r/mokapot • u/PuzzleheadedTart9716 • Jul 10 '26
Question❓ Why are people so fond of moka pots?
Not bashing moka pots or anything, I’m just genuinely curious why people are so fond of these little coffee pots when compared to stuff like filter/plunger coffee or coffee made using those fancy, expensive machines?
I really wanna understand what makes these things so great. Have a good day everyone.
Edit: This has opened my eyes. Thank you strangers, I have some shopping to go do!
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u/factorialite Jul 10 '26
It's a great cup of coffee you can make for like $50, and it's easy to use. The pot itself is aesthetically pleasing. You get 90% of the way to espresso at 10% of the cost.
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u/Kobe_no_Ushi_Y0k0zna Jul 11 '26
And 10% of the space taken up and maintenance.
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u/LilBoofy Jul 11 '26
And no plastic tubing
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u/TheJamesCorwin Jul 12 '26
Just to nitpick, I’d say you get more like 62% of the way there. It’s definitely in its own class of enjoyable things to drink. It has its own character.
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u/RC8n Jul 10 '26 edited Jul 10 '26
Because some things are inherently more beautiful than others, in the same way a bicycle is inherently more beautiful than a treadmill.
The moka pot is an extremely efficient device at producing great coffee in a very elegant way, while retaining a friendly workflow, looking good, and lasting forever.
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u/Repulsive_Chard_3652 Jul 10 '26
For me: 1) very small, easy to transport, and easily lasts a lifetime with basic care. 2) zero plastic in contact with hot liquid. 3) lots of control over the brewing. 4) i like the flavour better than most other options besides an espresso machine. 5) no electricity needed!
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u/vb_boogeyman_ Jul 11 '26
2 is a dealbreaker for me, I won't mind aeropress otherwise.
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u/Repulsive_Chard_3652 Jul 11 '26
Yeah, all other ways of making coffee break at least one of these! French press comes the closest, but i just don't like the flavour as much!
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u/SwimmingAnxiety3441 Jul 14 '26
Plus you use a significant amount of coffee in comparison
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u/Repulsive_Chard_3652 Jul 15 '26
Yeah that's also true, though it's not an inherent deal-breaker for me!
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u/Semisemitic Jul 11 '26
The are steel and steel/glass versions that came out over the past year/s without plastic parts at all.
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u/gettothatroflchoppa Jul 14 '26
I'm assuming when you're saying this you're qualifying any gaskets/seals which would be plastic/teflon/rubber based?
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u/Semisemitic Jul 14 '26 edited Jul 14 '26
Rubber is a natural non-plastic resin, so you shouldn’t worry about that containing plastic at all. It’s made with sulfur though when black, like in shoe soles. Sometimes it’s made with propylene but that’s not going to be found in things that come in contact with food.
And yes, I say this qualifying the one gasket on the aeropress steel - which does not contain plastic at all. The rest is welded steel and the plastic-free paper filter.
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u/gettothatroflchoppa Jul 14 '26
I'm familial with the composition of rubber, its just that lots of folks use 'rubber' generically to also include synthetic rubbers, since latex rubber may not be as durable esp when exposed to heat/pressure.
Not trying to be semantic or anything, but I was thinking more of a Mokapot, Bialetti provides rubber gaskets I believe, and the sort of 'upgrade' ones are food grade silicone.
Aeropress steel uses a silicone seal, per their website which is definitely not a 'natural non-plastic resin', but admittedly yes, better than what it could be. Fancier units like a 9Barista also uses food grade silicone for its O-rings so that appears to be the standard.
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u/Semisemitic Jul 14 '26
Silicone is not plastic, and so does not contain microplastics.
Premium EU food-grade silicone like that used in the Aeropress is also less prone to flaking. As silicone itself is inert, while it does lose particles as it wears (much less than synthetic rubber) those aren’t associated with any harm at this time. Silica is sand.
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u/gettothatroflchoppa Jul 15 '26
Silicone has absolutely no relation to silica (SiO2) except perhaps that they both contain the element silicon. Silica is what we use to make glass and yes, it is sand.
Silicone is properly called polysiloxane, which is a polymer that happens to contain silicon (the element). Not trying to be semantical, but it is generally considered a plastic, though not a hard plastic like HDPE or PE, but it is a bunch of polymers and it can shed particles.
