Hearth & Bean

Comparison

Moka Pot vs French Press

Which one should you buy? A plain comparison of taste, cost, effort and cleanup, plus who should pick each.

A stovetop moka pot with a ceramic mug and a small bowl of ground coffee on the left, and a glass French press with dark coffee, a scoop and coffee beans on a linen cloth on the right.

Both brewers are cheap, simple and need no paper filters or electricity. They make very different coffee, though. Here is how to choose.

The short answer

  • Choose a moka pot if you like strong, concentrated coffee and want to make lattes and iced drinks with milk.
  • Choose a French press if you like a full-bodied cup you can sip black, and you want to brew for two or more people at once.

Side by side

Moka pot French press
Taste Strong and intense, a bit like espresso but not the same Rich, round and full-bodied
Best for Lattes, mochas, iced drinks Sipping black, brewing for a few people
Grind Medium-fine Coarse
Heat source Stovetop (needs an adapter on induction) Just hot water
Brew time About 5 minutes on the stove About 4 minutes of steeping
Cleanup Rinse the parts, no filter Spent grounds can clog sinks, so scoop them into the trash or compost
Batch size Fixed by the pot size Easy to scale up

How they actually differ

A moka pot pushes water through the coffee with steam pressure, which gives a small amount of strong coffee. It will not make true espresso, because the pressure is much lower than an espresso machine, but it is a good base for milk drinks.

A French press steeps coffee in hot water, then you press a mesh filter down. The metal mesh lets some natural oils and fine particles through, which is why the cup feels heavier than paper-filtered coffee.

How a moka pot and a French press make coffeeLeft: in a moka pot, heat turns water in the bottom chamber into steam pressure that pushes hot water up through the coffee into the top chamber. Right: in a French press, coffee steeps in hot water, then a plunger with a mesh filter is pressed down. Moka pot: pressure pushes water up French press: steep, then press ground coffeewater heat from below plungermesh filter coffee and hot water steep about 4 minutes, then press down
Simplified drawings, not to scale. Different brewing methods, so they taste different.

Which is easier?

The French press is more forgiving. If your timing is a little off, the coffee is still drinkable. A moka pot needs a little attention: if you leave it on the heat too long, the coffee can taste harsh and burnt.

Which is cheaper to start?

Both are usually inexpensive compared with an espresso machine. Check current prices yourself, since they change often. In both cases, a burr grinder improves the cup more than upgrading the brewer does.

Who should skip each

  • Skip the moka pot if you cook on induction and don't want an adapter plate, or if you dislike intense coffee.
  • Skip the French press if you want a very clean, light cup with no sediment. A paper-filter dripper suits you better.

Try it at home

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