I grew up in a big Italian-American family, and my whole childhood, “coffee” meant moka pot coffee. So much so that my family refers to drip coffee as “American coffee” since this Italian brewer is our default. Even now, when I go visit my parents, and my dad asks me to make coffee, I bypass the countertop coffee maker and reach for their 30-year-old Bialetti moka pot.
In my kitchen, I have a Nespresso machine and a pour-over on my counter that I often forgo in favor of one of my two moka pots: a 3-cup model that belonged to my grandfather and a 6-cup pot my grandma gave me one Christmas. The 6-cup is my most-used brewer and the one I reach for whenever I entertain.
Bialetti 6-Cup Moka Pot
Amazon
The moka pot was invented by Alfonso Bialetti in 1933, and little has changed in its design in the last 93 years. It has over 87,000 ratings on Amazon, averaging 4.5 out of 5 stars. Multiple shoppers call it “the best coffee maker in the world.” The 6-cup pot is the Goldilocks of moka pots; it’s not too big and not too small. It brews six “cups,” which are actually about the size of a shot of espresso, so it’s great for after-dinner coffee when entertaining.
Most of all, I like the moka pot’s simplicity. There are no outlets, buttons, programs, or pods — just three pieces that fit together and brew on the stovetop. Unlike other manual brewers, such as a French press or pour-over, you don’t even have to boil water. You fill the bottom reservoir with tap water, and as it heats, the unique filter draws the water up through the grounds, and brewed coffee flows out of the fountain in the top piece. One shopper said, “This is one of the easiest-to-use coffee makers in the world,” and I couldn’t agree more. Another wrote, “Moka pots in general get a bad rap as being finicky and difficult to use, but that’s nonsense. Watch a few YouTube videos and see for yourself, there’s nothing to it, a very short learning curve.”
Food & Wine
As far as the coffee itself, the flavor depends on the roast, but any coffee you’d typically use for espresso will taste great with this method. While it’s not quite espresso, moka pots brew a very full-bodied, concentrated coffee. If a latte or other espresso drink is what you’re after, a moka pot can brew the required strength — no espresso machine needed. One reviewer said it “honestly substitutes espresso perfectly! The moka does all the work, and you don’t have to worry about all the technicalities of pulling an espresso shot.” I tend to be a slow coffee drinker, so my mug of drip coffee is usually ice cold before I finish half of it. Because moka pot coffee is stronger and more concentrated than drip, I have a much smaller cup and easily finish it before it cools off.
The body of this moka pot is made of aluminum, which is excellent at conducting heat but unfortunately makes this pot incompatible with induction cooktops. Bialetti offers a stainless steel plate you can place under the pot to make it induction-compatible, but it adds to the cost. The aluminum can also be a bit tricky to clean. It’s not dishwasher-safe, and most Italians (and Bialetti itself) discourage using dish soap as it can impart unpleasant flavors into your brews. So this pot must be thoroughly rinsed with hot water and a scrub brush to loosen any coffee grounds that build up.
The Bialetti moka pot makes strong, espresso-like coffee with half the fuss of a traditional espresso machine. If you’re tired of waiting for a pod coffee maker or espresso machine to pull enough shots for all your guests, this is the ultimate hosting essential. Plus, it’s versatile enough for everyday brewing. My grandfather used it every morning, and now I do, too.
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At the time of publishing, the price was $55.
