Whether you're in your kitchen or on a camping trip, having a coffee maker is a must. Percolators are kettles used to brew coffee on a stovetop for a result that's rich in flavor and piping hot. Read our guide to learn what a percolator is and how to use a percolator.

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What Is a Percolator?
How Does a Percolator Work
How to Use a Percolator

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What Is a Percolator?

Before we delve into how to use a coffee percolator, it's important to define it. A percolator is a kettle that is typically heated over a stove. It has two separate sections for water and coffee grounds. Percolators are commonly used on camping trips since they work well over campfires as well as on stovetops. Some percolators are electric, making it easy to make coffee without ever turning on the stove. Their high brewing temperature makes the coffee notes stand out for richer-flavored coffee drinks. Percolators’ high brewing temperature also makes your coffee stay hot for longer, so you don't have to worry about putting a mug in the microwave or reheating it on the stovetop (and risking burning the coffee brew).

How Does a Percolator Work

So, how does a percolator work? A percolator has two chambers – a lower chamber for water and an upper chamber for ground coffee beans. As the water starts to heat up and boil, it goes through a vertical tube that passes through the coffee grounds. The water drips back to the bottom of the percolator. This process happens multiple times, meaning percolator coffee is brewed many times. As the coffee-flavored water drips down, it passes through the coffee grounds again to create the best cup of joe. Read on to see the specific steps of how to make percolator coffee.

Tip!

Review Percolator vs. French Press Coffee Makers: A Matter of Taste to learn more about how these two coffee-brewing methods differ, and how they influence the coffee's flavor.

How to Use a Percolator

Learning how to use a stovetop percolator is more user-friendly than you think! Review this section for your step-by-step guide on brewing coffee with a percolator.

What You’ll Need

• Coarsely Ground Coffee
• Water
• Percolator
• Coffee Mug
• Coffee Additives (if applicable)
• Coffee Spoon

1. Prep the Coffee Percolator

Before making coffee with a percolator, you’ll want to wipe it down to ensure that there are not any small pieces of dust inside, ensuring your coffee will taste its best.

2. Add Water

Add water to the lower chamber in your percolator. Check your manufacturer’s recommendations to see how much water is needed. A basic rule of thumb is two cups of water will roughly equal one cup of coffee.

3. Add the Coffee Grounds

Opt for your favorite coffee type and add the grounds to the upper chamber. If you want fresh coffee, grind your coffee beans. Use a tablespoon of grounds for a strong coffee or a teaspoon for a lighter cup.

Tip!

When learning how to use a percolator, it's important to determine the correct amount of coffee grounds to add based on your kettle's size and the strength of the brew you want. Review How to Use a Coffee Grinder for specific tips on grinding coffee beans for percolator brewing.

4. Heat It Up

The heating process is the most important when learning how to use a percolator. Turn your stove top on medium heat and place your percolator on the stove. You want to heat it slowly until it is almost simmering or boiling, but not quite. When it gets to this stage, reduce the heat and make sure that there is no steam coming out.

5. Percolate the Coffee

Let the coffee percolate for seven to ten minutes. If you enjoy stronger coffee, let it percolate for longer. If you like weaker coffee, percolate the coffee for a shorter amount of time. Be sure to review the percolator coffee instructions recommended for a specific product to ensure adequate brew time.

6. Remove From Heat

Remove the percolator from the stovetop. Remove the coffee ground basket and throw away the used coffee grounds. Keep in mind, the basket will be hot so it’s best to use oven mitts.

7. Let It Rest

Let the coffee rest for a few minutes. This allows the coffee grounds to settle to the bottom of the percolator. Pour into your favorite coffee mug, add in milk or cream (if applicable), and enjoy.

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