Before you buy a coffee maker, you should have a good idea of what you wish to buy and exactly what results it will provide you.

Each method of brewing is distinct from the other, and each one also has a specific list of advantages and disadvantages that come with using it.

How much you enjoy one of these coffee makers is more reliant on your personal preferences than on how efficient they are, especially when you’re dealing with two coffee makers as efficient as the Moka Pot and the Chemex.

Moka Pot vs. Chemex – Main Differences

Several features make these two coffee makers different, but in the end, it all comes down to the quality of coffee produced. The Moka Pot gives you a thick espresso-like cup of coffee with some powders at the bottom while the Chemex offers you a neater, lighter, and sweeter cup.

To truly understand why they produce such different types of coffee, we need to provide you with a breakdown of what these coffee makers are made of as well as their brewing process.

The Moka Pot

The Moka Top was invented by Italian engineer Alfonso Bialetti to make the coffee brewing process much more convenient. This coffee machine makes coffee by pushing hot water into ground coffee after it has been pressurized by steam.

The Moka Pot is known for making a thick and bitter coffee and making it very quickly as well. The Moka Pot works by heating the burner on the bottom chamber and then causing the pressure within to gradually rise until the water shoots right up the connecting metal tube and makes contact with the coffee grounds. Then, the coffee would begin to flow and spout up to the top chamber where you can pour it out. 

The best grind size for the Moka pot is a medium-fine grind, and the quantity you’ll use depends on the size of your Moka Pot.

You can check for different Moka cup sizes depending on what you need using our handy guide.

When you brew optimally with the Moka pot, you should expect to get a very rich, strong, and satisfying cup of coffee. The product should be very close to espresso, with nice acidity, and little to no foam. Also, expect some earthy tones in your drink. 

Pros and Cons of the Moka Pot

Pros

• It is convenient, and your coffee can be ready in less than 5 minutes.
• The design is elegant, and it is not expensive.
• It is portable and very easy to clean.
• The coffee it produces is very similar to the espresso.

Cons

• The quantity of coffee produced is relatively small. 
• Coffee is quite acidic and bitter.
• It needs regular maintenance to prevent clogging.
• You need to pay it attention while brewing because it can burst.

The Chemex

Chemex produces high-quality smooth black coffee. The type of coffee this machine produces is very peculiar because of the filter paper which gets rid of a large amount of the oils.

When you make coffee with The Chemex, you have complete control over the temperature of your water and coffee. If you want the best cup of coffee possible with the Chemex, then you should use a medium-coarse grind. The filter is quite heavy so it can handle light, medium, and dark roasts depending on your preference.

Expect the coffee you get from the Chemex to be smooth and clear from any dust or particles. If you brew it optimally, then it will give you a deep, sweet, strong cup of coffee. 

Pros and Cons of the Chemex:

Pros

• It is very simple to clean since there are no pieces that break out or clog. 
• It has a beautiful design.
• The heavy filter paper makes it remarkably pure and very sweet.
• It is also easy to use and brews in less than 5 minutes.

Cons

• The containers of the Chemex coffee maker can be more difficult to clean than in other coffee makers.
• Some Chemex models can be very fragile.
• They can often be very complex to use and seem like actual rocket science.

Moka Pot vs. Chemex – The Showdown

The type of coffee you’ll get from each of these coffee makers will be rich and intense, and they both make cups that are relatively less acidic than the regular cup of joe. Ultimately, each of these machines makes better cups of coffee than the standard coffee pot. But what gives them the edge over each other?

From the standpoint of the Moka Pot, it has a percolating process that makes its coffee very similar to the espresso. It also tends to produce a cup of coffee that is more concentrated and richer in flavor than the coffee produced by Chemex. However, Chemex has a heavy filtration system that ensures you get rid of anything you don’t want in your drink. All the oils, sediments, and extra flavors are all filtered out by the Chemex. 

Moka Pot vs. Chemex – The Final Verdict

The final verdict is that the coffee maker you choose will depend largely on how you like your coffee to look and taste.

If you want a strong and harsh coffee, and you don’t mind a bit of dust and a few grounds at the bottom, then using the Moka Pot would be great for you.

But if you want a clean cup that is much less bitter and not as harsh, then the Chemex would be perfect for you. Each of them has great benefits attached, and you wouldn’t be making a bad choice buying either of them.