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Are you a coffee enthusiast who is looking to make the perfect cup of coffee using a Moka pot? Look no further, because this guide will teach you everything you need to know about the Moka pot coffee to water ratio.
We’ll cover what ratio works best for different types of coffee drinkers and provide tips for getting the perfect brew every time.
So whether you’re a beginner or a pro, bookmark this page and use it as your go-to guide for making delicious Moka Pot coffee.
What is The Coffee Water Ratio for A Moka Pot?
The coffee to water ratio for a Moka pot is 1:7. In other words, for every 1 gram of ground coffee, you’ll need 7 grams of water.
This ratio will produce a strong cup of coffee with a rich flavor. If you want a weaker cup of coffee, you can use more water. For example, a 1:8 ratio (or 1:9) will produce a lighter cup of coffee.
Moka pots use steam pressure to force hot water up through the coffee grounds, so it’s important to use the correct ratio of coffee to water. If you use too much water, your coffee will be weak and watery. If you use too little water, your coffee will be strong and bitter.
Most specialty coffee pros like Liza from Cafe Sin Mentiras use a 1: 11 ratio (1: 11,75 for the OCD friends) for their Moka Pot coffee. Although this may sound like a weaker cup of coffee, it depends on the beans you use and how coarse or fine you will grind them.
So, the 1:11 ratio is also a good starting point for most Moka pots, but you may need to experiment with different ratios to find the perfect one for your taste.
Read Also: Moka Pot Brew Guide
What You Will Need to Get The Correct Ratio.
To get the correct coffee to water ratio, you’ll need a kitchen scale and your Moka pot. The Moka pot should have markings on the side that show you how much water it can hold (or you can use the valve inside the bottom chamber as a reference).
If your Aluminium Moka pot doesn’t have a valve, don’t worry – you can still measure the water using a scale. Just weigh the empty pot on the scale, then add water until it reaches your desired weight.
For example, if you want to make 1 cup of coffee using the Moka Pot, depending on the size of your stovetop espresso maker, you’ll need anywhere between 7 – 8 grams of coffee beans.
The table below shows the range of coffee to water ratios that you can use, depending on the size of your Moka pot:
| Moka Pot Size | Coffee to Water Ratio/ Grams |
| 1 Cup Moka Pot | 60 ml of brewed coffee | Around 7 – 8 Grams of coffee |
| 3 Cup Moka Pot | 130 ml of brewed coffee | Around 15 – 20 Grams of coffee |
| 6 Cup Moka Pot | 270 ml of brewed coffee | Around 30 – 35 Grams of Coffee |
| 9 Cup Moka Pot | 420 ml of brewed coffee | Around 50 – 55 Grams of Coffee |
| 12 Cup Moka Pot | 670 ml of brewed coffee | Around 100 Grams of Coffee |
Coffee to Water Ratio For Every Moka Pot Size Explained
As you already know the Moka Pot comes in a lot of sizes, making it a versatile coffee machine. You can find Moka Pots that make 1 cup of coffee all the way up to 12 cups.
The most popular size is probably the 6 cup Moka Pot, which is also the size that I would recommend for making coffee at home.
The reason I recommend the 6 cups Moka Pot is because it’s a good middle ground between making too much coffee and not enough.
It’s always better to make a bit more coffee than you need, and then store the leftovers in a thermos or a pot.
That way, if you want more coffee later, it’s already made and you don’t have to start from scratch.
Let’s now see explain the coffee to water ratio behind every Moka Pot size.
1) 1 Cup Moka Pot Ratio
As we can see from the above table the 1 cup Moka pot can brew around 60ml of coffee. The coffee to water ratio that we need to use is 7 – 8 grams of coffee per 60ml of water.
This is a very normal brew ratio that can be used for most coffee brewing methods.
The only time you might need to change this ratio is if you are using a very dark roast for your Moka Pot coffee and you need a bit more coffee to get more flavors out of the beans.
2) 3 Cup Moka Pot Ratio
The 3 cup Moka Pot is the second most popular size after the 6 cup Moka pot. This coffee machine can brew around 130ml of coffee, which is just over 2 small cups of coffee.
The recommended coffee to water ratio for this size Moka pot is 15 – 20 grams of coffee per 130ml of water. This will result in a strong cup of coffee with a lot of body and flavor.
3) 6 Cup Moka Pot Ratio
With the 6-cup Moka Pot, you need to use around 30 – 35 grams of coffee. From here brewing starts to get a little harder because working with more coffee and water can be a problem, especially for manual stovetop espresso makers.
