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What is the best coffee percolator of 2020? Well, we have done the research for you, and given you a place to start, on 5 of the best coffee percolators on the market. Hopefully, our reviews will help you with an idea of what to look for in a good percolator.
Our reviews are based on information painstakingly gathered from various independent and trusted sources as well as our own experience.
Top 5 Best Coffee Percolators 2020 – Comparison Table
Last update on 2023-03-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Top 5 Best Coffee Percolators – Reviews
Our Pick – Farberware 47053 Classic Stainless Steel Yosemite 12-Cup Coffee Percolator, 12 Cup Coffee Maker, Silver
If you are on a tight budget but still want the benefits of percolating your coffee, this is a great choice. Durable and convenient, this percolator will allow you to drink a fresh and rich cup caffeinated beverage every morning! It is also the only classic stovetop coffee percolator we review in this post.
This percolator comes in two sizes: an 8-cup model (50124) and a 12 cup model (47053). The larger 12-cup coffee percolator measures 8.9 x 7.3 x 10.8 inches and weighs 2.8 pounds, so you need to have a pretty strong wrist, or use two hands, to lift this larger percolator when its full of coffee.
The best thing about this percolator is that it is made out of heavy-duty stainless steel that is polished to a mirror shine. It is so shiny that you can check how you look in the morning whilst drinking your coffee! I wouldn’t do this simply because I don’t look all that great when I drink my first coffee of the day.
The stainless steel build is sturdy and ensures that you will be able to use it for years to come. We aren’t the happiest with the Farberware warranty policy, considering that there is always a potential for built-in defects. The glass knob on the lid is useful to see when the coffee starts percolating, but it seems a bit flimsy.
A great feature of these percolators is that you will not be dealing with a lot of filter cleaning. How so? Instead of including the common filter papers, the basket is made out of stainless steel. This makes the whole brewing process more reliable and enjoyable.
There is no aluminum in the build and it is completely dishwasher safe. If you don’t have time for handwashing, just throw it in your machine! There is no doubt that this product will give you the coffee you want (need?) in plentiful amounts!
In the end, it is just the ideal choice if you are always on the go or want a coffee maker for your camping trip!
- Value for money
- Easy to use
- Heat resistant handle
- Electricity not needed
- Makes 6 or 12 cups of coffee depending upon the model
- Dishwasher safe
- Flimsy glass knob
- Warranty could be longer
Presto 02811 12-Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Maker
This percolator is incredibly effective for brewing multiple cups of coffee at the same time. The Presto coffee percolator comes in a 6-cup model (02822) and a 12-cup model (02811). The 12-cup model is a best seller on Amazon.
This percolator uses the common hot water circulation method to ensure that all the grounds are saturated for optimal brewing. Attractive, compact, and reliable, this is an investment that you will not regret!
If you are not familiar with Presto, it is among the most reputable brands when it comes to coffee brewing machines. Thus, it doesn’t surprise us that this product is covered by a one-year limited warranty. Of course, this is for manufacturer’s defects. If the damage happens because of faulty use, you can ask for it to be repaired but with a cost.
The first thing that we noticed is the power of 500 watts, and this means you can get your brewed coffee fast! I love the sound of percolated coffee: that delicious ‘burble, pop, burble’ it always gets me salivating in anticipation of a good cup of coffee. However, it is not as noisy as some other coffee makers (e.g. an espresso machine).
The detachable cord will allow you to maneuver the percolator without any issues and the drip-free spout will improve your serving game.
Once the coffee is ready to serve, the indicator light will shine red. This is useful for those who are new to this brewing method and are not sure when they should turn off the percolator. The percolator has a sleek design and a good pouring spout.
The 6-cup model is 7.5 x 4 x 10 inches and weighs 2lbs and the 12-cup model is 13.1 x 9.7 x 6.2 in and weighs 2.9 lbs. Consequently, you either need a fairly strong wrist or use two hands to pour with the 12-cup coffee percolator. You also need to be careful that you don’t burn yourself because the outer casing of the percolator gets very hot (makes sense right?) but the handle remains cool (that also makes sense).
We love the fact that, even if you let it sit for a while, the coffee will remain warm provided you have it still plugged in.
People have been scared by reports of aluminum associated with dementia but this only seems important for people working with aluminum (or in an aluminum plant) and not for people drinking percolated coffee. According to Presto the 02822 percolator has an aluminum perk well at the bottom of the pot, but it has a stainless steel basket and perk tube. The reason they use aluminium is that it conducts heat faster than steel.
