Coffee lovers worldwide are debating the merits of Moka pots versus French presses.
This is a clear statement about which coffee is the best. When choosing between two coffee options, views are not helpful.
Although there are many brewing techniques, there are two in particular that are considered classics: the Moka pot and the French Press.
Moka Pot vs French Press
These 2 have specific coffee-making types. The Moka pot makes a strong cup of coffee, but the French press or cafetiere makes a richer, full-flavored cup. There are several distinctions between the two.
We’ll compare the Moka pot to the French press in terms of ease of use and comfort, and overall results so you can decide which tool is better for having your caffeine fix each day!
Our goal is to help you make a decision between the two options based on what is more likely to work well for you and your cup of coffee.
The Moka pot
A Moka pot is an Italian stovetop coffee maker that produces coffee that is strong and tastes similar to espresso. The machine has three parts: a bottom chamber for hot water, a middle chamber for coffee grounds, and a top chamber to collect the brewed coffee. It’s like an inexpensive espresso machine!
The water is boiled in the bottom chamber and the steam pressure pushes it up through the coffee grounds into the top chamber. The coffee has a rich, full-bodied taste with a thick layer of crema on top.
The history of the moka pot dates back to the 1930s in Italy. Alfonso Bialetti is credited with inventing and popularizing the stovetop espresso maker.
The Moka pot is a type of coffee machine that uses steam to boil its grounds, and can be made of aluminum or steel. Electric models of the Moka pot have also begun to appear.
Moka Pot brewing capacity
Brewing coffee with a Moka pot is pretty simple once you get the hang of it. Put cold water in the lower chamber and put the filter basket in.
Add your ground coffee to the basket, but be careful not to pack it too tightly. Close the valve on the Moka pot and screw on the top chamber. Place the Moka pot on your stove.
Bring the water to just below boiling before you start the percolation process. When the water has finished boiling, remove the pot from the heat and serve.
Pros
- The style is elegant and traditional
- Steam-driven with steam
- Coffee in a small, filtered cup
- Easy to clean
- Produces strong coffee
Cons
- A stovetop or a fire is needed
- Serving a group is difficult
- It needs 4-6 minutes to complete
The thin grounds of the Moka pot coffee
The coffee grind for a Moka pot must be very fine so that the water will flow through it quickly, resulting in a stronger coffee flavor.
There are two main differences between the two methods: the grind size required by each process, and ___________.
The French Press
The design of the French press brewing process results in full-bodied or thick coffee. A French press is required in every professional coffee shop and those who enjoy rich coffee flavors prefer a French press to regular drip coffee.
French Press brewing capacity
This brew is created by a method in which the tea leaves are steeped for a specific amount of time. The coffee grounds are coarsely ground and filled with almost-boiling water. They are then steeped for a brief but precise period of time.
The wet grounds are boiled before serving to keep them out of the final product.
A French press coffee maker is made up of a thin, cylindrical jug, typically made of glass or transparent plastic. It has a metal or plastic lid and plunger that fits inside the cylinder, and a delicate stainless-steel pipe or nylon mesh filter.
Pros
- Produces full-flavored coffee
- Larger amounts are possible
- The cycle time can be modified
- It is simple to clean
- Fairly priced
Cons
- More accuracy is needed
- It is not appropriate for espresso-based drinks
- Takes longer than the Moka Pot
The French press does not filter out coffee grounds, which results in a coffee with more flavor. French press coffee is known for having a more complex taste than other types of coffee.
The water makes the beans taste stronger because they are soaked in it for a few minutes. This coffee has a smooth, full-bodied flavor that not all coffees can achieve.
The thick grounds of the French Press
If you use grounds that are too fine when French press brewing, the drink will taste bad because the grounds will have been over-extracted. If you want a more full-bodied and delicate taste, you should use thicker grounds, which are better for the French press.
Brewed coffee information – Moka pot and French Press
Coffee strength
A Moka pot can brew a coffee that is rich, heavy-bodied, versatile, and flavorful. It will have less oils and coffee grounds than a French press.
Any coffee lover will tell you that coffee brewed in a Moka pot tastes the best. You can either enjoy it black or mix it with other ingredients like steamed milk for a Cappuccino or hot water for an Americano.
When you use a French press to brew coffee, you can expect the coffee to be strong, similar to coffee brewed in a Moka Pot. However, because the French press doesn’t filter the coffee grounds out, there will be sediment and more oil in the coffee.
A French press is not a good choice for someone who doesn’t like coffee grounds in their cup, unless they are willing to strain the brewed coffee through a paper coffee filter or paper towel.
Sizes available – Moka pot and French Press
Moka pots are available in many sizes, from a 1-cup size that produces a small 1- or 2-ounce shot of coffee, to a 12-cup pot. Size is an important consideration when choosing a Moka pot.
