Great video. I have old percolator. That was my parents. This was a good refresher on how to use it. Everybody wants everything so fast these days even while camping. This was a great way to slow things down. Thanks.
Percolators differ in speed greatly. I have an electric one from the early 1920's, it doesn't start to perc till like 10 minutes after it has been plugged in. Another one just a few years younger, but not by much, starts to perc with in a minute. They all differ on speed, but all work on the same principle. I have 2 percolators, that use a spirit lamp as the heat source. The flame heats up a big round disc, which in turn heats up the percolator, but these, although they are great of you do not have electricity, take like 45 minutes to perc a smallish pot of coffee. Some of these fancy from the 1900 - 1950's coffee makers are very deceptive as far as how much coffee they can perc. They are small at the bottom of the urn, where the heat source is, and then get larger towards to top, where you would add the water. So in general they do not hold as much coffee as you would think. Plus the old all metal coffee makers, get hot - every bit of the metal parts get hot, so it is easy to burn yourself unless you are very conscious of it and try your best to avoid getting burned. The handles either made of bakelite or wood, stay cool, but the rest of the coffee maker - get very hot.
Hi there, great video. I want to say my percolator is old had did 30 years & I always use a regular old coffee filter just poke a hole on bottom keeps all grounds out your coffee. Have a great nite
I remember growing up and going to my grandparents mountain house and have coffee made with a percolator. Also camping in boy scouts. I still say it makes the best coffee. We just always eyeballed how much coffee to put in.
I use mine all the time I’ve got the small ones and the 1/2 gallon ones too all have the glass bulb not the cheap plastic one that melts on a campfire lol several of them are 60 years old of more they make the best coffee you can get too lol
Wow, it takes about 7 minutes for us to get it to a perk. You can turn the heat to medium to get it going. Just babysit it until it starts to perk on our gas stove, we then turn it to very, very low. I usually, and you have to be careful of that lid, not to knock the pot over, heat the water in an electric kettle and pour it into the pot, then insert everything. It starts to perk with a minute or so. It's 7 minutes then for the perk time, on very low heat. 14 minutes total to brew. Ideally, you want the water in the pot at simmer. What happens is that dome attached to the stem has a weep hole to let water in. Our new pot has just 1, and our old Coleman camp pot has 3 just below midway up the dome. Sometimes It's just a notch hole at the lip of the dome. Under the dome is where the boil takes place, heat concentrated, perking air, water up, the weep hole allowing water to flow back under the dome, to repeat. So the trick is just enough heat to get the captured dome water to break simmer and boil. I have seen those old glass percolator demos going at full blast, hell, and fury, stove on medium high, I can only imagine what the coffee tastes like because you basically cooked the coffee grounds. Oh, be careful of a cup. European standards state a coffee cup to be 5 ounces, not a bakery 8 ounces. Our new pot uses 5 ounces as its cup, says so on website. The camp Coleman uses 6 ounces as a cup, it's about 40 years old. We just weigh everything and use the coffee golden rule for a place to start with the water to coffee ratio, just making sure we stay to the minimum, max lines, limits. We have found on the newer pot, 2-6 cups, it's impossible to make 2 cups, the coffee grounds don't cover the basket well enough, 3 cups works well and up to 6. Really enjoy percolator coffee it has a strong, good body taste. People who are too impatient to perk coffee miss out on a rather morning zen thing. French presses, pour overs, aren't that much short. You still have to get water boiling, 4-6 minutes brew time on a French press, about 3:58 minutes from a pour over. That extra perk time is basically where the coffee smell drifts through the house, the sound is pleasant. I am usually scrounding up breakfast while the coffee perks.
I have a 4 cup pyrex measureing cup. Put 4 heaping tablespoons of freshground in it , then fill to top with boiling water and stir thoroughly. After a few minutes i pour it thru a small strainer into my mug. doing it this way for years now its great. what do you even call this method??
It sounds like "cowboy coffee," you're just using a glass container instead of the traditional metal pot. It's also similar to the way a French press operates. They start off basically the same way, with the grinds in water, but then they have a filter that pushes all the grinds to the bottom of the container so you can pour the coffee off.
Sounds a bit like a french press - or quick drip coffee maker method. I'm sure there are many ways to brew your coffee. People even make coffee, just by putting it in cool water, put that in the fridge and let it sit for a day or two, then pour off the coffee and heat it up. I think the grounds settle towards the bottom. I hear this makes a very nice smooth, non bitter cup of coffee. But I have never tried it.
You're not burning the coffee by boiling it. Cowboy coffee has always been boiled. Poke a hole in a regular coffee filter and save money. You don't need custom filters.
I appreciate your feedback. I know from firsthand experience that if you let a percolator come to full, rolling boil, it will absolutely give the coffee a sour, overcooked flavor. Also, I'm not sure about the source of your information, but according to the National Coffee Association, the ideal water temperature for extraction is between 195°F and 205°F, which is below the boiling point of water. www.ncausa.org/about-coffee/how-to-brew-coffee And the little round filters cost $1.89 for a 100 pack at my local grocery store. Basket filters for my drip pot are $2.49 for a 100 pack. I would be interested to know where I can get them cheaper.