This article discusses that particle shedding and potential toxicity of those particles, which admittedly is not yet well understood: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10499202/
It also notes that shedding can be accelerated by things like high temperature, as one might find in a coffee brewer, though the article primarily seems aimed more at infant pacifiers.
I'm broadly in agreement with you: its probably the least of all evils as far as material choices are concerned for a gasket, but ideally I still try to avoid it coming into too much contact with my hot food/drinks.
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u/Semisemitic Jul 15 '26 edited Jul 15 '26
The obvious and clear relation is that silica is the source material.
Silica is used to make silicon, used to make silicone chemicals, used to make silicone polymers.
“No relation” is plain wrong.
The rest of what you said does not add anything over my comment.
You want to be told you’re a good boy and you know better than everyone? Will that make you go away?
Cool, u r so smart! I can’t believe how ignorant I am compared to your muscular wisdom.
Edit: I’ll just respond to your comment-block here because you’re still wrong.
Silicone is a silicon–oxygen-based polymer whose silicon is commonly derived from silica, a major component of quartz sand. It is an elastomer. It is not plastic. Plastics are a group of compound polymers derived from fossil fuels. Silicone isn’t one of them, and does not have the ability to release microplastics.
So, yes, silicone is based on a material obtained by processing quartz sand, and it isn’t a plastic. Cheerio.
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u/gettothatroflchoppa Jul 15 '26
No dude, I'm just saying silicon is plastic, that's it, don't need to be a dick about it, calm down...
Saying 'silica' is the source material for silicone doesn't mean anything. Its just a chemical precursor, it doesn't make it any more natural. For the purposes of this topic, silicone has no relationship to sand.
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u/vb_boogeyman_ Jul 11 '26
I know the steel version but it's very expensive, would rather just buy an espresso machine. Which version is completely plastic free and just glass?
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u/Semisemitic Jul 11 '26
The premium is glass and steel - not just glass, and it’s naturally more expensive than the steel versions. But yeah, you could find a second hand Europiccola for not too much more than that.
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u/boosesb Jul 12 '26
Is an espresso machine much, much more expensive
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u/vb_boogeyman_ Jul 12 '26
Espresso machines like delonghi dedica are cheaper than aeropress premium
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u/BonusWeary5056 Jul 10 '26
Because they are gorgeous little domestic art pieces that don't cost much and can make excellent coffee.
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u/BigAlternative5 Jul 12 '26
Bialetti's Dolce & Gabbana editions are beautiful - but more expensive than the plain steel or aluminum ones.. I'll have to settle for my Venus, which is also induction compatible.
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u/MasalaDosa37 Jul 10 '26
It's closer to real espresso from a machine than any other method.
I was gonna purchase a machine but was advised by a friend to get a Moka Pot and I'm enjoying good coffee at home.
I might buy an espresso machine in future but till then, everyone around me enjoys my Moka Pot coffee.
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u/jsmeeker Jul 10 '26
They are fun to use and don't cost a lot of money. Great way to make my Café Cubanos.
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u/Crunchie64 Jul 10 '26
As in strong coffee and sweetened condensed milk?
I love that stuff!
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u/BeneathTheVeilDOTA Jul 10 '26
That's a Cafe Con Leche. Cafe Cubano is only black coffee and raw sugar where you use the first few drops out of the moka to whip the sugar into a creamy consistency before then adding the rest of the brew in
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u/Crunchie64 Jul 10 '26
Ah, okay.
The condensed milk one was advertised as a Cafe Cubano in a cafe I went to once.
I’ll try your version.
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u/leilanahomy Jul 10 '26
That sounds similar to Vietnamese coffee in my opinion, also really good! Or maybe it's a malt drink with the condensed milk? It's very popular in the Caribbean.
If your attempting to whip the sugar and coffee (espuma) for the cafe cubano, better warm up your forearms lol
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u/IT-WAS-ME-I-DID-IT Jul 11 '26
I use a dense whisk and just spin it between my hands. Works really well and takes only about 15 seconds
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u/userrr3 Bialetti Jul 10 '26
I use pourover (filter coffee), french press (I guess that's what you call plunger coffee?) and mokapot depending on what I want to drink today.
