How to Use a Coffee Percolator? | The Simple Steps

Using a coffee percolator means filling the reservoir with cold water, adding medium-coarse grounds to the basket, and heating until the brewing cycle finishes.

For the full breakdown, see our best Automatic Coffee Percolator guide.

The percolator is one of the oldest ways to brew coffee, and it still makes a strong, bold cup. The process looks complicated with its pump tube and basket, but it is straightforward once you see the order of assembly. The key is getting the grind right and not overfilling the water, since these two mistakes cause most of the common problems.

Before you begin, whether you have a stovetop model or an electric one, the steps are almost identical: fill, add grounds, assemble, and heat. The main difference is that electric percolators handle the heating for you and often switch to a keep-warm mode when the coffee is done.

Getting the Grind and Water Right

The single most important step happens before you assemble anything. You need the right coffee grind and the right amount of water.

Use a regular or percolator grind, which is medium to coarse. Fine, powder-like coffee will pass right through the basket and end up in your cup, making muddy, bitter coffee. If you buy pre-ground coffee, look for a “percolator” or “regular” grind on the bag.

• Fill the reservoir with cold, fresh water. Do not use hot water from the tap.
• Never fill above the MAX line or the marked capacity on the unit. Overfilling is a common mistake that causes messy brewing and weak coffee.
• Wet or rinse the basket before adding coffee on some models, which helps prevent fine grounds from sifting through.

Assembling the Percolator

Once the water is in, you can assemble the parts. The order matters because the pump tube needs to sit correctly in the water to push it up over the grounds.

Place the pump tube or stem into the reservoir first, then set the basket over it. Add your coffee grounds evenly across the basket, but do not pack them down tightly. Replace the basket lid, then fit the main lid onto the pot.

For electric models, connect the power lead to the percolator first, and then plug it into the wall socket. One electric percolator manual, the Electric Coffee Percolator 9667, also notes that the steam vents should face away from the handle to reduce burn risk. For stovetop models, place the pot on the burner and apply heat slowly. Adjust the flame so it only touches the bottom of the pot and does not climb up the sides.

Brewing Time and Knowing When It’s Done

After the water heats, it cycles up through the tube and over the coffee grounds. This is where the percolator gets its name, as the water “percolates” repeatedly.

Other models switch to a keep-warm mode automatically. On a stovetop unit, you control the heat, so you will watch the glass knob on top to see the coffee darken as it cycles.

When the brewing cycle finishes, remove the basket with the spent grounds and stop the heating. Let the coffee sit briefly before serving, and always use oven mitts or the cool-touch handle because the pot and base get very hot.

FAQs

Why does my percolator coffee taste bitter or have grounds in it?

Bitter coffee usually means the grind is too fine or the coffee brewed too long. Switch to a coarse or percolator grind and time your brew instead of leaving it on high heat. Grounds in the cup typically mean the basket needs to be rinsed before adding coffee, or the grind is fine enough to slip through the mesh.

Can I use a paper filter in a percolator?

Most percolator baskets are not designed for paper filters, and adding one can block the water flow. The metal basket is meant to do the filtering on its own. If you prefer a cleaner cup, use a slightly coarser grind rather than trying to force a paper filter into the basket.

How much coffee should I use per cup?

A standard starting point is one tablespoon of coarse grounds per cup of water, but this varies by taste. Check your specific model’s markings, since some baskets are sized for a certain number of cups. Start with one tablespoon per cup and adjust from there based on the strength you like.