Percolator?

Joseph Littleshoes said:

How long does one let a coffee percolator perk?

never..?

Why you should never percolate coffee:
Percolators violate most of the natural laws about brewing coffee.

* Don't over extract the oils and flavor. Percolators work by taking
coffee and reheating it and throwing it over the grounds over and over and
over again.
* Never reheat/boil coffee. This destroys the flavor. For best flavor,
boil the water, pass it over the grounds and retain the heat. Don't reheat
it.

Violating these rules may not sound like much, but these are about the only
rules there are. The effect of a percolator is to keep passing boiling
water/coffee over the grounds until there is no flavor left.

saw it here...http://www.worldwidemart.com/choice/cafe2.html

jay

Joseph Littleshoes said:

How long does one let a coffee percolator perk?

How strong and/or bitter do you want your coffee?

Most all percolators come with directions that are only approximations
about how much coffee per cup and how long to perk. Some electric
percolators do incorporate a strength setting device that is
essentially a timer, so the result is again merely approximation.
It's really up to you, experiment until the coffee you choose to use
is brewed in such a way that it is pleasing to you. There really are
no rules except that the longer you let it perk the more bitter... the
cheapskates use less coffee but let it perk longer. Of course
regardless, a clean pot and good water is paramount.

The old aluminum percolators all make terrible coffee, you cannot brew
decent coffee in aluminum. Use stainless steel, the new modern
plastic percolators are even better... any metal will impart an off
flavor to perked coffee simply due to the length of time it's in
contact with so much metal surface... if your percolator is aluminum
immediately after perking decant any extra to a glass caraffe. Coffee
deteriorates rapidly, don't brew more than you can consume within
twenty minutes. Hardly anyone uses a perculator anymore, they all
make lousy coffe... why are you asking?

Sheldon

Sheldon said:

Joseph Littleshoes said:

How long does one let a coffee percolator perk?

How strong and/or bitter do you want your coffee?

Most all percolators come with directions that are only approximations
about how much coffee per cup and how long to perk. Some electric
percolators do incorporate a strength setting device that is
essentially a timer, so the result is again merely approximation.
It's really up to you, experiment until the coffee you choose to use
is brewed in such a way that it is pleasing to you. There really are
no rules except that the longer you let it perk the more bitter... the
cheapskates use less coffee but let it perk longer. Of course
regardless, a clean pot and good water is paramount.

The old aluminum percolators all make terrible coffee, you cannot brew
decent coffee in aluminum. Use stainless steel, the new modern
plastic percolators are even better... any metal will impart an off
flavor to perked coffee simply due to the length of time it's in
contact with so much metal surface... if your percolator is aluminum
immediately after perking decant any extra to a glass caraffe. Coffee
deteriorates rapidly, don't brew more than you can consume within
twenty minutes. Hardly anyone uses a perculator anymore, they all
make lousy coffe... why are you asking?

Joseph found a few books of S&H Green Stamps he has to redeem...

;-)

--
Best
Greg

jay said:

Why you should never percolate coffee:
Percolators violate most of the natural laws about brewing coffee.

While that may very well be true (actually it is true), other coffee
preparation methods just don't have the nostalgia and romance value that a
percolator does. I guess it depends on the era one grew up. Drip coffee
makers started to replace percolators in the 1970s (with Mr. Coffee, etc.)
and percolators largely disappeared within a decade. There's at least a
whole generation that was never exposed to the percolator, and of course
have no nostalgia for them.

One of the big advantages of a percolator is you can get a stovetop one and
can make coffee without electricity (if you have a gas stove, etc.).

I prepare coffee by several different methods. Mostly it's espresso, but I
also make perked coffee and Turkish coffee (another "boiling" process).
Maybe it's just the memories that the perk, perk, perk sounds bring back,
along with the aroma while perking that does it for me. Not that it makes
better coffee. To be authentic, you absolutely need a percolator with the
glass top! ;-)

--
wff_ng_7 (at) verizon (dot) net

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

How long does one let a coffee percolator perk?
--
JL

One does not use a percolator, not if one likes coffee.

--
Peter Aitken

"Joseph Littleshoes" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

How long does one let a coffee percolator perk?
--
JL

Stovetop or Electric?

Dimitri

Joseph Littleshoes said:

How long does one let a coffee percolator perk?
--
JL

If it's an electric, it stops perking on its own when the coffee is
ready. (the 30 cup percolator in my office takes about 10 or 12 minutes
to brew 24 cups.) Basically, it's done when the whole pot of water
(starting with it cold) reaches serving temperature. You can let it go
a little longer to make it stronger, but it's better to just use more
coffee to make it stronger. HTH :-)

Best regards,
Bob

wff_ng_7 said:

jay said:

Why you should never percolate coffee:
Percolators violate most of the natural laws about brewing coffee.

