Last Updated on August 18, 2023 by Barry Gray
Making coffee via your Moka pot is a lot of fun, and you are pretty much always guaranteed to have a delicious cup of coffee at the end. Well, that’s only true when you manage to brew your coffee correctly.
But I’ve spoken to various friends that took the plunge and purchased their own Moka pot after visiting my home and experiencing coffee made via the pot, and they pretty much all have the same concern.
When do you know the coffee is ready and to then remove the Moka pot from the heat?
And do you know something? I get it. I understand where they are coming from with this issue because I was in the same boat when I first got my hands on a Moka pot.
But don’t worry if you find yourself wondering the same thing. I will take you through what you need to know to prevent yourself from burning your coffee and destroying it in the process.
It would be best if you always looked at removing your Moka pot from the heat when you notice some steam appearing via the spout on the top chamber. The key to producing quality coffee via a Moka pot is knowing how to control the heat. Warm it up too quickly, and your coffee will be ruined, but allowing it to sit on the stove for too long will also destroy your coffee.
But I understand that you may have read that answer and still feel confused about when you need to remove your Moka pot from the heat. So, let me take you through it in more detail and explain why it’s so important to get the best possible cup of coffee.
Is Using a Moka Pot Difficult?
A Moka pot is often viewed as a tricky coffee maker to use, and while I feel I’ve perfected the art of making coffee in it, I know why some people struggle.
On the face of it, the Moka pot is a simple device. It consists of only three sections, and you simply place it on your stovetop and let the Moka pot do its thing. There are no buttons to press or anything else, and with few parts in the Moka pot, almost nothing could break.
And yet it’s still surprisingly easy to ruin your coffee, and I wouldn’t say I like that idea.
But I’ll be honest with you. When I got my first Moka pot several years ago, I did make a mess of things with the first couple of brews.
I fell into the trap of putting in too much coffee, tamping it down, and not being aware of when it was actually ready for the coffee to be poured.
Basically, I did almost everything wrong, which explains why I could not consume those first few cups of coffee. It had to be one of my worst coffee experiences.
And I don’t want that to happen to you. Since the heat aspect, and the timing of removing the Moka pot from the heat is so crucial, I will ignore the other parts of making coffee in a Moka pot, as I feel they are self-explanatory.
What is a Moka Pot?
A Moka pot is a way of brewing coffee that has been around for decades. It first appeared in Italy, and it’s easy to spot as it looks like a stainless steel or aluminum teapot that sits on your stovetop.
A Moka pot consists of three parts. You have the base part, which is where you put the water, a filter basket, and finally, the top component, where all that delicious coffee will appear when brewed.
To use a Moka pot, you need to use a medium to fine-grind coffee of your liking, and it takes just a few minutes for the coffee to brew. However, you still need to understand how long it takes to get to this point, or you could easily run into problems and produce a coffee that is both stale and horrible in equal quantities.
And that’s the point I will focus on now to ensure you are fully aware of how long it takes to brew coffee in a Moka pot.
Dealing with Heat Management with Your Moka Pot
Making a good cup of coffee via a Moka pot is more akin to an art form rather than anything else, and for good reason.
Coffee is a delicate thing, and even though you can play around with brewing temperatures and pressures to get different results, it’s still very easy to overdo the brewing aspect and ruin your coffee in the process. Sadly, this is exceptionally easy to do with a Moka pot.
What Happens If You Use Too Much Heat with a Moka Pot?
A Moka pot will work best with a medium to low heat. If you use too much heat, the result will be a coffee that can be exceptionally bitter to the taste and that’s not enjoyable for most people.
Imagine how bad it would be from a taste perspective if you already had coffee beans known for being quite bitter, only to then use a brewing method that exacerbated that? For most people, it would become impossible to actually drink the coffee, and I just hate the idea of throwing away coffee.
