I have tried and tested a fair few Stovetops throughout the years.
The truth is you can’t really go wrong.
The robust design and very few moving parts (unlike many coffee machines on the market today) means that you don’t have a huge range of price points and functionality.
However, there are some Mokapots that may better fit your lifestyle (if you want to brew 1 or 5 cups) or kitchen (Induction hob or gas).
So rather than me blabbering on about the history of the stovetop, here is what to look for when purchasing one followed by what I think are the 8 best Stovetops out there.
Having worked in the coffee industry for over 10 years throughout the world I have tried and tested many stovetop coffee makers and use my own to review and write about the UK’s best coffee to include in our coffee club subscription.
How to choose a Moka Pot?
Material
There are normally two choices in the material of Moka pots: Aluminium or stainless steel.
The original Bialetti Moka pot was made of aluminium while still today it is cast in anodised aluminium, many others are made from stainless steel.
There are pros and cons of each, aluminium is light and conducts heat but it is also corrosive and will stain easily.
Stainless steel is durable and easy to clean but is heavy and often costs more.
Capacity
Cup sizes in Stovetop coffee pots are normally measured as 50ml per cup (this does vary with the brand and model).
They do produce a coffee that is almost an espresso however it doesn’t have the depth and concentration of coffee that you achieve with an espresso machine.
So when weighing up capacity try to envisage the volume of coffee you’ll yield.
For a 3 cup Stovetop that’s 150ml, which is roughly the same volume as a flat white (in the UK).
Your Heat Source
Make sure the Moka pot that you purchase will work on your heat source. For instance, the original Bialetti doesn’t work on induction hobs.
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Capacity:4 Cup (180ml), 6 Cup (270ml), 10 Cup (450ml)
Material:Stainless Steel
Stove Compatibility: Gas, Electric, Induction
Pros: ✅ Easy Pour ✅ Induction Compatible
Cons: ❌ Cylindrical Shape ❌ Hard to Clean
The undisputed champion of stove top coffee pots is Bialetti and rightly so they invented them.
The slick and functional design alongside darn good coffee makes the Venus my favourite stovetop espresso maker.
The elegant younger brother to the OG Bialetti Italian coffee maker still brews the same delicious coffee that is synonymous with the little moustached man logo.
This Bialetti espresso maker works in the same way as most stovetops, the bottom is screwed onto the top and hot water permeates the middle chamber of coffee grounds.
The heat source can be a little different to the Moka Express though as this guy is induction compatible for all those with new kitchens!
The easy pour spout has been another aspect of the design that Bialetti has improved on with a ‘dripless pour’ meaning your work surface stays nice and clean.
Cleaning of the Venus is a little trickier though, the upper chamber where the brewed coffee collects is tall and has a tight edge that is hard to reach.
The cylindrical design, although nice to look at does prove a little more difficult to get a decent grip while screwing the espresso pot together.
All said a great induction Moka pot that has the moustache hallmark of quality with a sprinkling of modern-day chic.
Capacity:1 Cup (60ml), 3 Cup (190ml), 6 Cup (300ml), 9 Cup (550ml), 12 Cup (740ml)
Material:Aluminium
Stove Compatibility:Gas, Electric
Pros: ✅ Legendary ✅ Comes in Different Sizes
Cons: ❌ Isn’t Induction Compatible ❌ Issues with Aluminium
The Bialetti Moka Express is the OG stovetop that is still on top of its game.
Today the Moka Express is very similar to what it was when it was invented.
The famous octagonal base and the aluminium body of this Italian coffee maker has been caffeinating the world for the best part of a century.
Based on what you are looking for in a Moka pot will depend on whether the Bialetti is right for you.
If you are a purist and the heritage and traditions of Moka coffee really float your boat then a Bialetti Moka Express is for you.
A couple of things I’ll ad for you to think about though is the material, aluminium is quite porous so is hard to clean plus it is corrosive and isn’t dishwasher safe.
The Moka Express is also non-compatible with induction hobs.
However, the simplicity and the history behind the Moka Express is definitely a selling point for me.
If you do own an induction hob and you have your heart set on one of these then there is now the induction heat saucer that will act as a traditional electric stove.
Does the Bialetti Italian Espresso Maker tick your boxes?
The 9 Barista is a brand new moka pot on the market that uses patented technology to set it apart from others.
