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Make Coffee on the Stove
There are a handful of different ways to make stovetop coffee! Find out how to make coffee on the stove.
Published November 11, 2021
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Johan Hedlund
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
Coffee is the go-to hot drink for the majority of people across the world, especially when you need that little push to get through the day. For some people, morning coffee from a jar of instant will do just fine. Although, if you’re an avid coffee fan, there’s nothing better than having fancy coffee machines to pour the perfect mug - complete with milk steaming facilities. Unfortunately, the time will come when you traipse downstairs all groggy-eyed to get your morning coffee fix, only to find your beloved coffee machine broken. When this happens, instead of going without and being cranky for the day, you should learn how to make coffee on the stove. There are a handful of different ways to make stovetop coffee, but it all boils down to the same principle. If you’re looking to keep up your coffee high in times of emergency, you’re in the right place. Below, we tell you how to make coffee on the stove.
What Is Stovetop Coffee?
Before we dive into a world of coffee beans and brew, we’ll tell you what stove top coffee is. Typically, stovetop coffee is made using a moka pot, which is split into several compartments. At the bottom, there is a container for water to get boiled on the stove. Then, a tray full of ground coffee is placed over the water. Once in place, an empty compartment is placed at the top. The process of brewing coffee on stovetop relies on steam being pressed upwards through the coffee grounds before filling the container above. When you’ve finished, you will be left with a light and flavoursome coffee.
Brewing coffee in a pot on the stove is a great skill to know, especially in times of a coffee machine crisis. Further, if you’re heading out on a camping trip, you can brew coffee on stove using a gas burner. Alternatively, if you take regular long road trips, it pays to have a moka pot and gas burner in the boot in case of emergencies.
3 Best Coffee Beans for Stovetop Coffee
If you’re a coffee connoisseur, you will know that the type of bean you use makes an enormous difference to the overall taste of your coffee. Therefore, we’ve collected together our three favourite coffee beans used to brew coffee stovetop.
Lavazza Qualita Rossa Ground Coffee
Lavazza Qualita Rossa Ground Coffee is a medium roast coffee straight out of Italy. It is a light and crisp coffee from the high altitude of the Sondrio region. This coffee is perfect for those who want to wake up without being too energetic or jittery. Non-genetically modified, this coffee provides a flavourful morning cuppa that doesn't leave a bitter aftertaste. However, we can’t ignore the slightly burnt taste that may be to your liking. Despite this, the smaller bags keep it fresher for longer, making it a superior pre-ground coffee.
Lifeboost Dark Roast Coffee
If you’re looking for a delicious dark roast, Lifeboost is your go-to coffee bean. This particular bean has a low acid content, which means you don’t need to suffer the bitter taste. Further, to make it taste more sublime, there are subtle hints of caramel and chocolate thrown into the mix. What makes this coffee even greater is that it comes as a full bean, meaning you have complete control over the grind. If you’re looking to pick fault with this bean, you will only find one. That is, the overall cost is fairly pricey. However, there are regularly run offers online, including up to 50% off.
Volcanica Espresso Dark Roast Coffee
Volcanica brings you some of the best espresso grinds in the world, with overtones of caramel and chocolate. It’s dark roasted to take away that bitter after taste. Further, thanks to it arriving pre-ground, you will save heaps of time. This superb ground coffee is compatible with any coffee maker to create a delicious morning cup of joe. The only fault we can find with Volcanica is that it’s not the freshest, owing to it being pre-ground. However, unless you’re a true coffee connoisseur, you won’t know the difference.
Grinding Tips
Believe it or not, the type of coffee bean isn’t the only factor that affects the taste of your morning cup; coffee grind size alters a bean’s taste. If you grind your bean finely, there will be more surface area for water to press through. Along the way, it will pick up more flavour and caffeine. Typically, when it comes to using an Italian Moka, you need to grind your beans up to sit between an espresso and drip coffee. We suggest using a hand grinder to get the job done because it will give you greater control of the outcome.
Stovetop Coffee’s Taste
For those of you who love a good coffee but find the taste of espresso overpowering, you’ll be glad to know that stovetop coffee tastes lighter than this. Further, it holds a stronger taste than brew and drip coffee. The reason for this stronger taste is the pressurised steam used in the extraction process. As well as having a fantastic taste, a moka pot may produce crema, depending on the size of the pot and the pressure. If you don’t have the space or revenue for a coffee machine, investing in a moka pot is a fantastic alternative.
How to Use a Moka Pot
Now that we know what a moka pot is, what type of bean to use, and how to grind your coffee, let’s take a look at the simple process:
- You need to take apart your moka pot - it splits into three.
- You need to fill the bottom with enough water to reach the valve.
- Pour your desired ground coffee into the strainer and re-assemble the moka pot.
- Keeping the lid closed, put the pot on a low heated stove. You will hear a satisfying sputtering sound when the coffee is being pushed through to the top.
- Once complete, remove from the heat and let it sit, pour, and enjoy.
It really is that simple, and you can pick up a moka pot for as little as £10 - if not cheaper.
What If You Don’t Have a Moka Pot?
If you’ve got a moka pot, you’re good to get your morning coffee when your machine fails you. However, what happens when your coffee machine breaks and you don’t own a moka pot? Never fear, there are still plenty of ways for you to learn how to make coffee without gadgets. If you do any sort of cooking that uses a saucepan, you’re already halfway there.
All you need for the first alternative is ground coffee, water, and a saucepan. Usually, this method is referred to as “Cowboy style” because it’s the preference of those outdoors:
- You need to fill a saucepan with water and bring it to a boil.
- Then, you need to add your coffee of choice, ensuring you get the ratios right.
- Keeping the lid off, you need to stir gently for around two minutes. Before you serve, you need to take it off the heat and leave it to stand for a couple of minutes.
- Finally, all you need to do is serve your coffee and try not to pour grounds into the mug.
This method of making coffee works well in a pinch but won’t offer the same creamy taste as using a moka pot. Another downside to using your saucepan is that you run the risk of ruining your cup of coffee with bits of coffee grind, which taste grim on their own. To offset this, you can make your coffee in a bag.
To make your coffee in a bag, you will need to make sure you’ve got a coffee filter, your chosen coffee, and a piece of string. You can see how it works below:
- Take your filter and place enough ground coffee for one cup into the middle.
- Fold your filter around the coffee to make a bag/parcel.
- Using the string, tie up the bag and make sure you leave enough string to pull out the bag.
- Put a saucepan of water on the stove and bring it to a boil.
- Next, place the coffee bag into your mug - just like you would a teabag.
- Slowly pour hot water into your mug and let the bag steep for a few minutes.
- Finally, remove the bag and enjoy a ground-free cup of coffee.
Takeaway
When you’re exploring the great outdoors or don’t have access to a working coffee machine, making coffee over the stove is a great alternative. There are plenty of methods to choose from including cowboy, coffee bag, and moka pot. If you want a professional-tasting coffee that’s lighter than an espresso, the moka pot is the perfect stovetop coffee for you. All you need to do is fill the bottom with water, add your ground coffee to the filter, and put the pot on the stove. If you don’t have a moka pot, you can get one online for as little as £10.
About the author
Johan Hedlund
I´m living in Karlstad, Sweden with my family. Been working the last 25 years with several start ups in the tech industry. Coffee has been an integral part, both professionally and privately. Eager to learn new things and happy to be a member of the era of we community.
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