Comments on: How to Make Coffee in a Percolator http://www.talkaboutcoffee.com/how-to-make-coffee-in-a-percolator.html Talk About Coffee is a must visit site for all the coffee lovers out there :)) Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:12:00 -0500 hourly 1 By: Jessie http://www.talkaboutcoffee.com/how-to-make-coffee-in-a-percolator.html/comment-page-4#comment-3625 Jessie Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:30:23 +0000 http://www.talkaboutcoffee.com/how-to-make-coffee-in-a-percolator.html#comment-3625 I've been using a percolator for years. My electric percolator has recently died on me so I comadeered my grandma's stove top percolator and I was amazed at the taste! I like my coffee stronger than the electric one makes it so now I can make it to my own taste. Anyone know where I can get an good old fashioned one since I am a lover of antiques?? 30's or 40's? No great thrift shops around here. I’ve been using a percolator for years. My electric percolator has recently died on me so I comadeered my grandma’s stove top percolator and I was amazed at the taste! I like my coffee stronger than the electric one makes it so now I can make it to my own taste. Anyone know where I can get an good old fashioned one since I am a lover of antiques?? 30’s or 40’s? No great thrift shops around here.

]]> By: Cathy http://www.talkaboutcoffee.com/how-to-make-coffee-in-a-percolator.html/comment-page-4#comment-3610 Cathy Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:34:07 +0000 http://www.talkaboutcoffee.com/how-to-make-coffee-in-a-percolator.html#comment-3610 I bought an electric Sunbeam Deluxe coffee percolator at a second hand store for $10. I remember the smell of good coffee from years ago and I'm tickled pink this machine was a great purchase! Yay hot coffee! I bought an electric Sunbeam Deluxe coffee percolator at a second hand store for $10. I remember the smell of good coffee from years ago and I’m tickled pink this machine was a great purchase! Yay hot coffee!

]]> By: Pamela http://www.talkaboutcoffee.com/how-to-make-coffee-in-a-percolator.html/comment-page-4#comment-3609 Pamela Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:10:36 +0000 http://www.talkaboutcoffee.com/how-to-make-coffee-in-a-percolator.html#comment-3609 I just was given a little 7 cupper stove top percolater. I remember my grandmother making it, but am at a loss to how to make it myself. Love all of the repsonses on your site, helpfu, but still not sure of amount/time/and if a filter is needed let me know. Thanks.Pam I just was given a little 7 cupper stove top percolater. I remember my grandmother making it, but am at a loss to how to make it myself. Love all of the repsonses on your site, helpfu, but still not sure of amount/time/and if a filter is needed let me know. Thanks.Pam

]]> By: Pam http://www.talkaboutcoffee.com/how-to-make-coffee-in-a-percolator.html/comment-page-4#comment-3589 Pam Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:11:51 +0000 http://www.talkaboutcoffee.com/how-to-make-coffee-in-a-percolator.html#comment-3589 Hi Mark. I vote you just use the perk to keep the water hot and then have packets of instant hot chocolate available for folks to make their own. You can be the ultimate party host and offer other "instant" hot drinks at the same time like a variety of teas (herbal, flavored, plain, chai) and cider. Put all of your packets in a nice bowl and offer cream, sugar, honey, lemon, etc on the side for a sort of hot drink bar. It might be a little to fru fru for a cowboy party, but hey - nothing wrong with a little luxury with your bonfire! Anyway, you will make it your own and I'm sure it will be FABULOUS and your guests will be impressed!!! Hi Mark. I vote you just use the perk to keep the water hot and then have packets of instant hot chocolate available for folks to make their own. You can be the ultimate party host and offer other “instant” hot drinks at the same time like a variety of teas (herbal, flavored, plain, chai) and cider. Put all of your packets in a nice bowl and offer cream, sugar, honey, lemon, etc on the side for a sort of hot drink bar. It might be a little to fru fru for a cowboy party, but hey – nothing wrong with a little luxury with your bonfire! Anyway, you will make it your own and I’m sure it will be FABULOUS and your guests will be impressed!!!

