I would like ground coffee for a moka pot.
ma-ci-NA-to — four syllables, stress on third. MO-ka — two syllables, stress on first.
When buying ground coffee at a bar that also sells beans, asking them to grind it to the correct coarseness for a moka pot.
'Macinato' means 'ground'. 'Moka' is the iconic Italian stovetop coffee maker (by Bialetti). The grind size matters — too fine and the moka over-extracts; too coarse and it under-extracts. A good bar will know exactly the right grind.
Macinatura media per la moka.
Medium grind for the moka pot.
Specifying 'media' (medium) confirms you know what you want
Lo macinate al momento?
Do you grind it fresh?
Ask if they grind to order — always better than pre-ground coffee
Duecentocinquanta grammi di caffè in grani.
Two hundred and fifty grams of coffee beans.
If buying whole beans to grind at home
The Bialetti Moka Express, invented in 1933, is found in virtually every Italian home. It is the most popular way to make coffee at home in Italy. The moka produces a coffee stronger than filtered coffee but less concentrated than espresso — it is the taste of Italian domestic life.