the coffee thread got me thinking about this

[Alpo]

When using a percolator, how long do you let it perk?

 

My entire experience for the percolator is an electric percolator. And it would perk until it was done. Then it would stop. You had to take the basket out then because otherwise in about 10 minutes it would start perking again, which Mama told me was a bad thing.

 

But I've never used one on top of the stove. My understanding is as long as you got the heat underneath it it will keep perking. So how long do you do it? 5 minutes? 10 minutes? Half hour?

 

And for the people that are going to tell me that it depends on how much you're making --- we shall assume that it's a full pot of 10 cups.

[Subdeacon Joe]

I like around 8 or 9 minutes from the first "perc."

[Jiminy Cricket]

I’ve only perked coffee over a campfire.  We did some testing and found that we liked it at 10 minutes in the mountains and 8:ish at sea level.  It’ll perk for as long as the water is boiling.

 

Regards,

Cricket

 

We = the wife and I

[Subdeacon Joe]

1 hour ago, Jiminy Cricket said:

I’ve only perked coffee over a campfire.  We did some testing and found that we liked it at 10 minutes in the mountains and 8:ish at sea level.  It’ll perk for as long as the water is boiling.

 

Regards,

Cricket

 

We = the wife and I

 

Slightly different boiling points give different results.  

 

Do you find that it gets bitter very quickly if you go much past those times?

[Jiminy Cricket]

The under-perked coffee consistently lacked body and felt watered down, which makes sense.  The over-cooked was acidic, I guess you could call it bitter.  I felt like there was a pretty wide window of error.  We are different, me and my wife.  I vastly prefer to have the body and flavor in my coffee while she is more sensitive to the extraction and puts the upper limit on brew time.

 

Regards,

Cricket

[Crazy Gun Barney, SASS #2428]

Camping (family, friends, vacation, hunting... pretty much all the same), the first cup of coffee from the percolator on the fire was usually ready when somebody declared "long enough, cant wait no more, need coffee". 

[Jiminy Cricket]

I forgot to add that we use Folgers Classic Roast Ground Coffee in the field. 

 

Cricket

[Rye Miles #13621]

My mom made perc coffee all the time, 8 OClock coffee. I seem to remember about 10 minutes or a little less from when it started perking. In her later years she got an electric coffee maker. 

[Jeff, #21334]

Seems like the ones I remember had that clear piece on top, and a lot of people I could tell by the color

[Rip Snorter]

They were glass - currently they are plastic, fragile, and stain over time.  I have to see if I can find glass replacements - one broken, another on its last legs.  Cabelas carried glass replacements, last visit to Bass Pro, clueless and not interested in solving problems.

[Alpo]

16 minutes ago, Rip Snorter said:

have to see if I can find glass replacements

https://www.amazon.com/Percolator-Replacement-Percolators-Replacemnt-Transparent/dp/B0F383VKTP/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=32KDZSOKQSYQM&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.OzTXBQey9Ew7b8Eup94BlLn5lFuAtrY7xjrvia92K-n2x-Q-V7UaUWH0iSG4MMzVa5j2Hua1AvJmtTzkNUugFHsmPQ6lRJxjSV6QKU_IpUVzRYkl3TEXzv2YcZAtFESAnwDpvt3tCn0D5JSyeFbU915cyAERmOaahvD32SiYdSjiLkS_qYqujxXZ3hkirns2vkmL0uapuUgw9499N7CQrQ.0K5Gw3s_JrdzbczxD_nDc3T3PZS8ZA8qAmdsTa5LZNA&dib_tag=se&keywords=coffee+percolator+globes&qid=1757038570&sprefix=coffee+percolator+globes%2Caps%2C297&sr=8-1

 

That two pack is eight and a half dollars. And it says something about a coupon and $7.64.

 

[WD Farren]

For my lodge monthly breakfast, I use a big commercial electric percolator (24 liters / 5.2 gallons) that produces about 155 cups of coffee.
It takes at least an hour to fully percolate, then automatically stops and keeps warm.

 

For Starbucks strength coffee, I use one full quart of grounds.

Some months it is all consumed, other months I pour some down the drain.

[Doc Eagle]

My campfire percolator has now been relegated to just boiling water for my new Yeti press.  It was just too tough to make the same pot of coffee twice in a row and yes it’s easy to overcook and burn the coffee which I HATE.

 

So I bought a Yeti press and the coffee it makes is WAY better tasting than anything I ever got out of the percolator (using the same coffee) and more important, once I figure out the exact amount of coffee I want to use for “strength” it is 100% repeatable plus it’s insulated so the fresh coffee taste/temp will last me through breakfast. Without having to stay in the fire.

 

Never going back.  BTW several other companies have similar units now including Stanley for them Yeti haters. 🤣

[Subdeacon Joe]

21 minutes ago, Doc Eagle said:

 

So I bought a Yeti press

 

Höðr on a Snekkja!

 

$130 for a French press tumbler?!?!

[Doc Eagle]

2 hours ago, Subdeacon Joe said:

 

Höðr on a Snekkja!

 

$130 for a French press tumbler?!?!

Yeti is not cheap.... BUT, I spend a LOT of time outdoors in the desert and HIGH in the mountains, and it seems it's either 110 or 25 every time I'm outdoors, so my stuff has to perform or it's no good to me.  All my stuff is Yeti, it has never let me down.  I always have a Gallon sized Yeti full of cold water and Ice in my Jeep when I'm out off-roading.  Funny after 5 hours of running around in the dessert heat everyone wants to drink from MY supply...  On one of my camping trips this Spring it was in the 30's every morning.  Yeti Press and Yeti mug.  I'm the only one that could enjoy a hot cup of coffee without having to chug it down.  Can't rush drinking my coffee, has to match my cigar smoking speed in the morning. 

 

As my dad taught me when I was a kid, "Buy right, cry once".

[watab kid]

my unit is a really old mr coffee 1/2 pot unit , i let it run till it stopps spitting then let it rest for a few minuets , its gennerally good - i do gringd beans fresh for each brew ,