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There are several unusual coffee brewing tools throughout history, ranging from the centuries-old Turkish ibrik to the contemporary AeroPress. In this history, coffee percolators also hold a significant place since they were among the most widely used coffee makers from the late 1800s to the early 1900s.
Although the design and popularity of the kettle-shaped gadget have changed throughout time, it has always operated by pushing hot water up via an internal tube and then dripping the water over coffee grounds.
The drawback of this method is that it’s simple to overcook the coffee, resulting in a bitter and burnt cup. Although this is still an issue, it can be avoided and shouldn’t deter potential clients.
To get at these top choices, we conducted research and spoke with an expert. The products in this list include some of the best coffee percolators, which have a few advantages over conventional coffee makers, such as being reasonably priced, simple to use, and small in size.
Top Picks
1 Farberware Stainless Steel Electric Percolators (2-4 Cup)
2 Elite Gourmet EC812 Electric Coffee Percolator, 12-Cup, Stainless Steel
3 Presto 02822 6-Cup Stainless-Steel Coffee Percolator & 02811 12-Cup S
4 Hamilton Beach Programmable Coffee Maker, 12 Cups, Front of Permanent Gold Tone Filter,
5 GSI Stainless Steel Conical Percolator 8CUP 11870057000008
Review
1 Farberware Stainless Steel Electric Percolators
The Farberware 12-Cup Coffee Percolator’s sturdy construction and well-fitting interior parts that didn’t sway or rattle when moved are why we like it. For small parties, families, or those who consume a lot of coffee during the day, the large volume is ideal. In our tests, the keep-warm feature maintained the temperature for forty-five minutes, extending the shelf life of a fresh cup.
When comparing the final product, the “perked” coffee tasted bolder and richer than what is typically obtained from a pour-over. All of its components were dishwasher safe and easy to clean, and its tall, thin shape made storage simple.
It took 1 cup per minute to brew, and the final coffee we made had temperatures between 190 and 200°F. We had to do some trial and error to determine the proper grind size to make sure there were no discernible grinds in the cup.
Price : $126.15 (When reviewed)
Capacity: 12 Cups
Wattage: 1000 watts
Brew Time: 12 minutes
Style: Stovetop
2 Elite Gourmet EC812 Electric Coffee Percolator
Elite Gourmet’s Classic Stovetop is just what its name suggests. The instantly identifiable design brings to mind vintage percolators. This sturdy device produced a completed cup that was 360°F and brewed 12 cups at once on a gas burner in roughly 5 minutes.
There were no heat-related problems with the plastic handle, although we would use caution near an open flame if we were camping. In terms of completely developed flavor and the absence of noticeable grinds in the cup, this device performed better than a drip coffee maker. Because of its compact size and complete dishwasher safety, cleaning is a breeze.
Price : $85.99 (When reviewed)
Capacity: 12 Cups
dimensions : 3 x 3 x 175 inches
Brew Time: 5 minutes
Style: Stainless Steel
3 Presto 02822 6-Cup Stainless-Steel Coffee Percolator
The Presto coffee percolator is a favorite among Amazon reviewers and frequently ranks at the top of other best percolator roundups. It also avoids using plastic during the perking process, which results in one of the smoothest coffee cups.
Additionally, it’s one of the few models that comes with paper filters, which prevented stray grinds from getting into our drink and made cleaning the Presto very simple (otherwise, you have to empty and clean the grinds from both the pot and the stainless-steel filter).
Nevertheless, the Presto is typically a little more expensive than others, and you won’t get those unique filters at your typical corner store.
However, there are several advantages to balance things out. The unit boasts a long-necked spout for accurate pouring, a detachable cord for convenient serving and storage, a ready-to-drink indicator light, an automatic keep-warm mode, and is lightweight and durable—thanks again to stainless steel.
Price : $129.99 (When reviewed)
Capacity: 12 Cups
Wattage: 500 watts
Style: Stainless Steel
4 Hamilton Beach Programmable Coffee Maker, 12 Cups
The Hamilton Beach, which was also plastic-free, made a rather good cup of coffee. The unit’s other advantages include a ready-to-serve indicator light, a detachable cord (which is a tad short), and an angled, drip-free spout.
