Percolate me!
December 28, 2015 5:45 AM   Subscribe

The two best cups of coffee of my life were brewed in percolators. One came from a new-ish Farberware percolator like this one, and the other was a long time ago from an unknown brand. I must have a coffee percolator.

I've read reviews for the various brands (Cuisinart, Hamilton Beach, Farberware) and most are very good; a few give terrible reviews, saying the coffee isn't hot enough, too many grounds end up in the coffee, or the pot is messy to deal with.

Percophiles, please share your recommendations with me. I'm looking for an electric model (not interested in the kind you put on the stove burner); 8-10 or 12 cup model; no special features; under $100 and available either on Amazon or in a big box store. Thank you!
posted by Kangaroo to Food & Drink (7 answers total) 4 users marked this as a favorite
 
I bought a Farberware percolator for my friend who also enjoys the perk, and she LOVES it. I got it at Macy's.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:50 AM on December 28, 2015 [1 favorite]


I love percolator coffee. It is outside of your buying guidelines, but our last two percs came from etsy. Our current model is similar to this one, and the light is very nice. I've never had a vintage percolator that didn't get piping hot. We only replaced our last one because it was glass and started to look really grody.

The key to good perc coffee is to keep it clean. We use drape-style filters, though they're not strictly needed (you can get them at Shop Rite) and clean the basket every couple of days in the dishwasher.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 6:21 AM on December 28, 2015


Sort of disappointed to read your additional details; the old Pyrex ones make a terrific brew, should you wish to re-consider the plug requirement.
posted by kmennie at 6:42 AM on December 28, 2015 [2 favorites]


Vintage is the way I brew. Corning Ware percolators are solid & somewhat plentiful. I've found a few thrift store/yard sale shopping & my grandma has made coffee in her Corning percolator since I can remember.

Pyrex percolators are also beautiful but feel more delicate.

Electric is not recommended as in my experience the water doesn't get quite hot enough to make awesome.
posted by countrymod at 7:20 AM on December 28, 2015 [2 favorites]


I have and love this one, and it's very inexpensive.
posted by slateyness at 9:11 AM on December 28, 2015


Best answer: I love my electric Faberware percolator (although I have the smaller version). This is the text of my Amazon review:

When my little drip coffee maker kicked the bucket and I needed a replacement, I decided to try a 4 cup electric percolator instead of a new drip coffee maker, with the following hopes:

- It would be easy to keep clean.
- It would make a hotter cup of coffee.
- It would be quick.
- I wouldn't need to use filters.
- The coffee would taste good (I like strong coffee, but not bitter).

After about a month of use, I'm happy to say that most of my hopes have been fulfilled.

- It is so easy to keep clean, which of course contributes to consistently good coffee.
- The coffee is so hot that I have to wait for it to cool before I can drink it. If I want milk, I don't have to worry about it cooling my coffee too much!
- It's pretty quick, 3 or 4 minutes to brew 2 cups. About the same as my little drip brewer used to be.
- I find that I still prefer to use a paper filter, although when I don't, there are still fewer grounds in my coffee than there used to be when I used the mesh filter that came with my old drip machine.
- The coffee is wonderful. I don't mind Folgers and Maxwell House; I drink either on weekday mornings to save money, and they do taste much better perc'ed. But on the weekends, I treat myself to fresh ground "specialty" beans, and I can really taste the difference! With the drip maker, everything tasted kind of the same. Additionally, I've found that I use less ground coffee to make the same strength of brewed coffee (I don't know if that's because the water temperature is hotter).

A few tips that I've found helpful (found either from reviews here or elsewhere online):
- Make sure that the washer at the base of the tube is free and rattling, not stuck to the fixed washer. Otherwise, the coffee will not perc long enough and it'll be weak.
- Wetting the basket before adding the ground coffee keeps the grounds in the basket better.
- If you don't want to use a filter and you don't want sediment, use an ounce or so more water than you want, and don't pour the dregs into your mug.

I'm very happy with my new percolator. And it's cute, too!

Update: I've been using my percolator almost daily for nearly five years now, and I'm still completely happy with it.
posted by Kriesa at 9:30 AM on December 28, 2015 [1 favorite]


Oh, my dear. Color me a vintage-Farberware percolator maven.
Why vintage?
Because the current pots are made in China, with vastly inferior thermostats that burn out after only a few months. I snagged my old ('60s) pot on eBay for about $45. This was a year ago. We've used it daily since then, and I'm sure it's going to bury us.
Another good thing about buying used: it's the ultimate in recycling.

Important: look for a pot with a glass knob. to be sure you're getting a good Made in USA pot. eBay treats the word "vintage" rather...elastically.

I only just now saw your note about Amazon or big box store. Dang it. Maybe I can change your mind?
posted by BostonTerrier at 2:05 PM on December 28, 2015 [1 favorite]


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