Top 10 Best Percolator Coffee Maker: The Expert Review for 2022

Finding the best percolator coffee maker for your home and lifestyle can be a chore. This article explores the ins and outs of percolator coffee brewing and contains detailed reviews of the top 10 products.

When it comes to brewing the perfect cup of coffee, there’s no shortage of options. From French press to espresso machine, brew baskets to pour-over paraphernalia, and every single method in between, the options for enjoying a fresh cup of joe seem nearly endless. However, one of the most common and oldest methods is also one of the most affordable: using a percolator coffee maker.

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What is a Coffee Percolator?

A Coffee Percolator is a kind of kettle used to brew coffee. It is one of the most traditional brewing methods for coffee at home. It extracts flavour through steam pressure and through the continuous cycling of boiling brew through the coffee grounds. Thus, providing us with a steaming dark, bitter coffee with a strong aroma.

A Coffee Percolator has two separate chambers, the lower chamber for water and an upper chamber for a filter basket containing coffee grounds. The Percolator draws hot water from the lower chamber to the upper one through the stem. This cycle repeats continuously several times. It is thus susceptible to over-extraction, if not monitored properly.

For more details about the mechanism of percolator coffee pot you can read: How Does a Percolator Coffee Pot Work: The Ultimate Guide for 2021

Types of Coffee Percolator

  • Stovetop Percolator
  • Electric Percolator

When buying a coffee percolator, you have a lot of options to choose from. Stovetop percolators are often cheaper than electric ones, which makes them very popular. The main advantage of stovetop percolators is that they can use different heat sources, such as gas, flame and charcoal.

Again you have less control on stovetop percolator than the electric one. Yet the coffee percolator for camping and outside visit is stopetop percolator.

Stovetop Percolator
Stovetop Percolator
Presto 02811 12-Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Maker-one of the best non toxic coffee maker
Electric Percolator

Top 10 Best Percolator Coffee Maker

Cuisinart PRC-12 Stainless-Steel Percolator

Presto 12-Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Maker

Primula Today Aluminum Stove Top Percolator Maker

Farberware 47053 Classic Stainless Steel Yosemite 12-Cup Coffee Percolator, 12 Cup Coffee Maker, Silver

Hamilton Beach 12 Cup Electric Percolator Coffee Maker

GSI Outdoors 12 Cup Enamelware Percolator Coffee Pot for Campsit

GROSCHE Milano Stovetop Espresso Maker Moka po

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CAFÉ BREW COLLECTION High End Glass Stovetop Percolator Coffee Po

COLETTI Bozeman Coffee Pot – Coffee Percolator 

Valgus Commercial Grade Stainless Steel Coffee Urn with Percolator

What Coffee Grind is best for Percolator Pot?

Freshly medium coarse-ground beans are best for a Percolator brew. A dark roast will produce more bitter coffee while the light roast will lose its depth of flavour during the percolation.

For More information you can read: How Coarse to Grind Coffee for Percolator: The Ultimate Guide for 2021

How to Brew Coffee in a Percolator?

Things You’ll Need:

  • Fresh Coarse Ground Coffee
  • Cold Water
  • A Clean Pot
  1. Firstly, make sure that all parts of the percolator are cleaned because the leftover coffee ground can affect the taste and texture of the new batch.
  1. Pour cold water into the lower chamber. Make sure the water doesn’t go above the little holes.
  1. Place a coffee filter/flat paper filter right down inside the basket (Optional, for more smoothness). Add ground coffee to the upper chamber i.e. the basket. Press it down gently. We recommend 15 gm of ground coffee for every 250 ml of water or 1 Tablespoon of coffee ground per cup of water.
  1. Place the stem over the lower chamber and fit the filter basket over its top.
  1. Place the basket lid on the top. Close up the percolator.
  1. Turn on the heat. Start with medium heat and reduce the heat to low when you see water starts bubbling up into the globe. This prevents it from boiling. Perk it for another 5-7 minutes. (Do not let it produce steam as it makes it bitter.)
  1. Turn off the heat and remove the percolator. Let it sit for 1-2 minutes as it lets the water drain down back in the lower chamber and it lets the loose grounds sink. Remove the basket and stem. Discard the coffee grounds. Now pour it out into your mug. Your coffee is ready!

