Are you willing to step outside of your comfort zone? We’re confident that if you try stovetop percolator coffee, you’ll be able to perform all three. In case you are looking for best coffee percolator, we have a list of recommendation you can use as reference.
No, seriously, pay attention to what we’re saying. It’s possible you’ve heard that this is the worst way to make coffee. However, we live in a world where tastes and inclinations are limitless. Plus, while the brewing method you use has a lot to do with the quality of the coffee you drink, the quality of the coffee you drink is also influenced by whether you use the best coffee beans available. So, before you dismiss the stovetop percolator, give it a shot.
Just What is a Stovetop Percolator?
Percolation is the process of allowing a solvent (in this case, steam) to pass through a porous substance (in this case, coffee grounds). Stovetop percolators resemble tall kettles on the outside, but the plain exterior conceals a dependable, steam-powered coffee-brewing vacuum.
Unlike pour-over coffee, which filters water through coffee grounds, vacuum brewing saturates your grounds with steam before filtering.
Stovetop Percolator: An Active Brewing Method
Another reason you might dislike using a stovetop percolator to brew is that it is an active approach. You can’t just turn it on and leave it like some other producers. To avoid overboiling your coffee, keep a tight check on the percolator and your water. That’s beyond bitter and into the realm of nasty coffee.
However, we believe it can be a relaxing way to start the day. A stovetop percolator requires you to be present in your coffee moment rather than hurrying through your morning routine. It’s almost like a morning meditation before you get started on your busy day.
How to Make Coffee with a Stovetop Percolator
The most difficult aspect of brewing with this method is getting the water temperature just right. Managing water heat with a stovetop percolator is simple once you get the hang of it. The key is to pay attentive and follow your instincts.
What You Need
- Whole coffee beans of your choice
- Coffee grinder
- Water
- Spoon for measuring coffee
- Stovetop percolator
- Your favorite mug
Measure Your Coffee
The capacity of your stovetop percolator plays a role in achieving a beautiful, balanced brew. To get the perfect flavor, measure the coffee and water carefully and avoid overboiling. To begin, we recommend using 30 grams (1 ounce) of whole beans per 500 grams (17 ounces) of water.
You can play with with the coffee/water ratio once you’ve mastered using a stovetop percolator. For a milder flavor, reduce the amount of coffee and increase the water if you’re not used to strong, bitter coffees.
Grind Your Beans
This is the most straightforward phase. For more uniform, medium-coarse grounds, we recommend burr coffee grinders, which work well in a stovetop percolator. If you use too few grounds, your brew will become even more bitter, and your grounds may dissolve and end up back in your coffee. You ruin great coffee flavor if you make it too big.
Some stovetop percolators may have somewhat too-large holes, which, ironically, defeats the original design. That’s OK. If some of the grounds end up in your final coffee, simply strain them out at the end of the brewing process.
Fill the Percolator
Depending on how much coffee you ground, fill your percolator reservoir with cold water. The idea is to gradually heat the water, so start with cold water.
Assemble Your Stovetop Percolator
At the very least, consult the manufacturer’s handbook to ensure proper assembly of your stovetop percolator. If you don’t have the manual, you can look up your percolator model on the internet.
Secure the stem into the water-filled pot first if the stem and coffee basket detach. Tighten the coffee basket on top of the stem once that’s done. If your percolator has a basket lid, set that aside for now.
Add Your Coffee Grounds
Fill the coffee basket. Double check your measurement. You really don’t want to overfill the chamber when brewing with this method, not to mention, you don’t want to waste any coffee to spillover. Remember: percolators naturally make strong coffee, so staying on the safer less-coffee side probably won’t hurt.
If your model has a basket lid, replace it before closing the percolator.
Turn up the Heat!
Before turning the burner to low or medium heat, place your percolator on the stove. Slowing down the heating process and avoiding boiling are the keys to superb percolator coffee.
Watch It
It’s been said that a watched pot never boils, and this is especially true if you’re brewing stovetop percolator coffee. At the top of the kettle, most versions include a clear glass or plastic knob. You’ll notice your water bubbling up into the knob once it’s hot enough.
This signifies that the water is nearly boiling and hot enough to steam the coffee. Make sure the bubbles appear every few seconds if you want to keep the heat running.
If the bubbles are a continual stream rather than a single pop, the water is boiling, and you should reduce the heat. Too much heat in the water might make your coffee quite bitter.
If the bubbles aren’t happening frequently enough, your water will be too cold. If this occurs, simply increase the heat to reach a bubble-inducing sweet spot.
You should also notice the water changing color from clear to coffee-colored as the brewing progresses. This indicates that it’s working and that you’re close to a good cup of coffee.
Set Your Timer
Set a timer for no more than 10 minutes once your water is bubbling at regular intervals. For six to eight minutes, you may notice some recommendations, but it all relies on your specific preferences. Keep in mind that the longer your coffee sits, the stronger it will become.
On your first attempt, we recommend giving it ten minutes just to obtain a taste of true, old-fashioned stovetop percolator coffee. Then modify the time on your subsequent brews until you find your ideal cup.
Keep in mind that this is not a “set it and forget it” strategy. Keep an eye on the temperature of your bubbling water and adjust it as needed.
Remove It from the Heat
Turn off the heat and carefully remove your stovetop percolator from the element once the timer has expired. Because the pot will be quite hot, use an oven mitt or a kitchen towel to cover your hands, as well as a trivet to protect your countertop.
Remove the Coffee Grounds
Are you ready to take the first sip? Not so fast, our coffee-obsessed pal. Remove those coffee grounds before pouring yourself a cup of freshly brewed coffee. Because many stovetop percolators lack tight seals between the basket and the reservoir, pouring first may result in a mug filled with more grinds than coffee.
Remove the basket and dump the used grounds into the trash or compost. It’s fine if there are a few grounds left in the coffee, especially if the basket allowed a few slide through. You can keep them in there if you want an extra hit of astringency.
If that doesn’t appeal to you, simply strain your coffee through a fine mesh strainer as you pour it in.
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