, fruity flavours.