Coffee lovers all over the world are debating whether to use a Moka Pot or a French press.
Everybody in the community of coffee nerds has a clear opinion about which one makes the perfect drink. And views aren’t exactly useful when deciding between two items in the world of coffee.
That being said, there are 2 brewing techniques in specific that are called classics, and these are the Moka pot and the French press.
Moka Pot vs French Press
These 2 have specific coffee-making types. While the Moka pot produces a solid brew, the French press or cafetiere produces a richer, fuller-bodied flavour. There are several distinctions among the two.
Having trouble on what to choose? We got you!
We’ll compare the Moka pot to the French press in terms of ease of use, comfort, and overall results below so you can decide which tool is better for having your caffeine fix each day!
We’re here to guide you to weigh the pros and cons of the two options and determine which is the better, more realistic solution for you and your cup of coffee.
The Moka Pot
What is a Moka Pot?
The Moka Pot is an Italian product that is also very common in South America. It is called after the Yemeni region of Mocha.
What Moka Pot is Made from?
The Moka pot is a stove-top machine made of aluminum or steel (although electric models have begun to show up) that uses steam to boil its grounds.
You can check my article about the differences between Aluminum and Steel Moka Pots.
How a Moka Pot Works?
Moka pots are a kind of coffee maker that is both elegant and functional. It uses steam to work. Load the bottom with water and the filter cup with thinly ground coffee.
Wait some minutes after positioning the Moka pot on a stove burner. The base of the pot heats up, changing to steam and flowing via the ground coffee.
Tip: You should always clean your Moka Pot after using it, to keep it as new as possible!
The Key For Success!
The Moka is a gas stove coffee maker that brews coffee by passing boiling water over ground coffee and extracting the flavor by steam.
Just keep an eye on it so it doesn’t spill over or burst! The magic is to control the heat (I suggest starting with a low heat) and always check to not pass the 10 minute mark.
Want to know more about mastering the Moka Pot? I wrote a dedicated article about it with tips and methods to use.
What Moka Pot Coffee Tastes Like?
Want espresso but can’t be at a cafe? The Moka Pot has got you covered. When I noticed it this way, I was satisfied since the Moka pot’s extraction is the nearest you can come to a high pressure (i.e., Espresso) extraction without an espresso device.
Pros
- The style is elegant and traditional
- Steam-driven with steam
- Coffee in a small, filtered cup
Cons
- A stovetop or a fire are needed
- Washing is a bit difficult
- Serving a group is difficult
- It needs 10 minutes to complete
The Thin Grounds of The Moka Pot Coffee
What coffee ground is the best for Moka Pot?
The coffee for a Moka pot must be thinly ground so that the steam flowing through it will do so at high speed, forcing the extraction of coffee taste and aroma.
The grind size required by each process is one of the most significant differences between the two methods.
The Perfect Moka Pot Crema!
Moka pots brew coffee under heat, identical to the mechanism used to make espresso. Moka pots, on the other hand, extract at a far lower pressure than espresso devices, but they aren’t necessarily a substitute.
It does, though, have a much more intense brew than drip or French press. It is also possible to achieve a bit of delicious crema in a Moka pot brew.
Brew Time
When researching a new brewing process, prep time is always a critical factor.
How much time do you want to waste making coffee? Is this for a fast breakfast in the morning or a relaxing weekend treat? Are you a patient person?
How Long Moka Pot takes to brew?
Once the water starts boiling, the extraction process is almost done. You can’t leave the pot unsupervised, though, because it’s very likely that you’ll eventually wind up with sour coffee. You’ll have 10 minutes from beginning to end if you ready your container of grounds ahead of time.
Easy Brewing
Moka pots do need little skill at first, and even the pros admit there is still space for technique development. The one main complaint about Moka pots is the probability of under-extraction, which occurs more often than you’d want.
Grinding
When it comes to ground beans, the Moka pot is far more practical.
Though I still recommend buying whole bean coffee and grinding it yourself, this isn’t as necessary with Moka brewing. Since it does not encourage the more gentle and soft tones of the coffee to come out as well as a French press, the distinction among pre-ground and home-ground coffee is not nearly as noticeable.