In addition to having a cool-touch handle, the Hamilton Beach keeps coffee warm after brewing automatically. However, this coffee percolator was the heaviest one we tried, which, although not a deal-breaker, made it incredibly portable and comfortable to hold and operate.
Price : $85.99 (When reviewed)
Capacity: 12 Cups
dimensions : 3 x 3 x 175 inches
Brew Time: 5 minutes
Style: Stainless Steel
5 GSI Stainless Steel Conical Percolator
Without a hot cup of coffee in the morning, camping excursions are incomplete. With its rustic appearance, this GSI Outdoors percolator not only looks good, but it also prepares great coffee in a matter of minutes.
Both stovetops and grills over open fires can be used with the percolator. It is dishwasher safe if you want to clean it at home, and it is simple to maintain, so there isn’t much work to be done when you’re camping.
The percolator, which comes in a variety of sizes, is large enough to accommodate numerous friends or family members gathered around those late-night fires.
Although the item’s lightweight enamel makes packing it simple, some consumers claim that the coating can break off. A tiny plastic knob on top of the lid is another drawback; if it comes into contact with flames, it could melt or get hot. So, when utilizing, be cautious of that.
Price : $82.99 (When reviewed)
Capacity: 1200 Milliliters
dimensions: 4.53″D x 4.53″W x 6.69″H
Weight: 1.9 lbs (0.9 kg)
Style: Outdoor Equipment
What to Look for When Buying Coffee Percolators.
Stovetop vs. Electric
Selecting between an electric and stovetop coffee percolator is a smart place to start your search. Most stovetop percolators are dishwasher safe, more widely available, and less expensive.
Electric percolators, on the other hand, offer additional convenience during brewing and may prepare more coffee at once.
Price
The fact that coffee percolators are reasonably priced—typically even less expensive than drip coffee makers—is one justification for purchasing one. The capacity of a percolator often affects its price, suggesting that larger items are more expensive. Additionally, electric percolators are likely to be more expensive than stovetop versions.
Cleaning
Coffee percolators can be a little more difficult to clean because they don’t utilize paper filters. If this is a big problem for you, think about getting a dishwasher-safe percolator. Fortunately, dishwasher-safe choices are widely available. If not, be ready to manually rinse a number of tiny pieces after every usage.
Size
When buying percolators, size is undoubtedly important. Although two- to four-cup alternatives are available if that’s all the caffeine you need, percolators are preferred due to their 12-cup capacity. Choosing between an electric and stovetop coffee percolator is your next major decision.
Our Favorite Coffee Percolator
It was difficult to choose a favorite because all of our top choices had scores that were almost flawless. Our favorite coffee percolator is the Elite Gourmet Classic Stovetop 8-Cup Percolator because it strikes a balance between cost, capacity, usability, durability, and flavor.
How We Tested Coffee Percolator
Our testing procedure was really straightforward: we used freshly ground coffee in the percolator and followed the manufacturer’s directions for operation. Then, depending on who was testing, we brewed the same coffee using our favorite methods (pour-over, drip, or French press), and we compared the final coffee’s flavor. We collected information in the following categories while testing the percolator:
Design: In general, how robust is it? Does any part appear shoddy or inexpensive? From an ergonomic perspective, how comfortable is it to hold? When using the handle, does it feel hot?
Performance: What is the duration required to prepare the coffee? At what temperature is the coffee finished? Does the coffee contain any discernible grounds? What is the difference between the roaster’s tasting notes and the coffee’s flavor? Does the alternative approach produce different taste results than the percolator? Do any of the batches differ from one another? How well does the percolator work if it has a “keep warm” feature?
Usability: How simple is it to use the percolator to brew coffee? Is adding coffee grinds and filling it simple? How simple is it to pour the coffee after it’s done? Do leaks exist? Is it simple to transport and store?
Cleaning simplicity: Are any pieces of the percolator dishwasher safe, and how simple is it to clean?
Durability: Did testing cause any harm to the percolator? Has anything broken? Would we bring cooktop models along for the trip?
Why Trust The home and garden advisor?
Product evaluations and recipes are Donna Currie’s areas of expertise as Serious Eats have all featured her work. She has wrote a cookbook called “Make Ahead Bread” that aims to make baking bread easier.