I recommend experimenting with the brewing time and heat to find the perfect balance for your 6 Cup Moka Pot.
Always remember that you can always add more water to your coffee if it’s too strong, but you can’t take it out once it’s in there, so be careful!
4) 9 Cup Moka Pot Ratio
The 9-cup Moka Pot is probably the largest size that most people will need at home. This coffee machine can brew up to 420ml of coffee, which is around 7 small cups of brewed coffee.
As you can see, you need to use around 50 – 55 Grams of coffee for this size Moka pot. Don’t forget to grind your coffee beans to medium-fine grind size and never tamp your grounds in your Moka Pot‘s filter basket.
5) 12 Cup Moka Pot
The 12-cup Moka Pot is for coffee aficionados who want to make large batches of stovetop espresso at once. This size can brew up to 630ml of coffee, which is around 10 cups of coffee.
With that scale, you’ll need to use around 100 Grams of coffee. This is the one that you need to really give a good stir before serving since there’s a lot of coffee and water.
Brewing time will also be longer since there’s more water to boil, so make sure to give it an extra minute or two before serving.
Now that we know the coffee to water ratio behind every Moka Pot size, let’s move on and see how to adjust your ratio based on the grind size of your coffee beans.
Keep in mind that these brewing ratios are just guidelines and you might need to adjust them slightly to fit your taste.
Adjusting The Coffee to Water Ratio for The Moka Pot
The type of coffee beans that you will use can affect the ratio of coffee to water. It is common among coffee professionals and baristas that coffee beans have different sizes and tastes depending on the altitude, climate, and soil where they are grown.
The rule of thumb is that the lower the altitude, the faster the coffee bean grows, and the larger the bean. The higher the altitude, the slower the coffee bean grows, and the smaller the bean.
This might not seem like a big deal, but it does affect how much coffee you need to use for your Moka pot.
Arabica beans are grown at higher altitudes of 1,800 to 6,300 feet, while Robusta beans are grown at lower altitudes of 600 to 2,400 feet. Also, Arabica beans have more of an oval shape while Robusta beans have more of a round shape.
All these are important for the final cup of coffee.
The reason why is that when the time to grind the coffee comes, the larger the bean, the more surface area there is to extract flavors from.
The smaller the bean, the less surface area there is for extraction. This is why when you use Robusta beans, you need to use more coffee because there’s less surface area to extract flavors from.
Ultimately, it all comes down to this:
- If you’re using Arabica beans, use less coffee.
- If you’re using Robusta beans, use more coffee.
Of course, this is just a general rule and there are always exceptions. The best way to find the perfect coffee to water ratio is by experimenting and finding what works best for you.
Sometimes it’s better to just add more water if your coffee is too strong. It’s easy to do and it won’t make your coffee taste watered down.
Suggested Read: 12 Common Moka Pot Mistakes
What James Hoffman Has to Say About The Moka Pot Ratio
In a recent video, James Hoffman shared his thoughts on the Moka pot ratio and a brewing guide to help beginners.
For Moka pot brewing, Hoffman suggests using a full basket of coffee. If the sputtering phase starts before you think it’s time, it could be because the grind is too fine or there is too much heat.
To avoid this, make sure the grind is medium-fine and the heat is moderate. This will help ensure that the coffee doesn’t get bitter and that the Moka pot doesn’t get damaged.
For dark roasts, you usually want to use a little less water than the recommended amount. For lighter roasts, you might want to use a little more water. This is because dark roasts weigh less than light roasts.
You can see the full video here.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much coffee do you put in a 1 cup Moka pot?
7 – 8 grams of coffee is about right for a 1 cup Moka pot. I like to use a medium-fine grind, which gives a nice balance of flavor and body. If you’re using pre-ground coffee, start with about 2 tablespoons and adjust from there. If you’re using whole beans, aim for somewhere around 10 grams. Happy brewing!
How much coffee do you put in a 9-cup Moka pot?
If you’re brewing coffee using a 9-cup Moka pot, you’ll want to use around 50 – 55 grams of coffee. This will give you a nice, strong and delicious coffee. If you like your coffee on the weaker side, you can use less coffee. Just remember that the more coffee you use, the stronger your brew will be.
Last Thoughts
Whether you’re looking for a strong coffee or something with more water and less flavor, finding the right coffee to water ratio is key.
We hope this guide has helped you figure out what works best for your Moka Pot. Experiment a little and find the perfect balance of coffee to water that creates the perfect cup of Joe for you.