- Fast and Powerful
- Easy to use
- Heat resistant handle
- Portable
- Makes up to 12 cups of coffee depending upon the model
- Ready to serve indicator
- A ‘no drip’ spout
- Price on the high side
- Aluminium build
Cuisinart PRC-12 Classic 12-Cup Stainless-Steel Percolator, Black/Stainless
Cuisinart has been in the business for decades, so there is little to worry about the quality of this percolator.
It is a bit more expensive than other percolators in this review but it has an array of useful features and a three-year warranty that could justify its price.
This percolator is portable after you detach the power cord.
If you want to keep it warm while you get other things settled, just plug it back in.
It also has a no-drip spout and can make from 4 to 12 cups of coffee. It does have aluminum in its build but it also has stainless steel as the base material for both housing and the interior.
Two other useful features of this percolator are that it has a heat-resistant handle and base to protect you from burning yourself or damaging tabletops. However, the body of the percolator still gets very hot, so be careful. The transparent knob at the top works together with the ready-to-serve indicator to alert you when your coffee is ready.
This percolator is worth the price if you need a powerful machine with a good capacity and a solid warranty.
- Value for money
- Easy to use
- Heat resistant handle
- 500 W power
- Makes s6 or 12 cups of coffee depending upon the model
- Large filter
- Aluminium build
West Bend 54159 Classic Stainless Steel Electric Coffee Percolator with Heat Resistant Handle and Base Features Detachable Cord, 12-cup, Silver
West Bend may not be as well-known as Cuisinart but the brand still focuses on customer satisfaction. They offer a one-year limited warranty to keep you worry-free (for one year at least).
The two main differences between this electric percolator and the others we reviewed (except the Farberware Classic Yosemite) are that there is no aluminum in its build and it is very powerful at about 950 Watts. This means it takes very little time to brew your favorite coffee.
There are many features that justify a higher price. You will be happy to use the coffee level indicator on the handle. Also, the ready-to-serve light lets you know when your coffee is ready. Additionally, the keep-warm mode will ensure your coffee stays fresh as long as the machine is plugged in.
The West Bend percolator has a heat-resistant handle and base to ensure your safety from burns or damage to tabletops. The detachable cord also allows you to carry it anywhere you want.
Unfortunately, this percolator lacks the no-drip spout. Maintenance should not be an issue as, instead of paper filters, there is a stainless-steel basket. Overall, the West Bend percolator is a worthy choice!
- Stainless steel build
- Easy to use
- Heat resistant handle
- Heat resistant base
- 950 W power
- Makes up to 12 cups of coffee depending upon the model
- Ready to serve indicator
- Price on the high side
- Lacks a ‘no drip’ spout
Maxi Matic Elite Platinum 12-Cup Percolator, Stainless Steel/Black
Last but not least is this affordable percolator that combines aesthetics and functionality. It has an attractive design and can brew up to 12 cups of coffee.
The Maxi-Matic uses 1,000 watts to ensure a smooth and fast brewing process. We like the comfortable grip and the 360-degree swivel on the power base. The percolator lifts easily from the power base and you can serve your coffee without having to detach any power cords.
There is also a compartment in the base that allows you to wrap around the power cord to keep it out of the way. This percolator has a comfortable heat-resistant handle and a no-drip spout, so pouring coffee from this percolator will be a pleasurable experience.
The Maxi-Matic is constructed from stainless steel and has a stainless-steel basket filter.
The big problem with this percolator is that there is no shutdown button. You can only shut it down by shutting off the switch at the power socket or pulling the plug. This seems to be a design oversight by the manufacturer.
Nevertheless, the price is fair and it has some useful features. The Maxi-Matic percolator should make any morning better!
- Stainless steel build
- Easy to use
- Heat resistant handle
- Swivel base
- Massive 1000 W power
- Makes up to 12 cups of coffee
- Ready to serve indicator
- Price on the high side
- Lacks a ‘no drip’ spout
Conclusion
Our best pick is the Farberware 47053 Classic Stainless Steel Yosemite 12-Cup Coffee Percolator. It is versatile, easy to use, and a classic. Take it anywhere to make a great cup of percolated coffee.
Our next pick would be the Maxi Matic Elite Platinum 12-Cup Percolator.
It has a useful swivel base and is easy to use. Plus it has a massive 1000 Watt power.
There are many other features and personal preferences that you may like to consider.
However, I hope that the information we have provided for you in this post information helps you make an informed decision on the best coffee percolator for you!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Are Coffee Percolators Experiencing a Revival?