Moka pots come in different sizes, each producing a certain amount of coffee. For example, a 1-cup Moka pot will make 1-2 ounces of strong coffee, while a 2-cup Moka pot will make 2 shots.
Remember that you can’t fill a Moka pot halfway and expect it to work properly. A 12-cup Moka Pot is not the right choice if you only want to brew for one or two people because it won’t work well.
The best performance will happen when you use a pot that is the right size for the amount of coffee you make regularly.
For a couple of people who drink two cups of coffee each, the best size is 6-cup. The Moka pot is a good option for families or when guests come over. It is available in 9, 10-, or 12-cup sizes.
French Press sizes
French presses are available in different sizes, with the most common being 3 cups, 4 cups, 8 cups, and 12 cups. There are also companies that offer different sized options, but the sizes listed here are the most commonly used.
Construction materials – Moka pot and French Press
Moka pots
There are two types of moka pots: those made of aluminum and stainless steel, which are used on a stovetop, and those that are electric and plugged into a wall.
Aluminum
Moka pots that are used on the stove top are usually made of aluminum or stainless steel. Moka Pots are commonly made from aluminum because it is good at evenly distributing heat. Moka pots made of aluminum are cheaper than those made of stainless steel.
2) If these oils are not fully removed, they will affect the taste of the coffee. Some potential disadvantages to using aluminum are that it can be somewhat porous, which could allow coffee particles and oils to become lodged in the metal and affect the taste of the coffee if not fully removed.
Clean aluminum with abrasives can result in a metallic flavor to brewed coffee. Aluminum will rust if it’s not dried thoroughly after each use.
In other words, the only good thing about aluminum Moka Pots is that they’re cheap.
Stainless steel
Some Moka Pots are made of stainless steel. There are a few great advantages to stainless steel compared to aluminum: 1) Stainless steel doesn’t rust. 2) Stainless steel is not porous. 3) Stainless steel is less likely to get scratched than aluminum.
The main disadvantage of stainless steel Moka pots is the higher cost. If you’re able to spend a bit more, a stainless-steel Moka pot is the better option. A stainless steel Moka Pot is more durable than an aluminum one.
Electric
There is another type of Moka pot known as the electric Moka pot. This coffee maker is different from most others because it doesn’t require you to heat the water and brew on a stove top. Instead, it has an electrical cord that you can plug into a standard electrical outlet, and it sits on your counter top. Electric Moka pots generally have a temperature regulator,
French Press
French presses are designed with a glass or metal “beaker” (container) and a second component that includes the base, handle, and lid.
If you live in a cold climate, you would probably be happier with a coffee maker that has a metal beaker because glass beakers don’t seem to hold heat as well as metal ones.
In a French press, water is heated in a separate tea kettle or pan before being poured into the press to brew.
If you want to buy an electric French press, know that they can heat the water, brew the coffee, and then keep the coffee heated. I strongly advise that you pour the coffee into a separate container after it finishes brewing, or else you’ll end up with a very potent cup.
Cost – Moka pots and French Presses
While Moka Pots and French presses have similar price tags, ____. You can find both toasters and microwaves starting at around $20, although there are also models available at mid-range and high-range prices.
Water and coffee ratio – Moka pots and French Presses
Drip coffee has a “water:coffee” ratio of 1:16. A Moka pot and French press both brew coffee that is about twice as strong as regular drip coffee, with a ratio of about 1:7. The strength of coffee is determined by the ratio of water to coffee grounds used.
The chart on the left shows the amount of water that is normally recommended for a Moka Pot. The chart on the right shows the amount of ground coffee that is normally recommended for a French Press. After you have used either of these appliances for a while, you can change them to suit your own preferences better.
Conclusion
So, which coffee brewing method is the best? The answer to the question is based on your own preferences. If you want a stronger cup of coffee, Moka Pot is the way to go. If you choose a French Press, it will take a little longer to make your coffee, but the result will be a milder drink.
We hope that this comparison has helped you to understand how coffee machines work, and has given you some ideas about what to look for when choosing your next coffee maker.
A Moka Pot takes a bit longer to brew coffee than a French press, generally about 5-7 minutes compared to the latter’s 5 minutes.
One difference between these two coffee brewing appliances is the coffee that is brewed in each of them. Both coffee brewers brew a strong-bodied coffee that is about twice the boldness of coffee made in a drip coffee maker, but a Moka pot brews up a smoother coffee than a French press, which tends to brew up coffee that includes sediment and more coffee bean oils.
The best results in brewing coffee come from using freshly ground beans that are ground just before brewing. It is recommended that you use filtered water and clean equipment.