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Are you looking to make mind-blowing coffee from home? Have you found that your home coffee is mediocre at best?

Now imagine brewing the most delicious tasting coffee with all the delightful aromas. All from the comfort of your own home.

I assure you that it’s not only possible, it’s almost effortless.

On my coffee-making journey, I’ve been experimenting with different coffee brewing methods.

Recently, I’ve fallen in love with the AeroPress. But there may be a new contender for the best way to make coffee: the Moka Pot.

Keep reading to find which coffee maker will win in the battle of AeroPress Vs Moka Pot.

Text: AeroPress Vs Moka Pot. Image: A moka pot sitting on a kitchen gas stove with a jar of ground coffee behind it.

AeroPress

If you haven’t heard all the buzz surrounding the AeroPress, allow me to clue you in.

The AeroPress produces delicious coffee through the science of manual pressure. It’s pretty simple.

All you need to do is:

  1. place a metal or paper filter in the filter cap,
  2. attach the filter cap to the AeroPress chamber,
  3. place coffee grounds in the body of the press,
  4. fill it up with hot water to the desired level,
  5. give it a stir,
  6. put the plunger in, and
  7. apply pressure downward on the plunger.

The plunger forces the water to pass through the coffee grounds and into your desired cup. The result is a quick and delicious cup of coffee.

 

 

Now what about the Moka Pot?

Moka Pot

The Moka Pot is a tad more complicated than the AeroPress.

Instead of applying pressure by hand, the water boils upward through the grounds. This produces coffee that is similar in taste and color to a brew from a commercial coffee machine.

The pot has two chambers. One for the water and one for the brewed coffee. There’s also a filter that holds the ground coffee which sits inside the bottom water chamber.

Let me give you a quick rundown of how to use a Moka Pot:

  1. pour water into the bottom chamber up to the fill line,
  2. heat the water up on the stove,
  3. one the water is just boiling, remove it from the heat and place the small filter with your ground coffee on top of it,
  4. screw the top chamber on,
  5. place the Moka Pot on the stove over medium heat,
  6. remove from the heat when you hear the hissing sound,
  7. pour your coffee and enjoy!

As the water heats up and boils, it will propel the water upward through the coffee grounds. This water then bubbles up into the storage chamber.

Watch this video for a more detailed brew guide for the Moka Pot:

This process takes a little less than 10 minutes. The result is a heavenly and flavorful coffee with a light layer of crema on top.

What Is Crema?

 

Close-up of a ceramic cup with coffee inside with crema on top.

Come on, you’re telling me you’ve never heard of crema? Crema is the aromatic froth that rests on the top of an espresso shot.

The reddish brown foam forms when water filters through fine ground coffee beans. Crema is seen by most as an indicator of quality coffee.

Can You Get Crema From A Moka Pot?

Yes, you can get crema from a Moka Pot. The Moka Pot produces crema every single time it brews.

The crema makes the coffee so smooth. It’s enough to get you addicted to the Moka Pot.

Can You Get Crema From An AeroPress?

Unfortunately, the AeroPress does not produce crema every time.

To make crema with the AeroPress, you have to follow a very specific technique. Let me tell you how:

  1. First things first, you need the right coffee beans. Dark roasted beans are more capable of producing crema than light or blonde roasts.
  2. Now that you’ve got your chosen beans, you need to grind them. To make crema, you want a fine grind. Fresh ground beans are the best contender for making crema. The super fine grind makes the water pass through the grounds slower. Coffee ground for drip brewers is often of a coarser grind. This is part of the reason why drip brewers can make you a whole pot of coffee in under 10 minutes.
  3. The correct water temperature is key for making crema as well. Water for your coffee should be around 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 degrees Celsius). Water that is too cold will not produce crema. And water that is boiling or hotter will produce bitter, burnt coffee.
  4. Part of producing crema is the speed at which the coffee passes through the grounds. To slow down this process, use extra paper filters, an Aesir filter, or a fine metal filter. This will slow down the rate at which the water passes through the coffee.
  5. Finally, you have to apply a lot of force to the plunger. Get in there and apply that elbow grease if you want to produce some crema.

If you’re still struggling to get the results you’re after, don’t panic. You could try some different methods found here or watch this short video.

 

How Much Coffee Does Each Need?

AeroPress

aeropress sitting on top of cup

To make coffee in the AeroPress, you’re going to need about 17 grams of ground coffee.

That equals about 1½ tablespoons if you don’t use the scoop that comes with the AeroPress.

Moka Pot

When you’re using a Moka Pot, the amount of coffee you need depends on the size of your Moka Pot.

Each different sized model comes with a different sized filter. You’ll want to fill the filter to the top with coffee grounds.