If you use Google Trends and type in ‘coffee percolator’, then you can see that the search trend for this phrase has gradually increased from October 2008. Google Trends is a tool you can use to show you the popularity, and the trend, of words that people type into Google Search. In this case, more and more people are using the phrase ‘coffee percolator’ to search Google (the inverted commas are just my way of identifying the phrase). It is also interesting that the peaks in the graph occur about November and December each year – maybe people looking for Christmas gifts?
Source: Google Trends using the phrase ‘coffee percolator’
Some people may think that percolating your coffee is an old-school brewing method, but it is still a great way to get a strong cup of coffee. And Google Trends does seem to show that coffee percolators are experiencing a revival – especially around Christmas!
Is it a Coffee Percolator or a Moka Pot?
People often get confused between a coffee percolator and a Moka pot. What is the difference between a percolator and a Moka pot? You will often see a Moka pot labeled as a percolator (but not often the other way around). Both can sit on the stovetop (or have an electric version) and use hot water to extract ground coffee, but the brewing method is different. See our post for more details about the difference between a Moka pot and a percolator….
A Moka pot consists of three chambers: a bottom chamber containing water, a middle chamber containing ground coffee, and a top chamber containing the final coffee brew. The bottom and middle chambers are interconnected as are the middle chamber and top chamber. There is no direct connection between the bottom chamber and the top chamber.
A Moka pot brews coffee by passing pressurized hot water through ground coffee. The strength of the coffee is not usually adjusted by the time of brewing because the water never returns to the bottom chamber.
For a quick tutorial on how to make your coffee with a Moka pot see our other post here.
The following diagrams show you how a percolator and a Moka pot work to brew coffee.
How to use a Coffee Percolator?
All coffee percolators have the same method of making coffee and that is by recycling hot water through ground coffee.
All percolators also have similar components such as the two interconnected chambers, the coffee basket, spreader, and stem (or perk tube). The percolators differ in their design, the materials (e.g. stainless steel), and their heat source (electric or stovetop).
- Take out the inner basket, spreader, and stem
- Put 1 cup of water in the bottom chamber of the percolator for each person
- Grind your coffee beans (medium to coarse). You need about 5 to 7 g (0.18 to 0.25 oz) of coffee beans to give one tablespoon of ground coffee.
- Put about 1 tablespoon of coffee in the basket for each cup of water you use to make the coffee
- Replace the inner basket, spreader, and stem
- Put the lid on and then apply heat (electric or stovetop)
- Wait until there is a regular percolation. You can see the percolated coffee in the transparent knob in the lid.
- Wait another 5 to 10 minutes for the water to completely soak the coffee grounds and brew the coffee.
If you wait too long for the brew, then the coffee will probably taste bitter. If you wait too little for the brew, then the coffee may not have the flavors you want from your coffee. It is trial and error until you find the right combination of the type of coffee, the grind of coffee, amount of coffee, the coffee to water ratio, and coffee brewing time.
The video below shows the process using a Presto Coffee Percolator but the preparation method is the same with all coffee percolators.
What coffee is best for percolators?
You can choose any type of coffee beans you like! Just remember to use a medium to coarse grind for your coffee. We like medium roast brews but many people like dark roasts and brew their coffee strong. It is completely up to you and your taste.
What do I need for brewing percolated coffee?
Well, you obviously need a percolator and any one of the percolators in this review will be just fine. The other things you will need are as follows:
A. Your favorite coffee beans
See our article on the 10 best-selling coffee beans.
B. Filter paper
You may or may not want filter paper depending on whether you like to have bits of coffee grounds in your brewed coffee.
The filter paper can be inserted into the basket before the coffee. This filters out the fine coffee grind so you have a grit-free brewed coffee.
Remember to buy filters with a hole so that it fits over the stem of the percolator.
C. Post Brew Filter
You can use this to filter out any fine grinds of coffee from your brewed coffee if you didn’t use paper filters during the brew.
You can also use some of these filters for pour-over coffee.
D. Coffee Grinder
A hand-held coffee grinder can give you a bit more control over your grind but it takes a bit of elbow grease to get it done.
Electric burr grinders are easier to use and save you energy! And if you are looking for a top of the range grinder then you can’t do better than the Niche Zero conical burr grinder.
E. Balance to weigh coffee beans
If you want to accurately and precisely weigh your beans then a good balance is necessary.
Why weigh your coffee beans? If you want to replicate a good coffee then it helps to record as much information as possible and the weight of your beans is one component you can easily measure.
F. Timer to track brewing time
Again recording the time you brewed your coffee will help you replicate the good cup the next time.
A simple egg timer would do if you are not too fussy, but if you like gadgets then an electronic timer will be just what you want.
Featured Image Source: Depositphotos
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