@FairWeatherCamper I totally agree, boiling the water with scortch and sour the coffee. I have been using a GSI stainless steel percolator and a Pyrex Flameware percolator for 25+ years now. I have never owned a drip pot. I never put the heat higher than medium. I know it takes awhile to get going but so worth it! A slow, steady perk is key. I hawk eye it and keep turning the heat down to maintain A slow perk. The familiar sound of pouring the coffee in the thermos is music to my ears! The percolator and thermos go hand in hand, even at home. Thanks for the video, I'll be thinking of it in the morning...
Wait 30 minutes for my coffee? I'm sure someone would be cowering in the corner like I was an angry tiger if I had to go through all that and then wait 30 minutes. 🤣
I thought the song was appropriate. It's called "Coffee Pot Blues," and it was recorded in 1927 by the Original Indiana Five jazz band. You can hear the full record on Internet Archive. archive.org/details/78_coffee-pot-blues_dixie-jazz-band-indiana-five_gbia0279165b
Best way to use a percolater is to remove the innards, heat water in the pot until it just barely boils, remove from the heat, toss in the coffee grinds, stir, let set for 5 minutes, pour a little cold water or drop an ice cube in to settle the grinds, and pour a really great cup of coffee! Perked coffee is the worst way of making coffee because all of the coffee is boiled which ruins the taste. If one really likes the taste of perked, just take good coffee and boil it for a few minutes!
GOOD coffee takes a bit of time but so with it. Percolators are from a time when making coffee was an art form and as much fun as drinking it. Nothing better.
Great video. I have old percolator. That was my parents. This was a good refresher on how to use it. Everybody wants everything so fast these days even while camping. This was a great way to slow things down. Thanks.
Percolators differ in speed greatly. I have an electric one from the early 1920's, it doesn't start to perc till like 10 minutes after it has been plugged in. Another one just a few years younger, but not by much, starts to perc with in a minute. They all differ on speed, but all work on the same principle. I have 2 percolators, that use a spirit lamp as the heat source. The flame heats up a big round disc, which in turn heats up the percolator, but these, although they are great of you do not have electricity, take like 45 minutes to perc a smallish pot of coffee. Some of these fancy from the 1900 - 1950's coffee makers are very deceptive as far as how much coffee they can perc. They are small at the bottom of the urn, where the heat source is, and then get larger towards to top, where you would add the water. So in general they do not hold as much coffee as you would think. Plus the old all metal coffee makers, get hot - every bit of the metal parts get hot, so it is easy to burn yourself unless you are very conscious of it and try your best to avoid getting burned. The handles either made of bakelite or wood, stay cool, but the rest of the coffee maker - get very hot.
Just bought one at Big 5. When I got home , magically your video comes up.
It's either a conspiracy, or the universe's way of telling you to go camping.
Hi there, great video. I want to say my percolator is old had did 30 years & I always use a regular old coffee filter just poke a hole on bottom keeps all grounds out your coffee. Have a great nite
from my experience I use 4 level coffee scoops for 12 cups, could probably go 3, percolator squeezes more out of it than a single drip through type!
I remember growing up and going to my grandparents mountain house and have coffee made with a percolator. Also camping in boy scouts. I still say it makes the best coffee. We just always eyeballed how much coffee to put in.
Pro tip...wet the filter before you add the coffee. This keeps the filter from lifting away from the basket and allowing grinds under the filter.
I use mine all the time I’ve got the small ones and the 1/2 gallon ones too all have the glass bulb not the cheap plastic one that melts on a campfire lol several of them are 60 years old of more they make the best coffee you can get too lol
Love the thermas! I had one of those back in the day!
I have a couple that I use for hunting, fishing and camping trips. At home I use a French press.
Percolators can be found in the camping section of many of the "big box" stores; Wal-Mart, Big 5, etc.
Wow, it takes about 7 minutes for us to get it to a perk.
You can turn the heat to medium to get it going.
Just babysit it until it starts to perk on our gas stove, we then turn it to very, very low.
I usually, and you have to be careful of that lid, not to knock the pot over, heat the water in an electric kettle and pour it into the pot, then insert everything.
It starts to perk with a minute or so.
It's 7 minutes then for the perk time, on very low heat.
14 minutes total to brew.
Ideally, you want the water in the pot at simmer.
What happens is that dome attached to the stem has a weep hole to let water in. Our new pot has just 1, and our old Coleman camp pot has 3 just below midway up the dome.
Sometimes It's just a notch hole at the lip of the dome.
Under the dome is where the boil takes place, heat concentrated, perking air, water up, the weep hole allowing water to flow back under the dome, to repeat.
So the trick is just enough heat to get the captured dome water to break simmer and boil.
