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Coffee percolation is a much older method that is without many of the bells and whistles of today’s brewing methods. Many people nowadays don’t want to percolate their coffee because it takes too much time and effort. In reality, it takes just a little patience, practice, and 5 minutes out of your morning to make perfectly-percolated coffee.
What is Coffee Percolation?
A coffee percolator is a kettle-like contraption that lets you brew coffee in a very innovative way. The usual drip/pour over method involves water seeping through the coffee grounds and extracting their flavor. Percolating, on the other hand, uses steam to saturate the grounds before it filters through the coffee.
There are two ways to perk your coffee: on the stove and via an electric percolator.
Stovetop Percolation
The traditional method of percolating is using a coffee percolator on the stove. A consistent, hot temperature that isn’t quite at boiling is crucial – a lot of people tend to overheat their coffee, which creates a nasty, bitter taste. The water should be kept at a temperature just below boiling for around 5 minutes so that it’s rich and strong, not burnt.
Electric Percolation
Electric percolators take the guesswork out of the process. As long as you have the right coffee beans and a good coffee to water ratio, you can make a great-tasting cup every time without any hassle. The kettle has its own heat plate and temperature sensors that heat the water to the perfect temperature.
How Long Should You Percolate Your Coffee?
It really depends on how strong you like your coffee, but anything over 10 minutes will burn the brew and make it taste bitter and dry. 5-8 minutes is optimal, but this varies depending on which percolation method you use. The time isn’t as important as how careful you are with the process. It’s definitely a very active, hands-on brewing method that requires you to keep a close eye on it.
You have to watch the percolator to make sure that there’s no steam coming out of the kettle. This means that the water is boiling, and is likely oversaturating your coffee grounds. You have to raise the temperature very slowly, and reduce the heat before it starts to boil.
Percolating your coffee sounds like a very complicated process, but it’s actually incredibly simple. With enough practice, you’ll be able to brew enjoyable perked coffee, cowboy-style, in under just 10 minutes.
Anthony is a professional barista in the city of Chicago. He has written for many online publications on various topics related to coffee.
Is the percolator set for an amount of time to brew or does it sense when the brew is strong enough ?
Did you even read the article, bro?
😂😂😂
Most are thermostatically controlled
Yay death wish and Saratoga Springs NY
Water boils at 212 degrees farenheit at sea level. If it’s not boiling, your coffee’s not percolating. That’s how the machine works.
But apparently and according to many internet experts, percolators are somehow able to bypass the laws of physics.
And no, a hard boil is not hotter. Boiling is a transition from liquid to gas. You should have learned that in the 5th grade.
AMEN!
💜😂🍰☕️
I have found that bringing the water in the percolater to a boil slowly helps keep any bitter taste down, then continue at that gentle “boil” for about 8 minutes. It has been a learning process for sure.
Simple information would have been sufficient. You denigrated the writer. Was that really necessary?
Thanks man good post
I’m trying to learn how to brew a decent cup of coffee with a small (3-4 cup) percolator. I’ve read tht 7 to 10 minutes time is optional. Does the time start when the clear “bead” at the top first show liquid? Thanks
Thank you so much ! It is my first time camping and we wanted coffee …. epic fail first try 😢. Will get it right now going forward !
Great articles! Loads of info. Thank you! My 1960s Pyrex percolator is great. Makes the best coffee.
I bought me an ole timey 9 cup coffee percolator and made my first cups of coffee this morning, and I le tit percolate for about 10-15 minutes and the coffee is good, ofcourse, I use 8 Oclock coffee my mom use to use when I was a kid 61 years ago.
Did I read the stovetop method correctly? The water should be kept at a temperature right before boiling LOL, and steam shouldn’t come outta the top? LOL, how are you supposed to make coffee? EASY-1. Fill water amount 2. Coffee-6 scoops for two cups (strong)3. High heat for 5 minutes 4. Lower heat medium another 3-5 minutes more… turn stove off and ENJOY
Instant coffee,the cheaper the better.Served at room temperature with a couple of biscuits.Limit yourself to a max of 12 cups during daylight hours,after dark anything goes.Guaranteed to preserve most internal organs meaning embalming at death is not really necessary.
How long should you let a 1959 non-automatic mirro aluminum electric percolator brew 4 cups of coffee