Percolator thoughts? Good, bad, other? Which one to get?

[sidpost]

I am wondering about getting a percolator for use at home and camping. The cheap Chinese/Walmart versions I have seen haven't really inspired confidence so, I'm wondering about something a bit nice and 'upscale' without being overly expensive.

Who uses a percolator? Is your coffee good for you? What do you like and dislike about your percolator?

What are the better percolator options? Is something like the Petromax option overkill? The camping French Press I have works well enough but, it is a pain to clean and it doesn't produce enough coffee for a slow morning start! The Bialetti is a nice option but, is really too small for a morning cup for me at a campsite.

TIA,
Sid from Texas

 

[dwardo]

Aeropress for home and woods.
Brilliant bit of kit and very durable. Filters are cheap and the whole thing fits inside my thermal mug for transport.

 

[JB101]

I use one all the time at home (in the UK) & I prefer this type as i find French press coffee to anemic in taste .

Coffee Percolator 12 Cup

Stainless steel coffee percolators designed for use on stovetop surfaces. Built from solid stainless steel and offers a wooden and steel handle. Clear top shows you when the coffee is ready. Includes stainless steel filter basket, and is resistant to stains. The permawood handle is resistant to...

us.consiglioskitchenware.com

For me the internal component should idealy be stainelss steel rather than the more common aluminium ones.
The Petromax looks good but in reality does not make the coffe any better.If out and about then cowboy coffee is the way to go unless at a 'base camp' the a perc is probably better.

Also I use the internals of a Bodum french press in a Stanly adventure mug ,this gives me cowboy coffee and a press to remove the bits.

 

[billycoen]

Also I use the internals of a Bodum french press in a Stanly adventure mug

Plus one for that,been using that method for a while now,nice cup of coffee.

 

[bearbait]

I can second dwardo's comment re AeroPress. I use mine at home and when out and about too. Stores in its own mug. Although it's not actually a percolator, which is what you asked.

 

[Stew]

Aeropress.

Done.

 

[dnarcher]

It's very hard to make bad coffee with an aeropress. Remarkably tolerant of everything. Otherwise, bialetti for strong Italian, esprit for best cafetiere.

 

[Kav]

Many new percolators have resin
Instead of glass tops. These will split in time or strip aluminum lids .
Vintage are good, but be cautious of worn ones. A coating of apple sauce will determine if oxidation is toxic by turning colour.
‘Cowboy Rawlings’ on YouTube, and the late Mors Kochanski have excellent tutorials on cowboy coffee.

 

[Robson Valley]

I've always been too thirsty and in too big a hurry to do a proper job of the morning coffee. In this day and time, I've been following the instructions to let the coffee steep for an honest 5 minutes in a press. That alone has made quite the difference. There's really no difference for me between the Lagostina and Bodum presses.
Experiment with the coffee. Locally dark roasted beans are as good as any of the name brands in the grocery store. Dark has less caffeine and that cuts the bitterness quite a lot. Best is a can of Turkish very fine grind! Skip the funny little pot and use it in a press. Sure, the screen gets plugged but I can manage.

 

[Bearmont]

I just do a French press without the press. Put desired amount in cup, add hot water, cover it & wait 10 minutes, done. Could be made in a pot, too. Carrying a whole chunky piece of kit just to produce the coffee slightly differently would be madness to me.

Actually I do the same thing at home. But I've been eyeing those hourglass shaped coffee pots with the steel mesh filter. Basically a Chemex with a filter that leaves the oils in.

 

[Kav]

If you’re going to drink finely ground Greek-Turkish coffee
A Briki is a great bushcraft coffeemaker. You can get a nice one on EvilBAY in copper. The ones with a pomegranate are Armenian. Anni 4x4 on YouTube
Uses one.

 

[nigelp]

For backpacking and cycling.

https://gsioutdoors.com/products/ultralight-java-drip

 

[billycoen]

Speedster stoves do a nice little coffee filter,about 6 quid.

 

[Robbi]

Cowboy coffee pot percolator

Wonderful thing.

 

[Robbi]

 

[Mesquite]

I'm thinking of getting this percolator. I normally use a Bodum drip filter but fancied something a bit more retro.

 

[Robson Valley]

Somewhere in my kitchen, I do have a perc., the sort with the hollow glass knob. Something to watch, I suppose. Probably why I like the presses so much.
Steeping loose tea leaves and watching them unroll is about the same. I'm getting used to a 5+ minute steeping time. Used to seem like an eternity.

 

[Robbi]

I'm thinking of getting this percolator. I normally use a Bodum drip filter but fancied something a bit more retro.
View attachment 79332

Get the one with the see through plastic bit on the top, you can watch the colour of the coffee changing as it percolates

 

[SaraR]

Somewhere in my kitchen, I do have a perc., the sort with the hollow glass knob. Something to watch, I suppose. Probably why I like the presses so much.
Steeping loose tea leaves and watching them unroll is about the same. I'm getting used to a 5+ minute steeping time. Used to seem like an eternity.

You should try gong fu style brewing - 20 s and add 5 s each time or something similar.

I’m good at forgetting about my tea/coffee steeping and ending up with a really strong brew as a result.

 

[Robson Valley]

My coffee and tea making is most irregular as it's hard to walk with a cane and get the kettle filled and carried. A ritual when I worked = 2 cups of coffee and 3 cigarettes and I was lit up for the day. Our village tap water in McBride comes from a large snowfield, up maybe 5,000', that I can see from my kitchen window. It's almost sweet-tasting at this time of year. Cold? Thermometer in my kitchen sink says +7C.

I inherited a cool wood and brass bean grinder that I can run more quickly than the kettle can boil. Peaceful sound, not the whine of the electric. Usually a cup or two of village cold water seems most satisfying.