Stove-Top Coffee Maker - Moka Pot
According to Stephen, there is no better taste than a freshly brewed mug of coffee. He uses his Moka Pot for this numerous times every day, whether we are at home or on the road!
What is a Moka Pot?
Invented by an Italian engineer in 1933, a Moka Pot is a simple yet genius device that brews espresso-strength coffee on a gas or electric stove.
When the water heats up and boils it creates steam, which causes a build-up of pressure inside the water chamber. This pressure forces the water up through the filter basket, creating a freshly brewed coffee that gets funnelled into the upper chamber ready to pour. If you’re like Stephen, and like your coffee darker than the night sky, you can drink it as it is, or you can jazz it up with extra water or milk to get your desired flavour.
Moka Pots come in many different sizes, from 1-cup to 18-cups. The one we use makes 1-2 cups per brew. If we pack the coffee down into the chamber we can fit plenty for two people, or pour the grounds up to the 3/4 mark without pressing it down for just one cup.
How To Use a Moka Pot
Fill up the water container up to (but not over) the release valve.
Insert the filter basket and add your favourite freshly ground coffee.
Put it on the stove over a medium heat and wait for the upper chamber to collect the brew.
Depending on the amount of coffee you’re making and the temperature you’re brewing at, your coffee should be ready in 5-10 minutes. The Moka pots signature bubbling/gurgling sound will signal when it is time to remove it from the heat and the brewing is complete.
Pour into a mug and enjoy!
Why a Moka Pot is Ideal For Life On The Road
Moka Pots can be very compact and lightweight, which makes them perfect for camping, caravanning and motorhoming. They only use as much water as you need, so nothing goes to waste, and because you’re not having to boil an entire kettle, you’re using very little gas/electricity. It doesn’t matter if you’re on a fully serviced pitch with electrical hook-up, or if you’re in a field with a tent - As long as you have some kind of stove you’ll get delicious coffee!
Our Positives
It is a simple, mechanical device, with no electrical components that can stop working.
No high-priced coffee machine capsules - All you need is some ground coffee. Stephens personal favourite is the cheap stuff from Lidl, but you should shop around to find your favourite.
It doesn’t take much longer or require much more effort than it does to make instant coffee, but the fresh coffee is so much nicer and probably healthier for you too.
Our Negatives
You need to keep a close eye/ear on it so that you can take it off the heat as soon as you hear the gurgling noise.
Cleaning it can be a bit of a pain, as you need to take it apart to get to the filter. Stephen tends to just give it a quick rinse when using multiple times throughout the day, then washes it up properly once in the evening.
Overall
The stovetop Moka Pot is one of Stephen’s favourite gadgets. It produces a quality coffee that resembles that of a high-tech coffee machine, at a fraction of the cost - and it’s easily portable! He uses it every day and we never go away without it.
Where can you buy a stovetop Moka Pot?
You can buy them in most kitchenware shops or on Amazon. They vary in size and price, so please do shop around to find the right one for you.
To view one similar to ours, click the link below.
*Please note: There may be Amazon affiliate links within this article. It won’t cost you any extra, but should you choose to make a purchase after clicking a link then we’ll get a few pennies towards our next trip! All of our “Adventure Kit” write-ups express our honest opinions, but what works for us might not work for you, so please do shop around and make sure you’re getting the best item and value for money.