This guy is like no other Moka pot around and actually is a completely different beast altogether and could be categorized as a portable espresso machine.
Water is added to the bottom chamber before the spring loaded middle chamber is tightly screwed on using the wooden handle.
20g of espresso ground coffee is tamped into the inverted upper chamber then all screwed together tight enough for (you guessed it) 9 bars of pressure to extract the perfect espresso.
The technology is basically something similar to what you would find in an espresso machine, the water is heated to 179℃ creating 9 bars of pressure then transferred into a coil via a valve in the middle chamber.
The excess water then cools to brewing temperature before a shot of espresso is extracted into the top espresso reservoir.
A super cool design that produces the same quality espresso you find in speciality coffee shops.
All of this quality precision and technology does come with a fairly hefty price tag that you’ll be able to purchase a decent home espresso machine plus because the 9 Barista is still very young there are a few minor design and functionality issues that need ironing out.
The Stelton Collar Espresso Maker works in the same way that the original Moka pot works.
The filter that is usually fixed onto the upper chamber, in this case, is loose so when attaching all of the parts the filter disk is placed on top of the bed of coffee.
The smooth matt Teflon coated stainless steel structure is typical of the Scandanavian brands coffee equipment.
Their ethics of less is more combined with a minimalistic and artistic approach, help their products stand out in the speciality coffee crowd.
The collar espresso maker is great if you have a gas stove and want a more rustic look when making coffee.
The unique handle reminds me of a traditional Turkish coffee pot that you would sit on an open fire.
The Stelton Moka pot unfortunately only works on gas stoves and comes in 1 size that fits all.
Simply fill water to the water level inside the base of the DeLonghi Alicia, place the coffee funnel and screw the pourer into place then hit go.
The Alicia has its own heating element so there is no need to fire up the stove, you can do this in any room in the house.
The base of the Moka pot isn’t actually heated which means that once brewed you can place it anywhere you like without running the risk of burning a hole in your favourite table cloth.
The ease of use is the biggest selling point of the Alicia, it’s the sort of stovetop that you can just leave and let it brew while you take a shower without the thought of having the gas stove on.
The Alicia also has a ‘keep warm’ function a little like an American-diner style drip coffee, this is great for those weekend coffees that you take your time and enjoy. Make sure you don’t leave it too long though as you’ll be left with a pretty flat-tasting brew.
Although this espresso coffee pot excels when it comes to convenience because of the electrical heating element it can also cause problems like with any kettle and does have a tendency to burn out after a certain amount of time.
The plastic pourer also causes issues with leaking and breakages. Because a Moka pot needs to be screwed really tight to prevent leakage there are a few issues around the plastic pourer and the difficulty to screw the parts together tight enough without breaking them.
Capacity:1 Cup (75ml), 3 Cup (150ml), 6 Cup (300ml)
Material:Aluminium
Stove Compatibility:Gas, Electric
Pros: ✅ Unique Filtering ✅ Style
Cons: ❌ Loses Shine ❌ Potential Corrosion
The pixilated design of the Alessi Pulcina is not a stovetop that you just scroll past.
Intensely researched and designed by Michele De Lucchi the stovetop has been crafted in a way to optimise every step of the process.
The hourglass shape means that the internal heater will stop filtering the coffee at exactly the right moment with no coughing and spluttering of over-extracted coffee at the end like other stovetops.
Pouring the coffee is an enjoyable experience with the spout designed to stop any spillages of coffee so you are able to enjoy every last drop.
The Pulcina brews in many ways the perfect Moka pot, expect a coffee with a medium to full body that is well balanced and even highlights some of the more delicate flavours in the coffee that would normally become overpowered by richer notes.
Because the Pulcina is made out of aluminium like the original Bialetti espresso pot it does have a tendency to lose its shine after a while and it is sensitive to certain cleaning products that may lead to a little corrosion.
The Bialetti Mini Express is a fun and almost novel way to brew and serve your moka pot in the morning.
Set up the Italian espresso maker as you would normally by screwing the upper part onto the lower chamber filled with water underneath the bed of coffee.
Then start the brewing by turning on the heat and watch the rich velvety stovetop coffee dripping from the two spouts into your best coffee cups.
