Do you own or are you switching over from a gas-powered stove to an induction stove? You’re probably wondering, does my favorite coffee maker, the Moka pot, still works on my new stove?
Read on to discover how to use your existing Moka pot on an induction stove or what kind of pot to switch to instead.
Does a Moka pot work on an induction stove?
A standard Moka pot does not work on an induction stove. This is because an induction stove works based on magnetism. Since Moka pots are usually made from aluminum, which is not magnetic, they will not heat up on induction. The solution is to either use a special Moka pot for induction stoves or use an adaptor.
What about my stainless steel Moka pot?
It depends; some stainless steel pots and pans will work fine on induction stoves and some won’t work or heat in an uneven way.
Whether your stainless steel Moka pot works on induction comes down to what the stainless steel is mixed with (usually copper). If enough other metals are mixed in with the stainless steel, your Moka pot will work fine on induction. A rule of thumb is that the cheaper the pot is, the more unpure the stainless steel is, the better it will likely work on an induction stove.
You can test it with a magnet, if your Moka pot is magnetic then it will work on an induction stove.
Solutions to use your Moka pot on an induction stove
Luckily, several solutions will help you use your trusted Moka pot on your new induction stove. Pick any of the methods outlined below and let us know how it went in the comments.
#1: Use an induction adapter
Induction adapters are handy little metal plates that you place directly on the induction stove with the pan, or in this case, the Moka pot directly on top.
Since the adapter is made from metal, it’s magnetic. Therefore, it works with the induction stove. The metal plate will heat up and transfer the heat to your Moka pot just like any other stove would.
Because the adapter needs to heat up first, brewing your coffee will take a wee bit longer than usual. If you’re okay with that, then that’s a small price to pay for a delicious cuppa.
I’m using the Bialetti adapter on my induction stove. It’s made from steel with a high heat transmission rate, so it heats up my Moka put really fast. Even though it’s a branded Bialetti adapter, the price is about the same compared to a generic one. I got mine at Amazon (link to product) for a reasonable price.
#2: Get a Moka pot for induction stoves
This wouldn’t be a real problem if someone didn’t already commercialize it and market a product to solve this specifically.
If your Moka pot is ready for replacement anyway, it might be a good idea to replace it with a pot that will work on an induction stove. These pots have a metal or magnetized base. Cookware that is specially made for induction stoves can be recognized by the induction icon as displayed below.
To learn more about what cookware is suitable for induction plates, have a look at the Euro-Kera website.
Induction Moka pots come in all shapes and sizes and which one you should get depends largely on your personal taste.
My favorite choice would be the Bialetti Venus. It looks beautiful and makes a great cuppa. I’ve included the link so you can check out the price on Amazon.com
#3: Get a portable gas stove
If you prefer to stick with your pot and don’t want to use an adapter, you can opt to get a portable gas stove.
These run on butane gas cartridges that last a long time, and it might be the perfect solution. We think it might even add to the whole morning coffee ritual. An added benefit is that you can easily place it on the dining table so you won’t have to get up when the coffee is ready.
You can easily find these at your local camping store but if you’re anything like me, you can easily order one from the comfort of your own home. Amazon has quite the selection as well. You shouldn’t really spend more than $30-$40 on this, including a gas cartridge.
#4: Get an electric Moka pot
One of the easiest solutions is probably to replace your good ol’ Moka pot with an electric model. These are pots that work precisely the same as traditional Moka pots but have a heating element built into them.
You could even argue that these are much more efficient, and therefore much faster, than making coffee on a stove and you can use them anywhere as long as you’re close to an outlet.
Again, these come in all shapes and sizes and it depends on what’s to your liking. I personally like the Imusa Espresso Maker. It has a glass pot so you can see the coffee brewing, something that is usually not possible with a traditional Moka pot.
The Imusa is also reasonably priced. If you’d like to check it out for yourself, here is where you can find it on Amazon.com.
Got your Moka pot working on your induction stove but the taste is not what you expected?
Turns out, more than half of Moka pot owners are using it wrong. Read our guide here to making great coffee in your Moka pot!
How to make great coffee in a Moka Pot.
Final Thoughts
While researching for this article, we found out that there are two kinds of people in this world. Those who absolutely hate induction cooking with a passion and the ones that are okay with it.
Whichever side your choose, know that you can still use your trusted Moka put and brew a cup when it all gets too much. Some adjustments may be necessary. The choice is yours.
You might opt for a simple and relatively cheap adapter or treating yourself to a new, electric Moka pot.
We hope these tips were useful for you. If you’ve found another solution or want to share what worked best for you, feel free to leave us a comment below.
The prettiest Moka pot
Before you leave and because you enjoy Moka pot coffee, I wanted to show you one of the best-looking Moka pots I’ve come across lately.
Sure you can go with the standard, tried and tested Moka pot design but why not try something different?
The Alessi Pulcina, designed by Michele de Lucci
It’s true, brewing a good cup of coffee comes down to the skill of the Barrista, much more than the equipment, however, when I saw this beauty at Amazon, I couldn’t pass it on.
The Pulcina looks beautiful on my counter, it brews a wonderful cup and it’s a conversation starter every time I get visitors.
View it on Amazon and surprise yourself or someone else with this piece of design-art.