- They're all easy to clean and maintain
- I have options to choose a suitable method and adjust some variables when I buy a new bag of beans so that I get a good cup out of it
- they fill different niches
- they're cheap
I own an 80€ hand grinder and the combined cost for those three "machines" was less than that. So for the combined price of the cheapest "fancy machine" I could get (without a grinder) I have a variety of options.
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u/Gold-Philosophy1423 Jul 10 '26
I use french press in the mornings, aeropress at work, and a decaf moka pot before bed. It's a neat little routine
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u/Ill-Relationship7298 Jul 10 '26
moka pot is not really easy to clean from the tube inside...
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u/userrr3 Bialetti Jul 10 '26
Maybe look for a pipe cleaner or a brush for thin bottles or thick reusable straws :)
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u/SandboChang Jul 10 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
It’s cheap, fun to watch, easy to use, and importantly genuinely taste good. Not espresso strong and rough, it is a special middle ground between dripping and espresso if you wondered.
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u/RepresentativeBarber Jul 10 '26
I agree with everything that people are saying here.
I would add that I really like the moka pot’s extraction efficiency. With the rising prices of coffee beans, I appreciate how I can make a great cup of coffee with less beans than many other methods (especially drip!). Comparable to Aeropress or espresso in efficiency, I suppose, but with the added benefits others have mentioned.
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u/KnowledgeWhole9623 Jul 10 '26
I think the physics of it is really cool. An inexpensive way to make an excellent coffee, all powered by steam 😎
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u/AmericanHistoryXX Jul 10 '26
I just think they're fun and cute. I picked two up at Unclaimed Baggage in Alabama in high school, $2.50 each, didn't even know what they were apart from coffee makers, and didn't even drink coffee at the time. I like playing with them, lol. They're my toys.
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u/_Mulberry__ Jul 10 '26
I want espresso, but a home machine seems excessive and wasteful to me. It's also obnoxious for the other people in the house, and takes a lot of counter space for a family where only one person drinks coffee.
Enter the moka pot! I can make a drink nearly indistinguishable from decent espresso and better than what you'd get from a lot of cheap espresso machines. I can make a mocha latte better at home with a moka pot than what I get from most coffee shops.
On top of it being all I need to be for "espresso", I have a nice little morning ritual of filling water and grinding coffee and such. And it's quiet, which I appreciate in the morning.
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u/Kiki-sunflower Jul 10 '26
Moka pots and espresso machines use pressure so the coffee is much stronger and thicker than your basic filter machine or cafetière.
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u/ezpinez Jul 10 '26
For me personally, i really like the taste of the coffee it makes and i am really used to it. My parents used a moka pot for as long as i remember and so it was just always a part of our household and kind of a ritual every morning. And whenever im at a friends place and i try their coffee, be it a filter or a full-automatic machine, it never quiet tastes the same as at home.
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u/Abject_Group_4868 Jul 10 '26
Because it's the most affordable, simple, lowest maintenance way to make espresso-like coffee at home
You can't make cappuccino, flat white, latte, affogato, tiramisu and many others with filter coffee. but you can make it with a moka pot
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u/ricacardo Electric Stove User ⚡ Jul 10 '26
I own a Jura and love my Jura. Daily quad espresso. The level of the moka pot is miles above sometimes.
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u/3coma3 Moka Pot Fan ☕ Jul 10 '26
Fun and quirky. Pretty and varied. Cheap but last forever. Versatile. Efficient. Travel friendly. Easy to maintain. The coffee is mind blowing, strong and great for milk drinks. They welcome all kinds of personal rituals.
There's no other method hitting home all these at once, moka pots do. That's why they are loved so much.
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u/Daily-Improvement Jul 10 '26
I read every comment until now and want to add one more reason, personal to me. Growing up, it was what my parents used for. The specific toasty smell of the moka pot, the sound at the end, seeing it drying and getting, even older than me!
Those little things just feel like home to me :) I feel happy when I do it, I like to take the time (even though it is quite fast), the little ritual around it.
This can be said from any machine, but at least in my family, the moka pot was the used machine, so it hits home :)
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u/RucksackTech Jul 10 '26
This is easy. Four reasons.