]]> By: Mark http://www.talkaboutcoffee.com/how-to-make-coffee-in-a-percolator.html/comment-page-4#comment-3587 Mark Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:01:20 +0000 http://www.talkaboutcoffee.com/how-to-make-coffee-in-a-percolator.html#comment-3587 Can you use a 12-42cup automatic(westbend party perk)to make or just keep hot chocolate hot? any rules will it get and stay too hot or should I just use this to heat and keep water hot and give out pkts of H.C. thanks Can you use a 12-42cup automatic(westbend party perk)to make or just keep hot chocolate hot? any rules will it get and stay too hot or should I just use this to heat and keep water hot and give out pkts of H.C. thanks

]]> By: Mark Thompson http://www.talkaboutcoffee.com/how-to-make-coffee-in-a-percolator.html/comment-page-4#comment-3583 Mark Thompson Sat, 24 Oct 2009 01:11:30 +0000 http://www.talkaboutcoffee.com/how-to-make-coffee-in-a-percolator.html#comment-3583 I guess you can find anything on the web. I am having some folks over tomorrow night for a "cowboy" cookout and am going to make some good old "cowboy" coffee over a fire. I usually don't mind a few grounds in my coffee and sometimes I think it's actually better the longer it goes. I've even put the left overs back on the fire the next morning. I know it goes against all coffee experts preach, but sometimes we just need to go back to the old ways and enjoy things the way our grandfathers did when life was much simpler and care free. Thanks for all of your comments! I guess you can find anything on the web. I am having some folks over tomorrow night for a “cowboy” cookout and am going to make some good old “cowboy” coffee over a fire. I usually don’t mind a few grounds in my coffee and sometimes I think it’s actually better the longer it goes. I’ve even put the left overs back on the fire the next morning. I know it goes against all coffee experts preach, but sometimes we just need to go back to the old ways and enjoy things the way our grandfathers did when life was much simpler and care free. Thanks for all of your comments!

]]> By: David L. Greer http://www.talkaboutcoffee.com/how-to-make-coffee-in-a-percolator.html/comment-page-4#comment-3577 David L. Greer Fri, 23 Oct 2009 01:52:57 +0000 http://www.talkaboutcoffee.com/how-to-make-coffee-in-a-percolator.html#comment-3577 Kelly, what she did was likely check the color as a gage for quality/strength when using a stove perc whereas an electric perc does the job via the setting..I set my perc at strong and adjust according to the roast(I prefer medium which provides enough flavor w/o the bitterness/oil of dark/french roast) plus, as I get half way/near the bottom I pour a cup of hot water over the grounds basket to extend my pleasure drink, if desired. I no longer buy the expensive Columbian dark roast needed when I utilized a drip machine because my perc circulates the heated water enough times to properly "cook" not "boil" the grounds. By the way, left-over coffee makes an excellent rich base for roast beef, etc., gravy/sauce, w/o coffee taste. Something else I learned living in New Orleans. Kelly, what she did was likely check the color as a gage for quality/strength when using a stove perc whereas an electric perc does the job via the setting..I set my perc at strong and adjust according to the roast(I prefer medium which provides enough flavor w/o the bitterness/oil of dark/french roast) plus, as I get half way/near the bottom I pour a cup of hot water over the grounds basket to extend my pleasure drink, if desired. I no longer buy the expensive Columbian dark roast needed when I utilized a drip machine because my perc circulates the heated water enough times to properly “cook” not “boil” the grounds. By the way, left-over coffee makes an excellent rich base for roast beef, etc., gravy/sauce, w/o coffee taste. Something else I learned living in New Orleans.

]]> By: Kelly http://www.talkaboutcoffee.com/how-to-make-coffee-in-a-percolator.html/comment-page-4#comment-3574 Kelly Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:37:33 +0000 http://www.talkaboutcoffee.com/how-to-make-coffee-in-a-percolator.html#comment-3574 I have a question about an odd "coffee" behavior I noticed in an old (1930s) film. Norma Shearer was making coffee with a stove top percolator. Once it finished brewing she took off the top of the percolator, poured a little coffee into a cup and then immediately pour that coffee back into the filter basket. She put the top back on and then served the coffee! What did she do that for? Thanks! I have a question about an odd “coffee” behavior I noticed in an old (1930s) film. Norma Shearer was making coffee with a stove top percolator. Once it finished brewing she took off the top of the percolator, poured a little coffee into a cup and then immediately pour that coffee back into the filter basket. She put the top back on and then served the coffee! What did she do that for? Thanks!