While that may very well be true (actually it is true), other coffee
preparation methods just don't have the nostalgia and romance value that
a percolator does. I guess it depends on the era one grew up. Drip
coffee makers started to replace percolators in the 1970s (with Mr.
Coffee, etc.) and percolators largely disappeared within a decade.
There's at least a whole generation that was never exposed to the
percolator, and of course have no nostalgia for them.

One of the big advantages of a percolator is you can get a stovetop one
and can make coffee without electricity (if you have a gas stove, etc.).

I prepare coffee by several different methods. Mostly it's espresso, but
I also make perked coffee and Turkish coffee (another "boiling"
process). Maybe it's just the memories that the perk, perk, perk sounds
bring back, along with the aroma while perking that does it for me. Not
that it makes better coffee. To be authentic, you absolutely need a
percolator with the glass top! ;-)

If you want nostalgia *and* great coffee, get a glass vacuum coffee maker.

Bob

How long does one let a coffee percolator perk?
--
JL

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

How long does one let a coffee percolator perk?
--
JL

Assuming that your percolator has some sort of transparent glass or
plastic top that lets you judge the color of the coffee as it's brewing,
you can go by the color of the coffee as it boils up from the bottom of
the pot, plus the smell of the brewed coffee. When both are pleasing to
you, quickly take the pot off the heat or unplug it, and enjoy. If your
eyesight and/or sense of smell are impaired to any great extent, and/or
you can't hover over the percolator when necessary, you may want to go
with some other brewing method.

Assuming that you're using a stovetop pot, lower the heat to the minimum
necessary to keep the pot gently percolating once the process starts.
Then comes a point where the color goes from thin brown to rich brown
and the aroma resembles freshly-ground coffee. That's when it's "done".
This stage will be followed quickly by a noticeable darkening of the
brew and a more acrid aroma that resembles used coffee grounds, so
you've got to anticipate the transition and act quickly.

My mother used to make delicious perc'd coffee when company came over,
and she had the technique down pat. Of course, she probably had decades
of practice getting it right before I ever started paying any attention.
The bottom line is that, like barbecue and any number of other things,
percolator coffee is done when it's done. Many folks will say perc'd
coffee is done before it's started, but it really is possible to make
tasty perc'd coffee, with practice.

Bob

Joseph wrote on Fri, 30 Mar 2007 13:57:14 -0800:

JL> How long does one let a coffee percolator perk?
JL> --
JL> JL

To make decent coffee, never!

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations:
not.jim.silverton.at.comcast.not

Gregory Morrow said:

Sheldon said:

Joseph Littleshoes said:

How long does one let a coffee percolator perk?

How strong and/or bitter do you want your coffee?

Most all percolators come with directions that are only approximations
about how much coffee per cup and how long to perk. Some electric
percolators do incorporate a strength setting device that is
essentially a timer, so the result is again merely approximation.
It's really up to you, experiment until the coffee you choose to use
is brewed in such a way that it is pleasing to you. There really are
no rules except that the longer you let it perk the more bitter... the
cheapskates use less coffee but let it perk longer. Of course
regardless, a clean pot and good water is paramount.

The old aluminum percolators all make terrible coffee, you cannot brew
decent coffee in aluminum. Use stainless steel, the new modern
plastic percolators are even better... any metal will impart an off
flavor to perked coffee simply due to the length of time it's in
contact with so much metal surface... if your percolator is aluminum
immediately after perking decant any extra to a glass caraffe. Coffee
deteriorates rapidly, don't brew more than you can consume within
twenty minutes. Hardly anyone uses a perculator anymore, they all
make lousy coffe... why are you asking?

Joseph found a few books of S&H Green Stamps he has to redeem...

;-)

After breaking my 5th French Press i started making campfire coffee,
boil the water in a pot, put in the appropriate amount of coffee and let
sit for 3 - 4 minutes.

I feel about paper coffee filters the way most people seem to feel about
metal percolators.

I was at a local flea market earlier to day and got a Revere Ware steel
percolator for $5.

I almost got a nice butler's table for $50 but was just not quick enough
--
JL

wff_ng_7 said:

Joseph Littleshoes said:

How long does one let a coffee percolator perk?

For a standard size percolator, I would think it's in the 5 to 8 minute
range after it starts perking.