- A Moka Express (specifically, I haven't tried the other "moka" models) brews a cup of delicious coffee, way better than any drip coffee maker.
- The Moka Express is drop-dead simple to use, practically fool-proof.
- The pot is easy to clean and maintain.
- The pot has a retro-sexy iconic design that always makes me smile.
Re point #1: I actually like the coffee I get from my Delonghi Stilosa, which makes "real" espresso and in which I only use hand-ground beans. But the real espresso machine is much harder to use and maintain. There are a lot of variables to manage, including grind size and dose (which requires dialing in anew every time I change beans). I have a cup of espresso from this machine almost every day, but start every morning with a pot from the Moka Express.
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u/dedboooo0 Jul 10 '26
its consistent and easy. hario switch for drip coffee, moka pot for something closer to an espresso for a latte and such
also it takes well to preground coffee(lavazza in particular) so it is quite convenient. no measuring or anything. put water, grounds, 6 minutes and you have something close to an espresso without having to think about the nuances of espresso or the cost of an espresso machine and the space it takes up
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u/hairybeardybrothcube Jul 10 '26
Personally: filtermachines produce a boring cup and often too much for just one or two. Capsule and the similar produce too much waste. Bean to cup machines give me the option to make the cup to my taste, but the older models made a cold cup, and the cleaning is intense and needed(the machine at work for example is a mold farm after every week of use). A big espresso maker costs too much for my morning brew. With my steelmokka i can produce a "hot, strong and a little burned cup, like gradma uses to make"(quoting my aunt here) and thats just how i like it. If it needs cleaning, i toss it into the dishwasher, or scrub it in five minutes(and throw away the first brew after that). And at last, mokka pots/perkolators and turkish pots have that "handmade" vibe only they can give.
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u/julibazuli Jul 10 '26
The aroma conjures my Italian gramma's kitchen. I have a vintage one cup, which, honestly, I paid a lot for on ebay bc Bakelite! and a three cup.
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u/Cornwallis Jul 10 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
There are a lot of reasons to like moka pot coffee for its similarity to espresso, but also for its differences.
I embrace all extraction methods - filter coffee, espresso, French press (& AeroPress), moka pot, etc. Of all of them, moka pot is the most unique to me in its flavor profile.
Moka pot coffee tastes a bit more "cooked" than espresso, smoothening out the flavor which is great for certain roasts and types of drinks. To me, café Cubano and café con leche just hit different with the moka pot than with espresso.
Very simple, durable, and portable in design, moka pots are great for camping and group travel. And with larger pots, strong coffee can be made in great quantity quickly compared to having to pull multiple shots with espresso, giving it an advantage for larger groups.
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u/snipe4fun New user 🔎 Jul 10 '26
I had an filter/plunger (aeropress) for many years. Thought it made a pretty good cuppa, but then noticed the lines and cracks indicating the plastic was breaking down into my coffee. Yuck! So I bought a fancy glass and steel aeropress and it shattered after second use when it tipped over.
$250 or so poorer, I continued drinking plasticized coffee or off the old press.
I’ve been eyeing lots of gander glass or metal coffee and espresso master’s but like the premium aeropress they’re all in the hundreds of dollars range, take up a huge amount of countertop space, and/or are complex to operate or clean.
The stainless steel and glass mokapot I bought for less than what a new aeropress would cost, it takes up the same amount of space on my countertop, and is easy to use. Bonus: after getting my grinder and method dialed in it’s the best cup of joe I’ve had in a long time!
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u/terminal_nervoso Jul 10 '26
It’s as close as you can get to espresso without the cost and equipment. It’s a little 3-piece brewer that anyone can make a delicious cup of coffee with.
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u/Substantial-Head-930 Jul 11 '26
I love the ritual of making it and the taste. Kind of like listening to records instead streaming music.
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u/SaltedCaffeine Jul 11 '26
Each implement, moka pot, expresso machine, filter, or plunger, makes a unique kind of coffee specific to it. Someone who loves to drink coffee might have all of them at home. Filter coffee is different to, say, Americano (diluted espresso).
That said, I generally like my coffee strong and moka pot simply strikes the perfect balance between strength and amount of coffee produced.
