Guide To Brewing Modern Italian Stovetop Coffee

If there’s one brewing method synonymous with Italian households, it’s stovetop espresso, also known as moka pot coffee. From the first cup of the morning to a post-lunch ritual, this method has long delivered strong, rich, no-fuss coffee from the comfort of home.

Here's how to get the best out of your moka pot at home...

You’ll Need

To brew stovetop coffee, gather the following:

• Coffee beans
• Bialetti Moka Pot or stovetop espresso maker
  
• Grinder, if you're using whole beans
• Digital scales (optional but helpful)
• Kettle

Step 1: Measure and grind

Grind your coffee to a medium-fine consistency – coarser than espresso, finer than French press. You’ll want to use a full basket of coffee, regardless of your pot size.

The target ratio is 1:10 coffee to water (e.g. 20g of coffee to 200g of water – adjust depending on the size of your pot).

Step 2: Prepare the Moka Pot

Disassemble your moka pot into its three parts: base chamber, filter basket, and top chamber.

For darker roasts use less water in the brewing chamber, for lighter roasts you need to fill the chamber right up to the base of the overflow value.

Fill the base chamber with hot water (just off the boil) to just below the safety valve. Using hot water instead of cold helps prevent the brewer (and thus the coffee) from overheating.

Step 3: Add the coffee

Fill the basket with your ground coffee, distribute evenly and level the top – but don’t tamp it. Brush away any grounds from the rim and screw threads, place the basket into the base and assemble the top chamber – firm, but not overly tight (use a tea towel if the base is hot).

Step 4: Brew

Place the moka pot on medium-low heat with the lid open and keep a close watch. Within minutes, coffee will begin to stream from the central spout – as the flow starts to splutter or pale in colour, remove from heat immediately.

Optional but recommended: run the base briefly under cold water to stop brewing.

Step 5: Serve and enjoy

Serve your stovetop coffee immediately for best flavour. ⁠For light roasts, diluting to coffee down a little more to Americano strength will result in the most complex brews. For darker roasts the concentrate will be much closer to espresso strength and makes a great "espresso" or  base of a milk beverage.

Additional Tips for Better Brewing

1. Water matters: Use filtered water with a neutral pH and moderate mineral content to highlight the coffee’s flavour.
2. Control your heat: Keep temperatures moderate. Too hot will mean coffee that is burnt and bitter, while too cold will cause your coffee to be under-extracted. Aim for a total brew time of 4–5 minutes.
3. Clean regularly: Rinse with hot water only – no soap. Use espresso machine cleaner occasionally. Dry completely before reassembling. Replace the rubber gasket periodically if required.
4. Experiment and adjust: Note your grind size, ratios and water weight. Try different blends, adjust variables and find what tastes best to you.
   We recommend starting with our Signature Blend for balance or our Traditional Blend for something darker and more intense.

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