Stovetop Coffee Brewing

Let’s be upfront — we don’t sell moka pots or stovetop coffee makers, and we don’t sell any brewing equipment at all. That means our advice here is completely unbiased and based purely on experience.

This story goes back to Christmas 2009, so keep in mind the coffee culture of that time. Specialty coffee wasn’t as widespread in Newcastle as it is today, and for coffee lovers like us, travelling without a great brew setup was unthinkable.

🚗 The Holiday Coffee Dilemma

For over a decade, we’d driven from Melbourne to Newcastle for Christmas, loading the car with our espresso machine and grinder to ensure café‑quality coffee on holiday. But in 2009, with only a few days before Christmas and a hectic schedule, we decided to fly instead.

Flying meant we couldn’t bring the full espresso setup — so we had to choose a portable brewing method. The contenders:

• AeroPress

• French Press (Plunger)

• Cold Drip

• Moka Pot (Stovetop)

The winner? The stovetop moka pot — a reliable, travel‑friendly brewer we’d enjoyed on many trips.

🌍 Choosing the Right Coffee for Stovetop Brewing

Certain origins shine in a moka pot. We’ve found Papua New Guinea (PNG), Ethiopian, and Tanzanian coffees work beautifully, offering rich body and vibrant flavour. For this trip, we pre‑ground fresh coffee for convenience and packed extra for family and friends.

☕ The Joy of Brewing with a Moka Pot

On our first morning in Newcastle, we brewed Ethiopia Sidamo in the moka pot. There’s something special about the process:

• Filling the filter basket with freshly ground coffee

• Setting the pot on the gas burner

• Waiting for the deep gurgle and high‑pitched whistle

• Being enveloped in the aroma of fresh coffee

The result? A cup with clarity, depth, and richness — in some ways better than what we’d made on expensive espresso machines.

💡 Why Stovetop Coffee Still Matters

In a world obsessed with high‑end espresso machines, it’s easy to forget the simple elegance of a moka pot. It’s:

• Affordable

• Portable

• Capable of producing café‑quality coffee with the right beans and grind

During that week, we brewed PNG and Tanzanian coffees, each producing delicious, full‑flavoured cups that reminded us coffee doesn’t have to be complicated to be exceptional.

❤️ Coffee Is Best Shared

Looking back, I realised the coffee tasted so special not just because of the beans or the brew method, but because it was shared with family and friends in a relaxed holiday setting. Coffee is more than a drink — it’s a connection.

⚠️ A Note on Safety

We recommend using a stainless steel moka pot. Just like cookware, aluminium brewing devices may carry potential health risks over time.