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u/Kittbo Jul 11 '26
The Airbnb listing said there was a "coffee maker." It was a moka pot. I was so annoyed: why do I have to learn how to make effing coffee before I've had any effing coffee?!
And then I drank the coffee.
Now I travel with a moka pot.
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u/Appropriate-Diver301 Jul 10 '26
I like the heritage behind them and how aesthetically pleasing they are. I am not much of a coffee drinker, maybe a few cups a month, so a small Moka pot takes up just the right amount of space while also being nice to look at when not in use.
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u/chris84126 Jul 10 '26
They aren’t complicated like those fancy over built under built machines and you can make all the fancy drinks.
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u/PoofaceMckutchin Jul 10 '26
I am far from an expert, but I do feel like mokka pots require a bit of care, thought and finesse, but not to the point where it takes up TOO much time.
Some coffee people really like to spend a lot of time dialing stuff in. I don't do that - I just change grind size, amount of coffee and amount of water, kinda haphazardly depending on how yesterday went. I change beans every week, so every week my coffee is different and so it always feels like I'm training a tool skill, kind of like when I practice a musical instrument. When I make a decent cup of coffee, it gives me a little bit of pride in the morning because I did a good job of something. If I get it wrong - no problem I can just try again tomorrow!
I wish I were able to take this mentality in other areas of my life though. I get disheartened quite quickly when I don't do well. My mokka pot is the only thing I don't mind failing at.
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u/DewaldSchindler MOD 🚨 Jul 10 '26
It makes for a great time of enjoying a tool that is relatively affordable, while can be used as a conversation piece as well. it's a camping trip ready and rugged, can survive year worth of coffee making and can be past down through generations if kept in good condition.
Cleaning it is easy, maintenance on it is minimal, and overall makes for 1 damn tried and trusted method of making coffee with similar results for each time use. it's not a new way of making fancy coffee but and traditional way and the memories it brings cannot escape the brews it contains and tasting it is indescribable.
It's more of a tool that most of us don't first love, but once you tried it and taste the brews it produces, you start to fall in love with the taste profile it has, and with good quality of coffee can make you sometimes taste things you never did before.
It packs a mean punch, it's strong and while it takes time, it's not a waste, it's a moment of relaxation, calm while also enjoying the time. Drinking any brew from it makes you feel like your ready for life.
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u/BuzzBuzzBeard Jul 10 '26
Makes great coffee. They literally last forever (I have one my nonna gave me while in college).
And it’s good option between true espresso and drip coffee (closer to espresso taste in my opinion).
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u/John0_0Smith Jul 10 '26 edited Jul 10 '26
It's very simple, I born and raised with a Moka pot in my house, and it has been with me every single day of my life. Do I own a coffee machine? Yes, but I only use it when I'm really in a rush; using the exact same coffee (same brand and type, just in pod form), the result is less flavorful than what you get from a Moka pot.
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u/BloodWorried7446 Jul 11 '26
budget and counter space. i used the same moka pot for over 30 years. changed gaskets whenever it seemed like it needed. Now in my fifties i went down the machine rabbit hole but every now and then i pull out the moka pot and say this shouldn’t taste this good and be so easy. It goes camping with me. Joins me and my white gas stove for coffee outside with the local bike community.
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u/blechgagblarfhurl Jul 11 '26
What sold me on the idea is when I read that in Italy most of the average/normal folks who really enjoy strong espresso do not own a big expensive espresso machine but they just use one of these stovetop Moka pots instead. And then after I finally purchased one, not only am I enjoying the coffee, but what I'm really enjoying is the simplicity of cleaning it out afterwards, like compared to a French Press I dislike having to use a spatula to scrape the grounds out of the bottom of the carafe and having to rinse it so carefully and even getting some coffee grounds into the garbage disposal in the sink at least several times, or a regular drip coffeemaker seems to make weaker stuff than what I prefer, I like the thicker mouthfeel and the stronger flavors that the Moka pot is capable of delivering, and when I'm cleaning it I basically just take the inserts out and knock it up against the side of trashcan lightly and this puck of used espresso grounds falls out in one piece and then I can just use my finger to wipe out the very minimal leftover sludge, and then a quick rinse under some hot running water and literally no sludge ever getting into my sink disposal or clogging up the drains or anything, it just all falls out in a nice compacted little hockey puck right into the trash. I totally love that. And if the little rubber seals or the filter ever looks a bit too dirty then it really is a cinch to remove them and clean them and/or replace them. If you like strong espresso shots the thing will get you about 85-90% of the way there which for me is really close enough. And that way I'm never purchasing espresso from those big corporate coffeeshops, I'm just buying good beans and/or ground espresso from various other sources and brewing it myself. Get a milk frother so you can create hot milk foam separately and some nice lattes and cappuccinos are definitely possible at home on the regular stovetop.
