French Press vs Moka Pot
Thinking of brewing your own cup of joe?
Moka Pot and French Press are two beginner friendly and comparatively cost effective brewing methods. The questions you may be asking are, which is the best and why?
They may look similar on the surface, but these two methods are very different: Moka pots and French presses. Moka pots will give you a full flavored and strong cup of coffee and a French Press will produce a cup of coffee that has a smoother and sweeter flavor.
In this blog post, we’ll be comparing their pros and cons in terms of convenience, quality and taste.
What is Moka Pot?
Moka pot is an espresso maker that creates a thick rich coffee with some added crema. Most popularly, it’s used to create a stovetop espresso. In Italy, moka pot is usually used to make an espresso-like drink in the morning as well as in late hours of the night.
To understand the history of the Moka pot, it’s important to note that Italian coffee culture is largely defined by this device and the brewing process behind it. In fact, the traditional espresso machine is made up of a round pot with a handle on top. This device is called a Moka pot as it was invented by an Italian named Luigi Mocca in 1932.
How Moka Pot Works:
The Moka pot has three parts:
- Bottom Pot (Also known as the water chamber): This has a small hole on the bottom for the water to flow in.
- Middle Chamber: This is where coffee grounds are kept and where hot water will move through and extract coffee
- Top Chamber: This is where the brewed coffee is collected.
First, you need to fill the bottom chamber with water.
Next, you need to pour coffee into the middle chamber, which is placed on top of bottom chamber. You can use different kinds of coffee beans, however the intensity of the flavor is dependent on the grind.
You need to place the top chamber over the middle one, locking both chambers in place.
Lastly, place it on your stovetop and turn on your flame. You will see that once you turn the flame on, steam will start to rise up and through the holes on top chamber.
This process takes around four minutes and once you hear gurgling sound, you know that the brewing process is almost done. You can then collect your coffee and enjoy.
Advantages of Moka Pot:
- Moka pots are usually small and compact to sit on the stovetop or kitchen counter.
- They are a small, lightweight alternative to a standard espresso machine. Add to this, you can use them in the office too!
- The coffee produced is thick, rich and has a strong coffee aroma with a light touch of sweetness. But this is just personal opinion; try it yourself!
- It’s easier to clean than other coffee pots.
- Moka Pot offers a more consistent temperature and with an easier way to control it (just set it for however many minutes you want) compared to French press. It also has a slightly stronger taste than press-brewed coffee.
What is French Press?
The most popular use of the French press is for brewing coffee. The device can be used to brew one cup or up to 12 cups of coffee.
How French Press works?
You pour freshly ground coffee into the press and let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes.
Next, you pour hot water over the ground coffee and release the plunger.
The next step is optional: You can filter your brew by using a coffee specific filter.
Advantages of a French Press:
- It is easy to use. It is also easy to clean as you do not have to disassemble the device.
- The device is small and portable. Just add your refillable water reservoir and a filter on the top and you are good to go!
- The plunger and the grounds absorb all the coffee oils before they flow through your filter. This produces the stronger taste compared to other coffee brewing methods.
Disadvantages of French Press:
*It takes longer than other brewing methods for a cup of coffee.
Moka Pot Vs French Press
The French Press and a Moka Pot are both great ways to get your coffee fix. However, if you're a serious coffee drinker, you should have more than one brewing method in your kitchen.
Brewing Time
The French press is capable of extracting great coffee, but it takes time. It’s not your morning cup of coffee. For a standard French press, the brew time will usually be between 4 and 8 minutes, but with a press like the AeroPress, it’s as little as 45 seconds.
A Moka Pot, however, is your morning coffee maker. It produces a strong brew that has a thickness to it and it’s ready in 4 minutes.
Coffee Flavor
If you’re a fan of dark roast coffee, you will enjoy the full-bodied flavor of a French Press. It produces a thick, strong cup and the taste is characteristic of dark roasting.
However, if you like the bold strong flavours of an express then you will enjoy the rich gourmet taste of a Moka pot.
Convenience
The French press is a great way to make enough coffee for the whole family. It’s also dishwasher safe, so it will give you more time to do other things around the house.
The coffee isn’t bitter and you have full control of how much ground coffee you use. This device offers flexibility with different types of grinds and water-to-coffee ratios.
The Moka pot can be used by itself and is portable. You can take it with you to the office or while travelling.
The French press also has a convenient brewing and cleanup process. You can just toss it in the dishwasher to clean it.
Quality
French press tends to produce a fuller-bodied coffee compared to the Moka pot. Moka Pot on the other hand will brew a cup which is sharp and strong more like an espresso.
The taste is sweeter with the Moka Pot as it doesn’t absorb as many coffee oils. If you like to add sugar or milk then you can adjust it to your liking without altering the taste of the coffee.
The French press also allows for more customization of the qualities of your coffee as the seeping time is dependent on your taste.
Final Words
Both are amazing devices, there are no right or wrong answers. It’s more about what your preferences and tastes are.
Both of these devices have their own benefits and quirks. The French press offers more control over the coffee's natural oils and seep time, while the Moka Pot is great for faster brew time and is great for espresso lovers.
Go for a French press if you want a coffee maker that’s easy to use, cheap, versatile and fashionable. Also go for it if you like coffee that’s not bitter in taste
Go for a Moka Pot if you want an espresso shot to taste like real espresso and not the bitter flavored brewed coffee.
Which one do you use?
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