The Brew Blog

The moka pot makes intense, concentrated coffee — but it isn't espresso, and treating it like espresso is the fastest way to ruin a cup. This is how the device actually works, the grind and heat that suit it, and how to get the best from one without burning it.

$40 for a moka pot or $1,200 for an espresso setup? They make different coffee. Both can be excellent. Neither replaces the other. Pressure, crema, grind, milk drinks, daily use — the moka pot versus espresso machine question told straight.

A "6-cup" Bialetti doesn't make six mugs of coffee. It makes six tiny Italian-style shots, which adds up to two normal mugs. The cup numbers don't mean what you think, and choosing the wrong size will quietly ruin your moka pot coffee for years.