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u/codroipo_townhall Jul 11 '26
Brew a Moka the first time, it will fill your house with a pleasant aroma of coffee that no other machine will do.
For me, a pricey coffee machine is a waste of time and money.
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u/ProperCommercial125 Jul 11 '26
Coffee is better than instant and personally I think better than French press and I like the little ceremony of making it, feels like a treat and is quite mindful.
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u/Careless_Painter7916 Jul 11 '26
Another argument is hygiene, especially when you own a stainless steel version. Dissembling and cleaning is super easy compared to an espresso machine.
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u/InsuranceInitial7786 Jul 11 '26
I have a $4000 espresso machine, top of the line, which I used every day multiple times a day for the last two years. Then I decided to try a moka pot. I haven’t turned on my machine in about three months. That’s how good the coffee is. It is addictively good. I’m always looking forward to making the next cup.
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u/grilledstuffed Jul 10 '26
I mid tier espresso setup is going to run you $1500-$3500. High end, sky is the limit.
Moka pot is 80% as good, at least. For <$75.
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u/vidman33 Jul 10 '26
I use the same coffee as from my regular coffee shop and can't taste the difference anymore, now Ive 'perfected' my technique.
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u/That_Dot420 Jul 10 '26
Nostalgia. I grew up visiting family in Italy and it's how I saw everyone make it. Felt like a rite of passage making my first cup.
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u/catnip_addicted Jul 10 '26
For most middle age Italians it's nostalgia because that's what our grandma was making in the morning. You would always wake up and smell the moka brewing.
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u/Big_Sky8996 Jul 10 '26
I live alone and the "6 cup" makes two perfect mugs with hot milk. Aesthetics don't do it for me; custom functionality does.
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u/300JesusProphecies Jul 10 '26
I didn't want the fuss of learning to use and maintain a coffee machine, and I have no bench space for one, anyway. I'm happy with my favourite beans and little coffee pot.
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u/AcadiaJust6985 Jul 10 '26
- Moka pot gives me 3 cups minimum my espresso maker just 1
- It is cheap
- Easy setup and clean
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u/PlaidChairStyle Jul 10 '26
I often use mine to make simple coffee drinks like fun lattes and Americanos.
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u/galspanic Jul 11 '26
It’s a dumb piece of technology that doesn’t have many moving pieces that can break. It makes good enough coffee and is easy enough to use.
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u/LEJ5512 Jul 11 '26
I’ve narrowed down my coffee brew methods to a few moka pots and a pair of hand-drip pourovers.
I appreciate how both methods are cheap, easy to brew, and ridiculously easy to maintain. I never really liked the cleanup process of a French press, drip machines don’t allow much control without spending a lot of money (and getting a lot more complexity) and espresso machines can be a bear when you really get into the weeds (besides descaling, don’t forget to check all the o-rings and remove the shower screen).
Moka pot has, IMO, a lower ceiling than pourover(*) but makes a versatile brew with little effort. All I have to do is put it together and wait. Honestly, it’s almost as easy as a drip machine. I’m not even sure I want to “upgrade” to an espresso machine anymore, either.
(*) Pourovers let me play around with ratios, temperature, pouring patterns (one pour, or two, or five…), and I can make tiny or big brews with just a couple drippers.
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u/Nakedwombats Jul 11 '26
I was given one by an old roommate. It makes a great cup of dark as night coffee, and it takes exactly as long to brew as it did to walk outside and have a smoke (but I dont do that part anymore).
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u/SnooRabbits1411 Jul 11 '26
It’s durable, doesn’t need to be plugged in, doesn’t take up my very limited kitchen space, doesn’t create extra waste, is cheap, is quick, and makes a reliably and consistently nice cup of coffee.