Thanks, i got a 5 cup Revere Ware (circa 1960's IMO) percolator at a
flea market to day, i let it perk for about 4 minutes on a very low
flame, i like the cup im drinking but think i will let it perk longer
next time.
--
JL

Quoted message said:

I've got four percolators, two that are electric and two that are
stovetop. The Farberware electric one I got in 1990 was advertised as a
cup a minute speed. It's 8 cups and I normally fill it to 4 cups. It
takes about 5 minutes total to finish, but heats superfast from cold. In
fact, the word "superfast" is on the pot.

It's a whole 'nother story for one of those huge coffee urn devices that
were used in churches and such. I wouldn't doubt those take close to an
hour to cycle all the water through.

Dimitri said:

"Joseph Littleshoes" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

How long does one let a coffee percolator perk?
--
JL

Stovetop or Electric?

Dimitri

Stove top, and i have a gas stove so i let it perk for about 4 minutes
on a very low heat, it was o.k. but i think next time i will let it perk
a bit longer?
--
JL

Joseph Littleshoes said:

How long does one let a coffee percolator perk?

It's not coffee but I suspect it takes about the same amount of time as this
1969 video about popcorn.

Jill

wff_ng_7 said:

While that may very well be true (actually it is true), other coffee
preparation methods just don't have the nostalgia and romance value that a

percolator does. I guess it depends on the era one grew up. Drip coffee
makers started to replace percolators in the 1970s (with Mr. Coffee, etc.)

and percolators largely disappeared within a decade. There's at least a
whole generation that was never exposed to the percolator, and of course
have no nostalgia for them.

I'm a babyboomer and have many fond memories of growing up in the '50s and
'60s. Percolators and outhouses are two things from that era that I just
can't work up nostalgia for; hell, even service as a grunt in Vietnam during
Tet of '68 rates higher than either of those things. Now, I imagine there
are some of you that are itchin' to tell me I just never had good perc'ed
coffee or that I never used a proper outhouse; that may be so, but my vast
experience in these matters tells me they are experiences I'd pay to avoid
having agin.

Gimme a french press, vacuum pot or Melitta cone to make my coffee and gimme
an nice indoor, flushable toilet with paper that's made for the purpose.

Now. I do get a big smile on my face when I see my Roy Rogers lunchbox, no
matter how beat-to-[censored] it is, or when I think of Hoppy, Cisco and Sky King.

Maybe a Moon Pie and an RC Cola or Dr. Pepper; heck, I wouldn't mind havin'
a Coke with a bag Tom's peanuts dumped in it. Now that's somethin' to git
nostalgic about.

-----------
"From out of the blue of the western sky... Sky King"

zxcvbob said:

If you want nostalgia *and* great coffee, get a glass vacuum coffee maker.

But that would be pseudo-nastalgia, as we never had a vacuum coffee maker
when I was growing up! How can I reminisce about something I never
experienced in the first place? (I know that doesn't stop some people.)

I did get a glass vacuum coffee maker (Bodum) about a decade ago, but had
much trouble using it because it kept getting clogged going back down. I
suspect the plastic "filter" didn't work as well as those vacuum coffee
makers from the 1950s (ones with Cory rods).

--
wff_ng_7 (at) verizon (dot) net

Joseph Littleshoes said:

Stove top, and i have a gas stove so i let it perk for about 4 minutes on
a very low heat, it was o.k. but i think next time i will let it perk a
bit longer?

The length of time does affect the strength of the coffee, up to a point
where it just gets overbrewed. It's probably not at that point in 4 minutes
(for a 5 cup pot).

The percolator I normally use is my electric Farberware one from around
1990. It is non-adjustable. But I have another electric one from the 1950s
(the brand escapes me at the moment), and it has the glass top and a brew
strength adjustment knob. What the adjustment knob does is change the
temperature in the pot at which it goes into keep warm mode. Higher
temperature takes longer and gives a stronger brew.

I think I am going to get out my grandmother's white Corningware stovetop
percolator from the mid 1960s and make a pot tomorrow morning. I haven't
used that one in a while.

--
wff_ng_7 (at) verizon (dot) net

wff_ng_7 said:

I did get a glass vacuum coffee maker (Bodum) about a decade ago, but had
much trouble using it because it kept getting clogged going back down. I
suspect the plastic "filter" didn't work as well as those vacuum coffee
makers from the 1950s (ones with Cory rods).

I have been using a Bodum Santo glass vacuum maker (sounds like what you
had); I initially had the clogging problems you mentioned, then I read the
instruction booklet. I had been using the same grind as in my old Mr.
Coffee; I switched to a coarser grind, as recommended in the instructions,
and the clogging problems went away.

If you still have your Bodum, try a coarser grind, you may find you'll get a
very tasty, though non-nostalgic, cup of coffee.
--
Change Cujo to Juno in email address.