What temperature should you brew a moka pot?
The ideal temperature for brewing most coffee around 93°C / 200°F. Unfortunately stove tops cannot be set to a target temperature, so instead we recommend you set your stove to a low-medium heat — not too hot, not too cold.
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It’s worth noting that you could achieve the ideal temperature using a precision induction hob with a temperature probe — but these cost even more than a very good espresso machine!
How to approximate the right temperature in a moka pot
If you’d like to improve the taste of your moka pot coffee — you can get closer to the ideal temperature by doing a couple of things.
Fill the bottom chamber with hot water
Boil water in a kettle or on the hob, then pour it into the bottom chamber before assembling the rest of the moka pot.
A moka pot begins brewing well before the water reaches a full boil, due to the pressure that builds up in the bottom chamber. By starting with pre-boiled water, you skip the slow heating phase and allow brewing to start straight away.
This step is important because it allows a steady flow of hot water through the coffee bed from the start. If the coffee spends too long sitting over high heat while the water warms up, it will become over extracted and bitter.
Run the bottom chamber under cold water once the brew is complete
Once your coffee is brewed, cut the heat, and run the bottom chamber carefully under cold water. This quickly stops the brewing process, preventing the coffee from burning and resulting in a nasty astringent taste.
Why a low-medium heat?
Every stove top is different. Too many factors exist to provide a definitive answer regarding the correct heat setting. It’s best to err on the side of caution.
- Using a
highheat increases the chance of over-extracting your coffee. - Using a
lowheat simply takes a longer time.