Learn Also How to Make Cappuccino With The Moka Pot here!
The French Press
Because of the design of the brew process, French press coffee can be defined as full-bodied or thick. This means that French presses are a must-have in every professional coffee shop and real coffee enthusiasts enjoy the richer flavor of a French press to regular simple drip.
How the French Press Works?
This brew is created by a very specific steeping method. Coarsely ground coffee is filled with almost-boiling water and steeped for a brief, but precise, period of time.
To hold the wet grounds out of the final processing, the wet grounds are tightly boiled into the bottom of the cafetiere with a wonderful plunger just before serving.
Related Article: French Press Brew Guide
What is French Press Made of?
The classic French press is built up of a thin cylindrical jug, normally made of glass or transparent plastic, with a metal or plastic lid and plunger that fits comfortably 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 15 mins
What French Press Tastes like?
The French press does not absorb taste and instead adds tiny pieces of coffee grounds into the coffee, which circulates flavor. French press has a far more complicated taste profile.
The water brings out a lot of the tastes in the beans because the grounds are steeped for a few minutes. It produces a smoother, full-bodied flavor that only some kinds of coffees can reach.
The thick grounds of The French Press
Since French press brewing requires steeping the grounds, something too fine will over-extract and result in a very bad tasting drink.
Thick grounds, on the other hand, allow for a much more full-bodied and delicate taste, making them ideal for French press.
Brew time
How Long French Press takes to brew?
Nothing can be prepared ahead of time with a French press. Each quantity of coffee should be roasted as soon as possible. Differently, the water should be warmed to just below boiling, and the soaking and sinking process would take about 5 minutes.
It is helpful to construct a reasonable pattern, but the whole phase would also take 10-15 minutes.
Easy Brewing
The French Press takes some skills, but I believe the brew process is more effective. As long as you follow the steps outlined here, you can have a good, tasty brew. There is still space for adjusting and enhancing the methodology with Moka pots, but there are less factors to consider.
Grinding
Nevertheless, when it comes to French press, I will advise you to grind it at home.
Yeah, you can purchase pre-ground medium roasts optimized for use in French press breweries, but purchasing whole bean would benefit you even more.
INTERESTING QUESTIONS
Why does my French Press coffee taste watery?
When making French press coffee, one of the most major elements is the grind of the coffee beans. You would get a messy and thick cup of coffee if you ground the coffee beans too finely. You would get a watery soup and runny cup of coffee if you do not grind the coffee beans thoroughly.
Is it safe to use stainless steel French Press?
It’s long-lasting, absorbs heat well, and can also be carried. Stainless steel French presses are also easier to wash and, in many cases, dishwasher-safe.
Is Moka Pot or French Press more similar to Espresso?
The Moka pot produces a much stronger cup of coffee and concentrated (similar to a ‘Italian espresso’). The French Press produces a creamy, lighter and watery aromatic combination.
Is there more caffeine in a French Press?
Espresso offers more caffeine per unit volume than most of the other coffee drinks due to its intensity. French press coffee, on the other hand, provides a great 108 mg per 8-ounce cup. This means that a mug of French press coffee contains more caffeine than a tiny shot of espresso.
Do Moka Pots Explode?
Moka pots do more than just soak coffee grounds under water. They create a massive amount of heat, which produces steam—and this pressure can be problematic if your brewer is in bad condition. So, make sure you have a good device!
Often the pressure is simply too much for the container, so it explodes too aggressively.
Last Thoughts
Moka Pot vs French Press
If you don’t really want strong coffee or espresso but would like something extra tasty than a regular automatic drip, try a French press. A Moka pot is common to many who like coffee with no groundwater and a brew that is more similar to espresso.
Of course, there is no law that says you must own either a French press or a Moka pot.
To put the record straight! The choice is Yours.
At the end of the day, neither process is really superior for all coffee makers since they brew separately and use different techniques. To clarify, they are not exactly equal, but the winner is mainly chosen by personal choice.
It all based on your own preferences! Enjoy!