Moka Pot vs. French Press: Which One to Choose?

Do you feel like putting more variety into your coffee habit but aren’t sure if a Moka Pot or French press should be your choice? These two ways of preparing coffee are inexpensive and straightforward to pick up without too much trouble. You must consider the advantages and drawbacks of each, and decide which is best suited to your own tastes.

The French Press is referred to as press pot or plunger pot because of the shape of its pot, which looks like a pitcher with two handles on either side. This machine utilizes heat coming from boiling water to get the desirable flavour, the same as the Moka pot!

Before learning about the distinctions between using a Moka Pot and using a French Press. Firstly, see what are these coffee maker!

1. What is a Moka pot?

Moka Pot

The Moka pot is a two-part coffee maker where hot water is heated up in the lower chamber. Subsequently, it moves upwardly across a layer of pulverised coffee beans before arriving in an upper chamber that produces different grades of brewed coffee. It lies between the consistency of Drip and Espresso coffees, as it makes thick beverages that are lightly pressured while being brewed.

In the 1930s, the invention of the Italian Moka pot revolutionized the way coffee was brewed, allowing for it to be made faster and more effectively. The introduction of the easily accessible Moka pot made it more convenient to make coffee using a gas or electric range.

Bialetti is a renowned name in the industry of Moka pots, and while other companies strive to match its quality, it continues to remain the benchmark.

The design of the Moka pot is so simple that it could be considered a normal part of any kitchen. We are familiar with the appearance of these containers, and their association with coffee is pleasing to the eye. You will be able to savour your cup of coffee in an instant due to the uncomplicated usage! With so many perks, how could you resist?

If you’re eager to have some additional entertainment, using Moka pots can be an enjoyable activity. Although they may not craft the same coffee as an espresso machine, this is a great option for anyone just starting to drink robust, dark-roast java and might feel put off by higher-level machines.

Moka pots do not require the same amount of technical know-how or equipment as more advanced espresso machines, making them easy to use and accessible. If you’re curious about coffee with a more dynamic flavor, this could be a great place to start!

The Moka pot is easy to use. The device has two sections: the top section consists of a mesh filter separating ground coffee and water; the lower chamber is where the freshly brewed beverage is placed once the brewing process is finished.

Start by adding approximately one centimeter of cold water to both portions so that they are almost completely full before securing their lids safely.

Bring the ingredients to a boil over medium-high heat, at which point you should be able to tell it has reached the correct temperature when steam starts to escape from the lid. All impurities have been eliminated by this point, leaving only a delectable beverage that is full of the flavor of coffee. For consumption!

To brew an ideal cup of coffee, use medium-finely ground coffee beans and fill the filter completely with them.

Don’t pack or level. Put the item softly in its place on top of the reservoir; tighten the screws firmly, but do not screw them in too tightly since it may damage the valves within. Next, set the heat on the device to medium and open the lid occasionally to make sure liquid is dripping into the space at the top (the chimney). When it looks thick and dark, you can stop.

When the smoke coming out of the chimney starts faltering, it signals that you are running low on water. Remove from heat, then enjoy!

2. What is French Press?

French Press

The Cafetière, which is known as the French Press in other nations, is one of the most beloved methods employed to make coffee. It is assumed that this process was created in the mid-1800s, possibly when a Frenchman unintentionally brewed coffee by combining water with coffee grounds – giving rise to an alternate technique for concocting his morning cup of coffee! This is how the tale is told: an unnamed individual went on a fishing journey but ended up dealing with some matters close to the Seine River where he began adding hot water into the grounds. So, ultimately, one would end up with a delicious cup of coffee with milk for their morning meal.

No matter if they are French or Italian, the original patent for a coffee press was granted in the year 1928. Historians specializing in the study of coffee have different opinions on whether earlier presses can be considered as part of the history, as there have been indications of them being utilized in both countries prior to the present time. No matter what, French presses are simple to operate: measure out your beans and crush them approximately; put in hot water and let it steep; and at last—Press down! Pour out your delicious brew.

>> Instruction / How does French Press Work

A French press is a straightforward method for producing full-bodied, strong-tasting coffee. The brewer takes coarsely ground coffee beans and places them in the bottom of a glass French press pot, then pours in hot water. The attached lid has a fine wire mesh filter or plunger at the tip, which rests on top of the grounds when ready for brewing.

After 4-5 minutes, press the mesh plunger, this will take the flavorful oils from your grinds and leave anything coarse suspended, creating a full flavor without sedimentation – for a clear, delicious drink!