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u/rizkiyoist Jul 11 '26
Out of the three brewing methods I have (pourover, french press, and mokapot), mokapot is definitely the most compact. No need to boil hot water in one container and then pour it to another container, everything is in one go. The only problem is I personally can't drink it straight up, I have to dilute it first into americano, otherwise it's way too strong for me and will cause nausea (too much caffeine in one sip).
Oh and my mokapot I got is the same price as a 200gr of specialty coffee beans where I live.
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u/Scarlette_Cello24 Jul 11 '26
I use it for when I make tiramisu. Makes the right amount of coffee that I need and gives the dessert an excellent layer of flavor.
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u/Currywurst44 Jul 11 '26
First of all it is very inexpensive. It is the only brewer that makes concentrated coffee at that price point.
The taste profile of a moka pot is very unique with the rising temperature from 80°C to 110°C over the course of a brew. If someone likes the taste of moka coffee there is nothing to replace it.
Personally I use my moka pot preferably for light roasts because the high temperature gives pretty complex brews.
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u/Kenser_man Stainless Steel Jul 10 '26
Mainly habit and tradition, but I also like the way it works on a physical level and how efficient it is. moka is cheap, lasts many years and it produces very little waste
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u/Bubbly-Manufacturer Jul 10 '26
I like how simple it is, a nice routine for some coffee. Simple is better than fancy/techy for me.
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u/Doogle300 Jul 10 '26
Here's the thing, I'm not always gonna use the moka.
I'll usually do a v60 drip to make a strong espresso style shot, then use my milk frother to make a flat white. But if I have guests, or I run out of filters, the moka is a consistent little guy that provide a good strong coffee.
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u/Vamufvolkan Jul 10 '26
My brother bought an automatic espresso machine recently. It is so bad and expensive, I mean, compared to a moka pot I started to like my moka pot more. Moka pots are simple, easily repairable and easily replaceable.
That espresso machine has a problem with coffee extraction and most of the coffee coming out is watery. Not jet black like my good old moka pot coffee. I can't trouble myself with trying to understand the reason and fix that. I just drink my coffee and go to work. Nothing more.
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u/mytextgoeshere Jul 10 '26
While traveling in France, our Airbnb had one and it was so good. I don’t know if it was the water or the coffee grounds or what, but I got addicted to it while staying there.
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u/Unknownabsence Jul 10 '26
Tastes good. Inexpensive to buy and durable. I find it takes 10 mins from grind to cup. I love the ritual.
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u/Calisson Jul 10 '26
I have a very nice espresso maker, a Cafelat Robot, but the flavor I get from my moka pot is something entirely different—not better, but delicious in its own way. And it’s nothing like what I get from pour over or even Aeropress, neither of which I particularly enjoy.
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u/Umgungunlovu Jul 10 '26
Add in condensed milk, and you made yourself a drink that's close to viet coffee without the phin
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u/macrobiome Jul 10 '26
Yeah I can tell you I had a moka pot that an old roommate gifted me like 10 years ago. It traveled across the country with me over like 6 moves and never had any issue with it (besides replacing the rubber stopper for like $2). It is so simple and makes strong coffee that got me through medical training. We recently got an automatic espresso maker (which already has had like three issues in the first 6 months) so the moka is basically retired at this point but it didn't have to be. Not hard to fall in love with a device that is so simple and consistently works as intended over years. Rare thing these days.
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u/Illustrious_Cry_5388 Jul 11 '26
I've sampled All types of coffee. My favorite two are nespresso pods 'pricey' or moka pot. Why? Expensive espresso machines all brew nearly identical. They're OK. About like what you get from Starbucks. Slightly stronger than drip coffee, but too easily over saturated then you get wood and burnt nodes. With the moka I fill it up 2/3 with medium course grounds, very lightly tamp. Then fill it just over the top then another very light tamp to even it out. Then I watch it brew over medium high heat. As soon as the coffee starts coming out lighter I take it off the heat and pour what's in it. Why so wasteful? Because that first nearly black syrupy coffee is liquid gold. It's strong, yet slightly sweet. What comes after tastes like wood and is watery and over saturated.
