Some people think that percolators are something that older generations of people used and that there isn’t a place for them in modern society. Although percolators were indeed extremely popular at one time, before their popularity waned in the 1970s, they’re currently making a big comeback. A lot of people are beginning to come back to using them because they do such a good job of brewing coffee and are an efficient time-saving morning coffee solution. We know that we’ve rediscovered them, and we’re glad that we came back to these great devices. It’s also the reason why we’ve decided to review the best coffee percolators currently available.
Quick Summary of the Best Coffee Percolators
- Best Overall: Euro Cuisine 12-Cup Stainless-Steel Percolator (Amazon) – Review
- Best Camping: Coletti Bozeman Percolator 12-Cup Coffee Pot (Amazon) – Review
- Best Small Capacity: Cook N’ Home Stainless-Steel 8-Cup Percolator (Amazon) – Review
- Best Value: Farberware Classic Yosemite Coffee Percolator (Amazon) – Review
Best Overall: Euro Cuisine 12-Cup Stainless-Steel Percolator
The first thing that anyone looking at the Euro Cuisine coffee percolator for the first time is going to notice is that it’s a beautiful looking coffee pot. This model is made with a stainless steel body that has a beautiful copper finish to it that makes it look like a fine piece of art with a patina to it.
It’s the kind of percolator no one would have a problem showing off to their friends and family. This model just doesn’t have good looks going for it, however. It also has several features that make it easy to use, allow it to make a great deal of coffee, and also make a great pot of coffee. Let’s explore some of its features.
This percolator has a large capacity of 12-cups, so the coffee lover can brew enough coffee for an entire day’s worth of caffeine. It also has a stay-cool handle and base that makes it safer to use and a clear window that allows the user to see just how much water is in the percolator.
This model is also equipped with a ready-to-serve indicator light that makes it easier for the consumer to know when the coffee is done. And as if all of that wasn’t sufficient to make this model great, it also has a detachable cord. Of course, this pot’s styling and host of features do make it more expensive than other percolators, but we do feel that it’s worth it.
Best Camping: Coletti Bozeman Percolator 12-Cup Coffee Pot
We imagine that some people might be confused as to why we’ve recommended a camping coffee percolator for the number two position on our list, but there’s a good reason for that. It’s because this model is one of the best coffee percolators around.
Yes, let’s just forget that this is a camping percolator and instead describes it as a great household percolator that can also be used for camping. We found that it not only had a 12-cup capacity, but it also had a real glass percolator dome and makes a great pot of coffee. All of which makes this the right percolator for just about anyone.
This product is made out of 18/8 stainless steel, which makes it extremely durable, and it makes the perfect pot of coffee when it’s placed on a stove. Unlike electric percolators that can burn the coffee, this one sits on a stove burner, so the user has more control over the coffee-making process.
The fact that it can be used on an open flame is the reason why it’s also a great camping percolator. This model also comes with filters for consumers who like to use a more finely ground coffee in their percolator. Although we didn’t like the fact that we had to hold the lid while we poured, we otherwise thought that this was a great model anyone can enjoy using.
Best Small Capacity: Cook N’ Home Stainless-Steel 8-Cup Percolator
For consumers who aren’t looking to spend a lot of money on a new coffee percolator but still need a model that will hold up to daily use, this one is a pretty good model to own. It’s made with a mirror stainless steel body that’s non-reactive, retains heat very well, and has an 8-cup capacity.
It also features a stainless-steel permanent filter basket that can be easily removed for cleaning. Sure, we’re not too fond of the knob of this percolator, or its handle that is made of plastic, which could potentially melt if the consumer isn’t careful with it, it’s otherwise a great percolator for home use.
This model can be used for making coffee, making tea, or for boiling water. It’s designed with a drip-free spout, and it pours very well without spilling. Although this coffee pot isn’t compatible with induction cooktops, it can be easily used with all other stovetops including propane, gas, and electric models.
This percolator is also fully immersible, so it can be hand cleaned and dishwasher-safe so it can be tossed into a dishwasher. And since this model has a hinged lid, the consumer doesn’t have to worry about losing the top when they are cleaning it. That makes this percolator great for any home looking for a quality model.
Best Value: Farberware Classic Yosemite Coffee Percolator
First thing’s first: This is the most durable coffee percolator that we’ve ever reviewed. We’re not saying that it’s going to fall apart, but it can be felt that this model isn’t as durable as the other ones we’ve reviewed. Of course, this model is also half the price of some of the top coffee percolators that we’ve reviewed.
Having said all of that, however, we do feel that this is a decent budget coffee percolator. It’s an 8-cup model that should hold up if the consumer treats it with a little bit of care. It’s also a model that brews better-tasting coffee than plastic automatic drip coffeemakers.