Moka Pot vs. French press comparison

Figuring out if you should purchase a Moka Pot or a French press plunger necessitates studying a number of points. First, of course, you want delicious coffee. Your coffee maker should be simple to operate and keep tidy. Additionally, the coffee maker you select must be within your price range and be capable of creating the amount of coffee you desire. Let’s examine every one of the standards to aid you in choosing which coffee machine is suitable for you.

Ease of use

As you think about what is best for you between a Moka Pot and French press, you should make sure you are not making starting your day more difficult than it has to be. Consequently, a crucial aspect of the evaluation includes considering if you can obtain any additional gear necessary to make coffee, like a heat source.

Moka Pot

When one thinks of a stovetop espresso machine, the iconic octagon-shaped Bialetti Moka Pot is likely the first thing that jumps to mind. It has two chambers that connect in the middle. Pour water into the lower section, and then place the coffee grounds into a small metal container and slide it into the top of the water chamber. Then, you screw the upper section on top. When you place the Moka Pot on the stove burner and heat it, the water inside will start to boil and push through the coffee grounds, connecting the lower chamber to the upper chamber and generating freshly brewed coffee.

Classic Moka Pots, like the old-fashioned percolators, need to be used on a stovetop, making them unsuitable for work or vacation uses. Nonetheless, there are some designs that use electricity.

Nevertheless, a Moka Pot is capable of functioning properly with pre-ground java of usual grind size. Buying pre-ground coffee from the store or a café can be a great advantage for people with a hectic lifestyle who are still passionate about their coffee.

It is possible to grind your coffee beans at home, however you should be aware that going too fine may lead to blockage of the filter screen in the Moka pot. Pressing the coffee grounds too firmly into the basket may cause similar issues.

French press

A French press is similar to the AeroPress and coffee siphon, where the coffee grounds are immersed in the water for the brewing process. The classic French press way of preparing coffee involves placing roughly ground beans and hot water together in the plunger, letting it sit for four to five minutes. You then push the plunger down, and the stainless steel mesh sieve will extract the grounded coffee beans from the prepared coffee.

Roughly ground coffee beans are necessary for the ideal outcome when making plunger coffee. Unfortunately, the kind of coffee grind with a coarse texture is not usually sold in retail stores. Hence, it is imperative to include the process of pulverizing the coffee beans when preparing French press coffee. This will require an additional step to your morning regimen.

You don’t need to have access to a stove in order to use a French press, which is a definite bonus. As long as you can heat up water, the plunger will function. It will provide an advantage in certain workplace or transport scenarios.

Winner

A French press is a great selection if you are unable to count on having access to a stove since it is very user friendly like other coffee makers.

Brewing time

It takes approximately five minutes to create a cup of coffee using either a Moka Pot or French press. The differences in this category are therefore not significant. The techniques to modify the time of making coffee vary depending on the type of brewing method being used.

Moka Pot

When the Moka Pot finishes the brewing process, it will produce a gurgling sound. You can also lift its lid and determine if any more coffee is being dispensed. Regardless, using a Moka Pot requires you to monitor the brewing process, because if you leave it on the stove too long it can hurt the quality of your coffee.

Fill the lower chamber with hot water instead of cold water before setting it on the stove in order to shorten the brewing time. Some folks think that using Moka Pot coffee that has been steeped for a shorter period of time yields a more enjoyable flavor because it is not as bitter.

French press

You can customize how long you brew your coffee with a French press according to your taste. It is likely to come out roughly the same length of time as it would take to make coffee with the Moka Pot, however you might think that you have more authority in the process. If you don’t want a robust cup of coffee, only brewing for four minutes may be enough.

You could possibly end up with a sour-tasting cup of coffee if you let the grinds remain in the plunger for a long period, but unlike with a Moka Pot, there is no hazard of scorching the coffee. It is advisable to decant your coffee from the French press when it is ready to be served.

Winner

The amount of time needed to create French press coffee is not significantly quicker than making with a Moka Pot, however, it provides a wider range of options for customization and is much harder to get wrong.

Capacity

You have the option of selecting the size of either a Moka Pot or French press that best suits your necessities. Think about how many people will be joining you for coffee in order to decide what size to purchase.

How much coffee a coffee maker can make is typically stated in terms of cups. A major discrepancy between these two brewing methods is what constitutes a cup. The size of the cup that the marketing materials call for might not be as big as what you’d like to consume all at once. Be mindful of how much coffee you intend to drink as well as what size mug each producer notes when selecting a cup.

Difference between Moka pot and french press

Using a Moka pot enables you to produce a strong flavor for your beverage due to the heat. When it comes to flavor robustness and intensity compared to French Press, I have to show my preference to coffees that have a bolder taste! Nothing beats the feeling that comes with starting the day by sipping a stimulating cup of coffee, which can make your eyes wide with its energizing caffeine. Let’s compare and contrast the Moka pot and French Press.