Percolator method

Drip coffee makers utilize a single cycle for brewing coffee; one pass of hot water flows through the grinds, and coffee’s ready. Percolators utilize several cycles to create a finished pot of coffee. Percolators circulate hot water over coffee grinds once, and then continue to circulate the brewed coffee over the same grinds. Unlike drip coffee makers, a percolator allows you control how many times the brew cycle continues. Multiple cycles create a brew that tends to be more flavorful or “bolder” than the single cycle of a drip coffee maker. These multiple cycles provide yet another variable to the brewing process, giving you the opportunity to create a brew distinctly your own.

The components of a percolator brewer (aka “pot”) include:

a pot
a stem / tube
a brew basket with a hole in the center that connects to the stem
a cover for the brew basket. The holes in the cover help in dispersing the water.
a lid for the pot, with a knob that usually doubles as a window to monitor what’s happening inside the pot
and if it’s an electric pot, a power cord

reasons to love a percolator:

Percolator coffee has a heavier mouthfeel (some call it “body”) than coffee made via the drip method. Mouthfeel is the sensation we detect when drinking liquids. An extreme example of mouthfeel is water and whole milk. Would whole milk be as delicious if it felt like water in our mouth? The more weighty feel of perc coffee is attributed to the brewed coffee continually recirculating through the grinds, picking-up additional organic matter with each pass. And the larger filtration holes of the brew basket (when compared to paper filters) also contributes to the heavier body by allowing larger particles to make it to your cup.
Many people love a stovetop percolator because there’s no need to find an outlet for a machine or electricity during a power outage. No need to find more counter space for a small appliance.
For some it’s a joy not having to decipher cryptic buttons or confusing lights that flash obnoxiously in the wee hours of the morning. And some people just plain love the aesthetic of a percolator pot, some of them throwing a retro vibe as they sit on the kitchen counter.
Did we mention the fact percolators are easy to clean? Nice!
Some people enjoy the sound, visual, and aroma of a percolator’s gurgle for the moment of Zen or brief mesmerising escape it can provide.
Stovetop versions will last a lifetime while electric versions are limited by the longevity of their electronic components.

basics of the percolator method

necessary equipment:

Percolator: Choose one that makes the volume of coffee you wish to drink. One with a clear knob on the lid lets you observe the percolating coffee, allowing you to time the duration of your brew more precisely. And being percolators come in various styles– choose one that makes you smile!
Filters: Psyche! One of the best parts of a percolator is the fact there’s no need to purchase paper filters– enjoy the bliss (and money savings) of never running out! And that leads to another great thing about the percolator method— no filters to contribute to a compost or landfill!
Measuring cup: A liquid measuring cup to measure-out your water. Some percolator’s have measurement markings built into the pot itself; very convenient.
Measuring spoon: 1 Tablespoon in size is perfect.

Optional ways to improve your brew:

Grinder: Grinding whole bean coffee immediately prior to brewing almost always tastes better. Unground beans have a little extra somethin’ locked within their cell structure. The more of those tasty locked-up bits that make it to your cup, the more flavor you’ll get out of your percolator.
- Blade grinders: Blade grinders are just that, two blades spin to cut and smash the beans into grinds. A blade grinder is better than no grinder but if you want to step-up your game, burr grinders are the way to go.
- Burr grinders: The grinding mechanism of a burr grinder are the burrs. Burrs come in pairs, each having an etched surface that face each other. One burr remains stationary and the other burr spins. Beans fall between the burrs and are crushed to a size dictated by the adjustable gap between the burrs. You set the gap; the smaller the gap the smaller your grinds. Burrs deliver a more consistent grind than blades for the bean passes between the burrs only once. A more consistent grind allows for more consistent extraction, and thus a more predictable cup. Burr grinders cost more than blade grinders but are worth the money for the consistency they deliver. There are two styles of burr grinders, both are great:
  - Conical: Got its name based on the fact one of the burrs is shaped like a cone!
  - Flat burrs: Both burrs are flat, circular, and pretty much identical.