I have seen those old glass percolator demos going at full blast, hell, and fury, stove on medium high, I can only imagine what the coffee tastes like because you basically cooked the coffee grounds.
Oh, be careful of a cup. European standards state a coffee cup to be 5 ounces, not a bakery 8 ounces.
Our new pot uses 5 ounces as its cup, says so on website. The camp Coleman uses 6 ounces as a cup, it's about 40 years old.
We just weigh everything and use the coffee golden rule for a place to start with the water to coffee ratio, just making sure we stay to the minimum, max lines, limits.
We have found on the newer pot, 2-6 cups, it's impossible to make 2 cups, the coffee grounds don't cover the basket well enough, 3 cups works well and up to 6.
Really enjoy percolator coffee it has a strong, good body taste. People who are too impatient to perk coffee miss out on a rather morning zen thing.
French presses, pour overs, aren't that much short. You still have to get water boiling, 4-6 minutes brew time on a French press, about 3:58 minutes from a pour over.
That extra perk time is basically where the coffee smell drifts through the house, the sound is pleasant.
I am usually scrounding up breakfast while the coffee perks.
I have a 4 cup pyrex measureing cup. Put 4 heaping tablespoons of freshground in it , then fill to top with boiling water and stir thoroughly. After a few minutes i pour it thru a small strainer into my mug. doing it this way for years now its great. what do you even call this method??
It sounds like "cowboy coffee," you're just using a glass container instead of the traditional metal pot.
It's also similar to the way a French press operates. They start off basically the same way, with the grinds in water, but then they have a filter that pushes all the grinds to the bottom of the container so you can pour the coffee off.
Sounds a bit like a french press - or quick drip coffee maker method. I'm sure there are many ways to brew your coffee. People even make coffee, just by putting it in cool water, put that in the fridge and let it sit for a day or two, then pour off the coffee and heat it up. I think the grounds settle towards the bottom. I hear this makes a very nice smooth, non bitter cup of coffee. But I have never tried it.
You're not burning the coffee by boiling it.
Cowboy coffee has always been boiled.
Poke a hole in a regular coffee filter and save money. You don't need custom filters.
I appreciate your feedback.
I know from firsthand experience that if you let a percolator come to full, rolling boil, it will absolutely give the coffee a sour, overcooked flavor.
Also, I'm not sure about the source of your information, but according to the National Coffee Association, the ideal water temperature for extraction is between 195°F and 205°F, which is below the boiling point of water.
www.ncausa.org/about-coffee/how-to-brew-coffee
And the little round filters cost $1.89 for a 100 pack at my local grocery store. Basket filters for my drip pot are $2.49 for a 100 pack. I would be interested to know where I can get them cheaper.
@FairWeatherCamper
I totally agree, boiling the water with scortch and sour the coffee. I have been using a GSI stainless steel percolator and a Pyrex Flameware percolator for 25+ years now. I have never owned a drip pot. I never put the heat higher than medium. I know it takes awhile to get going but so worth it! A slow, steady perk is key. I hawk eye it and keep turning the heat down to maintain A slow perk. The familiar sound of pouring the coffee in the thermos is music to my ears! The percolator and thermos go hand in hand, even at home. Thanks for the video, I'll be thinking of it in the morning...
It would have boiled quicker if you used a windshield
A simpler method, boil water separately, put it in the percolator, put all the gear in, perfect coffee in maximum seven minutes
Wait 30 minutes for my coffee? I'm sure someone would be cowering in the corner like I was an angry tiger if I had to go through all that and then wait 30 minutes. 🤣
I have a farberware like this, it is slow.
The music is too noisy, why not something softer!
I thought the song was appropriate.
It's called "Coffee Pot Blues," and it was recorded in 1927 by the Original Indiana Five jazz band.
You can hear the full record on Internet Archive. archive.org/details/78_coffee-pot-blues_dixie-jazz-band-indiana-five_gbia0279165b
Sounds like the Charleston I was waiting for Laurel and Hardy to make an appearance lol 😂
I must be old because l thought this video was pretty funny.
Best way to use a percolater is to remove the innards, heat water in the pot until it just barely boils, remove from the heat, toss in the coffee grinds, stir, let set for 5 minutes, pour a little cold water or drop an ice cube in to settle the grinds, and pour a really great cup of coffee! Perked coffee is the worst way of making coffee because all of the coffee is boiled which ruins the taste. If one really likes the taste of perked, just take good coffee and boil it for a few minutes!
If you think percolated is the worst, you did it wrong.
Maybe you should have used a Bic Lighter instead of that useless stove.?
GOOD coffee takes a bit of time but so with it. Percolators are from a time when making coffee was an art form and as much fun as drinking it. Nothing better.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
@@bunkyman8097That's the problem these days. Everyone is in a big hurry.
If it takes fifteen minutes to even begin to percolate, there’s something desperately wrong in this process.
Yes anticipation!
See my comment