If you are using an Electric Percolator, then after the 5th step, just plug it in. Electric Percolator switches off automatically. Read the manual properly before using it. The total time The Percolator takes is 8-10 minutes.

How to Make Coffee with a Percolator 

Drip Coffee Makers vs. Stovetop Percolators: Which is Best?

Automated vs Manual

Drip Coffee Makers are automated and thus are expensive. You set them and forget them and thus are more friendly to use. Whereas StoveTop Percolators are a traditional coffee maker and are manual and thus are comparatively cheaper.

Light vs Strong Taste

Drip Coffee Maker produces lighter, smoother flavoured and less strong coffee. This is because it runs through the ground only once. Whereas StoveTop Percolators produces a more strong, saturated, deep and rich taste of coffee.

Control

Drip Coffee Maker, being the automated one, offers less control over brewing time. StoveTop Percolators, on the other hand, offers more control over brewing time.

Portability

Drip Coffee Maker are less portable than the StoveTop Percolators. Percolators are more preferred for camping and outdoor events.

Frequent Monitoring

Drip Coffee Maker doesn’t require frequent monitoring and thus provides more convenience. StoveTop Percolators, when using, needs to be kept a close eye on, to control the temperature. Else there will be a risk of overboiling, burning and over-extraction. This can spoil your coffee taste.

Depth of Flavour

Coffee brewed using Drip Coffee Maker produces less depth of flavours. StoveTop Percolators produces a more robust and depth of flavoured coffee.

Clean

Drip Coffee Makers are not easy to clean whereas StoveTop Percolators are.

The Winner

The winner depends upon the individual to individual. If you prefer light and less strong coffee, then Drip Coffee Maker is the one. But if you prefer strong and bitter coffee with a deeper aroma, then Stove Percolator is your winner.

How do you Clean a Percolator?

Cleaning the Percolator is necessary as leftover coffee grounds can affect the flavour and can clog the basket. Leaving coffee residue in the percolator for a longer time might stain the walls of the percolator. Consequently, affecting the taste and texture of the new batch. So, you need to clean the percolator properly right after every use.

  • Basic Cleaning after every use:

Use warm soapy water to clean the percolators’ parts. Scrub any coffee stains or coffee residue. Clean the stem and basket properly. Rinse it out properly with water. Use non-abrasive materials/ sponge to clean it up when handwashing.

  • Deep Cleaning:
  • Vinegar:

To deep clean the percolator and to remove the stains and oil residue, use vinegar. Fill the lower chamber with half vinegar and half water. Insert the basket and close the lid. Let it heat for 10 minutes. Drain the water. Now let it cool for few minutes. Then wash it with a dishwasher. If the smell of the vinegar doesn’t go away, boil water again but without the vinegar.

  • Baking Soda:

Fill the pot with hot water and 1 Tablespoon of Baking Soda. Let it sit for few hours and then rinse it with clean water.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much coffee do I need to make percolator coffee?

The general rule says to use one tablespoon of coarsely grounded coffee per cup of water or 15 gm of ground coffee for every 250 ml of water. But if you want a stronger brew, add more of the ground coffee. Feel free to experiment with the right ratio as per your taste!

Is it better to grind my own coffee?

The answer is Yes! It preserves flavour, freshness and aroma and to take control over it. If you are a regular coffee drinker or a coffee-savvy person, you’ll notice the taste difference between freshly ground coffee and pre-ground coffee. 

Bottom Line

Coffee brewed using a percolator produces a coffee with a stronger, darker and richer taste. That is why Percolators remain one of the best methods to brew a coffee. An investment in a Percolator and a bit of practice to brew the right way is all you need to get a lip-smacking cup of coffee. So, Happy grinding!

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