While technically you could fill the filter with less grounds, it’s not recommended.

You should consider which size Moka Pot would best suit you and your needs before you buy.

How Much Coffee Do They Make?

Moka Pot

Moka Pots come in a variety of sizes. They can make one, three, four, six, nine or twelve cups of coffee.

That’s up to 22.7 ounces of freshly brewed, rich coffee. That’s definitely enough to caffeinate your guests when you’re hosting a get together.

Or you can spice up your life by drinking the whole pot’s worth yourself!

AeroPress

The AeroPress has a small brewing chamber, and it can produce up to eight ounces of coffee at a time.

When you’re looking to make a bulk serving of coffee, the AeroPress is not your friend.

Of course, the AeroPress produces coffee quickly, so you can make another cup in no time.

Playing host to guests is exhausting enough. I’m not sure you’d want to also hand press each person a cup of coffee.

Which One Is Better – Moka Pot Or AeroPress?

Like anything else in life, coffee is personal.

What you like, what you dislike, how much work you’re willing to put in for a cup of black gold varies from person to person.

But we’re talking about AeroPress Vs Moka Pot. There are a few qualities between the two that will help you decide which is best for you.

Effort

In the category of effort, AeroPress definitely wins. This is because it requires the least amount of effort and time.

But, the coffee brewer might not be able to effectively push down on the AeroPress. This could be because of missing limbs or arthritis, for example.

This wouldn’t make it a practical option.

Heat

Both methods of brewing coffee need hot water to produce the beverage.

Your kitchen space may be limited, or you mightn’t have a stove because you’re on the road.

AeroPress

The AeroPress can make your coffee without the use of a stove. But you would need to use an electric kettle or microwave (no! no! no!) to heat up your water.

Moka Pot

A side-view of a Moka Pot with a hand holding it up and some trees in the background.

The Moka Pot requires that you place the pot over a heat source to heat the water in the lower chamber.

The easiest way to do this would be to heat the pot on your stove or stove top cooker.

There’s also induction stove-top Moka Pots, which also come in a variety of sizes.

You can also heat up your Moka Pot over a campfire if you’re the outdoorsy type. Then you could create something close to Cowboy Coffee, which is actually pleasant to drink.

Both options are more portable than a plug-in coffee maker, so that’s a huge plus no matter which method you choose.

Time

I know I’ve already mentioned how the Moka Pot takes more time to brew coffee than an AeroPress. This is because it’s a critical factor.

Fast coffee is like fast food, it’s quick and convenient, but it doesn’t taste as good as the real thing.

If you have the time to spare, the Moka Pot can produce an exquisite and flavorful cup of coffee.

It will gently caress your taste buds as you sip it.

The Moka Pot may not be suitable for the hustle and bustle of your morning routine.

But imagine waking up late on a Sunday morning. All you want to do is unwind and savor the weekend.

I highly suggest you carve out the time to brew a cup worth savoring.

Cost

The most important factor for many consumers is the cost. How much does each cost? Will you save any money investing in this?

I can tell you that brewing your own coffee at home will save you money.

If you stop by your local coffee shop on your way to work every morning, you could be spending around $30 a week for coffee.

The average AeroPress and Moka Pot are only $30 each. So it’s a no-brainer!

Is Brewing Coffee At Home Cheaper?

You’ll save money brewing your own coffee at home. Guaranteed.

There are fancy versions of the Moka Pot that can run a little higher.

But the price difference is minimal when you realize that it’s around the cost of your coffee per week.

In one month, you’ll have saved $120 by not going to the coffee shop.

Twenty dollars of that can go toward one bag of premium ground coffee. Or you can buy some of the inexpensive stuff at around $5 a can.

The money you save brewing your own coffee will more than make up for the initial investment.

AeroPress Vs Moka Pot – The Verdict

As someone who has tried both methods of brewing coffee, the decision is yours.

There’s pros and cons to both brewing methods, but you’ll have to make the call now.

AeroPress

I can say that the AeroPress is best suited for people who look to coffee for the caffeine.

People with busy lives that don’t have the time or the patience to brew their coffee on the stove should go with the AeroPress.

It’s quick, affordable, and the upkeep is as simple as giving the press a quick wash after each use.

Moka Pot

The Moka Pot is the obvious choice for anyone who enjoys coffee for its flavor.

By a landslide, the Moka Pot produces a more flavorful cup of coffee. The science behind this brewing method makes it so.

The effort is definitely worth the reward for anyone who wants a smooth cup of coffee that is worthy of their favorite mug.

Have you tried the Moka Pot and the AeroPress? How did you find they compared? Which do you prefer? Let me know in the comments below!

Stay caffeinated!

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