Some of the best coffee projects we know of got their start on Kickstarter. From...
Let’s start with a caveat. Nearly any coffee expert will tell you that a percolator is about the worst possible way to make coffee. Because the water is heated to a boil in order to perk, it’s really too hot for the coffee. It gets over extracted, and you end up with the bitterness and acidity that made coffee a ‘grownups only’ drink.
That said, there are people still who prefer perked coffee to any other kind. Taste is, after all, a matter of taste. In addition, those enormous coffee urns are still the best way to make lots and lots of coffee for a crowd.
A coffee percolator consists of five parts. There is the percolator coffee pot, into which you put your coffee. There is the stem, a hollow metal tube that fits into the bottom of the pot. In non-electric percolators, it has a flat, round bottom. There is the filter basket, which slides onto the tube and holds the ground coffee. There is the filter basket cover, a round perforated lid that fits on top of the filter basket and makes sure that the water showers the entire basket of coffee evenly. Finally, there is the coffee pot lid, which often has a glass bubble in it.
The glass bubble just might be the most fun part of the entire contraption. It lets you watch the coffee splurting up from the tube and splashing inside before it spills back down onto the lid.
Coffee percolators come in two distinct types – electric and non-electric. The electric percolators include coffee urns that can make up to forty cups of coffee at a time. Stovetop percolators are great for bringing along on camping trips. Both can actually make decent coffee despite their horrible reputation if you follow a few simple guidelines.
1. Keep all parts of the percolator clean.
That means washing the entire thing with dishwashing liquid and hot water every time you use it. To clean inside the stem, use a pipe cleaner or a long, thin brush.
2. Use freshly ground coffee.
Obviously, this may present a problem if you’re on a camping trip with no electricity miles from nowhere. In that case, carry your ground coffee in a vacuum container with a lid to prevent the air from getting at it and spoiling the flavor.
3. Disassemble the Coffee Percolator. Put the coffee stem in place.
4. Fill the Coffee Percolator with water to below the line on the stem where the filter basket will rest.
5. Put the filter basket in place.
Add one heaping tablespoon of coffee for each cup of water in the pot.
6. Fit the basket lid into place inside the percolator.
7. Here’s where we branch off in two directions. – If you are using an electric percolator, plug it in and turn it on. The coffee pot is now on its own until its done perking. If you are using a stove top percolator, put it over a low flame to heat the water. As soon as the first splurt of coffee hits that little glass bubble, turn the heat down. We now return you to your regularly scheduled directions. For both electric and stovetop pots:
8. Watch the pot carefully.
As soon as the pot stops perking, remove it from the heat.
9. This is the most important part of making coffee with a percolator.
Being careful not to scald yourself, remove the lid of the percolator and remove the entire filter stem from the pot. If you leave it in there, the steam from the coffee will continue to condense, drip over the spent coffee grounds and drip into your coffee.
10. Fill your cup and enjoy.
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David L. Greer says
Bob Ray; Hope my suggestions help. After 27 yrs in New Orleans area I relocated back to home country 11yrs ago, Paris,TN, where my Scot ancestors settled in early 1800’s plus some now in the San Francisco area but none north of the Mason-Dixon. This area is rural/small towns w/o large stores/shopping centers, i.e., hvy traffic, too many people, etc., so I improvise by keeping a “wish list” which I fill when travel to large metro areas. Your Local fix-it shops and/or hardware store personnel can likely provide more suggestions. Good time to shop Salvation Army, etc., and consignment shops now, following Christmas when people rid selves of items replaced/up-graded by gifts. Works for me.!
Bob Ray says
Thank you for the information David Greer. I use to live in Mentor Ohio when I was between the ages of 1 and 10 and I know a Richard Greer that has a sister Trula. Do you know if your related ? I am 52 years old and they are a few years older. Mary and I will shop at the Salvation Army in Jackson Mississippi soon.
David L. Greer says
Bob Ray, All any us lacking parts have to do is use our imaginaton/think-out-of-the-box. First, have a mind picture of what one needs, take measurements then, shop the Salvation Army, Good Will, etc., shops/Big Lots for pyrex glass/alum pot covers of proper size. Also, easy to fabricate a filter cover via alum or plastic lids/paint can covers, etc., simply punch 10 penny nail holes in it (downward)for perc water to distribute over grounds. Simple stuff. You mentioned tea; We in W. Tenn. (me at least)drink iced tea year round and I have re-discovered what I think the best results (remembering how my Grandmother & Mother did) which is to purchase loose tea or, as I now do because it cheaper, buy family size bags and open/empty (measured) into boiling water which is then removed from heat. Let steep to cool-down then screen to use. Better extraction/quality than bags themselves. Try it.
Bob Ray says
I have found a GE 42 cup serial B0960BW, model 106840R but the filter basket cover and the coffee pot lid was not with the GE 42 coffee pot. I use the GE pot to heat water and submerge tea bags into the hot water. If anyone has a filter basket cover and a coffee pot lid, please contact me. Thank you.
