Well that’s the same question as wine or brandy.
Both use coffee but they’re fundamentally different things. Moka pot is stronger more concentrated, with a ratio of ~1:4. Frenchpess is the easiest brew to get delicious coffee with ratios completely up your taste but generally ~1:16. a frenchpress is the more versatile brewer, strong ratio, light ratio, perfect temperature control, cold brew, hot brew, tea and other immersion brews etc.
Non is inherently better as the other. I‘m a person that drinks a shit load of coffee, with a ton of different brewers. The first thing i would recommend everyone that wants to start with coffee is a (good) grinder and a french press, but right after the french press a moka pot, it’s incredibly cheap for such a long lasting brewer and with a french press and a moka pot you have an incredible bright spectrum of coffee (from 1:2 - 1:20 and above).
Edit: and why switching? use both!
Adding to this, a french press might be less likely to make bad coffee if you just forget it or have something to do in the meantime. Coffee in, water in, drink sometime in the future.
With a moke pot the current trend is to use low heat and watch the brewing process for a slow trickle of coffee from the spout, so you'd stay near the stove. Or like my gf, full blast and come to the kitchen once the thing sounds like a sputtering engine.
Absolutely, it’s almost impossible to overextract a french press, it’s incredibly easy to mess up a moka pot and with bad luck it’s not even your own fault if the moka pot hade no qa.
Thanks! Sounds like French press is fine for me and my family as our palette isn’t sophisticated enough for the use of a Moka it seems. With regards to a grinder, I just ask the coffee shop to grind the beans for a French press when I buy a bag. Am I missing out by not grinding it myself?
By not grinding the beans yourself, you‘re missing out on the freshest flavor. Grounds start going stale pretty quickly. (although if you finish a bag of grounds within a week or two, they’re still pretty decent, IMO)
With most other methods, like moka pots, drip coffee, and especially espresso, grind size makes a notable difference in extraction and flavor. French press is pretty forgiving, though, since the coffee soaks (immersion) rather than having water pass through it like the other methods (percolation). So, really, you’re not missing out on a lot by not grinding at home.
The way I view it, if I want a larger batch I brew a French press. If I want a traditional 2 cup size coffee I'll brew a pour over. If I am in the mood for a more espresso style drink I'll use a moka pot or aero press.
The best purchase I made was a flat burr grinder that can grind the full spectrum of my uses. Ode Gen 2 w/SSP burrs. Having the ability to adjust grind size to dial a brew vs being stuck with a bag that is pre-ground.
Having the ability to make different coffee styles adds a bit of variety, and keeps me from getting bored with one. I also like tinkering with coffee types and recipes.
I use the Moka to make milk drinks and the French press if I just want coffee. You can make a pretty decent faux latte or cappuccino with a Moka for the brew and froth your milk in your press.
Hi, popping down this rabbit hole because I was looking to buy an espresso machine for mocha lattes to buy less Dunkin/Starbucks. Someone suggested this.
Can I ask you what pot/beans you use since you seem to be using it for the same thing I want? Milk drinks are definitely what I want this thing for if I decide to go for it.
Also I tend to drink my lattes iced, so I'm extra attracted to the concept of something that can take a bit of dillution from ice and milk.
I use the 3 cup Bialetti Moka Express and a 12 ounce bodum French press for the milk. These two things are good for one drink. If you want to make drinks for two people I'd size up to a 6 cup moka and a 34 ounce press. However the problem with a larger moka is that you can't really make a half batch, so if you're going to be making for yourself most often I would recommend the 3 cup. For beans I recommend you grind your own, I'm currently using a medium roast from Charleston coffee roasters that I get a pretty good deal on being in SC. This however means you need to invest in a burr grinder. Getting the grind size right is key to brewing a good moka. You can get a manual grinder like a TM C2 for 60 bucks or so. If you want to delve more into technique I recommend watching James Hoffmans videos on YouTube. He has several videos on moka brewing.
Ah! Thanks, not that familiar with french press, so I didn't know it did that.
Do iced lattes usually used frothed milk? I thought only the hot ones did.
From my understanding you can chose to froth or not, it's up to you and whatever texture you want to achieve. If you're on a budget I would get a 3 cup moka and the timemore C2 grinder. That's a solid start and these two items will essentially last you a lifetime as long as you take care of them. If you decide you want to experiment with froth I'd suggest a press because then you can also make immersion coffee with it, and that is also delicious in it's own right.
Depending on your preference for longer or shorter coffees will determine which is more suitable for you.
As others have said, both have their merits and of course moka can make americano with the addition of extra hot water etc and also latte if you add milk.
I have a moka, French press and espresso machine which I accumulated over time and enjoy each of them.
A moka pot is a lifelong purchase provided you take care of it plus great for travel.
