Top 5 compared
The best moka pots
Strong, espresso-style coffee from a little pot on the hob, with no machine, no pods and nothing to plug in.
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The top 5 at a glance
A moka pot is a small metal pot in three parts: water goes in the base, ground coffee in a funnel above it, and as the water heats it is pushed up through the coffee into the top chamber. The result is closer to espresso than to a cafetière’s coffee. Alfonso Bialetti’s Moka Express, launched in 1933, set the shape most still follow.
Sizes are counted in small espresso cups, not mugs. Aluminium pots won’t work on an induction hob without an adapter plate; steel-based ones sit straight on it. Fill the base only to the safety valve, level the coffee without pressing it down, and wash the pot by hand.
What matters
- A base a magnet sticks to, if your hob is induction.
- A size checked in ml, as cup counts vary by maker.
- The same pot in other sizes, if the household changes.
#1Bialetti Moka Express (4-cup)
£30–£50
Bialetti’s aluminium Moka Express is made in Italy, with a patented safety valve that’s easy to check and clean. The 4-cup makes three or four small espressos, about 190ml, and the same pot is sold in sizes from one cup to eighteen.
What owners say: Owners love the coffee and the look, and find it simple to use. Capacity divides them, with some finding it makes only one or two coffees, and so does how long it lasts.
A closer look: Take the pot off the heat as soon as it starts to gurgle. On an induction hob it needs Bialetti’s induction plate, sold separately, and Bialetti suggests pouring away the first two or three brews from a new pot.
- Made in Italy
- Easy-clean safety valve
Best for: Small espressos on gas or electric
- Material
- Aluminium
- Works on induction
- No
- This size
- 4 cups (190ml)
- Sizes sold
- 1 to 18 cups
#2Bialetti Moka Induction (6-cup)
£30–£50
Bialetti’s moka pot for induction hobs: the base has an outer steel layer that the hob can heat and an aluminium core that spreads the heat evenly, under an aluminium top like the classic pot’s. The 6-cup makes about 280ml, and it works on gas and electric hobs too.
What owners say: Owners like the coffee and find it easy to clean. Size, how easy it is to open, durability and value all split opinion, with a few reporting a handle breaking.
A closer look: The black top is lacquered aluminium, so wash it in plain warm water without washing-up liquid, which keeps the finish and the coffee’s taste. For one person, the 2-cup size makes about 100ml of coffee.
- Aluminium core spreads heat
- Lacquered aluminium top
Best for: Induction hobs
- Material
- Aluminium, steel base
- Works on induction
- Yes
- This size
- 6 cups (280ml)
- Sizes sold
- 2, 3, 4, 6 cups
#3Alessi Pulcina (6-cup)
£75–£100
Michele De Lucchi’s moka pot for Alessi, launched in 2015: cast aluminium with a red handle and knob, and a V-shaped spout made to cut the drip as you pour. Alessi says the shape inside the base stops the coffee rising at the right moment. The 6-cup holds 300ml.
What owners say: Owners praise the art-deco look and the great coffee, strong and clean-tasting, and call it easy to use. Size is the mixed point: some like how much it makes, others find it too small.
A closer look: This one suits gas, electric and ceramic hobs; for induction, Alessi makes a separate Pulcina with a magnetic steel base. Wash it by hand. The 3-cup size has the same design and makes about 150ml.
- Spout cuts drips when pouring
- Designed by Michele De Lucchi
Best for: A designer pot that pours cleanly
- Material
- Cast aluminium
- Works on induction
- No
- This size
- 6 cups (300ml)
- Sizes sold
- 1, 3, 6 cups
#4Bialetti New Venus (6-cup)
£30–£50
Bialetti’s stainless steel moka pot sits straight on an induction hob as well as gas and electric. The 6-cup holds about 240ml, and it is also sold in 2-, 4- and 10-cup sizes; the 2-cup isn’t for induction.
What owners say: Owners say it makes a great morning coffee, looks well made and is easy to clean. Opinions split on how it suits some induction hobs, on its size and taste, and on durability, with a few reporting rust.
A closer look: Bialetti asks for clear water only when cleaning, with no washing-up liquid and no dishwasher. Check that no coffee grounds are trapped under the silicone seal: lift it out to rinse it, and swap it for a new one once it starts to wear.
- Seal lifts out to rinse
Best for: Cooks who prefer steel to aluminium
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Works on induction
- Yes
- This size
- 6 cups (240ml)
- Sizes sold
- 2, 4, 6, 10 cups
#5VonShef 6-cup aluminium moka pot (300ml)
£14.99 RRP
A plain aluminium pot for gas, electric, ceramic and halogen hobs, with a comfortable handle, a hinged lid and a spare seal and filter in the box. The 6-cup holds 300ml.
What owners say: A good cup of coffee and a pot that works well, owners say, and they’re happy with the price. Durability is mixed, with some finding the filter turns fragile, and capacity too: six espressos to some, about two mugs to others.
A closer look: VonHaus covers it for two years with no registration needed. Let every part dry before screwing the pot back together: aluminium left damp can oxidise and give the coffee a metallic taste. The 9-cup version holds 450ml.
- Spare seal and filter included
- Hinged lid
Best for: Gas, ceramic or halogen cookers
- Material
- Aluminium
- Works on induction
- No
- This size
- 6 cups (300ml)
- Sizes sold
- 6, 9, 12 cups
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1Bialetti Moka Express | #2Bialetti Moka Induction | #3Alessi Pulcina | #4Bialetti New Venus | #5VonShef 6-cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best for induction | Best premium | Best stainless steel | Best budget | |
| Picked Rating | 9.2 | 8.9 | 8.8 | 8.6 | 8.6 |
| Price | £30–£50 | £30–£50 | £75–£100 | £30–£50 | £14.99 RRP |
| Material | Aluminium | Aluminium, steel base | Cast aluminium | Stainless steel | Aluminium |
| Works on induction | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| This size | 4 cups (190ml) | 6 cups (280ml) | 6 cups (300ml) | 6 cups (240ml) | 6 cups (300ml) |
| Sizes sold | 1 to 18 cups | 2, 3, 4, 6 cups | 1, 3, 6 cups | 2, 4, 6, 10 cups | 6, 9, 12 cups |
| Best for | Small espressos on gas or electric | Induction hobs | A designer pot that pours cleanly | Cooks who prefer steel to aluminium | Gas, ceramic or halogen cookers |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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