Grind size chart
Which grind for which brewer, from Turkish to cold brew.
Moka Pot Ratio Calculator
A moka pot has a fixed basket, so water is what you adjust. Pick your size and get exact coffee and water weights.
Dose → water
Coffee
g
Ratio (1 : X)
1 : 10.0
Water needed
0 g
Coffee-
Water-
Cups (250 ml)-
GrindFine, slightly coarser than espresso
Water temp100 °C
Brew time3–5 min
Fill the base to just under the safety valve, never tamp, and take it off the heat the moment it starts to sputter.
The basket decides the dose
Every moka pot has a fixed basket volume, so you cannot really choose your dose: fill the basket level and that is your coffee weight. What you can adjust is the water in the base chamber, which is what sets the ratio.
A standard moka brew lands around 1:10 — strong and syrupy, but not espresso. Pushing to 1:6 by under-filling the water just runs the pot dry and scorches; going to 1:12 gives a thin, over-extracted cup.
Moka pot ratios by size
| Method | Ratio | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 2-cup (100 ml) | ~10 g coffee | About 100 g water, filled to just under the valve. |
| 3-cup (150 ml) | ~15 g coffee | About 150 g water. The most common home size. |
| 6-cup (300 ml) | ~28 g coffee | About 280 g water. Low flame, slightly coarser grind. |
| 9-cup (450 ml) | ~40 g coffee | About 420 g water. Preheat the base or the brew stalls. |
| Ratio, all sizes | 1:9 – 1:11 | Basket volume fixes the coffee, so the ratio follows from the water. |
A moka pot routine that works
For a 3-cup Bialetti (about 15 g coffee, 150 g water):
- Fill the base with hot water to just below the safety valve. Starting hot means less time on the stove and less scorching.
- Fill the basket level and level the top with a finger. Never tamp — a tamped puck chokes the pot and can crack the gasket.
- Screw the top on firmly, then set the pot on a low flame that does not lick up the sides.
- Watch the first dark coffee. Keep the lid open and watch the stream as it starts to run.
- Off the heat at the first sputter. The last pale, spitting phase is steam, not coffee — it is what makes moka taste burnt.
Frequently asked
What ratio is a moka pot?
About 1:10 by weight. A 3-cup Bialetti holds roughly 15 g of coffee in the basket and about 150 g of water in the base. That is much stronger than filter coffee and lighter than espresso.
How much coffee for a moka pot?
Fill the basket level and do not tamp. A 2-cup takes about 10 g, a 3-cup about 15 g, a 6-cup about 28 g and a 9-cup about 40 g — basket volume defines the dose, not a recipe.
Why does my moka pot taste burnt?
Almost always heat: a flame that is too high, or leaving the pot on after the coffee has finished flowing. The pale sputtering at the end is steam, and it scalds the brew.
Should I use hot or cold water in a moka pot?
Hot water. Starting cold means the coffee sits in the basket while the water heats, adding a metallic, cooked flavour. Fill from a kettle and never pour boiling water into a cold base.
Coffee ratio chart
Nine brew methods, dose and water in grams. Printable.
Basket size chart
Correct dose for every espresso basket size.
Want a real espresso shot?
The espresso ratio calculator gives dose, yield and shot time for any basket size.