For a 6 cup moka pot, use about 19 g of coffee, which is just under 4 level tablespoons or about 2 standard scoops. That is a 1:16 ratio with roughly 300 g (10 oz) of water, the amount a 6 cup pot is commonly sold to hold. Stronger or weaker is a matter of 17 to 20 g, covered in the table below.
How much coffee do you need at each strength?
This table uses 300 g of water in the base, 5 g per level tablespoon and 10 g per scoop (2 tablespoons). The range of 1:15 to 1:17 covers a stronger pot to a gentler one.
| Ratio | Strength | Coffee (grams) | Level tablespoons | Scoops |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:15 | Stronger | 20 g | 4 | 2 |
| 1:16 | Balanced | 19 g | 3.75 | 1.9 |
| 1:17 | Gentler | 17.5 g | 3.5 | 1.75 |
Start at 1:16. If the pot tastes thin, move toward 1:15. If it tastes harsh or bitter, move toward 1:17 and keep the water the same. For a deeper look at fixing a bitter or weak cup, our too bitter and too weak posts follow the same logic, even though they are about pour-over.
What about other moka pot sizes?
Moka pot "cups" are small, closer to an espresso cup than a mug. Commonly sold sizes hold about the amounts below, but sizes vary by maker, so check the water line or the capacity printed on your pot.
| Pot size (commonly sold) | Water, about | Coffee at 1:16 | Level tablespoons | Scoops |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 cup | 150 g (5 oz) | 9 g | 1.9 | 0.9 |
| 6 cup | 300 g (10 oz) | 19 g | 3.75 | 1.9 |
| 9 cup | 450 g (15 oz) | 28 g | 5.6 | 2.8 |
Do not use the numbers from a drip machine. A "6 cup" drip maker counts cups of about 5 to 6 oz, so it brews far more water. Our 6 cup coffee maker page has that table, and the how much coffee per cup page explains the two side by side.
Do you fill the basket to the top?
Most people do, and that is where the grams in the table can differ from your pot. Many moka baskets hold more than the amount above when filled level, which makes a stronger, more concentrated pot than 1:16. We do not have a capacity figure for your pot, so weigh it once. Fill the basket level, do not tamp, weigh the coffee, and use that as your starting dose. If it is too strong, cut the dose down toward the table and keep the water at the fill line.
The grind sits between drip and espresso: finer than a drip machine, coarser than a shot. Heat the water first if you like, and take the pot off the stove as soon as it starts to gurgle, so the last of it does not scorch. If you want to compare moka with a machine, read moka pot vs espresso machine, and for one of our coffees in a moka, see No. 6 Hegemony in a Bialetti moka.
How many pots does a 12 oz bag make?
A 12 oz bag is about 340 g. At 19 g per 6 cup pot, that is about 18 pots. At 20 g it is 17 pots, and at 17.5 g it is about 19. If you make one pot a day, a bag lasts a little under three weeks. If you would rather not reorder by hand, our subscription is 11% off with skip or cancel in one click, and it can be set to whole bean or ground.
Which coffee works best in a moka pot?
Pick a coffee that holds up when it is brewed strong. Both of these are medium roasts and sold at $28 for 12 oz.
Our pick
No. 1 Common Sense
Huila and Medellin-Antioquia, Colombia · 1,300 to 1,500 m · Fully washed, solar dried · Castillo, Caturra, Colombia, Typica · Medium
Cocoa, red apple and brown sugar on the label, the cup you make every morning without thinking about it, and it takes milk without falling apart.
Our pick
No. 10 Folklore
Piura and Amazonas, Peru · 1,100 to 1,700 m · Fully washed, sun dried · Caturra, Bourbon, Catuai, Pache, Catimor · Medium
Salted caramel, citrus and a silky cup on the label, mild and round, the one to make for the house.
See all ten coffees for the rest.
Weigh the basket once, write the number on the pot, and you will not need this table again.
Questions people ask
How many tablespoons of coffee for a 6 cup moka pot?
About 4 level tablespoons (19 g) for a pot that holds roughly 10 oz of water, at a 1:16 ratio. Use 3.5 for a gentler pot and 4 for a stronger one.
How many scoops of coffee for a 6 cup moka pot?
About 2 standard scoops of 2 tablespoons each, or 19 g. If your scoop is not standard, weigh one level scoop once and adjust.
Do you tamp coffee in a moka pot?
No. Fill the basket level and leave the coffee loose. Tamping packs it tighter and can slow the flow of water through it.
Free printable
Keep the ratio chart on your fridge
One page with grams, level tablespoons and scoops for every cup size and for coffee makers from 2 to 14 cups. Leave your email and the download link appears right here.