Table of Contents
Introduction
Making coffee in a coffee percolator is the best, most economical and most preferable option for those kinds of people who have limited resources and just want to make a strong or bold coffee without investing in any additional things. A coffee percolator allows its users to make strong coffee in a huge quantity with just a few simple steps.
If you are on an outdoor trip, want to make a huge amount of coffee for your home guests or want to prepare a coffee cup quickly for your breakfast table, a coffee percolator is an excellent choice for you. But if you have no idea about its working mechanism and are thinking about how to use a coffee percolator, then don’t worry about it.
In this article, we are going to explore the basics of a coffee percolator and its working mechanism and are going to understand the method of how to use a coffee percolator…
What is a coffee percolator
Before going towards how to use a coffee percolator directly, it is important to understand what a coffee percolator actually is. So, let’s start from its definition. A coffee percolator is an appliance consisting of a pot, a vertical tube and a filter basket.
It works on a simple old traditional method of a heat driven process. Basically, it circulates hot water through the coffee grounds until the maximum extraction is achieved.
Types of coffee percolators
Coffee percolators have two types. The stovetop coffee percolator and the electric coffee percolator. Both have the same working mechanism but have different control procedures, conveniences and ideal conditions of use and for better understanding of how to use a coffee percolator, it is necessary to understand both types.
Stovetop coffee percolator
The stovetop coffee percolator is a very well known type among the coffee lovers community. It is filled with all the required ingredients and has to be placed on a heat source like a gas stove, electric stove or campfire.
Because of that feature, it is ideally used in outdoor adventures like camping or places with no access to electricity.
Electric coffee percolator
The electric coffee percolator is an advanced version of the stovetop, designed by considering the requirements and needs of advancement. It also has the same working mechanism but with the additional feature of built in heating ability.
It requires electricity to operate but it adds some additional values like automatic temperature control and has more consistent brewing results.
Parts of a coffee percolator and their uses
For better understanding of how to use a coffee percolator, it is necessary to understand and acknowledge the composition and parts of a coffee percolator which play a key role in the brewing process. So, a coffee percolator appliance has the following parts…
Water chamber
Let’s start from the bottom section which is water chamber. The bottom of the coffee percolator in which water is added. This water chamber starts the process of percolation by heating the water.
Percolator tube
A vertical tube is present inside the center of the coffee percolator, designed to create a channel between hot water from the bottom and the coffee grounds at the filter basket. If this tube is not positioned properly, then it will result in an improper brewing or uneven extraction of coffee flavor.
Filter basket
It is a container needed to store the coffee grounds. It is located at the top of the percolator. It is usually designed to hold the coarse coffee grounds. At the time of percolating, it allows hot water to flow through coffee grounds evenly.
Spreader or Perforated Lid
The spreader or perforated lid is positioned on the top of the filter basket. The purpose of this spreader is to ensure proper extraction of coffee flavor by spreading hot water over the coffee grounds.
Outer pot and lid
The outer pot is the strong outside body of the coffee percolator and the lid is the upper part that covers the top area. This outer body holds the entire system together and helps to maintain the internal temperature during percolating. Some lids have a knob feature too, through which a person monitors the brewing process.
How to use a coffee percolator
Now, in this section we are going to explore our main topic i.e. how to use a coffee percolator, by following the steps of making coffee in it. So, let’s start from the understanding the requirement section that will be needed before going to make a coffee in a coffee percolator.
Requirements before using a coffee percolator
Coffee grounds with a perfect grind size
If the ground size is too fine then it will not hold in the filter basket but will pass through it along with the hot water and the result will be bitter and muddy.
For accurate brewing of coffee in a coffee percolator, the grind size of coffee grounds should be coarse. That will not only hold in the filter basket but also ensure the perfect extraction of flavor and aroma.
Coffee to water ratio
For making a perfect coffee cup, it is necessary to select an accurate coffee to water ratio. Here we mentioned a table below in which we mentioned a generalized coffee water ratio for a specific type of coffee.
| Coffee type | Coffee grounds QTY | Water QTY |
| For medium coffee taste | 1 tablespoon | 6 to 8 oz |
| For strong coffee | 1/2 tablespoon | |
| For mild coffee | Less than 1 tablespoon |
Other accessories
There are some optional accessories that you may require also at the time of using the coffee percolator. So, the list is given as follows
- Heat source (for your stovetop coffee percolator)
- Electric source (for operating electric coffee percolator)
- Coffee grinder (if you have coffee beans and want to grind those coffee beans into the perfect coarse size)
Step guide of how to use a coffee percolator
1. Add water to the water chamber
Start from its first step, remove the internal part of the percolator and pour fresh water into the bottom water chamber. Pour only the desired amount of water based on the coffee to water ratio. otherwise, it will result in an undesired full cup of coffee.
2. Put coffee grounds in the filter basket
The second step is to add the selected amount of coffee grounds to the coffee filter basket. Remember to select and add coarse ground coffee grounds in it.
3. Assembled the coffee percolator perfectly
The third step of how to use a coffee percolator is assembling. After adding water and coffee grounds, you have to assemble your coffee percolator. You have to place the percolator tube in the water chamber first then you have to position the filtered basket on the top of that tube and position the spreader on it and after ensuring that every part is fitted perfectly, close the outer lid tightly.
4. Start heating the coffee percolator
For stovetop percolator
Place the percolator on the heat source and start heating. Once heating starts, keep your eyes on the clear knob and watch the gentle bubbling. Avoid extreme heating, as it can cause over extraction and sometimes it can damage your appliance too.
For electric percolators
In the case of an electric percolator, you have to just plug in your coffee percolator and turn on its switch. Electric percolators have a feature to start heating automatically once the switch is on.
5. Monitor brewing
Now, you have to monitor the brewing process. The ideal time for a perfect brew in a coffee percolator is 5 to 10 minutes. But you can go for 10 minutes for a strong brew and 5 to 7 minutes for a lighter brew.
6. Remove from heat and serve
Once you notice from the knob that the beverage color has become darker then it is a sign that your coffee is ready, so it means your beloved coffee beverage is ready and you have reached towards the last step of how to use a coffee percolator.
Now, you have to remove your percolator from heat or turn it off. And after 1 minute of settling the grounds, you can pour, serve and enjoy your lovely coffee.