Derek Rose, home and garden advisor coffee and tea specialist, updated this article. He conducts research on a range of coffee-related devices, including measuring scoops and commercial espresso machines, and seeks advice from subject matter experts.a culinary writer. Cookistry.com, her own recipe site, Fine Cooking.
FAQs
How do you use a coffee percolator?
A percolator is an easy-to-use device. To use one, fill it with water to the desired level, insert the tube into the water, arrange the basket on top of the tube, fill it with coffee grinds equal to the volume of water in the pot, cover the basket and the percolator, and then turn on the heat.
Naturally, the percolator will determine whether the heat is coming from an electrical outlet, a fire, an induction cooktop, or a stovetop. The coffee-making process starts when the water boils, and you can gauge its strength by seeing the water rise in the glass dome of the lid. A predetermined brew time is often a feature of electric
How do you clean a coffee percolator?
The simplest and messiest aspect of using a percolator is cleaning it. Because boiling water is running over or through the percolator, everything within is hot. Let it cool first. Then extract the inner pieces and dump the grinds, which will still be hot, so use a little caution. No, really, coffee grounds stay hot for a long time and have great insulating qualities.
Grounds will always get stuck in the basket, but if your sink can handle them going down the drain, you can either wipe them off or rinse them off. After that, if the manufacturer says it’s okay to do so, you can either hand wash the pot and its parts or put them in the
How does a percolator work?
Percolators typically operate similarly whether they are stovetop or electric. For want of a better term, there is a pot that contains water. A straw-like stem that rises nearly to the percolator’s height and rests on a semi-conical base enters the water
On top of the tube is a basket with a perforated cover, into which the grounds are placed. The pot is heated on the stovetop or with an electric heating element, and as it reaches a boiling point, it shoots up the tube.
The water bounces off a glass dome in the percolator’s lid as it leaves the tube. As the water exits the dome, it passes through the grounds basket’s perforated lid and filters—or percolates—through the grounds, absorbing the coffee along the way.
Upon returning to the pot, the infused water—now weak coffee—heats up once again, ascends the tube, and percolates once more. This recirculation intensifies and strengthens the coffee until it is done, at which point the user removes it from the burner or, in the case of electric models, the pre-programmed brew cycle concludes.
What’s the difference between a percolator and a moka pot?
Raub says pressure is the short response. Water is heated from below in a sealed chamber called a moka pot, and the pressure causes the water to rise over the grounds and exit the spout. Although it doesn’t generate enough pressure to produce authentic espresso, it produces coffee that most people find to be close enough to the genuine thing.
Boiling water is necessary for a percolator. The pressure from boiling water must push itself up the tube to begin brewing because the percolator is not a pressure-sealed vessel. Until the water reaches the required strength, it infuses and circulates.
What grind size should I use?
Any grind, from medium to coarse, works well for a coffee percolator. Logan Allender, Head of Coffee at Atlas Coffee Club, told us he prefers a medium grind, despite the fact that most people suggest a usual coarse grind.
“A medium grind will allow you to get good body out of your brew,” he said, “while not allowing any fine particles to fall through the mesh filter and create a silty cup.” For first-time percolator users, it might be better to start with a medium-coarse grind and gradually increase it.
Coarser grinds are preferred in brewing techniques that involve letting coffee sit in water for an extended period of time, such as in a percolator, French press, or cold brew maker, in order to release the flavors of the beans gradually.Coffee that has been finely ground would diffuse too soon and taste very bitter.
How long does it take a percolator to brew?
Six to ten minutes is the suggested brew time for a stovetop percolator. The entire process, however, may take closer to 15 or 20 minutes because this does not account for the time it takes for the water to begin boiling. Due in major part to the fact that electric percolators heat water at varying rates, brew times vary somewhat more. A common rule for electric percolators is one cup per minute.
This implies that brewing ten cups of coffee will take ten minutes, twelve cups will take twelve minutes, and so forth. Avoid leaving your percolator on for extended periods of time. These devices are particularly sensitive, and brewing for even a few minutes too long might result in coffee that is bitter and burnt.
How much coffee should I use?
One tablespoon of coarsely ground coffee is typically used for every cup of water in a percolator. A rich and delectable cup of coffee should be routinely brewed using this straightforward 1:1 ratio. To obtain the flavor that best suits their tastes, percolator owners should feel free to experiment with their own coffee-to-water ratios.