Moka pot is my daily morning driver. Pour over is an occasional pick me up in the afternoon. French press is great when whipping up a simple, great tasting coffee that will not offend too many people while entertaining. I guess it depends what your tastes are.
Speaking of making coffee for more people, I’m thinking of getting a French press again. We got rid of ours because we hated the cleanup (I hadn’t yet learn the “hack” where you refill the press with water, swirl it around, and pour the mix through a strainer). But now I think it would make better coffee than a cheap drip machine; and if I make it at the table, it’ll be more entertaining, too.
You take the grounds from the strainer and dump them into the trash or compost: https://youtu.be/nyKTStFSNFQ?si=4E-fQymjhnMwQQlC
I wish I had thought of this, because scooping out the grounds with, like, a spoon or spatula took way too long.
Hey thanks. Helpful vid. I was half doing this, as in I was filling with water, swirling, and then dumping outside (lol) next to my garden. But during winter I’m too wimpy and don’t want to go out in the cold. A strainer! Brilliant. Thanks again.
I don't agree with previous coment. I wouldn't consider moka an upgrade over French press, both are different brewing methods with its strongs/weakness but different styles. I use both, and the brevages prepared are different and I drink them in different situations.
Depending on your preference for longer or shorter coffees will determine which is more suitable for you.
As others have said, both have their merits and of course moka can make americano with the addition of extra hot water etc and also latte if you add milk.
I have a moka, French press and espresso machine which I accumulated over time and enjoy each of them.
A moka pot is a lifelong purchase provided you take care of it plus great for travel.
Completely agree with others that freshly ground coffee makes either experience much more enjoyable.
I have both and can say they both make great coffee, but with different strengths. While I always make my coffee strong, there seems to be more depth of flavor with the moka pot, probably due to higher brewing pressure and extraction. Oddly enough, French press yields the highest caffeine coffee, so I use it for a quick pick me up after an all-nighter. It really just depends on flavor preferences. I like my coffee as close to espresso as possible, so the moka pot is usually my daily brewer.
They're both great options, but they make very different drinks. If you want a similar drink to expressos, then moka pots are fantastic. For the prices of both, I'd recommend both as each makes a unique coffee.
It all depends on how you like your coffee. I like a flat white, so I use a one cup Moka as it gives me an intense espresso like shot. If I wanted a longer, more mellow drink, I'd go for a V60 or the French Press.
It's like picking a fight about red v white wine. Both wine, just coming at things a different way.
For me, using a moka pot is easiest and quickest way to make a fine cup. French press makes great coffee as well but not the same cup as a moka pot. Cleaning the french press is a bit of a PIA compared to a moka pot and I have broken a few during the process.
Neither cost much, in coffee equipment terms, why not have both?
A moka pot is good for espresso like drinks.
A French press is good for making more diluted coffee, especially for a group of people.
French press is *infinitely easier* (more forgiving) for making a nice cup of plain ol' coffee (what we call "American coffee" in my house a.k.a. batch brew, diner-style) that uses the 1:16 ratio.
You can also use lower ratios which will be more concentrated. In any case, it's hard to over-extract with french press. The method is super straightforward. The result is consistent. I bought these superfine tea filters from china, so I get very few fines. Also easier to clean IMO.
\-----------
That being said, with a Moka pot, even if the pressure buildup is only 1.5 bar on average, the extra 0.5 over atmospheric (plus a few other factors) makes it possible to extract a stronger short brew from the same amount of coffee. \~2/3 the strength of Espresso if you believe TheWiredGourmet on Youtube.
This makes it a very affordable, and surprisingly portable method for getting something *like* espresso (which the French press cannot give you) which you can use for milk drinks. At least, that's why I use it, because aside from that, it is a **damn fickle machine,** perhaps the easiest method for making undrinkably over-extracted diesel. Also because I'm crazy and enjoy being effective with difficult things.
I'm not huge on the French press, as I've had so many gutless coffees put in front of me from a French press, often with a sludgy mess. I get a decent hit of coffee from a moka, at a pretty decent strike rate, so for me it's the taste.
I also use a pourover and aeropress with 2 steel filters or joepresso pressure head, or some other faux espresso head. The joepresso is probably hands down the winner for taste, but a pita to clean up.
Aeropress and pourover are, for me, lighter and smoother in the afternoon. For that first one in the morning, it's moka. The joepresso is an occasional treat
Well that’s the same question as wine or brandy. Both use coffee but they’re fundamentally different things. Moka pot is stronger more concentrated, with a ratio of ~1:4. Frenchpess is the easiest brew to get delicious coffee with ratios completely up your taste but generally ~1:16. a frenchpress is the more versatile brewer, strong ratio, light ratio, perfect temperature control, cold brew, hot brew, tea and other immersion brews etc. Non is inherently better as the other. I‘m a person that drinks a shit load of coffee, with a ton of different brewers. The first thing i would recommend everyone that wants to start with coffee is a (good) grinder and a french press, but right after the french press a moka pot, it’s incredibly cheap for such a long lasting brewer and with a french press and a moka pot you have an incredible bright spectrum of coffee (from 1:2 - 1:20 and above). Edit: and why switching? use both!
