Moka pots and percolators are both very classic ways of making coffee. Particularly the percolator, before modern drip coffee machines became popular, we often saw them in restaurants and gas stations.
Even though they both make black coffee and look similar, if you have used them, you will find out how different the flavor of the coffee they brew is. As for today, I will share more information about them so that you can easily make a choice when buying them.
Short Answer
The Moka Pot uses 2-3 bar pressure to quickly push water vapor through the fine-ground coffee layers, while the percolator is allowed to slowly and repeatedly flow water vapor through the medium-ground coffee grounds. The Moka Pot extracts coffee with an espresso flavor, while the percolator more closely resembles the drip coffee flavor.
Moka Pots
The Moka pot is one of the traditional ways of making coffee and is a tool for extracting espresso. Although the coffee liquid made by a Moka pot is not the same as espresso. But it is the most espresso-like coffee tool among many coffee machines (except espresso machines). And the core difference is the pressure generated during its brewing process.
How Does Moka Pot Work?
The working principle of a Moka pot is very simple. It is divided into upper and middle structures, the lower pot is the water tank, the middle powder tank holds the coffee powder, and the upper pot holds the extracted coffee liquid. It works by heating the water in the lower pot into steam, using the pressure of the steam (about 2-3 bar) to push the water steam up into the tube to the powder tank and extract the coffee liquid, then continue to push up through the tube to the upper pot to polymerize the outflow.
The Flavor of a Moka Pot?
Many people like to compare the Moka pot with the espresso machine. The espresso liquid produced by both of them cannot be the same. From simple technology, you will know that espresso machines produce a pressure of 9 bars when making espresso, something that a Moka pot cannot achieve. For more information, you can review the article I posted earlier.
Nevertheless, the coffee extracted from the Moka Pot still tastes thick, delicate, and smooth. Because the extraction pressure is relatively low, the content of coffee grease is reduced, and due to the relatively low pressure, the acidity and bitterness of Moka pot coffee are relatively low. But as long as the powder-to-water ratio is adjusted, we can still make a delicious cup of espresso most easily and economically.
Percolators
The percolator is like an "alarm clock coffee pot", put in the water, coffee powder, and put the lid on, set the time, and you're ready to do the rest.
How Does A Percolator Work?
The shape of the percolator looks very similar to the Moka pot, but they produce a completely different coffee flavor. In a percolator, the coffee grounds are held in an aluminum basket with tubes, and the basket is held at the top of the interior of the percolator.
When the water is heated, the heat travels up the pipe and the steam overflows from the basket, penetrating the coffee grounds and finally falling back into the pot. Since the water is at the bottom, and so on, the coffee liquid is formed.
The Flavor of a Percolator？
This brewing mode will result in the brewed coffee not being collected in time, and as long as it is still heated, the brewed coffee will also be reheated and continue down the tube, and so on.
So percolator coffee tastes like regular-strength black coffee. It also causes the coffee to be easily over-extracted because of the cyclic heating, and the flavor tends to have a bitter taste.
Moka Pot vs Percolator: Factors to Consider
Knowing this, you might say that few people should like percolator coffee, right? But this is not the case. Let's learn more about them from more factors.
Price
In terms of price, percolators are slightly cheaper than Moka pots. But in terms of brewing results, a Moka pot of the same price can brew three cups of espresso and dilute it with some water to make 5-7 cups of black coffee.
In terms of the coffee enjoyed, the Moka pot is a bit cheaper.
Convenience
They also need to be heated for use. A percolator will be slightly easier to use. Simply fill it with water and coffee grounds and wait for the time to arrive. There are no special safety precautions. The Moka pot, on the other hand, requires someone to watch over the whole process and take away the fire in time to prevent over-extraction of the coffee.
Taste
This is what I care so much about, and is an important consideration in deciding which coffee pot I choose. Moka pot coffee is similar to espresso, rich and smooth, and also able to make more milk coffee, for example, latte, cappuccino, etc.
The percolator, on the other hand, is a standard, black coffee flavor of the old coffee. Only, you have to be careful with the timing, otherwise, you will get a bitter, messy, sandy cup of coffee.
To make a rich, concentrated and delicious cup of coffee, a Moka pot is recommended.
Which One Should You Buy?
If you feel that the Moka Pot is making too little volume at a time, you can certainly consider a percolator. Percolators are especially suitable for restaurants. It can quickly satisfy the needs of a large number of customers.
The choice of which one to buy will depend on the flavor of coffee you like. If you like Americano, a percolator is the first choice. If you like espresso, a Moka pot is the first choice.
Of course, if you like to look good and make good coffee, the Moka pot must be your first choice.
