Knowing about the benefits of brewing a drink in a coffee percolator, or learning how to use it, can help you to enjoy a flavorful drink.
but, how can we use a percolator to brew coffee? Is a percolator better than a coffee maker?
By the invention of modern brewing machine, we can have delicious drink every day.
several methods can be used for brewing a cup of coffee.
For example, many people use an espresso machine to brew their daily drink.
But, don’t forget that a percolator can also be used to make coffee with the required strength.
Percolator once enjoyed a great popularity in Europe and United States of America.
But, after the invention of automatic coffee makers, its popularity as a pot to brew coffee dropped.
Because, it uses a recirculating mechanism to brewed coffee in during the process.
It means that your drink is exposed to over extraction.
This is the problem many brewers face when they use this device.
But, you can avoid this problem by learning how to use coffee percolators.
It is important to mention that by the controlling of the process; some coffee lovers use percolator to brew their daily drink.
There is no doubt that you can also enjoy having a coffee drink by following the rules and controlling the process to avoid over extraction.
Let’s discuss a bit more:
Contents
What is a coffee percolator?
It is a type of pot with a unique design that can be used to brew coffee. It has a small chamber at the bottom, and needs a heat source for brewing.
Percolator also has a vertical tube and a perforated basket that helps coffee extraction in the device.
To brew coffee, you need to pour water inside the percolator.
The level of water inside the device has to be lower than the bottom of perforated basket.
The perforated basket has the duty to keep coffee grounds.
To increase water temperature and to reach the boiling point, it is essential to have a heat source like a stove.
Coffee percolator invention
The invention of modern coffee percolators and its use dates back to 19th century.
First percolator with the capability to rise boiling water through a tube was invented in 1819.
In the next years, the mechanism of percolation modified and improved.
Coffee percolator in the US
In the united states, first patent for percolator issued in 1865.
The important note to mention is that the mechanism of first patented percolator in the US was different then what we’ve described in above.
The coffee percolator that we know today were patented in late 19th century.
The key parts of conventional coffee percolators were a base at the bottom for boiling water, a vertical tube, and the perforated basket for holding coffee grounds.
The majority of percolators in the early years were stove top models.
When the first electric percolator invented?
Using electric sources for heating water in the coffee percolator dates back to the 20th century.
How does coffee percolator work?
In the brewing process, the heat from the bottom of percolator increases the water temperature to the boiling point.
Then, bubbles from boiling water direct up to the vertical tube.
To have a perfect extraction in brewing process, hot water is pushed along with steams and gets out of the tube.
Finally, hot water which is boiling hits underside of the lid. Then, it flows over the inner lid.
In the inner lid of the coffee basket, perforations will distribute that hot water over the coffee grounds.
This water can extract coffee compounds from the grounds inside the basket.
Coffee extracts slowly drop and will leave the coffee grounds, then, coffee compounds enter the warming water below the basket.
This cycle repeats until you reach the desired strength.
Can I have a strong coffee by percolator?
Yes, based on your preferences, it is easy to have a strong and delicious cup of coffee for your daily drink. Even, not all the people like the final taste.
When coffee is ready?
As a brewer, one of the most important notes, when you are using a coffee percolator, is to understand if your coffee is ready, or still needs to percolate.
It depends on the palate of brewer to stop the brewing process.
How to stop brewing process?
By removing the coffee percolator, you can stop brewing process. You can also turn the heat source off.
It is also possible to reduce the heat to slowly stop the percolation.
Why brewing by coffee percolator is not popular?
Continuously percolating at high temperature will lead to a drink that is over extracted.
This is the main reason that you may finally end in an excessively harsh or bitter drink.
Does percolator have electric heating element?
Some percolators have electric elements. So, they do not need stove or external heat source.
This models can automatically control the process. So, by reducing the applied heat, percolation will continue in the brewing phase.
This helps us to brew coffee by keeping the drinking coffee at optimal temperature and prevents it from boiling.
Where can I use coffee percolator?
Some coffee lovers use percolator in their home for brewing a delicious drink with the desired strength.
But, the fact is you can use coffee percolators in outdoors as well.
For example, if you do not have access to electric sources, it is easy to use a stove top percolator for making coffee outside.
Electric coffee percolators need electricity. So, for the modern types of percolators that are automatic, you need to have access to the electricity.
Do all coffee percolators have the same capacity?
No, based on the size and design of percolator, they can brew different amount of coffee.
So, you can choose and buy best coffee percolators to prepare drink for your family.
Large percolators
It is important to note that there are several models of large percolators that are suitable for offices or community events.
You can also use them in gatherings to prepare large quantities of fresh drink for all the people who participate in gathering.
For example, during large campaigns, it is possible to use percolators with higher capacities to prepare drink for a large group of people.
Do modern percolators work better?
The improvements by using electrical coffee percolators with enjoying automatic control are tangible.
But, as a whole, the method for making coffee and by using percolators has changed a little.
So, the basic process or the mechanism that coffee is brewed by a percolator has seen a little change.
How to measure the amount of coffee ground?
In the past, when you wanted to brew coffee, the best way to measure the amount of coffee was to use a scoop.
But, by the improvements made in recent models, it is possible to use pre-measured coffee filter rings.
Does coffee percolator use paper filter?
Many coffee percolators use perforated baskets to hold coffee grounds.
But, several models with pre-packed filters, that use a paper filter, are strong enough to hold coffee grounds during percolating.
After brewing coffee, you can remove this paper filter and discard it.
It is important to mention that using paper filter can relieve you from the difficulties that are bring about by the need for cleaning percolator basket.
Can we brew specialty coffee by percolators?
The fact is that coffee percolators are not as good as other popular devices that we use in our homes.
Specially, if you want to enjoy a specialty coffee, it seems that other brewing devices are better choices.
So, if you want to have a perfect balance in your drink with the highest clarity, it seems that you need to choose other brewing devices.
Coffee percolator vs coffee maker
Many coffee lovers believe that coffee percolator gives a stronger drink that is similar to a double brewed coffee.
On the other hand, a drip coffee maker, after running hot water through the grounds, will give a less strong but cleaner cup of coffee.
Can a percolator make a mess?
The main drawback of a percolator is that this device is prone to make a mess.
Not just because it gives a stronger coffee or an over extracted drink, but it can also make a mess by spilling over the stove top after leaking.
Why coffee percolator gives a creamier drink?
The water in the percolator gets hotter than in a drip coffee maker. So, it can extract more flavor from the grounds. It also makes final drink creamier with a smooth taste.
Why people do not use coffee percolator?
Once it was among the most popular coffee brewing devices. But, when coffee makers entered the market, many people preferred to brew their drink with more advanced machines.
Coffee makers can help brewers to control the water temperature near boiling point.
Also, they do not use repeating cycles for brewing coffee.
So, even some people who prefer the texture and taste of coffee from percolator still use it in their home, but It seems that many people do not want to use percolators anymore.
How much do I need to pay for a coffee percolator?
The price of different models in the market of percolators in not the same.
So, you need to compare different models and then choose one of them by considering its price and other characteristics.
It is important to note that stove top and electric coffee percolators have different prices in the market. Also to buy large percolators, you may need to pay more.
