How to Make Espresso on the Stove

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Stovetop Espresso Brewing Tutorial

This is a quick tutorial on the stovetop espresso maker. It is also known as a Moka Pot and is sold under the name Bialetti. Let's get started.

#1 Fill the Bottom Chamber with Water

Fill the bottom chamber with cold water. Stumptown Coffee advises pre-heating the water, so the coffee doesn't cook on the stove. That may be a good idea if you use the large 6-cup Bialetti, but I found with the 3 cup maker, it made no difference to the taste and was more of a hassle. Try both ways and do whatever works best for you.

fill bialetti with water
Fill the lower chamber of the Bialetti with water.

#2 Add Ground Coffee to Filter

Add ground coffee to the filter. There is some debate on how fine the grind should be. I use a grind that is finer than drip, but a little more coarse than an espresso grind. Do not pack the filter. Like regular espresso, I level the grinds with my finger and wipe off any loose grounds. Once the coffee is loaded into the filter, place it into the bottom chamber. or you could load the filter first and then add the ground coffee. Either way is fine.

If you make Stovetop Espresso on a regular basis, consider getting a Moka Pot Coffee Dispenser.

add coffee to stovetop espresso
Add ground coffee to the filter.

#3 Secure the Top and Bottom Chambers Together

Twist the top and bottom chambers together until a tight seal is made. Failure to secure the two chambers fully could result in a failed brew and potential clean up mess.

Seal the top and and bottom chambers together
Seal the top and bottom chambers together.

#4 Place Coffee Maker onto Stove

Place the stovetop maker onto the stove and turn on the heat. A low flame is enough to do the job. You could also take it outdoors with you and use a campfire.

Heat the Stovetop Espresso Maker

#5 When Coffee Finishes Brewing, Remove From Heat and Serve

When the coffee has completed the brew cycle and is in the top chamber, turn off the heat, and serve the coffee. Below are some photos showing a brew cycle in progress. Ideally, you would want to keep the lid down during brewing.

espresso before extraction
Before Extraction

espresso during extraction
During Extraction

espresso after extraction
After Extraction

#6 Cool Before You Clean

Allow your stovetop espresso maker time to cool before you break it down for cleaning. You don't want to burn yourself.

Bialetti 6800 Moka Express 6-Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker

Resources

Bialetti Moka Express Espresso Maker, 6 Cup (Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada, eBay)

Dosacaffe Espresso Dispenser by Meliconi (Amazon USA. Amazon UK, Amazon Canada)

How to Brew Espresso in a Moka Pot – INeedCoffee tutorial that uses sugar.

Cafe Cubano – Learn how to use the Bialetti Stovetop Espresso Maker to make this classic Cuban style coffee drink.

The Story of the Bialetti Moka Express – The interesting history of the stovetop espresso maker.

Wikipedia – References on stovetop espresso machine brewing temperature and atmospheres of pressure data.

Author
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Michael Allen Smith is both a coffee fanatic and a web developer. In April 1999, he combined these two interests and started the coffee website INeedCoffee.com. His personal blog, which covers a wide range of topics, is Critical MAS.