AeroPress vs. Moka Pot: Which Is the Best?

Putting an extra kick in your morning coffee is more affordable than you think. While espresso machines may be expensive, two small yet sophisticated coffee brewing devices, the Moka Pot and the AeroPress, will help you make a cup of strong coffee similar to the espresso at home.

Let’s look at the strengths and weaknesses of each gadget to determine the winner in the AeroPress vs. Moka Pot battle.

Moka Pot vs. AeroPress: which should you choose?

The Moka Pot, invented by the Italian company Bialetti in 1933, is a classic stovetop espresso maker. Its dominance, however, may be challenged by AeroPress, a newer American creation.

Like the Moka Pot, AeroPress makes espresso-like coffee without using an espresso machine. In addition, its brewing method does not require a stovetop. But can the versatility of the AeroPress overcome the classic style of the Moka Pot?

aeropress vs moka pot

Ease of use

Your desire for better coffee might not be enough to give you the skills of a trained barista. If you are looking for a new coffee brewing method, you want one you can’t mess up. As you evaluate coffee makers for home use, remember that the best coffee drink is the one you can get right on your own.

Moka Pot

The stovetop espresso maker is a reliable, time-tested device that works as long as you have a stove or a portable gas burner. The Moka Pot has a lower chamber where you put water and a little metal container for medium-fine ground coffee. Then, you attach the upper part of it and set the Moka Pot on a stove burner. The water in the lower chamber boils, and the resulting steam pushes brewed coffee into the upper section.

A classic Moka Pot will not work without a burner for boiling water. Bialetti makes some models powered by electricity, but these are more expensive than the standard models and not that common to find.

AeroPress

The AeroPress coffee process is so elegantly simple that it seems surprising it was not invented sooner. An AeroPress is a cylindrical device with a filter at the end that sits on your mug. You put the coffee grounds into the chamber, add hot water, and stir it a bit. Then, you lower a plunger into the chamber. The rubber gasket at the end of the plunger ensures that it seals properly and helps to push water through the coffee grounds by applying manual pressure.

If you cannot access hot water, the AeroPress can make cold brew coffee with room temperature water. It does not require electricity, either, making it perfect for camping.

Winner

The AeroPress wins for ease of use as it is portable and does not require heat or electricity. Its assembly and mechanical nature are also pretty straightforward.

pouring coffee grinds into aeropress

Brewing time

If you have a tight schedule in the morning, even a slight difference in brewing time can be an essential factor in choosing the best coffee brewing method. The speed of brewing may override other considerations in that situation. Speed might not be an issue if you are not pressed with time, but you should still know what you are getting into.

Moka Pot

Preparing coffee with a Moka Pot can take 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how long the water boils. Some Moka You can put hot water in the bottom chamber before setting it on the stove to save heating time.

AeroPress

If you make your AeroPress coffee with hot water, you must wait for your kettle to heat up. If you are okay with cold brewing, the process will be faster, although you will need to stir the coffee grounds and water for 1 minute instead of 10 seconds before pushing the plunger down.

Winner

The AeroPress method is pretty quick, which makes it ideal in a situation where time is scarce.

aeropress brewing time

Capacity

The right amount of coffee might depend on your personal preference. When choosing between coffee makers, consider whether you drink coffee alone or with others. However, if you are trying to decide between a Moka Pot or an AeroPress, only one gives you much room to determine how much coffee you can make at a time.

Moka Pot

Moka Pots come in various sizes depending on the number of cups you prefer. You can choose the size that meets your needs, from one cup up to twelve cups.

AeroPress

At its most convenient, the AeroPress produces a single 8-ounce cup of coffee in one go. So if your needs are typically consistent, AeroPress will work for you.

However, if you have guests or want a refill of your coffee, the small capacity of the AeroPress could be frustrating. You’ll have to brew a few different batches while cleaning the device, changing the paper filter, and plunging it repeatedly.

Winner

The Moka Pot is the clear winner for capacity because you can pick the size that suits your personal or family needs.

open bialetti moka pot

Taste

As is the case with any coffee maker, the flavor of your coffee depends on the quality of the beans you put in. Both the Moka Pot and the AeroPress work best with a grind size coarser than that for espresso but finer than for a standard drip. You can grind the beans yourself, resulting in more aroma and flavor. The date the beans were roasted also contributes to the taste intensity regardless of the coffee preparation method.

Moka Pot

As you don’t use a paper filter with the Moka Pot, the coffee prepared with this device has a rich taste and a thicker texture. You may find it stronger and more concentrated, closer to espresso. Some Moka Pot models make coffee with golden crema (even though not as rich as portable espresso makers can produce), and it is a decent base if you want to make a latte at home.

AeroPress

If you want coffee that gives a good caffeine kick but tastes light, similar to Americano, the AeroPress might be a better option. While it is more concentrated than drip coffee, a dense AeroPress filter gives coffee a cleaner and brighter flavor than a Moka Pot.

Winner

What counts as the best-tasting coffee comes down to personal preference. If you usually buy dark roast beans, the Moka Pot will vibe well and enhance the quality of your coffee. Conversely, the AeroPress can accommodate a greater variety of roasts, significantly elevating the aromatic notes of light and medium-roasted coffee.

red bialetti moka pot on a stove

Cleaning

An easily overlooked part of your coffee brewing process is cleaning your coffee-making equipment. Spending a lot of time on maintenance can cut into the pleasure you get from drinking your coffee, so make sure you pick a routine you are comfortable with.

Moka Pot

The Moka Pot is not dishwasher safe, so it must be washed by hand. It also requires time to cool down before being cleaned, as it gets hot when brewing coffee. On the other hand, leaving coffee residue in the Moka Pot for a long time can lead to a bitter taste when you brew coffee next.

AeroPress

The AeroPress chamber can be run through your dishwasher on the top shelf. However, the coffee grounds eject from the chamber smoothly enough that this level of cleaning should not be necessary regularly.

Winner

If ease of cleaning is your top priority, AeroPress is your gadget.

aeropress after brewing coffee

Cost

When looking for the most affordable coffee maker, what you pay for the device itself may not be the only cost you need to consider. For example, a device with parts that need to be replaced regularly might be more expensive than a device that does not have such ongoing needs, even if the initial price difference is not much. Hidden costs of this sort can add up over time.

Moka Pot

Moka Pots come in different sizes, so the price varies based on the size. Compared to the AeroPress, a one-cup Moka Pot costs around $25.

It does not require disposable filters, so no ongoing maintenance costs exist.

AeroPress

A basic AeroPress coffee maker costs about $30 and comes packaged with 350 paper filters. The replacement package of filters costs about $5.

One good thing about AeroPress is that replacement parts are sold individually on the manufacturer’s website. So, for example, if the plunger breaks, you can buy a new one for $9 instead of buying a new coffee maker. However, the fact that so many replacement parts are available for sale suggests that they do break.

Winner

While the baseline costs of these two coffee makers are competitive, the Moka Pot will be cheaper over time as it does not require any additional filters or accessories. Its simplicity and sturdiness suggest you will be less likely to need replacement parts.

The solution to Moka Pot vs. AeroPress dilemma may vary depending on your lifestyle. A stylish, classic Moka Pot could be perfect for someone who works from home and has reliable access to a stove (even though there are some electric Moka Pot models out there). Moka Pots are more attractive and look cool in your kitchen, so if you’ve already decided, why not choose the best Moka Pot for yourself?

However, the portable AeroPress is a newer innovation built to keep up with fast-paced life. If you are on the road often, you prefer traveling light and brewing fresh coffee when camping or in a hotel room, an AeroPress might be the best option.

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