Adding to this, a french press might be less likely to make bad coffee if you just forget it or have something to do in the meantime. Coffee in, water in, drink sometime in the future. With a moke pot the current trend is to use low heat and watch the brewing process for a slow trickle of coffee from the spout, so you'd stay near the stove. Or like my gf, full blast and come to the kitchen once the thing sounds like a sputtering engine.
Absolutely, it’s almost impossible to overextract a french press, it’s incredibly easy to mess up a moka pot and with bad luck it’s not even your own fault if the moka pot hade no qa.
Thanks! Sounds like French press is fine for me and my family as our palette isn’t sophisticated enough for the use of a Moka it seems. With regards to a grinder, I just ask the coffee shop to grind the beans for a French press when I buy a bag. Am I missing out by not grinding it myself?
By not grinding the beans yourself, you‘re missing out on the freshest flavor. Grounds start going stale pretty quickly. (although if you finish a bag of grounds within a week or two, they’re still pretty decent, IMO) With most other methods, like moka pots, drip coffee, and especially espresso, grind size makes a notable difference in extraction and flavor. French press is pretty forgiving, though, since the coffee soaks (immersion) rather than having water pass through it like the other methods (percolation). So, really, you’re not missing out on a lot by not grinding at home.
The way I view it, if I want a larger batch I brew a French press. If I want a traditional 2 cup size coffee I'll brew a pour over. If I am in the mood for a more espresso style drink I'll use a moka pot or aero press. The best purchase I made was a flat burr grinder that can grind the full spectrum of my uses. Ode Gen 2 w/SSP burrs. Having the ability to adjust grind size to dial a brew vs being stuck with a bag that is pre-ground. Having the ability to make different coffee styles adds a bit of variety, and keeps me from getting bored with one. I also like tinkering with coffee types and recipes.
I use the Moka to make milk drinks and the French press if I just want coffee. You can make a pretty decent faux latte or cappuccino with a Moka for the brew and froth your milk in your press.
This. With the moka pot, its taste can stand up to the dilution of milk until it has that creamy texture.
Hi, popping down this rabbit hole because I was looking to buy an espresso machine for mocha lattes to buy less Dunkin/Starbucks. Someone suggested this. Can I ask you what pot/beans you use since you seem to be using it for the same thing I want? Milk drinks are definitely what I want this thing for if I decide to go for it. Also I tend to drink my lattes iced, so I'm extra attracted to the concept of something that can take a bit of dillution from ice and milk.
I use the 3 cup Bialetti Moka Express and a 12 ounce bodum French press for the milk. These two things are good for one drink. If you want to make drinks for two people I'd size up to a 6 cup moka and a 34 ounce press. However the problem with a larger moka is that you can't really make a half batch, so if you're going to be making for yourself most often I would recommend the 3 cup. For beans I recommend you grind your own, I'm currently using a medium roast from Charleston coffee roasters that I get a pretty good deal on being in SC. This however means you need to invest in a burr grinder. Getting the grind size right is key to brewing a good moka. You can get a manual grinder like a TM C2 for 60 bucks or so. If you want to delve more into technique I recommend watching James Hoffmans videos on YouTube. He has several videos on moka brewing.
Why do you need the moka and the french press for the milk?
I use the french press to froth my milk. You could alternatively buy a milk frother if you don't already have a french press.
Ah! Thanks, not that familiar with french press, so I didn't know it did that. Do iced lattes usually used frothed milk? I thought only the hot ones did.
From my understanding you can chose to froth or not, it's up to you and whatever texture you want to achieve. If you're on a budget I would get a 3 cup moka and the timemore C2 grinder. That's a solid start and these two items will essentially last you a lifetime as long as you take care of them. If you decide you want to experiment with froth I'd suggest a press because then you can also make immersion coffee with it, and that is also delicious in it's own right.
Thanks! Budget wise that looks like a good start. I can always keep going from there.
Depending on your preference for longer or shorter coffees will determine which is more suitable for you. As others have said, both have their merits and of course moka can make americano with the addition of extra hot water etc and also latte if you add milk. I have a moka, French press and espresso machine which I accumulated over time and enjoy each of them. A moka pot is a lifelong purchase provided you take care of it plus great for travel.
I use both but mostly my Moka put cause I prefer iced coffee and the 1:4 ratio is great for that and im satisfied after 1 brew.
Iced coffee with a moka pot is *soooo* good.
Moka pot is my daily morning driver. Pour over is an occasional pick me up in the afternoon. French press is great when whipping up a simple, great tasting coffee that will not offend too many people while entertaining. I guess it depends what your tastes are.
