Do Moka Pots Work On Induction Stoves? (Why Or Why Not?)

If you’ve recently moved into an apartment with an induction cooktop, you may be wondering if your Moka Pot will work on an induction stove.

In general, Moka Pots do not work on induction stoves. These stoves use magnetic induction to heat items placed on the cooktop. So, they can only transfer heat to cooking containers made from magnetic materials. However, the average Moka Pot is made from aluminum, which is not magnetic.

While the average Moka Pot won’t work on induction, there are some Moka Pots that will, such as the Bialetti Venus (link to Amazon). And there are even a few tricks you can use to heat a standard aluminum Moka Pot on an induction stove.

To learn more about this, keep reading!

Do Moka Pots Work On Induction Stoves?

As a general rule, Moka Pots do not work on induction stoves.

The reason for this is twofold:

how induction stoves work and
what materials are used to make Moka Pots

Let’s quickly take a look at these two points and then see why some Moka Pots do work with induction.

Why Don’t Most Moka Pots Work On Induction Stoves?

The average Moka Pot won’t work on an induction stove because these stoves use magnetism and the standard Moka Pot isn’t magnetic.

Recommended Induction Moka Pots ( Amazon)

How Induction Stoves Work

Induction stoves basically work by sending an electric current through a magnetic field. So, the heat goes directly into the pot. This makes cooking quicker and more efficient.

But only certain metals, like iron and some stainless steel, are magnetic.

Metals like aluminum and copper are not magnetic, so they’re not capable of receiving electricity from an induction stove.

What Materials Are Used To Make Moka Pots

The first Moka Pots were made from aluminum because it was cheap, abundant, and malleable. These characteristics are still why so many Moka Pots are made of aluminum today.

But not everyone loves the idea of using aluminum appliances, so many stainless steel and ceramic Moka pots are also available nowadays.

Related Posts:

What Kind Of Moka Pots Work On Induction?

Generally, stainless steel Moka Pots like the Bialetti Venus work on induction stoves because they are magnetic (link goes to Amazon). However, there are two things to keep in mind with stainless steel brewers.

First, stainless steel is an alloy (link goes to Britannica). And there are different types of stainless steel based on the different metals and ratios used to make the alloy.

This is important because some stainless steels are less magnetic and may not work on induction stoves. But if you look for stainless steel Moka Pots that are labeled “induction-capable”, this won’t be an issue.

Second, some stainless steel Moka Pots are not 100% stainless steel. Sometimes, the top half of the Moka Pot will be made of one metal and the bottom portion will be made of another metal.

The important thing to keep in mind is that the part of the Moka Pot that comes into contact with the induction stove has to be stainless steel.

(If you want to look at a few more induction-capable Moka Pots, check out our article “What’s The Best Induction Moka Pot?“)

How To Use My Old Moka Pot (Aluminum) On An Induction Stove?

If you don’t want to buy a new stainless steel Moka Pot, there are a few things you can do to heat your old aluminum brewer on an induction stove.

buy an induction adapter plate
heat your Moka Pot in a pan

In each of these cases, the main idea is to use something that is induction-capable to indirectly heat your Moka Pot.

Let’s take a look at how each of these options works.

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Buy An Induction Adapter

Your first option is to buy an adapter plate. (You can check out the Bialetti adapter plate on Amazon.)

These plates are made of induction-capable stainless steel, so they’ll work just fine on an induction stove.

Once you have the adapter plate on the stove, you’ll just need to place your Moka Pot on top of it. Keep in mind that because you’re not heating your Moka Pot directly with induction, the time it takes to brew your coffee will be similar to what it was on a regular stove.

There are other benefits to using an adapter plate as well.

the heat will be distributed more evenly through the Moka Pot.
it can be used to improve Moka Pot coffee on gas or electric ranges as well
the flat plate surface helps with brewing other coffees like Turkish coffee.

Heat The Moka Pot In An Induction-Capable Pan

Another option is to heat a pan on your induction hob, then indirectly heat your Moka Pot by placing it in the hot pan.

This is similar to using the adapter plate, however, there are a few key differences.

using a cooking pan you already have will save you from spending extra money on an adapter plate
your cooking pan may be able to hold larger, heavier Moka Pots than an adapter plate
your Moka Pot may scratch or damage your cooking pot easier than it would an adapter plate
indirectly heating your Moka Pot in a pan will waste a lot more energy than using the adapter plate

How Can I Tell If My Moka Pot Will Work On An Induction Stove?

If you’re not sure whether your Moka Pot would work on an induction stove or not, there are a few things you could try:

Place a magnet on your Moka Pot’s bottom chamber; if it clings, the Moka Pot will work on an induction stove.
Look for the induction cookware symbol. This symbol has the appearance of a coiled wire with 4 or more loops.

induction symbol - do Moka pots work on induction stoves?

Key Takeaways:

The average Moka Pot doesn’t work on induction stoves because they’re made of aluminum and are not magnetic.
Stainless steel Moka Pots, like the Bialetti Venus (link to Amazon), will work on induction stoves.
You can use an aluminum Moka Pot with induction if you use an adapter like the Bialetti adapter plate (link to Amazon)
If you don’t know if your Moka Pot works with induction, place a magnet on it. If the magnet clings, the pot should be induction-capable.

Cheers Coffee Lovers!

KEEP READING

Idalmis Holmes

Idalmis is co-owner of Coffee Break Lovers. She is a Cuban coffee enthusiast that is passionate about coffee and coffee culture.

Brand	Capacity	Image	Material
Bialetti Venus	10 cups		Stainless steel
Bialetti – Moka Induction	6 cups		Aluminum upper part, stainless steel boiler
Sixaquae Moka Induction	6 cups		Borosilicate Glass & Stainless Steel
Bialetti Fiammetta	3 cups		Stainless steel