The Best Coffee Percolator

A coffee percolator is made up of a pot that has a small chamber at the bottom close to the heat source. From the chamber up to the top of the percolator, there is a vertical tube, and below the upper part of it, there is a perforated chamber. The heat source, such as a stove, heats the water in the bottom chamber, and it starts to boil. The boiling creates bubbles which are directed towards the tube, and push water up and out of the tube. From the top, water flows out into the coffee chamber. Holes in the lid distribute the water over the grounded coffee. The water then leaks through the coffee and the bottom of the coffee chamber. Then, the fresh coffee flows into the bottom chamber, and the cycle repeats. As the brew continues to cycle, the overall temperature reaches boiling point, at which the sprouting stops, which means the coffee is ready.

A percolator works by recirculating near-boiling water through grounded coffee until you achieve the strength you want. The water from the bottom of the pot becomes hot and is drawn up into the tube to drip into the grounds. Start by pouring water into the bottom chamber off and putting the percolator onto the stove or another heat source. Once it starts to boil, add your grounded coffee, ideally into the metal filter basket. Lower the heat level and let it brew for around 7 or 8 minutes. Then, remove it from the heat source and let it settle. Pour your cup and taste the strength. When pouring, watch out to not bring the coffee grounds up into your cup, which will happen if your percolator has a too-deep tip. If your brew is weak, cook for longer, and if it is too strong, then take it off the stove earlier next time.

There is no set time on how long you should let your coffee perk, as it mainly depends on how strong you like to drink your coffee. You should never let it brew longer than 10 minutes, as it will be burned, and will taste dry and bitter. Letting coffee perk for 5-8 minutes is usually optimal, but this depends on the percolation method you choose to use. What is more important than the amount of time you brew is how careful you are with the entire process. You must keep a close eye on it at all times to make sure there is no steam leaving the kettle because this means the water is boiling and oversaturating your grounded coffee. You must raise the temperature slowly, and lower it before it reaches the boiling point.

Hand washing a coffee percolator after each use will keep it clean, but after some use, you will start to see noticeable stains that will be tough to get out with a wash. Once you notice this happening, you will need to grab a few tools and give it a thorough cleaning. Start by filling your coffee percolator with water and mix in three tablespoons of baking soda. Turn the percolator on and let it go through a few cycles, then switch it off. Let the device cool, then scrub inside it with a brush and rinse well. Afterward, fill it with half water and half vinegar and let it perk. Rinse and let the water out. Finally, do a third cycle with only water, then let it air dry.