Last Updated on June 27, 2023 by Barry Gray
My Moka pot is a joyful thing to me. Its ability to produce some fantastic coffee time and time again never ceases to amaze me.
But I know it can only produce stunning coffee because I’ve spent time effectively learning how it works, and I want to share that information with you.
Using a moka pot on a gas stove is easy. Add fresh coffee grounds to the filter basket and water to the bottom chamber. Screw it together, use medium heat, and wait a few minutes. Your coffee will then rise to the top chamber and be ready to drink.
I know this is a very simplistic approach to using a moka pot on a gas stove. However, I will go into the different key steps in more detail and offer some advice on how to increase the odds of getting that perfect coffee.
So, let’s start going through the steps you need to follow to make the perfect coffee with your moka pot on a gas stove.
Why Use a Moka Pot?
But first, why should you even both with a moka pot in the first place?
I see this as a simple way to make a decent coffee, and it also need not cost you a fortune to own one. If you cannot afford a good espresso machine, then a moka pot could be a good alternative.
Now, I know a moka pot cannot produce a full-on espresso, but it certainly gets close enough to it that you will have an enjoyable cup of coffee on your hands. It doesn’t come with a steam wand either. Still, if you want an americano, or something resembling an espresso, then a moka pot is perfect.
Oh, and it doesn’t take long to produce coffee either, as you are about to see.
What You Need to Make Coffee in a Moka Pot
You need very little in the way of items to make coffee in a moka pot. Aside from the moka pot itself, it would be best if you had some medium-coarse ground coffee, water, and your gas stove.
And that’s it.
Even just from that list of items, it’s obvious this is a simple approach to making coffee, and it’s one I’ve personally used on countless occasions.
The Best Coffee to Use in a Moka Pot
I’ve tried various types of coffee in my moka pot, and some work better than others.
What I’ve discovered is it’s best to use a medium-coarse coffee for the flavor. It strikes the perfect balance for extracting a smooth coffee using the technology in a moka pot.
If you use a thicker coarse grind, you will tend to get a significantly weaker coffee, which is nowhere near as good. Use a finer grind, as you would do with an espresso, your coffee will come out as extremely bitter, and that’s also not a good thing.
Also, I’d go for a medium to dark roast bean. It’s then up to you as to which type of bean you prefer, depending on your own personal preference, but feel free to try beans from around the world.
But after choosing your beans and getting the correct grind using your own grinder if required, it’s time to start making your coffee. This is how you do it.
Filling Your Moka Pot
Filling your moka pot is easy. All you do is add water to the bottom chamber but pay attention to how much water you add.
You are aiming for the fill line just below the safety valve on your moka pot.
Depending on your model, it may have an actual line for you to look out for, while others allow you to eyeball it in line with that valve.
Don’t go over the line, though, or you will be disappointed in how your moka pot works.
How to Add Coffee to Your Moka Pot
The next step is adding coffee to your moka pot, and this is where you need to use the filter basket in the pot.
What I love about this is it makes it easier to know if you have added enough coffee rather than guessing. Ideally, the coffee grounds should be perfectly level with the top of the filter basket.
But after adding the coffee, don’t tamp it. Sure, you can press it down a bit, but I wouldn’t treat it in the same way you would if making an espresso.
There’s no need for that, and it would then make your coffee slightly worse from a taste perspective.
Instead, you need a bit of space between the coffee granules to get this to work, so pack it in, but not too tightly.
Putting the Moka Pot Together
You then need to put the moka pot together, and that’s done by screwing the top and bottom chambers together.
The key thing here is to ensure both chambers are screwed tightly together. This shouldn’t be difficult if you have lined everything up perfectly. Still, it’s required, or your moka pot will be unable to function effectively.
Using Your Moka Pot on a Gas Stove
After screwing your moka pot together, you can place it on your gas stove and fire it up. At first, I would aim for a medium to low heat, and I’ll explain why.
You want to allow the water to heat slowly. It’s not like you are boiling a kettle of water where the aim is to do it as quickly as possible.
A medium to low heat will stop you from potentially burning the coffee. That leads to a better flavor at the end, and that’s what we are aiming for.
But if you are worried about a medium to low heat resulting in it taking a long time for your coffee to brew, then don’t panic. A moka pot takes just a few minutes to produce some fantastic coffee, which applies even with this medium-low heat.
How to Know Your Coffee is Ready With Your Moka Pot
I wouldn’t recommend walking away from your moka pot and starting doing something else in a different room. Well, unless you will only be 30 seconds.
Your moka pot will start to brew the coffee, and this takes just a few minutes. It seems roughly three minutes is about the time when the magic happens.
At this point, you will start hearing a gurgling sound. This means the coffee is rising to the top chamber, and that’s what you are looking for.
Honestly, it’s a pleasant sound to hear, as you know your coffee is almost ready.
This is when you need to take your moka pot off the heat, as it signals the end of the brewing process.
It’s important to do this because you could easily end up over-brewing your coffee. This can lead to burning, but it will also result in your coffee becoming overly bitter at the same time.
Now, I know some people love bitter coffee, but when you combine bitterness with it having over-boiled, then you tend to have a bit of a problem.
But once it has brewed, all you need to do is to pour your coffee and enjoy it.
My Tips on Brewing Coffee in a Moka Pot
As you can see from above, there’s nothing complicated about brewing coffee in a moka pot on your gas stove. You only have a handful of steps to follow, and there’s nothing complex at any point.
However, I want to ensure you get the best coffee possible. So, I have a few extra tips and better explanations to help you along the way.
Choosing the Right Size Moka Pot
Moka pots come in various sizes, from single cups to over 18 cups of coffee being made at the one time. Choose your size wisely.
If you go for a larger moka pot, you will fill the bottom chamber the same way as you do with a smaller pot, and the filter basket will also be larger.
But this is coffee you should enjoy almost immediately. So, buying a moka pot too large for your needs would be a waste of time.
However, a larger moka pot should still be capable of producing the same type of coffee as a smaller one. It’s only the quantity that changes.
Avoid Overfilling the Bottom Chamber
I recommend paying close attention to the fill line with the bottom chamber. It will hold more than you think, but going past the fill line will result in the coffee overflowing at the point when it starts to brew.
That’s a problem. Not only is it wasted coffee, but the coffee itself will be out of balance as the filter basket is designed to hold the perfect amount of coffee for the right amount of water.
So, overfilling will be a disaster, so I’d highly recommend not doing it.
Never Rush a Moka Pot
Allow your moka pot to take its time, and don’t be tempted to turn the heat up high. If you do, then expect your coffee to boil over and for it to become exceptionally bitter.
It’s best to allow a moka pot to do its own thing. I promise it will be worth waiting a few minutes.
My Recap on Using a Moka Pot on a Gas Stove
I have a few key points I feel stand out when discussing how to use a moka pot on a gas stove. So, here’s my quick recap on what I think you need to take away from this.
- Use a medium-coarse grind for your coffee
- Use a medium to low heat with your moka pot
- Do not overfill the bottom chamber
- Don’t tamp down the coffee in the filter basket
- Be patient. It will be worth it in the end
- Get a moka pot capable of making enough coffee without wasting any
My Conclusion
A moka pot is a fantastic piece of kit. It produces decent coffee regularly, and it’s challenging to make a mess of things when using it.
However, ensure you use the best coffee you can of either that medium or dark roast, and get the grind right. That alone should help you to produce a coffee you will love, and I promise it won’t take as long as you feared.
