Brew guide · moka pot
Best Coffee for Moka Pot
The best coffee for a moka pot is a medium dark or dark roast, ground a little finer than drip. At Gigawatt Coffee Roasters, we'd start with our Live Wire Espresso Blend, then Kite & Key Blend or Cameroon Mount Oku. Every coffee is air roasted in small batches in Bensenville, Illinois, so the strong, concentrated cup a moka pot makes stays smooth.
Shop moka pot coffee
By Jennifer Coleman, co-founder of Gigawatt Coffee Roasters
What's the best coffee for a moka pot?
A darker roast. Steam pressure pushes hot water up through the grounds and makes a small, strong cup close to espresso, so a dark or medium dark roast gives it a sweet, heavy body, where a light roast can taste sour. Tap a coffee to get it whole bean, then grind it right before you brew.
Live Wire Espresso BlendDark. Our pick: our espresso blend, made for a small, strong cup.10 oz · from $13.99Pick this one →
Kite & Key BlendMedium dark. Our flagship blend. Smooth, with a chocolatey finish.10 oz · from $13.99Pick this one →
Cameroon Mount OkuMedium dark. Single origin from Mount Oku. Full body.10 oz · from $13.99Pick this one →
Static Resistor DecafDark. Water processed decaf, for an evening cup.10 oz · from $13.99Pick this one →
What grind size for a moka pot?
Medium-fine: a little finer than drip and coarser than espresso. Too fine and the pot sputters and turns bitter; too coarse and the coffee comes out thin.
Made for a small, strong cup
Live Wire Espresso Blend
Our espresso blend and the coffee we'd put in a moka pot first: a dark roast from Guatemala, Brazil, Costa Rica and India, smooth and velvety with a clean finish.
Dark roast Shop Live WireHow do you use a moka pot?
Fill it, heat it gently, and take it off the moment it gurgles. The whole brew takes about 5 minutes.
- Fill the bottom chamber with hot water, up to just below the safety valve.
- Fill the basket with medium-fine coffee and level it off. Don’t press it down.
- Screw the pot together and set it on medium-low heat with the lid open.
- When the coffee turns pale and starts to gurgle, take it off the heat.
- Run the base under cold water to stop the brew, then pour.
Stovetop or machine
Moka pot vs espresso
A moka pot makes the closest thing to espresso you can brew without a machine. Here's where they differ.
| Moka pot | Espresso machine | |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure | About 1 to 2 bar | About 9 bar |
| Grind | Medium-fine | Fine |
| Brew time | 4 to 5 minutes | 25 to 30 seconds |
| The cup | Strong and concentrated, little crema | Thick, with a layer of crema |
| Cost to start | About $30 to $50 | Hundreds of dollars |
Pulling shots at home? Our espresso blend comes whole bean.
The Gigawatt difference
Why our coffee works in a moka pot
Air roasted, never bitter
A moka pot concentrates everything in the bean. We roast on hot air in small batches in Bensenville, so the cup stays smooth.
Small batchesDated by hand
The roast date is written on every bag, so you know exactly when it was roasted.
On every bagNothing to risk
If a bag is ever not right, tell us and we'll make it right. No hoops.
See our promiseMore brewing guides
Every brewer's grind, ratio and brew time, plus our other guides.
The Gigawatt Guarantee
Never bitter, never burnt, always fresh.
If it's ever not, tell us and we'll make it right. No hoops, no sending anything back.
Shop moka pot coffeeHow the guarantee works“Always delicious. Never bitter.”
★★★★★Susan L., Dark Roast Sampler
Questions
What is the best coffee for a moka pot?
A medium dark or dark roast, ground a little finer than drip. Our pick is Live Wire Espresso Blend.
What grind size for a moka pot?
Medium-fine: finer than drip, coarser than espresso. Too fine and the pot sputters and the coffee turns bitter.
Can you use regular coffee in a moka pot?
Yes, as long as it’s ground medium-fine. Darker roasts give the fullest cup.
Why does my moka pot coffee taste bitter?
Usually the heat is too high, or the pot stayed on the stove after it started to gurgle. Use medium-low heat and take it off as soon as it sputters.
Can I make iced coffee with a moka pot?
Yes. Brew as usual and pour it over a glass full of ice, or let it cool first so less ice melts.