When you need a Moka Pot Espresso Maker

The Moka pot is a stovetop coffee maker invented by Luigi De Ponti in 1933 and was very soon adopted throughout Italy. 

Its popularity is on the rise since the first wave of the pandemic which led to the closing of the coffee shops making people search for simpler and inexpensive methods of making quality coffee at home. But you may need it for more occasions. Let’s see how. 

When do you need Moka pot espresso maker?

1)     While traveling or hiking outside

Hikers or mountaineers when on a trek don't have to spend days in nature without access to necessities like induction cookers or heaters. An espresso machine cannot operate unless plugged into a socket on an electrical outlet. Additionally, it is too heavy to be carried around.

Moka pots can easily be operated on a travelers stove, the low intensity of the stove perfect for the pot's requirement. It is also lighter in weight and easy to operate, making it an ideal pot for hikers to carry in trips and excursions.

2)     When traveling by a caravan

Caravan travelers rely mostly on batteries and solar panels for their electronic appliances on board. These charging outlets are already overloaded with devices to be charged causing them to be exhausted fast and the leisure battery though a backup is not a very efficient or effective one.

Moka pots can work very efficiently on wood burner stoves, paraffin stoves, and even camper stoves requiring very little heat to operate and taking very little time for the coffee to be brewed efficiently.

3)     When we need to multipurpose

Sometimes because of natural disasters like hurricanes or pandemics, we are trapped for days inside, in the former case without electricity. A paraffin stove or any stove option without electricity is our only way out.

That’s when Moka pots come in handy. Apart from making espresso and coffee, they can be used to boil water or milk as well and even eggs. Not the ideal solutions but hard times call for desperate measures albeit temporarily.

4)     When we need something simpler and less expensive

An espresso machine ranges from 400$ going upward up to 3000$. Additionally, it comes with its guide manual without which operating it becomes a hassle.

Moka pots range from 20$ - 40$ and can be operated by anyone because of their simple 3-step mechanism.

When in temporary accommodation or for a short-term stay, moka pots are perfect for an excellent cup of daily coffee without burning a hole in the pocket or having to leaf through confusing manuals.

5)     When we need something lighter with fewer maintenance issues

An espresso machine is extremely bulky along with requiring a manual to be operated. Additionally, it has to be screwed open for cleaning it after which assembling it back is a tedious process owing to its complex machinery.

A moka pot is comparatively much lighter and has just 3 parts making it extremely convenient to be used and easy to clean requiring just water and a good rinse for a good clean.

It is this lightweight and easily operable feature of moka pots that makes them popular in the market.

Types of Moka pot espresso maker

Moka pots are basically of two categories.

1) Aluminum and stainless steel

2)Manual and electric

Aluminum pots are inexpensive, lightweight, and better conductors of heat. But aluminum mokas are prone to corrosion and less durable with not being dishwasher or induction-friendly.

Stainless steel pots on the other hand are expensive, heavier and a good absorber of heat. But they are durable, less prone to corrosion, and dishwasher as well as induction friendly- making them the preferred choice of pots in the market.

Manual moka pots though inexpensive are a bit more time-consuming and need the practice to get the consistency of the coffee right.

An electrical moka pot on the other hand is a bit easy to operate than the manual one but more expensive.

Now let's answer some commonly asked questions about a moka pot

Q) What is a Bialetti?

Bialetti is an Italian brand founded by AlphonsoBialetti that specializes in coffee machines, cookware, and small kitchen appliances. The moka pot first made by the Bialetti brand is also called the Bialetti pot.

Q)Is moka coffee as strong as espresso?

Moka pots make coffee using 1-2 bars of pressure. Espresso machines make coffee using 8-10 bars of pressure.

A moka coffee though close to espresso coffee is not as strong as espresso because of the less pressure applied.

Q)What size moka pot do we need for our homes?

A moka pot for a single person depends on the amount of coffee he drinks. A 2 cup moka pot (90 ml) can make sufficient coffee for an 8oz mug; for people that need more, 130 ml pot will be sufficient.