The design and construction of different pots tend to produce a coffee with slightly different taste and characteristics. In addition, some pot designs are more adapted to more modern, electric and induction stovetops where traditional aluminum materials won't work with.
In this article, we'll list down the most common types of moka stovetop pots and each of their unique characteristics.
Aluminum Type Traditional Moka Pots
The traditional aluminum moka pots offer the most authentic experience especially when the original design called Moka Express can still be bought brand new.
Many moka pot coffee aficionados claim that a cup brewed from an aluminum pot has a better taste than any other pots because of the way aluminum allows layers of accumulated coffee oil collects to add flavor to every cup of coffee you make over time.
Stainless steel Stovetop Coffee Makers
Stainless steel pots tend to be more durable and easier to maintain than aluminum pots. In addition, stainless steel allows the pot to work on induction stoves and cookers, which is a great convenience as many modern household and apartments no longer have traditional gas stoves.
Ceramic Stovetop Coffee Makers
These types of pots have the upper section (where the coffee brew finally sits) made of ceramic instead of metal. Ceramic allows less heat to transfer to the outer areas of the pot as well as add a less industrial look to the appearance of the pot.
Stove Top Percolator Pot Add-On
These aren't exactly variants of moka pots, but more of an add-on accessory. Instead of a coffee pot upper chamber, these have one or two drip pipes that allow freshly brewed coffee from the pot to dispense directly into a cup.
Electric Moka Pots
Modern technology catches on to the moka pot. Instead of using a stovetop, electrical moka pots have an thermally-regulated electrical plate at the base to heat up the water. The advantages of these electrical models are mainly convenience and ease-of-use. Most models offer automatic shut-off and regulated brewing, so the odds of burnt and bitter coffee is minimized.
Suggestions
An electric pot really offers quite a few advantages these days, one major advantage, as mentioned, would be the automation aspect of brewing consistent coffee, you don't have to worry about burnt coffee or reheating coffee since most electric pots have a keep-warm feature. There's still a different charm when it comes to traditional aluminum pots though, so my advice would still be to start off with a classic Bialetti if you want to go through the "initiation" of brewing your own stovetop espresso coffee from a moka pot.
Lastly, if you only drink or prepare 1-2 cups of coffee at a time, it's best to invest in a smaller 3-cup variant rather than going straight to a 6-9 cup size as the larger pot takes longer to brew and harder to monitor unless it's full. You'll waste less coffee grind as well.