But there’s another issue with using too much heat with your Moka pot: the brewing process will finish faster than it should. The result of this is coffee that is under-extracted, which will simply ramp that bitterness up to a whole new level.
What Happens If You Remove a Moka Pot From Heat Too Early?
One of my friends had invested in a Moka pot after experiencing the delights of coffee at my house. However, he came back to me a couple of weeks later with a puzzled look on his face.
The problem was he was unable to brew coffee that tasted the same as what I had given to him. He’d even gone out to get the same coffee, and we lived in the same area, so the water was the same, so what was the difference?
I felt I had to investigate, so I popped over to his place to sample the coffee and watched how he prepared it.
So, what was the problem? How was he able to produce some pretty poor coffee?
The answer was quite simple. He was removing his Moka pot from the heat way too early.
This is a common mistake, and the end result will always be the same: weak and watery coffee missing flavor.
But I get it. You become consumed with this idea of brewing the perfect coffee that you don’t want to make a mess of it, so you err on the side of caution.
Well, with a Moka pot, there’s no such thing as being careful. It’s all down to using your ears and listening for a vital sound that indicates everything is perfect in the world of the Moka pot.
How to Know It’s Time to Remove Your Moka Pot From the Heat
One thing I love about a Moka pot is it actually gives you an obvious sign that your coffee is ready. Still, it’s only obvious when you know to listen out for it.
The key is to wait for a gurgling sound coming from your Moka pot. That gurgling sound means the coffee has flowed into the upper chamber and is ready to be removed from the heat.
I admit this sound can be quite subtle at times, but every Moka pot will always make that all-important sound, and you then need to take it off the heat and prepare to pour.
Avoid Steam
But a word of warning: avoid steam coming out of your Moka pot. If steam is emerging from your Moka pot, it means you are now overheating your coffee, and that bitterness will shine through.
Steam is hotter than water, and that’s why it will cause a problem. If you notice any steam, take your Moka pot off the heat immediately, or you may destroy your coffee.
How to Brew Coffee in a Moka Pot
Brewing coffee in a Moka pot involves a few simple steps, and if you remember that gurgling sound to indicate you should remove it from the heat, you should have no problem getting a good cup of coffee.
But here are the steps you should follow to brew coffee in a Moka pot.
- Grind your coffee to a fine grind, but not as fine as an Espresso
- Add water to the base of the Moka pot, but keep it below the fill line
- Add the coffee to the filter basket
- Don’t tamp the coffee, and ensure you fill it without going over the edge
- Screw the top on the Moka pot and place it on the stovetop
- Turn to a low heat and be patient
- Listen for that gurgling sound to know it’s time to remove your Moka pot from the heat
- Pour out your coffee and enjoy
It really is that simple.
Tips on Brewing the Perfect Coffee Via a Moka Pot
Finally, I have a couple of tips that may help you brew the perfect coffee. Hopefully, they make a difference for you.
Use an Adapter Plate
The first tip is to use an adapter plate if you have a gas stovetop. It provides you with a better platform while it also just lifts your Moka pot slightly off the flame, giving you better control over the heat.
Open the Lid and Watch Carefully
When using my Moka pot, I will open the lid to pay attention to the coffee as it flows into that upper chamber. You see, the speed at which the coffee is coming through is also an indicator as to whether or not you have the correct heat.
Pay attention to the flow rate. It should be relatively slow, and if the coffee starts gushing in, then remove the Moka pot from the heat.
If the flow rate then reduces to a trickle, put it back on the heat and allow it to heat up again. This is known as temperature surfing, but it should mean you end up with the perfect flow rate and some amazing coffee.
My Conclusion
Knowing when to remove your Moka pot from the heat is key to producing decent coffee. Wait too long, and you will spoil your coffee. Remove it too early, and your coffee will be weak and unimpressive.
Remove your Moka pot as soon as you see steam appearing from the spout. That should mean you have perfect coffee, so pour it out and sit back to enjoy it.
