The Moka Pot is one of the most popular coffee brewers out there. But if you’ve never used it before, it might seem like a complicated device. So, what are the parts of a Moka Pot and how do you use it?
In general, a Moka Pot consists of five primary components:
- bottom chamber or boiler
- funnel basket
- filter plate
- filter gasket
- top chamber or collector
Those are the five main components. But the top and bottom chambers both contain additional parts that you need to know about if you want to use your Moka Pot safely and effectively!
Keep reading to learn more about the parts of a Moka Pot, what they do, and how they fit together.
What Are The Parts Of A Moka Pot?
In general, Moka Pots consist of a top and bottom chamber, funnel basket, filter plate, and gasket.
The reason we say “in general” is that most Moka Pots have the same structure. But there are a few unique models out there like the Mukka Pot or Bialetti’s Mini Express. (Links go to Amazon.)
However, as a general rule, there are 5 main components. These are the parts we’re going to cover in this post.
1. The Bottom Chamber Or Boiler
The bottom chamber, or boiler, is essentially a container that holds the water used to brew your coffee. It’s also the part of the Moka Pot that will come into direct contact with the heat source.
The boiler is typically octagonally shaped, but depending on the brand or model, it can also be rounded.
Keep in mind that depending on what your Moka Pot is made of, the chamber’s interior may become discolored over time due to oxidation. This is normally just an aesthetic issue and won’t cause any problems brewing coffee.
(If you’d like to know more about Moka Pot oxidation, we’ve got a whole post on it!)
One important thing to note about the bottom chamber is that it has a built-in safety valve. This valve allows steam to escape if the chamber’s pressure gets too high, so it’s crucial to make sure it’s in good working order.
To see if the valve is working, place your finger inside the bottom chamber and press it. If it doesn’t move or seems stuck, it may be that some coffee grinds are stuck in the valve.
In this case, you’ll need to remove the grinds before brewing a new batch of coffee. If you don’t, any excess pressure won’t be able to escape which could lead to your Moka Pot exploding.
(To read more about Moka Pot explosions, check out our post “Can A Moka Pot Explode?“)
2. The Funnel Basket
The funnel basket is the part of the Moka Pot that holds the coffee grinds. It also transports the water up from the bottom chamber.
This part essentially looks like a funnel, but the top portion is a container with small holes in it. These holes allow water to come up from the bottom and soak the coffee grinds and brew the coffee.
This looks like a simple component, however, it’s a very important piece and should be treated carefully.
Why? Well, often Moka Pot users will bang the funnel against the sink or trash can to remove the used coffee grounds. But doing so can easily damage or bend the side of the funnel basket.
If the funnel is damaged, pressure could leak out of your Moka Pot and prevent it from properly brewing coffee.
Instead of banging the funnel, clean it gently with water or paper towels.
If you want to know what you can do if your funnel is already damaged, check out our post “Why Does My Moka Pot Sputter?“
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3. The Filter Plate
The filter plate is a metallic disk with small holes in it. It’s placed below the upper chamber and held in place by the filter gasket.
The filter plate’s main purpose is to prevent coffee grinds from ending up in your brewed coffee.
However, even when the filter plate is doing its job perfectly, some small powdery grinds will still slip through the filter holes. This is unavoidable unless you add a paper filter to your Moka Pot.
(To read more about using your Moka Pot with a paper filter, take a look at our post “Can you use a paper filter in a Moka Pot?“)
When cleaning your Moka Pot, make sure the filter plate is clean and unclogged. If it’s clogged, it could prevent water from going up into the top chamber.
This will increase the pressure in the lower chamber and could result in damage to your Moka Pot or an explosion.
(To read more about Moka Pot explosions, check out our post “Can A Moka Pot Explode?“)
4. The Filter Gasket
The filter gasket is a rubber or silicon circle.
Its main function is to create a seal between the Moka Pot’s lower chamber and upper chambers. However, it also acts to hold the filter plate in place.
Although the Moka Pot’s top chamber screws tightly onto the bottom chamber, there’s still enough space to allow pressure to escape. And when this happens steam will leak out, the Moka Pot will sputter, and your coffee may not even brew.
The gasket is another simple piece, but it plays a big part in the coffee brewer. Make sure to clean it carefully and avoid damaging it.
If the gasket becomes cracked or split it can no longer create an effective seal between the two chambers. In this case, your only option will be to buy a new gasket.