Tim Brown says
Howdy, great site. Just a couple of thoughts. I could never get a HOT cup of coffee from any drip machine. It drove me to ask questions and was directed to the old reliable perk type makers,I’ve not been disappointed and boy howdy always a HOT cup of coffee. Fresh coffee is a must,whole beans freshly ground is best.Like others have said, as soon as coffee starts to perk turn heat down to low try your darnedest not to boil the coffee.Lastly is the cup, not that it improves the taste, but it chore makes that piping HOT coffee easier to enjoy. I like those old restaurant heavy thick white ceramic single finger coffee cups. Ya’all can put piping HOT coffee in it,slurp or sip and never blister your lip, like what happens with dem thin walled coffee mugs ya get today. And if’in ya’all get a hanker’in ta smash up your fresh grounds with the butt of your pistol remember to unload it fist,this ensures ya’all GET ta enjoy dat HOT cup of perked coffee.Hey ya’all enjoy dat HOT cup of coffee and keep on a perk’en dat good coffee. Oh anyone look’en fer a good all stainless steel percolator( non electric)
Lehman’s sells em, http://www.lehmans.com will get ya one,and if’in dee’s thoughts are worth 2cents then ya’all got something. thanks
David L. Greer says
To Margy and Pat; Allow me to suggest a cleaning product that we all have. Baking soda and a damp sponge/cloth is perfect for cleaning the exterior and interior where it also neturalizes the acid residue/sweetens the interior plus it not scratch. Then, place the remaining/extra soda powder in the sink drain pipes and pour microwave heated cup of vinegar into drain to purge and sanitize them. Let it work a few minutes then flush.
Pat says
Thanks Margy! I have tried different types of coffee but have not tried the products you mentioned. Just had an ice storm here so will have to wait until the roads are good for traveling. Can’t wait to try this.
margy says
A clean pot will help, but maybe it is the brand of coffee? To get the inside of the pot clean, try to find “Dip It” for percolators. It’s a powder. Don’t get the liquid. DipIt will get rid of lots of staining inside (even the ceramic sleeve). I have had good luck getting a shine inside with Cameo Aluminum & Stainless Steel Cleaner. Just don’t use it on the shiny OUTSIDE of the pot. It is an abrasive and will cloud the finish. Suds the inside first and then immediately suds again after and rinse-rinse-rinse.
Pat says
Just discovered this site. I’ve got an old Farberware electric 2-4 cup perculator. It has the ceramic covered stem. Whenever I make coffee, it has a bitter taste. I tried to clean it by perking it with some white vinegar and water but the taste is still there when I brew it. Any ideas on how to get rid of this taste?
David L. Greer says
Steve; First, I wouldn’t be concerned about aluminum parts (food grade alum is safe)unless it a Chinese product I not trust. People who deliberately put anti-freeze glycol in toothpaste and dog food cannot be trusted re any product. Even aluminum. I use a 1975 GE made in USA model/catalog #75P31 which I bought at the Salvation Army store months ago for $5. It’s stainless but basket & stem alum.
Steve says
I have been using the GE 9 cup electric perc 40 years old and it makes the greatest coffee. I also had all the high end machines, and they all all junk. I am also concerned about the aluminum in my old perc. I may get another vintage electric perc with all stainless steel interior as well as the basket and stem. Does anyone know of a older make/ model that is all stainless? thanks
David L. Greer says
Rebekka, I feel that very good cup of perc coffee could change your mind. Allow me to suggest to start with half a cup of strong very hot coffee in which you fill the cup with very hot milk and a spoon of sugar. You end up with cafe au lait I love drinking at the Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans. Over time you will/might decrease the amount of milk. If anyone interested I have a recipe for New Orleans hot beignets which are a treat w/coffee and cocoa. I wouldn’t worry abut the amount of aluminum you might ingest. If much were leached from the alum pots they would not last long and not the case. Be more concerned about the content of your antacids, etc..
Rebekka says
wow–I knew that brewing a good pot of coffee was an art, but I never imagined it would mean so much to so many people!
Personally, I can’t stand coffee, but my hubby and daughter are addicted–
We have gone through two or three Mr. Coffees–handed down from parents, and now have a too-complicated and very disappointing Bunn.
As a kid, I can remember the glass Pyrex percolator Mom and Dad used every single day–I have thought about investing in one, if I could find it, but now have a stainless Martha Stewart I bought at an auction (I paid $1 for a big box of stuff and it was inside) so I think I am going to give it a try.
I have had electric percs in the past, but don’t have a good feeling about anything aluminum and avoid using said aluminum as much as possible.
I haven’t sat down to read all the posts, but it was great fun reading what I did–I’ll be back to catch up on the science and art of percolator coffee!
David L. Greer says
Tim, ur correct. Common spice grinder or even blender can be used. Simply flush the spice residue from the device,(it not explode/short-out if you not submerge the motor base in water) then dry and grind coffee in batches using a flour seive to extract the fine grind wanted and continue until the amount of grounds wanted. Simple kitchen science. Takes a little extra time/effort but results are worth it. Most stores that sell whole beans provide a grinder and I’ve not experienced any real loss of quality if a pound or more of ground coffee is stored in an air-tight container, but, like anything, time stored is the key. However, some people are too picky. Like a touch of added flavor(?) add a pinch or 2 of cinnamon, ground cloves or apple pie spice to the brew basket and a splash (or more)of bourbon or dark rum to the cup is a treat. Same as spiced hard cider we used to enjoy before a roaring fireplace when the snow gets deep and no need to drive anywhere. Life can be a “hoot” if one uses noodle and the effort.
Tim says
If you grind your coffee like I do, bear in mind, how long you grind it for, fast grind is coarse so longer perking. I tend to grind it a little bit finer, but not so fine.