For a 6 cup moka pot, fill the basket level with about 30 g of coffee, which is 6 level tablespoons or 3 scoops. Do not tamp it. The basket sets the dose, so the right amount is whatever fills yours, and the numbers below are rough figures as commonly cited for pots of each size. The water goes in to the line just under the safety valve. For the wider picture on cups and ratios, see how much coffee per cup.
How much coffee goes in a 1, 3, 6 or 9 cup moka pot?
A moka "cup" is about 2 oz, closer to an espresso cup than a mug. Sizes vary by maker, so use the table as a starting point and check your own pot. Tablespoons are level and 5 g each, and a scoop is 2 tablespoons, or 10 g.
| Pot size (commonly sold) | Coffee, about | Level tablespoons | Scoops | Water, about | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 cup | 7 g | 1.5 | 0.7 | 60 g (2 oz) | 1:9 |
| 3 cup | 15 g | 3 | 1.5 | 150 g (5 oz) | 1:10 |
| 6 cup | 30 g | 6 | 3 | 300 g (10 oz) | 1:10 |
| 9 cup | 45 g | 9 | 4.5 | 450 g (15 oz) | 1:10 |
That is a tighter ratio than the 1:16 we use for drip, because a moka pot packs a basket full of coffee and pushes a small amount of water through it. The result is strong and concentrated, and many people cut it with hot water or milk.
Why is the dose different from our 6 cup moka pot post?
Our 6 cup moka pot post works out the dose from the water at 1:16, which gives about 19 g. This post goes by the basket, which for a level fill is closer to 30 g in a 6 cup pot. Both are fair. If you like the pot strong, fill the basket. If you find that too intense, drop toward the 1:16 figure and keep the water at the line. Weigh your own basket once, and you will know your number.
How do you fill the basket?
- Grind medium-fine, finer than drip and coarser than espresso.
- Spoon the grounds into the basket until it is heaped, then level the top with your finger or the back of a knife.
- Do not tamp or press. Pressing slows the flow and can stall the pot.
- Fill the base with water to just below the safety valve, not above it.
- Heat on medium-low with the lid open, and take the pot off when the stream turns pale and begins to gurgle.
For a worked example, see No. 6 Hegemony in a Bialetti moka, which also has a fix-it table for sour and bitter pots.
What should you put in a moka pot?
The roaster lists No. 3 Position for espresso, moka and anything you will put milk in. The label gives dark chocolate, dried fruit and earthy notes, and says it holds its shape under milk and under ice. It is our first pick for a moka pot. No. 6 Hegemony is the second: cocoa and smooth on the label, medium roast, low acidity and heavy body, which makes it hard to ruin.
Our pick
No. 3 Position
Aceh, Takengon, Indonesia · 1,100 to 1,600 m · Wet-hulled (giling basah) · Tim Tim, Typica, Ateng, Onan Ganjang, Jember
Dark chocolate, dried fruit and earthy on the label, and the roaster lists espresso and moka as its use.
Our pick
No. 6 Hegemony
Parana and Sao Paulo, Brazil · 750 to 1,050 m · Pulped natural, sun dried · Catuai, Mundo Novo · Medium
Cocoa and smooth on the label, for the pot everyone in the house drinks without complaining.
How many moka pots does a 12 oz bag make?
A 12 oz bag is about 340 g. At the basket doses above, that is about 11 pots of the 6 cup size, or about 7 pots of the 9 cup size. Every coffee we sell is $28 for 12 oz, whole bean or ground, with free shipping in the US. Browse all ten coffees or set one up on a subscription, 11% off, skip or cancel in one click.
If you want to compare moka with another small-batch method, the coffee ratio by brewing method chart has them in one place. The AeroPress numbers are in AeroPress ratio.
Fill the basket level, keep the heat low, and weigh it once so you know your number.
Questions people ask
How many tablespoons of coffee for a 6 cup moka pot?
About 6 level tablespoons (30 g), or 3 scoops, filled level to the rim of the basket without tamping. Pots vary by maker, so weigh your own basket once.
How much coffee for a 3 cup moka pot?
About 15 g, which is 3 level tablespoons or 1.5 scoops, with about 150 g (5 oz) of water in the base.
Do you tamp coffee in a moka pot?
No. Fill the basket level and leave it. Pressing the grounds slows the flow and can stall the pot.
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.