(The filter gasket and filter plate are normally sold together. But don’t worry, they’re fairly cheap on Amazon.)
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5. The Top Chamber Or Collector
The top chamber is where the brewed coffee comes out and is collected. This chamber is normally octagonally shaped and has a handle, a lid, and a spout for pouring the coffee.
Once you lift the lid and look inside, you’ll see a central column or chimney. This chimney is where the coffee comes out after it’s filtered through the filter plate.
Similarly to the bottom chamber, the top chamber may become discolored depending on which metal the Moka Pot is made from. However, this is typically aesthetic and won’t affect coffee flavor.
It’s also important to clean the top chamber regularly because coffee oils and grinds can build in the collector which will affect the flavor of new brews.
How Do You Assemble A Moka Pot?
Assembling your Moka Pot is a simple 4 step process.
Step 1
Place the funnel basket inside the Moka Pot’s bottom chamber. There should be no space or gaps between the funnel’s outer edge and the bottom chamber.
Step 2
Place the filter plate under the Moka Pot’s top chamber. The middle of the filter plate should be raised higher than the outer edges.
Step 3
Place the filter gasket under the Moka Pot’s top chamber. It should fit snuggly around the filter plate.
Step 4
Screw the upper chamber tightly onto the lower chamber.
Why Is It Important To Assemble Your Moka Pot Correctly?
If you don’t assemble your Moka Pot correctly, several things could happen that will prevent your coffee from brewing properly.
- If the top and bottom chambers are screwed together tightly enough, water will leak from between the two chambers. This will prevent the coffee from going up into the collector.
- If you forget to insert the gasket, water will also leak from between the two chambers.
- If the filter plate isn’t inserted coffee grounds and liquid coffee will forcibly shoot into the top chamber
All of these issues can be avoided by assembling your Moka Pot correctly. However, it’s still important to make sure your brewer is clean and all the parts are in good shape.
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When Do I Need To Replace Parts Of My Moka Pot?
Moka Pots are extremely durable, but occasionally you’ll need to replace a few parts.
The 3 most commonly replaced parts are the filter gasket, filter plate, and funnel.
If you ever find that you need to replace the upper or lower chamber, you’ll just need to buy a whole new Moka Pot. (We’ve had a Bialetti Moka Express for years and it still works great with no issues. You can find the Bialetti Moka Express on Amazon.)
But more often than not, you won’t need to replace the whole Moka Pot. So, let’s quickly talk about when you’ll need to replace parts.
When Should I Replace My Moka Pot’s Filter Gasket?
If your filter gasket is torn, cracked, or split you’ll need to replace it. The purpose of the gasket is to seal the gap between the upper and lower chambers. But if it’s damaged, it won’t be able to do this.
A gasket that’s simply discolored or dirty doesn’t need to be replaced.
(You can get a Bialetti Gasket from Amazon. Just make sure you get the right size for your particular Moka Pot.)
When Should I Replace My Moka Pot’s Funnel Basket?
A funnel should generally be replaced when it doesn’t fit snuggly into the bottom chamber or if it’s bent or damaged.
A damaged funnel will cause water to leak and there won’t be enough pressure to force the water through the funnel.
If your funnel isn’t really bent, but it won’t fit snuggly in the boiler, you can try to seal it with PTFE tape. (Check out our post about sputtering Moka Pots to learn more about how this works.)
However, if your funnel is actually bent or cracked you may need to replace it. (You can get the Bialetti Funnel Basket on Amazon. Just make sure to get the right size for your Moka Pot.)
When Should I Replace My Moka Pot’s Filter Plate?
A filter plate that’s cracked or bent out of shape should be replaced. However, this part of your Moka Pot is the least likely to be damaged.
More than likely, it’ll just need to be cleaned. But if you do need a replacement, you can get Filter Plates from Amazon together with the gasket.
Tips To Keep Your Moka Pot Parts In Good Condition
- Do not use soap to clean your Moka Pot
- Do not put your Moka Pot in the dishwasher
- Regularly clean your Moka Pot with a solution made from 2 parts water and 1 part white vinegar
- Dry each part of your Moka Pot thoroughly before storing it
- Occasionally test your safety valve to make sure it’s working properly
- Don’t bang the funnel basket against hard objects
- Make sure the filter plate is not clogged with coffee grounds before you brew
Cheers Coffee Lovers!
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Idalmis is co-owner of Coffee Break Lovers. She is a Cuban coffee enthusiast that is passionate about coffee and coffee culture.