How to Make Coffee with a Percolator

|

I’ve got a big, fancy coffee machine.  But a few years ago I found a dusty old stovetop percolator in the barn and decided to clean it up and give it a try, I was instantly hooked.  I’ve since upgraded to a shiny, new stainless perc – but the old fashioned feel and flavor is all the same.

stovetop percolator

I may be compensated for some items linked in this post at no extra cost to you. 

Coffee rocks.  If you’re reading this you agree.  There are many ways to brew it.  And I don’t claim to be a coffee connoisseur by any means.  I simply enjoy a good cup…pot, actually – in the early, quiet hours of the morning as the little ones are waking.

When we first moved to the farm in 2017, I found an old enamelware percolator that belonged to Big John’s grandma, collecting dust in one of the outbuildings.  I gave it a good wash and tried it out.  It was love.  Percolated coffee has a unique taste, and there’s just something about the simplicity of it.

A fresh cup of percolated coffee with some mason jar creamer and a slice of raw buttered sourdough boule.  SAY NO MORE.  This is living.

fresh coffee and bread

Let’s walk through the basics of switching to a stovetop percolator for your everyday coffee brewing.

What is a percolator & how does it work?

A percolator looks a lot like a kettle, but it’s got a steam powered vacuum system inside that creates a strong, bitter brew free of impurities.

I got this stainless steel, 12-cup beauty for a non-toxic option.

stainless steel percolator

Percolating is a method of brewing coffee by continuously cycling the steaming brew through the coffee grounds.

Inside a percolator, steam saturates the coffee grounds before the coffee is filtered, unlike other methods. The rising steam from the water in the reservoir soaks the grounds in the basket, then the brew drips back into the reservoir.  It continues to re-cycle and steep over an 8-10 minute period for a saturated, strong, & bitter brew.

Freshly ground whole beans

Now.  This isn’t a rule.  But its a strong suggestion because freshly ground coffee is simply more delicious, the smell is unbeatable, and I’ve read that whole beans are harvested from a superior crop and roasted more recently than pre-ground.  So if I read it, must be true right??  Just kidding.  But it does make sense.

whole coffee beans

I’ve always used my nutribullet to grind beans, I’ve had this thing over 10 years and it’s held up so well.

When grinding for a percolator the ground should be coarse, because fine grounds may dissolve and end up in your coffee.  (But not to course or you won’t get any flavor!) I just pulse the NutriBullet blender for a few seconds at a time, shaking in-between pulses to check the grounds for texture until they’re just right.

coarse coffee grounds

Percolator Parts

Most percolators have four parts.

  1. Reservoir, or “pot”
  2. Stem (tall part)
  3. Basket
  4. Basket Lid

percolator parts

Assembly

First, fill the reservoir with cold water.  The point of percolated coffee is to heat the water slowly, so starting with cold water is best.  I almost always make a full, 9-cup pot.  But there are markers for fewer cups as well.

water for coffee

Next, place the stem in the reservoir and fit the basket over top

percolator basket

You’ll need a filter, too

percolator filter

Add coffee grounds to the basket, about 1T grounds per 8oz. water.  So when making a full 9-cup pot of coffee, add about 1/3 cup grounds.  Add less for mild, and more for stronger brew.

fresh coffee

Place the basket lid on top of the basket

percolator basket

Close the lid and you’re ready to brew!

P.S.  Black and white photos are my favorite.  I usually always pick out my favorite photos from what I shoot and edit B&W versions to keep for me.  Sometimes I hide them deep in a blog post, too – just because 😉

percolator

How to Brew

As I mentioned, the trick with stovetop percolator coffee is to heat the water slowly, and keep it from boiling.

Heat on low.  After a few moments, you’ll start to see bubbles rising through the glass knob on the lid.  Set a timer for 8-10 minutes when you first see bubbles through the knob.  8 minutes for milder, 10 for stronger brew.

