Grinder5 min read
Coffee Grind Size Chart for Every Brew Method
Coffee grind size chart with micron ranges for espresso, moka pot, AeroPress, pour over, French press and cold brew, plus how to adjust.
Read the guideFree Coffee Tool
Moka Pot Calculator
Pick your moka pot size and get the exact grounds and water — filled correctly, every time.
FreeNo sign-upWorks on phone
Pick your moka pot size
Fill grounds level with the basket rim. Do not tamp a moka pot basket like an espresso puck.
The math behind the calculator
Moka pot sizing isn't a ratio calculation the way drip or pour-over is — each pot size has a fixed basket volume, so the calculator maps your chosen "cup" size directly to that pot's known water fill (to just below the pressure valve) and a level, un-tamped grounds fill for the basket.
Because the basket volume is fixed, you can't meaningfully change the ratio the way you can with a pour-over — the water-to-coffee relationship is set by the pot's own geometry, which is why the calculator asks only for pot size, not a strength preference.
Water (to below the valve)
6-cup300ml
Grounds, level
30g
Water in oz
10.1oz
Grounds to water by weight
1
10.0
Stovetop flow
Fill + level
no tamp
Medium-low heat
lid open
Off the burner
when it sputters
Next: Stop at the pot size that matches how much you drink: a part-filled basket brews unevenly.
The math behind the calculator
Moka pot sizing isn't a ratio calculation the way drip or pour-over is — each pot size has a fixed basket volume, so the calculator maps your chosen "cup" size directly to that pot's known water fill (to just below the pressure valve) and a level, un-tamped grounds fill for the basket.
Because the basket volume is fixed, you can't meaningfully change the ratio the way you can with a pour-over — the water-to-coffee relationship is set by the pot's own geometry, which is why the calculator asks only for pot size, not a strength preference.
How to use the result
- 1Pick the cup size printed on your pot.
- 2Fill the base with water to below the valve and level the grounds.
- 3Heat on medium-low and pull off when the flow sputters.
Common mistakes
- Tamping the basket.
- Filling water above the pressure valve.
- Running high heat the whole time.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers before you buy.
Fill the basket level with grounds up to the rim, without tamping — a 6-cup moka pot typically takes about 30g.
Tamping a moka pot basket like an espresso puck can restrict flow too much and stall the brew.
Fill to just below the pressure release valve on the bottom chamber, never above it.
Filling higher doesn't make the coffee stronger — it just risks the valve venting steam and water during brewing.
A fine-medium grind, slightly coarser than espresso and finer than drip — think slightly coarser than table salt.
Too fine and the pot can stall or the coffee turns bitter; too coarse and the coffee comes out weak and watery.
Usually the heat is too high.
Brew on medium-low heat and remove the pot from the burner as soon as the flow turns light and sputters — leaving it on the heat after that scorches the last of the coffee coming through.
It is a small serving of roughly espresso size, not a standard 8 oz cup.
Sizes vary by brand, so use the cup number printed on your pot and the basket and fill line as the guide.
No.
A moka pot brews with steam pressure that is well below an espresso machine's, so it makes a strong, concentrated coffee without crema in the espresso sense.
It works well for milk drinks and strong black coffee.
Many people start with hot water in the base to shorten the time the grounds sit on a hot pot, which can reduce bitterness.
Handle the hot base with a cloth.
Both methods work.
Let it cool, disassemble it and rinse every part with warm water.
Dry it fully.
Avoid harsh soap and the dishwasher on aluminum pots, and check your manufacturer's care instructions.
It is not recommended.
Fill the basket and base for the pot's design.
Underfilling the basket can brew unevenly, so buy the size you actually brew most often.
By Michael Anderson · Updated October 7, 2026