Difference Between Electric and Non Electric Espresso Maker

Do you know how Italians make their cups of coffee? Both the moka pot and espresso machine are actually invented in Italy, where the country’s $10 billion coffee market is the biggest in the world. The authentic Italian coffee drinker will argue the best espresso is made on a stovetop with the moka pot, while a barista probably prefers to use his large and expensive espresso machine. Today we are going to a look at a comparison between the two, and which one is more suitable to your specific coffee needs!

Espresso 101

Before we dive into the comparison, it’s good to understand what exactly is an ‘espresso’. Espresso is made from a pressurized brewing process, and is generally thicker than coffee brewed by other methods, recognized for its intense flavor and white foam of ‘crema’ on top.

How does it work?

The moka pot, also known as a “caffettiera” (literally "coffee maker"), is a stove-top coffee maker that works by passing boiling water pressurized by steam through ground coffee, resulting in the thick, concentrated espresso in the moka pot chamber.

The steam produced is said to be an attempt to emulate the strong and intense flavours of the espresso found in the public coffee shops! When you smell the aroma of authentic coffee brewing, you would definitely know when it’s time for coffee!

An espresso machine on the other hand is similar to moka pots in that they brew under pressure. The machine brews coffee by forcing pressurized water near boiling point through a "puck" of ground coffee and a filter to produce the espresso. The water boiler is self-contained in the machine. Whereas the Moka pot uses nothing but a stovetop to heat water, an espresso machine uses motors, heating elements, and electronics to brew espresso properly.

Moka Pot vs Espresso Machine - Head to Head

Now, how would you choose between the two options to fit your daily needs? It depends on various factors, including the brewing process, authenticity, convenience, cost etc. And here we summarize the features unique to each option:

Moka Pot

Espresso Machine

Pick the best fit for you!

It is no easy choice to make as there are lots of factors to take into consideration. For the starter who just got into homemade espresso, the moka pot is the popular choice given the high prohibitive cost of an espresso machine. Meanwhile, enjoying espresso in the authentic way, taking the moka pot to socialize with your friends, and share your new found coffee making expertise does sound cool. Isn’t it?