If you’re on the market for a new coffee gadget, chances are you’re trying to decide between a Mocha Pot and a Chemex.
The Mocha Pot is designed for making espresso and does not create a very smooth cup of coffee. Chemex creates an incredibly smooth cup of coffee.
Keep on reading to find out which devices you should buy to brew your coffee. Mocha pot vs. Chemex.
What is a Mocha pot?
The famous Mocha pot is a stovetop or electric coffee maker. It uses boiling water pressurized by steam. The boiling water is passed through ground coffee. The device used in this process is called a mocha pot. Coffee made in a mocha pot is rich and intense. It has a fuller body of flavor. The coffee to water ratio used in a mocha pot is 1:7. Thus the coffee that is made in a mocha pot is more concentrated than coffee made through a normal coffee filter.
What is a Chemex?
The Chemex is an elegant coffee brewing device. It uses a beautiful glass carafe that looks like a laboratory glass flask with a funnel fitted on top of it. It also has a wooden handle to hold the flask while hot. Hot water is poured over ground coffee that is neither too coarse nor too fine. The coffee is infused and filtered through a filter paper that extracts extra oils and gives a less bitter and lighter taste. The Chemex is not only a brewing device but is also a decant.
Typically when people think of coffee, they think of a simple black beverage that you can get from a machine anywhere in minutes. However, there are so many different types of coffee available nowadays that you would be amazed at how many variations there are. For instance, for those who do not like the taste of black coffee, there are many different types of creamers and sweeteners you can add to your cup of coffee to change up the flavor and make it taste different every time if you want to.
Which Coffee Is Better? Mocha Pot vs. Chemex
Your flavor of the coffee has a lot to do with the brewing method. Both the mocha pot and Chemex offer different types of brewing methods. The brewing method used in a mocha pot is percolation, while in Chemex, it is pour-over coffee.
Making Coffee in a Mocha Pot
In a mocha pot, water is added to the base boiler pot, and a filter is fitted on top of it. The filter contains tightly packed coffee grounds. The mocha pot is then placed on a heat source depending on its manufacturing, and the heat is turned on. Water boils and passes through a metal funnel and is passed through the coffee grounds. Some people like to add cold water to the pot, but professionals recommend a water temperature of up to 70 degrees for a much better brew.
When the water is heated, it increases in pressure and is forced out of the funnel. It then passes through the coffee grounds to give a rich and strong-tasting coffee.
Factors That Affect the Taste of Coffee in the Mocha Pot:
The coffee taste in the mocha pot depends on its shape, the temperature of the water used, and the size of the coffee grounds. The structure of the mocha pot depends on the manufacturing. However, a bigger pot is needed for a larger size or more coffee. A medium-fine grind works best with the mocha pot. The best way is to grind the coffee by yourself.
Making Coffee in the Chemex
The Chemex is a pour-over brewing method. How Chemex works is relatively simple. Water is poured over the funnel, and it mixes with and extracts the coffee from the grounds. The brew passes through the filter paper resulting in a relatively light flavored coffee. The coffee that Chemex makes is also less acidic.
Factors That Affect the Taste of Coffee in the Chemex
In Chemex, the size of the coffee ground is the most important factor. Very coarse grounds will make the water pass through very quickly without completely extracting flavor. Very fine grounds, on the other hand, will clog the filter paper, and either the brewing will take too long, or it will get completely blocked.
Advantages and Disadvantages: Mocha Pot vs. Chemex
Mocha Pot’s Pros and Cons:
The pros of making coffee in a mocha pot are
- It is easy and quick
- Inexpensive
- Similar to espresso
- Easily cleaned
- Easy to carry
- Elegant design
The cons of making coffee in a mocha pot are
- Need attention as it can burst
- Makes smaller amounts of coffee
- It needs to be cleaned regularly as it can clog
- More acidity and bitterness
- High levels of caffeine
The Chemex Pros and Cons:
The pros of making coffee in the Chemex are:
- You can have better control and management over the coffee.
- Easier to clean and has no electromagnetic pieces.
- Beautiful and elegant design.
- Very easy to use, and brewing time is 4 minutes.
- Sweet taste.
- The heavy filter paper gives a very pure brew.
The cons of the Chemex are:
- Fragile and easily breakable
- A little bit more expensive than the mocha pot
Takeaway:
Finally, what should I buy a Mocha pot or a Chemex? Although both of the devices are cheap and make coffee fast. It all depends on the end product. If you are looking for a thicker brew and don’t mind a little bit of coffee powder in the bottom, then your choice should be a mocha pot. It makes coffee that’s like an espresso. However, if you like a lighter or a neater cup of coffee that’s also less acidic and less bitter, then you should buy a Chemex. It is usually a better idea to check coffee brewed by both methods before deciding on investing in a device.