The bubbles will be clear at first.

stovetop percolator

The trick is to not let the bubbles come to closely together, which would indicate a boil and that the heat needs to be turned down.

They should just be intermittently popping up, visible through the knob.  Which is really hard to catch on camera fyi

After a few moments the bubbles will start to turn brown

coffee bubbles

When the timer is up.  Turn off the heat.  Then, remove the basket and stem before pouring, otherwise you may end up with grounds in your coffee.

Serve

After removing the stem & basket, just close the lid and pour a delicious, old fashioned cup of coffee!

I pour mine over my favorite, homemade, frothy coffee creamer.

coffee and cream

And on a perfect day, I enjoy it in peace – sprinkled with some cinnamon and nutmeg, with a slice buttered, salted sourdough on the side and a good book in front of the fire.  And of course, the noise of the most precious all around, my children.

sourdough boule

Stovetop Percolator Coffee

  • cold water
  • 1 T coarse coffee grounds to every 8oz. water (For a full 9 cup pot of coffee, add about ? cup grounds)
  1. Fill the reservoir with cold water, using the hash marks to measure how many cups you’d like to make
  2. Place the stem in the reservoir, and fit the basket over the stem
  3. Place a filter in the basket
  4. Add coarse coffee grounds to the basket. A general rule is 1T grounds per 8oz. water
  5. Fit the basket lid over the basket and close the lid on the percolator
  6. Slowly heat the perc over low heat until clear bubbles begin to rise and are visible through the knob, do not boil
  7. Start the timer for 8-10 minutes at the sight of the first bubbles rising
  8. Watch the percolator while it brews to make sure it never boils. If it does just turn down the heat a bit. A boil will be very loud, with bubbles rolling constantly. A steam will simply produce intermittent visible bubbles that turn brown as the coffee brews.
  9. After the coffee is brewed, remove the percolator from heat and remove the stem and basket before pouring.

Shop this post

NutriBullet

Stainless Stovetop Percolator

Percolator Filters

Copper Measuring Cups & Spoons

More Posts Like This

Mason Jar Coffee Creamer

Sourdough Crepes

Bavarian Creme from Scratch

stovetop percolator

Similar Posts

22 Comments

  1. I had an idea to try an electric percolator last year and loved it until it stopped working after a couple months. Never thought of looking for a stove top model! Great post. I’m going to try it!

  2. I love all kinds of coffee and now I am completely intrigued! I never knew how percolators worked and now I am going to hunt for one at an antique shop!

  3. WOW – how cool is this! First of all, I didn’t know you could use a Nutribullet to grind coffee. It does look pretty coarse, but wow that’s awesome! And second I have never heard of this coffee maker. I might have to give it a try! Looks SO delicious! – Alexa the Duvall Homestead

  4. I remember my grandma having a stovetop percolator, but never really thought about using one. You explained it so well and once we have a gas stove, it is on my list to try. Thanks!

      1. I just purchased this exact percolater from a Salvation Army Store…brand new..for $3.97 3 days ago. Do you know the brand? I love it…and my first pot of coffee came out fantastic!

  5. I bought a GE Electric Pot Belly Percolator but need a basket lid like shown above about 3 1/2 inch in diameter. If U have one, or all 3 pieces, I wld be interested to buy please. No lid, no coffee! Help. Thks. ?
    Stay safe, warm & kind.
    Paulina Blaho

  6. Nearly 40 years ago I purchased an electric perk pot (my own lingo) at a garage sale for $5 ONLY because it was just like the one my Mom used to use. I ended up using it some years later when my Mr. Coffee died. I my garage sale find for years til it died. Bought another, it didn’t last long. Bought another. My MIL gave me her old aluminum camp pot years ago. Never quite got the hang of it. I’ve always used my Bullet to grind my beans. Well I still use my electric perk pot but now I’m gonna dig out my old camp pot!!! What kind of filters do I use? I have the smaller ones for my electric pot, will they work? TIA

Leave a Reply