Updated on December 8, 2022
A Moka pot and a percolator may appear to be six of one and a half dozen of another to the inexperienced eye. They both brew coffee, after all. Well, certainly, but the parallels end there, essentially. Although it’s not completely accurate, moka pots are frequently referred to as stovetop espresso makers and produce tiny quantities of robust, concentrated coffee. Contrarily, percolators produce huge pots of coffee that is of medium strength. Before contemporary drip coffee machines became common, businesses and diners relied on workhorse percolators as their primary coffee maker.
Percolators and Moka pots will be compared and contrasted in this article. Despite their apparent similarities, the two are highly different, therefore we’ll go line-by-line, spending every penny necessary to provide you with all the information you need to decide which one is best for you. The majority of people probably only need one of each.
Moka Pot vs Percolator – What’s the differences?
Percolators and moka pots operate according to different theories. Both can produce wonderful coffee, but it’s important to recognize them for what they are so that the proper beans, grind, and flavor can be selected.
In a moka pot, hot water is forced under pressure through a filter basket and into the upper chamber to produce concentrated coffee. Although far from espresso, the force employed is high enough to produce coffee that is creamy and extremely strong. Because they don’t force the ground coffee through, percolators don’t require as much pressure as Moka pots. Instead, they force the water to run out the top of the water chamber, through the coffee basket, and back into the bottom.
The Moka pot employs pressure to generate concentrated coffee in a single brew cycle, which is another significant distinction. Depending on how long you boil the coffee, the percolator’s brewing process passes the bean through the same chamber more than once, giving you the option to select the level of flavor you like.
There is also a difference in the brewing temperature. Espresso makers and moka pots both extract coffee below its boiling point. To circulate the coffee through the grind and make it stronger while it does so, percolators require boiling water. Because of its quicker extraction time, a Moka pot tends to avoid making the coffee bitter.
Medium-ground coffee is used in percolator coffee, whereas drip coffee makers utilize somewhat coarser coffee. Although prepackaged coffee “rounds” were widespread in earlier times when it was more popular, this grind is dumped into the filter basket and smoothed off. Some burr grinders can only create the bigger particles needed for percolator coffee, therefore a blade grinder is needed for the coarse grind.
A Moka pot prepares shots or, at most, one cup of coffee, whereas percolators make batches, typically several full cups. The stovetop percolator takes between five and seven minutes to brew, or even longer for larger pots frequently found in large gatherings like boardrooms and conventions. In contrast, the Moka pot extracts in about a minute.
Electric stoves are significantly better for percolators since they heat up more quickly than the Moka pot. While a Moka pot can only be used right away, percolators will happily sit on low heat for hours while continuously brewing to be ready when you want a cup.
Moka Pot vs Percolator – How are they similar?
The lower and upper chambers of moka pots and percolators, which brew pure black coffee to which milk can be added afterwards, are heat sources.
Percolators and Moka pots are durable, able to withstand years of domestic usage, and built of stainless steel and polished aluminum. Both have a foundation developed specifically for domestic stoves, a heat-resistant grip, and a basic internal mechanism. Although Moka pot coffee is only marginally coarser than espresso, the percolator uses a very coarse grind that is even coarser than drip coffee makers.
Both produce robust coffee by the cup and are forgiving of bean quality, allowing you to get a lot of value out of your money on a daily basis. They are brew techniques for good handmade food that you want to take with you, not for the fine dining experience. They work well at barbecues, supper gatherings, and when everyone wants coffee.
Who Should Get A Moka Pot?
Coffee brewed in moka pots is now again popular, and for good reason—now that people have figured them out, they can easily make a distinctive, rich cup of coffee with a fantastic flavor profile at home.
For coffee enthusiasts committed enough to upgrade from drip machines to better-tasting coffee with more depth of flavor from a more balanced brew, the Moka pot is the best method of brewing coffee. Because it is not extracted under as much pressure as true espresso, coffee from a moka pot doesn’t exactly have the same creamy flavor. Even yet, it only requires one medium-length expression, which makes it ideal for medium-dark roasts and speciality blends because it prevents uneven extraction.
For the coffee lover who wants to bring out the most in a bean and a wide range of tastes, moka pots are perfect. Particularly the smaller pots, which are a terrific way to make short cups that enable you sample new beans in little quantities, allow for a lot of experimenting.
Who Should Get A Percolator?
If you always require access to strong coffee, a percolator is for you. It’s ideal for places like offices, school camps, gatherings, the night shift at a fire station, and maybe missile silos.
Although percolators don’t produce complex coffee, they are quite straightforward and durable and don’t require the same level of care as a Moka pot. When numerous cups are needed throughout the day, their straightforward brew cycle is ideal. They are perfect for those who work from home or for productive weekends spent at home.
The scent of percolators, which sputter and steam in the mornings in the camper park, is a favorite among the RV and “digital nomad” lifestyle. If you’re working with huge numbers, such in an office or camp, percolators work best with bulk coffee and, while the better the bean, the better the drink, they’re significantly more cost-effective than utilizing speciality beans for little shots of espresso.