- Guides
- Moka pot fixes
- Bitter or burnt moka pot coffee
Fix it
Bitter or burnt moka pot coffee
The cup tastes harsh, metallic or burnt.
The fixGrind coarserOne or two steps, then brew again
The coffee is over-extracted, often with too much heat.
What to do
- Grind a little coarser.
- Use lower heat.
- Take it off the heat when it starts to sputter.
- Cool the base under a tap to stop it.
How big is one step on your grinder?
| Grinder | Smallest step | Steps for about 30 µm |
|---|---|---|
| Comandante C40 MK4 | 27.9 µm | 1 step |
| 1Zpresso K-Ultra | 7.7 µm | 4 steps |
| 1Zpresso JX-Pro | 4.6 µm | 7 steps |
| 1Zpresso J-Ultra | 2.5 µm | 12 steps |
| 1Zpresso Q2 | 11.5 µm | 3 steps |
| 1Zpresso X-Ultra | 5 µm | 6 steps |
| Timemore Chestnut C2 | 33.8 µm | 1 step |
| Timemore Chestnut C3 | 40.7 µm | 1 step |
| Timemore Sculptor 064 | 27.8 µm | 1 step |
| Kingrinder K6 | 8.6 µm | 3 steps |
| Kingrinder K4 | 8.4 µm | 4 steps |
| Baratza Encore | 25.4 µm | 1 step |
| Baratza Virtuoso+ | 25 µm | 1 step |
| Baratza Sette 30 | 24 µm | 1 step |
| Fellow Ode Gen 2 | 9.5 µm | 3 steps |
| Fellow Opus | 23.3 µm | 1 step |
| Eureka Mignon Specialita | 25.1 µm | 1 step |
| Niche Zero | 12.4 µm | 2 steps |
| Hario Skerton Pro | 150.5 µm | 1 step |
| Hario Mini Mill Plus | 63.2 µm | 1 step |
| Breville Smart Grinder Pro | 10.5 µm | 3 steps |
| Wilfa Svart | 46.5 µm | 1 step |
| DF DF64 Gen 2 | 9.7 µm | 3 steps |
| Kinu M47 Classic | 16.5 µm | 2 steps |
| Option-O Lagom P64 | 10 µm | 3 steps |
| Porlex Mini II | 58.3 µm | 1 step |
Particle size changes are estimates from one shared scale fitted from the Honest Coffee Guide. Use them to size the change, then taste.
Related
Questions
Bitter or burnt moka pot coffee: what should I change first?
Grind coarser by one or two steps, then brew again. The coffee is over-extracted, often with too much heat.
How much should I change the grind?
One or two clicks or numbers on most grinders, about 30 µm. Change it, brew again, and taste before changing anything else.