English Reference

Word

moka

PhoneticsMo·ka

US/ˈmoʊkə/

UK/ˈmɒkə/

Definition

n. a traditional metal pot used on a stove to make strong coffee by passing boiling water through ground beans using steam pressure

n. an eight-sided aluminum or steel stovetop coffee maker that produces a concentrated beverage by forcing steam-pressured boiling water through coffee grounds.

Examples

“I make a strong cup of coffee every morning using my Moka.”

“If you want an authentic Italian experience at home, you should brew your espresso-style coffee in a Moka.”

“The iconic Moka pot utilizes a distinctive octagonal design to facilitate heat distribution while the internal pressure drives the extraction process.”

Examples

simple

“I make a strong cup of coffee every morning using my Moka.”

contextual

“If you want an authentic Italian experience at home, you should brew your espresso-style coffee in a Moka.”

complex

“The iconic Moka pot utilizes a distinctive octagonal design to facilitate heat distribution while the internal pressure drives the extraction process.”

Real-World Examples

“The moka pot was invented in the early 1930s, by Italian engineer and aluminum metalworker Alfonso Bialetti, as an easy and affordable way to make coffee at home.”
The New York Times · 8 Jan 2026
“The Moka pot, a design that has remained unchanged for 87 years, consists of three primary parts: a base boiler where water is added a funnel basket that the ground (fitting snugly above the base), and an upper pot featuring an internal column, an outer handle, and a spout.”
The Guardian · 14 Dec 2020

Etymology

Named after the Yemeni city of Mocha, which was a historical center of the coffee trade. It was patented in Italy by Alfonso Bialetti in 1933.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

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A2 · Elementary
Updated

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English Reference