There are a couple of problems around the way that the coffee pours and the two spouts don’t always drip at the same speed with one cup yielding more coffee than the other.
There is also the odd issue with the plastic parts above the base melting, this will only happen if the heat is too high, stovetop should be brewed on a medium heat anyway so should not affect you if you brew properly.
Make sure that the coffee that you are using in your stovetop coffee maker isn’t ground too fine.
This may not allow the water in the lower chamber to force through the bed of coffee and the build-up of pressure may result in the Moka pot starting to leak through the middle of the safety valve doesn’t function properly.
Be extremely careful handling freshly brewed coffee straight from the hob. I’d advise pouring the coffee straight out into cups or a server and leaving the Moka pot on the stove to cool down.
You should also allow good time for the mechanism to cool before cleaning.
What is the Best Coffee For Moka Pot?
A Moka pot will complement rich, darker flavoured coffee but you will be able to brew a delicious light roasted African coffee with one of these too.
Make sure the Moka pot coffee grind sizeis adjusted accordingly to a medium/fine setting and if you can, try and grind the coffee just before you brew. find out which is the best manual coffee grinder for Moka Pot.
How Many Cups Does a Moka Pot Make?
It depends on the size of the Moka pot. Brands and models vary in cup sizes, from a single 1 cup stovetop through to a 12 cup Moka pot. Check out our Moka Pot Size Guide above.
Can You Make a Latte Using a Moka Pot?
A Latte you order from a cafe is essentially espresso with milk (the amount of milk and foam differentiates other milk-based coffees such as a cappuccino or a flat white).
The espresso coffee that is achieved from a commercial coffee machine is short and strong, when mixed with milk the flavour of the coffee isn’t lost while the consistency of the milk stays the same.
Although often called an Italian espresso machine, typical stovetop brews a longer (albeit still strong) coffee, so when mixed with milk you are essentially adding around 3 or 4 times the amount of brewed coffee resulting in the wrong ratio of coffee to milk.
To achieve something similar to a latte you can attempt to brew the stovetop with a darker roasted coffee and ground to a slightly finer setting (not too fine though as the water won’t be able to permeate the bed of coffee).
This should make a richer coffee that should maintain its flavour when mixed with milk.
Can a Moka Pot Make an Espresso?
You will not be able to extract an espresso that you are served in a cafe from a Moka Pot but you can get close with some of the better coffee makers above and a finer ground coffee.
You will not be able to extract an espresso that you are served in a cafe from a Moka Pot but you can get close with some of the better coffee makers above and a finer ground coffee.
Do You Tamp the Coffee in a Moka Pot?
No, try not to tamp the bed of coffee. This will make it impossible for the water to filter through and efficiently extract the coffee.
How Long Does it Take to Make a Moka Pot Coffee?
A Moka pot should take roughly 3-5 minutes.
This all depends on the size of the Moka pot, the type of coffee, the dose of coffee, the temperature of the brewing water when poured into the bottom chamber and the intensity of the heat source.
How Do You Know When a Stovetop Coffee is Done?
The coffee will start spluttering which means there is no water left in the bottom chamber. Some Moka Pots actually stop automatically also.
What’s the Difference Between an Espresso Machine and a Moka Pot?
Both an espresso machine and a Moka pot use pressure to force water through coffee grounds, extracting brewed coffee.
An Espresso machine functions with an electric heating element that will commercially force 9 Bars of water heated approximately 93C downwards through a puck of ground coffee.
A Moka pot cannot gain that amount of pressure so coffee is ground coarser and the boiling water in the lower chamber is forced upwards through the ground coffee resulting in brewed coffee in the upper chamber.
Is a Moka pot Healthy?
A moka pot is a healthy way of consuming coffee providing a couple of things.
Firstly the coffee needs to be black and nothing mixed in. Many studies have found that 2 cups of black coffee per day is in fact healthy and can reduce the rate of certain liver and heart diseases.
Secondly, moka pot is healthy as long as it is consumed in moderation. 4 cups of coffee per day is deemed as fine, however once you venture past this you may start to experience some unwanted side effects of caffeine.
What Brand of Moka Pot is Best?
For us at Batch we believe that Bialetti is the best Moka pot brand. Not only are were they the original architects of this metallic coffee icon but they are still the market leader and are constantly innovating new ways to evolve the Moka Pot.
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