This model is made out of stainless steel that has a mirror finish. It also features a clear knob on top that allows the consumer to see when the percolator is percolating. This part is made out of glass and if there’s any part on this percolator that’s going to break, it’s going to be that glass knob.
Fortunately, we haven’t had any problems with it and have found the percolator to hold up well. This model is dishwasher-safe and can be submerged in water, so the consumer should have no problem keeping it clean. This might not be the best percolator available, but it still works well.
A Guide To Buying & Using A Coffee Percolator
We hope that all of our readers have enjoyed the coffee percolator reviews we’ve done, but we’d like to do something a little bit different now. We wanted to create a guide that will help the consumer not only purchase the best coffee percolator available but also use that coffee pot to make a great cup of coffee. And we think that this guide is the guide that we wanted to make. We hope it will provide all of our readers with the information they need for buying and using coffee percolators in their homes.Â
[wc_fa icon=”cutlery” margin_left=”” margin_right=”10″ class=””][/wc_fa]Purchasing A Great Coffee Percolator
Before we get into the specifics of making a great pot of coffee using nothing more than water, high-quality coffee grounds and a percolator, we want to talk about some of the features that can be found on the best percolators. Below are some things that consumers should consider before they purchase their next percolator to ensure that they buy one that fits their needs.Â
[wc_fa icon=”spoon” margin_left=”” margin_right=”10″ class=””][/wc_fa]Consider Percolator Construction
How the percolator is made is probably one of the more important things for the consumer to think about. Generally, the consumer is going to want to make sure that they buy one that’s made out of stainless steel and has a glass knob. Lesser quality models are often made out of aluminum and usually contain plastic handles and/or knobs. The consumer should look for a percolator made with 18/8 stainless steel and with a glass knob.
[wc_fa icon=”spoon” margin_left=”” margin_right=”10″ class=””][/wc_fa]Consider The Percolator’s Capacity
Another thing that the potential percolator user is going to want to consider is the size of the model they need. Percolators come in sizes from 4-cups up to 12+ cup models. The consumer should buy the right size for their home. Some people only need enough coffee for their needs and other people may need to make enough coffee for the entire household. Therefore, the consumer should buy what’s appropriate for their needs and lifestyle.Â
[wc_fa icon=”spoon” margin_left=”” margin_right=”10″ class=””][/wc_fa]Other Features To Consider
Before we move on to our next section, we would like to list some of the other features that the coffee connoisseur might want to think about before settling on a percolator. Although the following features aren’t as important as the ones we’ve already covered, they are worth mentioning.Â
- Stay-Tight Lids
- Removable Power Cords For Electric Percolators
- Removable Permanent Filters
[wc_fa icon=”cutlery” margin_left=”” margin_right=”10″ class=””][/wc_fa]Tips For Making Coffee Using A Percolator
The next thing that we want to talk about is how to use the percolator to make a great pot of coffee. Even though most people will find using a coffee percolator to be easy and satisfying, we would like to cover some of the basics to make sure everyone understands the basic principle behind them. With that being said, let’s get started with this primer on making coffee percolator coffee.Â
[wc_fa icon=”spoon” margin_left=”” margin_right=”10″ class=””][/wc_fa]Use A Coarse Ground Coffee
Anyone who is using a percolator without a paper filter is going to want to use a coarse ground coffee. If the consumer is using a paper filter, they can use a medium ground coffee, but they should never use a finely ground coffee in the percolator—not unless they like the taste of drinking grounds. The consumer should also avoid using dark roasted coffee in their percolator because it will make a bitter coffee in a percolator.
[wc_fa icon=”spoon” margin_left=”” margin_right=”10″ class=””][/wc_fa]Use Purified Water
It’s also a good idea for the consumer to use purified water in their percolator. Although it’s not mandatory to use purified water, it does produce better tasting water than just using plain tap water.Â
[wc_fa icon=”spoon” margin_left=”” margin_right=”10″ class=””][/wc_fa]Don’t Over Brew The Coffee
The next thing that the consumer should think about is the brewing process itself. They will want to make sure that they don’t brew the coffee at too high of a temperature or try to brew it too long. From the time the water is heated up to the time the coffee is poured shouldn’t be more than 6 to 8-minutes. Anything shorter than that is under-brewed and anything over that is over-brewed.Â
[wc_fa icon=”spoon” margin_left=”” margin_right=”10″ class=””][/wc_fa]Decant The Coffee After Brewing
Probably the best trick we can give our readers to help them produce a great pot of coffee is to decant the coffee after they’ve brewed it. What we mean is that the consumer should put it into a separate coffee pot for serving after they’ve brewed it. Why? Because if it’s left in the percolator, the pot will continue to brew the coffee and that will make it bitter over time.Â