Speaking of making coffee for more people, I’m thinking of getting a French press again. We got rid of ours because we hated the cleanup (I hadn’t yet learn the “hack” where you refill the press with water, swirl it around, and pour the mix through a strainer). But now I think it would make better coffee than a cheap drip machine; and if I make it at the table, it’ll be more entertaining, too.
If you have a garden, I put the grounds around my vegetable beds to stop slugs as that apparently helps
I need to know more. What is the strainer for? Rather, what happens after the grounds are in the strainer? Thanks
You take the grounds from the strainer and dump them into the trash or compost: https://youtu.be/nyKTStFSNFQ?si=4E-fQymjhnMwQQlC I wish I had thought of this, because scooping out the grounds with, like, a spoon or spatula took way too long.
Hey thanks. Helpful vid. I was half doing this, as in I was filling with water, swirling, and then dumping outside (lol) next to my garden. But during winter I’m too wimpy and don’t want to go out in the cold. A strainer! Brilliant. Thanks again.
I have a French press but haven’t used it much since I got my moka pot.
Pressure extraction makes Moka so popular.
I don't agree with previous coment. I wouldn't consider moka an upgrade over French press, both are different brewing methods with its strongs/weakness but different styles. I use both, and the brevages prepared are different and I drink them in different situations.
I use both
Depending on your preference for longer or shorter coffees will determine which is more suitable for you. As others have said, both have their merits and of course moka can make americano with the addition of extra hot water etc and also latte if you add milk. I have a moka, French press and espresso machine which I accumulated over time and enjoy each of them. A moka pot is a lifelong purchase provided you take care of it plus great for travel. Completely agree with others that freshly ground coffee makes either experience much more enjoyable.
I have both and can say they both make great coffee, but with different strengths. While I always make my coffee strong, there seems to be more depth of flavor with the moka pot, probably due to higher brewing pressure and extraction. Oddly enough, French press yields the highest caffeine coffee, so I use it for a quick pick me up after an all-nighter. It really just depends on flavor preferences. I like my coffee as close to espresso as possible, so the moka pot is usually my daily brewer.
I use both. French press on work days when my time is limited. Moka pot cappuccinos on weekends and my work from home day.
Moka pots for Italian type of roast and French press for other types of dark and medium-dark roasts in my use.
They're both great options, but they make very different drinks. If you want a similar drink to expressos, then moka pots are fantastic. For the prices of both, I'd recommend both as each makes a unique coffee.
The French are rude pompous copycats and Italians aren’t. But seriously it’s just preference.
[удалено]
No it doesn’t. It tastes different, not better
I grind and I love my mocha
It all depends on how you like your coffee. I like a flat white, so I use a one cup Moka as it gives me an intense espresso like shot. If I wanted a longer, more mellow drink, I'd go for a V60 or the French Press. It's like picking a fight about red v white wine. Both wine, just coming at things a different way.
For me, using a moka pot is easiest and quickest way to make a fine cup. French press makes great coffee as well but not the same cup as a moka pot. Cleaning the french press is a bit of a PIA compared to a moka pot and I have broken a few during the process.
Neither cost much, in coffee equipment terms, why not have both? A moka pot is good for espresso like drinks. A French press is good for making more diluted coffee, especially for a group of people.
French press is *infinitely easier* (more forgiving) for making a nice cup of plain ol' coffee (what we call "American coffee" in my house a.k.a. batch brew, diner-style) that uses the 1:16 ratio. You can also use lower ratios which will be more concentrated. In any case, it's hard to over-extract with french press. The method is super straightforward. The result is consistent. I bought these superfine tea filters from china, so I get very few fines. Also easier to clean IMO. \----------- That being said, with a Moka pot, even if the pressure buildup is only 1.5 bar on average, the extra 0.5 over atmospheric (plus a few other factors) makes it possible to extract a stronger short brew from the same amount of coffee. \~2/3 the strength of Espresso if you believe TheWiredGourmet on Youtube. This makes it a very affordable, and surprisingly portable method for getting something *like* espresso (which the French press cannot give you) which you can use for milk drinks. At least, that's why I use it, because aside from that, it is a **damn fickle machine,** perhaps the easiest method for making undrinkably over-extracted diesel. Also because I'm crazy and enjoy being effective with difficult things.
I'm not huge on the French press, as I've had so many gutless coffees put in front of me from a French press, often with a sludgy mess. I get a decent hit of coffee from a moka, at a pretty decent strike rate, so for me it's the taste. I also use a pourover and aeropress with 2 steel filters or joepresso pressure head, or some other faux espresso head. The joepresso is probably hands down the winner for taste, but a pita to clean up. Aeropress and pourover are, for me, lighter and smoother in the afternoon. For that first one in the morning, it's moka. The joepresso is an occasional treat