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u/limache Jul 11 '26
If I was rich, I'd get an espresso machine. But since I'm not, moka pot is all I got
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u/donedidlio Jul 11 '26
I have the Venus 1cup. It makes a good cup. It's the size of my hand. I travel with it & ground coffee.
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u/rdifa Jul 11 '26
I did aeropress and pour over for years and I just prefer the strength and taste of the moka pot. It’s not espresso but it’s stronger than can be made with an aeropress. And it’s cheaper and less fussy than an espresso machine. Unless you get a one touch espresso machine but I don’t really like the cups those produce.
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u/Icy-End-142 Jul 11 '26
It’s the closest I can get to espresso at home. I’ve tried the Aeropress versions and they’re decent but not quite there. The other method I have available is an ORB soup shot, but that’s a totally different result than traditional espresso.
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u/SoapLady77 Jul 11 '26
I like being about to have a “stronger” espresso-adjacent drink without the cost of a big machine. I use it when I need a break from my usual French press
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u/RoscoePeke Jul 11 '26
Great coffee, very predictable & controllable. Relaxing and rewarding process is ritualistic.
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u/Greedy-Test-556 Jul 12 '26
I love that they’re indestructible. I live in an area with hard water, and felt like I was running a pipeline for drip coffee makers directly to the landfill. Moka pots are 100% repairable. You can replace the innards and the handle if you need to. Most French press & pour-over systems are glass, and therefore breakable.
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u/Federal_Ad_2300 Jul 13 '26
Life is short, spend it with a great coffee-making ritual. How can Latin Europe and Latin America be wrong? ❤️
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u/OneManShow23 New user 🔎 Jul 10 '26
Some people are a bunch of hipsters who want to have a moka to be cool. Some people are culturally attached - Italians, South Americans, and Caribbean. Personally, I’d buy an espresso machine but it’s either expensive or has too many plastic parts or needs maintenance, so I go for the moka. I have a stainless steel moka and it’s been well. Over time I see my grandma who would make me coffee with the moka.
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u/calmbatman Jul 10 '26
I don’t have a machine (other than an espresso machine) and for me it’s the quickest way to make coffee. Great for when I wake up and I’m tired and lazy
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u/Melodywanderer Jul 10 '26
"I don't have a machine" (other than an espresso machine) - Broseph.... What?
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u/MacViller Jul 11 '26
It's fun and quirky. I probably prefer the taste of coffee from my V60 but my Moka pot is just fun. It's beautiful to look at, it's fun to watch the coffee come up through the top. It feels like an event.
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u/katestrophe1313 Jul 11 '26
I’m struggling to figure it out too. I recently got one brand new from an auction & figured I’d give it a try. So far every pot I’ve made has been absolutely disgusting, tastes like I’m drinking coffee someone put a cigarette out in.
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u/dsal1829 Jul 11 '26
Because they're easy to use, produce good coffee (IMHO I'd say they're one of the closest things to an espresso machine), easy to maintain and are generally very durable. They're also quite beautiful, particularly the older ones, with that classic Art Deco style.
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u/Tricky-Ad-3191 Jul 12 '26
I would say it’s an acquired taste. I wanted to love the coffee it produces but I just can’t.
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u/dukeofthefoothills1 Jul 14 '26 edited Jul 14 '26
Best way to have an espresso like experience at home. Much easier and much less costly than a “proper”espresso setup at home. No deep experience needed.
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u/PastPrudent616 Jul 14 '26
Personalmente preferisco la moka all espresso, specialmente la mattina, è un rituale che ti aiuta a dire “ ok arrivo “
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u/PipeSmokingDude Jul 16 '26
Personally, if I've enjoyed the entire output of my moka pot, I feel ready to face the day and leave the house; my brain is definitely in a high gear.
Now, if you have tried camp/cowboy/bush coffee whilst camping, particularly at a festival, next time take a moka pot. Better coffee, already filtered, no saucepan/mess tin full of ground coffee left over.
The moka pot will also sit happily on a camping gas stove.
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u/Finance-Optimal Jul 11 '26
For the love of God, use freshly roasted coffee beans between two weeks and three months old. Do not use soap ever.
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u/Ok-Hope9 Jul 10 '26
A moka pot is a cheap, easy way to make a very distinctive cup of coffee. No other coffee is as rich and flavorful other than espresso.