Why does moka pot coffee taste bitter? Grind, heat and when to stop, with a pot calculator

A moka pot is not an espresso machine, and most bitter moka coffee comes from a handful of small habits rather than the pot itself: too fine a grind, a tamped basket, cold water, high heat and waiting for the sputter.

Pick your pot size and flip the four levers to see how each one pushes the cup towards thin and sour or bitter and burnt, then get a simple routine with water and coffee amounts for your pot, and what to look for if you are buying one.