Water and Beans

Let’s dive into the details…

Water: Your cup of coffee contains approximately 2% coffee, the other 98% is water so needless to say, water is very important:
- Home filtered or bottled water is better than chlorinated tap water.
- Don’t use distilled water for it lacks the minerals needed to help extract the delicious flavors from the coffee.
Grind size: The universal grind found in our happy® cubes will work in a percolator— nothing more to do here! If grinding from whole bean a slightly more coarse grind may work better; something more coarse than Sugar In The Raw. If in doubt when choosing your grind opt for something slightly more coarse; this will minimize the fines. Fines are the itty bitty specks of coffee you sometimes find at the bottom of your cup.
Timer: Not needed if using an electric pot. If using a stovetop, a timer is ideal but a clock will work in a jam. Remember, this is your brew, and brew time plays a huge part in affecting the flavor of your final cup.

Let’s get brewin’

Time to put all of the above into action…

In the empty pot– that is a pot with no stem or basket inside --add your desired amount of water. Use a measuring cup, scale, or your percolator pot’s markings to measure the amount of water you will use.
Now place the stem / tube of the brewer into the water. Some stems have a base that rests on the bottom of the pot. Others need to be inserted into a hole in the base to stay upright.
Next, place the empty basket in the pot by threading the stem through the center hole of the basket. The stem will support the basket above the water below.
Add grinds to the basket. We recommend starting with 1 Tablespoon of coffee for every 5 ounces of hot water. If you like stronger coffee, add a touch more. If a slightly milder cup is to your liking, add a touch less. It will probably take a few percs to dial-in your exact preference– so don’t get deterred! If you want to impress your friends with your barista skills, a scale is the way to go. Weigh 1.63 grams of coffee for every ounce of water. Or use any ratio of 1:17, coffee to water. If using a scoop to measure the coffee, a common practice is to add an additional scoop to the basket– “and one for the pot!” as my grandfather used to say.
Place the cover on the basket.
Place the lid on the pot.
Now add some heat to that stovetop pot. Or if using an electric pot, now’s the time to plug it in. When using gas, keep the flame as high as possible without flowing beyond the base. If heating on an electric stovetop, use the element that’s as-close-as-possible to the diameter of the base without extending past it, and turn to high. For those using an electric pot, you can skip the next step.
After several minutes the boiling water will rise through the stem and hit the lid, creating a gurgle of sorts. Start your timer.
Dial down the heat to about half way. Ideally, use the lowest amount of heat required to keep the pot gurgling.
Patience. Percolator’s are anything but speedy when it comes to brewing coffee. Adding a dash of patience will help you enjoy the process; maybe even provide an early morning moment of Zen.
When finished, an electric pot will stop the brew cycle automatically. Some have a light that turns on (or off) indicating the end of the brew cycle. When using a stovetop pot, practice makes perfect. At a brew time somewhere between 3 - 6 minutes, turn-off the heat.

Before pouring, give the pot a minute or two for the fines to settle– Enjoy! But be careful, this is one of the hottest cups of coffee possible!

Sometime things don’t go as planned— no biggie!

Did the above not create a cup of coffee that put a smile on your face? Not to worry— there’s plenty of ways to fix it! All it takes is a little trial-and-error and a bit of patience. You got this! Here are 5 variables to look into for improvement:

Water
- Did you use the correct amount of water?
- Was the water of good quality?
Grinds
- Was the grind size correct?
- Did you use the correct amount of coffee for the water you chose? (aka, coffee-to-water ratio)
Time
- Was total brew time within the range of 3 - 6 min? Too strong, shorten the brew time. Too weak, extend it.
Turbulence
- Did you remember to place the cover on the basket?
Temperature
- After witnessing the first perc did you turn the flame down too low? Or not enough? The slowest possible gurgle is desired; a clear knob on the lid makes this easier to monitor.

Whether you’re brewing in a percolator or pod, whipping up an instant coffee or setting up for your morning pot, we’ve totally got you covered. #letscoffee