]]> By: David http://www.talkaboutcoffee.com/how-to-make-coffee-in-a-percolator.html/comment-page-4#comment-3565 David Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:43:37 +0000 http://www.talkaboutcoffee.com/how-to-make-coffee-in-a-percolator.html#comment-3565 Enjoyed this blog, I'm only down to about the 90th message and am running out of time. Will be back. A couple of comments: We had a nice Cuisinart electric percolator. Eventually the clear plastic knob on the lid came loose because the tabs holding it down wore out. Cuisinart was very kind - they send a replacement for the knob for free. That was a few years ago. Eventually the plastic base warped, though, and we ended up shopping for another. Couldn't find another Cuisinart, but we now use a Betty Crocker. Excellent machine. It keeps the coffee very hot all day with no loss of flavour. This past week or two the coffee quality went down, and I think it's because we used a finer grind than usual and the basket holes became clogged. I've cleared them now, and am looking forward to the next pot. Nabob's Full City Metropolis coffee is a dark roast that I find nice and strong. It used to be common to add salt to coffee made in restaurants around 35 - 40 years ago to reduce bitterness, but there wasn't the variety of coffee available that we have now. I don't know if they still do that. Cowboy coffee sounds much like Swedish kokkaffe (cooked coffee). You put coursely ground coffee grinds into a saucepan or kettle, and boil it a while. The caffeine content is high, and you drink it with a sugar lozenge between your front teeth (Swedish sugar lozenges don't melt as quickly as North American cubes do). Enjoyed this blog, I’m only down to about the 90th message and am running out of time. Will be back.

A couple of comments:

We had a nice Cuisinart electric percolator. Eventually the clear plastic knob on the lid came loose because the tabs holding it down wore out. Cuisinart was very kind – they send a replacement for the knob for free. That was a few years ago. Eventually the plastic base warped, though, and we ended up shopping for another. Couldn’t find another Cuisinart, but we now use a Betty Crocker. Excellent machine. It keeps the coffee very hot all day with no loss of flavour.

This past week or two the coffee quality went down, and I think it’s because we used a finer grind than usual and the basket holes became clogged. I’ve cleared them now, and am looking forward to the next pot.

Nabob’s Full City Metropolis coffee is a dark roast that I find nice and strong.

It used to be common to add salt to coffee made in restaurants around 35 – 40 years ago to reduce bitterness, but there wasn’t the variety of coffee available that we have now. I don’t know if they still do that.

Cowboy coffee sounds much like Swedish kokkaffe (cooked coffee). You put coursely ground coffee grinds into a saucepan or kettle, and boil it a while. The caffeine content is high, and you drink it with a sugar lozenge between your front teeth (Swedish sugar lozenges don’t melt as quickly as North American cubes do).

]]> By: Keith http://www.talkaboutcoffee.com/how-to-make-coffee-in-a-percolator.html/comment-page-4#comment-3549 Keith Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:28:56 +0000 http://www.talkaboutcoffee.com/how-to-make-coffee-in-a-percolator.html#comment-3549 For so long, I was stuck with instant coffee on camping trips (solo). I bought one of those blue "denim" enameled percolators, thinking I might use it reasonably well. I bought disc filters to put in the basket before adding ground coffee; I was disappointed at how much of the grounds/sediments it allowed to pass. I was back to instant, but not willingly...or for long. I discovered "wrap around" filters! These have the usual center hole that slides over the stem. You add your coffee and then fold the corners over; the corners have holes, too, so they go over the stem and completely enclose the grounds. Now that coffee was good! For so long, I was stuck with instant coffee on camping trips (solo). I bought one of those blue “denim” enameled percolators, thinking I might use it reasonably well. I bought disc filters to put in the basket before adding ground coffee; I was disappointed at how much of the grounds/sediments it allowed to pass. I was back to instant, but not willingly…or for long. I discovered “wrap around” filters! These have the usual center hole that slides over the stem. You add your coffee and then fold the corners over; the corners have holes, too, so they go over the stem and completely enclose the grounds. Now that coffee was good!

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