Moka Pot (Stovetop Espresso Maker)

The moka pot is the stovetop coffee maker Bialetti launched in 1933, which uses steam pressure to push water up through finely ground coffee. Choosing one comes down to three things: aluminium or steel, whether it has to work on induction, and size, where a moka “cup” is much smaller than you’d think. This page compares the main options. For how to brew, see the moka pot guide.

The short version

• Gas or electric hob: the aluminium Moka Express is the classic.
• Induction: a steel Venus, the Moka Induction or the Brikka Induction.
• Size: 3-cup for one person, 6-cup for two.
• A “cup” is an espresso cup, not a mug.
• Spares: gaskets and filter plates are model-specific.

How do the Bialetti moka pots compare?

Pot	Material	Induction?	Sizes	What’s different
Moka Express	Aluminium, nylon handle	No (adapter plate up to 6-cup)	1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18-cup	The 1933 original
Venus	18/10 stainless steel	4, 6 and 10-cup only	2, 4, 6, 10-cup	Tougher, all-steel
Moka Induction	Aluminium top; steel-and-aluminium boiler	Yes	2, 4, 6-cup	Classic eight-sided top on an induction base
Brikka	Aluminium	No	2 and 4-cup	A pressure valve for a foamy, crema-like top
Brikka Induction	Induction-ready base	Yes	4-cup (about 160 ml)	The Brikka for induction hobs

Sources: Bialetti New Zealand and each model’s guide on this site. Bialetti also makes the Mukka Express, which heats milk in the top for cappuccino or latte.

What size moka pot should you buy?

A moka pot works best full, so buy the size you’ll fill. But the sources don’t agree on how big a “cup” is:

Source	One moka “cup”
Bialetti New Zealand	About 30 ml (an espresso cup)
Honest Coffee Guide	About 60 ml
Bialetti’s Moka Express volumes	Roughly 40–50 ml (130 ml from a 3-cup, 595 ml from a 12-cup)

Sources as listed; the volumes are in the moka pot guide.

Honest Coffee Guide recommends a 3-cup pot for one person, a 6-cup for two and a 12-cup for regular groups, calling the 18-cup “a bit absurd” and harder to find parts for.

Which moka pots work on induction?

Induction only heats steel. The aluminium Moka Express and Brikka won’t work directly, Bialetti New Zealand says; the Venus, Moka Induction and Brikka Induction suit all hobs. The Venus works on induction in its 4, 6 and 10-cup sizes but not the 2-cup. For aluminium pots up to 6 cups, Bialetti sells a 13 cm induction plate that sits between hob and pot.

Which spare parts fit which pot?

Gaskets (rings) and filter plates wear out, and Bialetti sells them in packs. They’re shared across some models:

Spare	Fits
Ring and filter pack	Moka Express, Moka Induction, Brikka (some models), Dama, Mini Express, Break
Ring and filter pack	Venus, Musa, Kitty
Funnel	Moka Express, Dama, Mini Express, Break
Funnel	Venus, Musa, Kitty
Funnel	Brikka: separate parts for 2016–2023 and current (2024) models
Funnel	Moka Induction: separate parts for pre-2020 and Bi-Layer models

Source: Bialetti New Zealand spare parts. Buy the cup size that matches your pot.

How do you look after a moka pot?

• Hand wash aluminium. The Moka Express is not dishwasher safe, Bialetti says.
• Wash it before first use, in hot water.
• Fill water to just below the safety valve; overfilling gives boiled, bitter coffee, Bialetti warns.
• Replace the gasket when it hardens, cracks or leaks.

Moka pot and other kit guides

• Moka pot brewing guide: the recipe, grind and step-by-step method.
• Brikka vs Moka Express: what the pressure valve does.
• Burr grinder: a moka pot needs a fine, even grind.