Did you know that goats actually helped to discover coffee? Crazy, right? Around 800 A.D. shepherds realized the super-energetic effects of coffees when their goats began going bananas after consuming coffee berries. (source)
So now I have an extra reason to love my goats that much more because I cannot function in the morning without at least 2 cups of coffee. Fortunately, there are health benefits to drinking coffee daily.
However, my favorite coffee is always when it is brewed in the best coffee percolator. So I’m going to introduce you to the top percolators on the market and try to help you make a more informed choice when purchasing your own.
So I’m going to introduce you to the top percolators on the market and try to help you make a more informed choice when purchasing your own. Some may think that percolators are outdated. For me, I think that they are magical inexpensive dreamboats that make killer coffee.
The 8 Best Coffee Percolators
- Presto 02811 Stainless Steel Coffee Maker
- Farberware Classic Stainless Steel Yosemite Coffee Percolator
- Farberware FCP240 Percolator
- Hamilton Beach 40614 Twist Lid Percolator
- GSI Outdoors Enamelware Percolator
- Cuisinart PRC-12 Classic Stainless-Steel Percolator (Our Top Pick)
- Hamilton Beach 40616 Stainless-Steel Electric Percolator
- Euro Cuisine PER08 8 Cup Stainless Steel Percolator
Things to Consider When Purchasing a Percolator:
1. Capacity
The first item you will want to take into consideration before purchasing your percolator is capacity. If you have a lot of people in your home that drink coffee (or even a few that drink a lot of coffee), then you’ll need a larger percolator.
So keep in mind that percolators come in sizes anywhere from a 2-4 cup capacity up to a 12 cup capacity. If you only brew coffee for yourself, then a smaller percolator may work just fine.
However, in my house, my husband can drink a whole pot by himself so we obviously need a larger percolator.
2. Stovetop or Electric
The second item to consider is whether you want a stovetop percolator or an electric percolator. The benefits of a stovetop percolator are you can place it on your stove, wood stove, or even a grill and have delicious coffee.
However, some people would rather have the convenience of plugging in a percolator and letting it go. That is the benefit of the electric percolator.
But you must also consider that if you have an electric percolator, it can’t be used in off-grid situations or power outages.
3. Price
The final thing you will want to take into consideration when purchasing a percolator is the price. Percolators are not expensive to purchase in comparison with most traditional coffee makers. Yet, they do get less expensive if you choose a more basic percolator.
So you’ll want to consider this if you are working with a limited budget.
Why Use a Percolator?
Considering we live in a time with electric coffee pots, why would you even consider a percolator? Well, for a few reasons:
1. More Flavorful Coffee
In my opinion, percolators produce a more flavorful coffee. I think the flavor is more rich and robust than a typical cup of coffee brewed in an electric coffee pot.
So if you like a full-flavored cup of coffee, then you might want to consider brewing yourself a cup in a percolator. It might change your opinion on coffee quite a bit.
2. Easy Service
Do you like to have coffee when you entertain guests? I know I do. The evening isn’t complete without a great cup of coffee to accompany a dessert or game of cards.
So I love a percolator for the fact that I can easily bring the coffee to where we are seated and it stays hot. You can’t do that with a regular pot of coffee. It has to be returned to the burner which equates to more time walking to the coffee pot and less time visiting with your guests.
3. Compact
I am very fortunate to have lots of counter space in my kitchen, but I haven’t always had it. Which is why I didn’t like having to keep an electric coffee pot plugged in on my already limited counter space. I guess, I could’ve stored it when not in use, but coffee pots take up a lot of cabinet space too.
Well, that is not the case with a percolator. They can be plugged in when in use and easily stored when you aren’t using it. So you don’t have to worry about limited counter space being consumed any longer with a percolator.
Our 8 Best Coffee Percolator Picks
1. Presto 02811 12-Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Maker
The Presto percolator is electric and can brew anywhere from 2-12 cup of coffee at the rate of 1 cup per minute. It will automatically keep your coffee hot after it finishes brewing as well.
Plus, this coffee pot has an easy pour spout which makes serving coffee that much easier when you have guests over. It also has a filter basket and a perk tube so it will be ready to plug in and go to work as soon as the percolator arrives.
Also, this percolator has an indicator light to let you know when the coffee is finished brewing. This takes any guesswork out of making coffee.
Pros
- The price is right
- Has a reasonable capacity
- The shiny stainless steel adds appeal for coffee service
- The indicator light is great so you can easily know when your coffee is done
- Removable power cord
Cons
- Not solid stainless steel. There are aluminum parts
- Not fully immersible
2. Farberware Classic Stainless Steel Yosemite 8-Cup Coffee Percolator
This is an 8-cup, stovetop percolator. It has a permanent filter basket so there is no need to use a filter with this percolator.
Also, this percolator is dishwasher safe which makes for much easier cleaning. It has a clear knob on top as well to let you know when percolating is taking place.
Plus, for those that have never had stovetop coffee, there are claims that it extracts the full flavor of the coffee. In my opinion, I agree with this statement.
Pros
- Dishwasher safe for easy cleaning
- No need for filters
- The interior is designed with a coating that is meant to prevent coffee to absorb into the sides.
- The price is very reasonable
Cons
- It only brews 8 cups at a time
- There is no indicator light as to when percolating is finished
3. Farberware FCP240 4-12 Cup Percolator
This Faberware percolator comes in three options. You can purchase it in the 4,8, or 12 cup option. The price ranges anywhere from $41-$54 which makes it an affordable option for most budgets.
Also, this percolator comes with a shiny stainless steel finish which is visually appealing when serving coffee. It also has a detachable power cord for easy service and storage.
But the percolator also has other functional details such as brewing 1 cup of coffee per minute, and the ability to keep coffee warm after it finishes brewing.
Pros
- You have the potential of purchasing the size that works best for you but getting the same quality across the board.
- The price is very reasonable
- Detachable power cord for easy storage and service
- Speedy brew time
- Has a cool-touch handle and lid
Cons
- There is no visible feature to let you know when the coffee is done percolating
4. Hamilton Beach 40614 Twist Lid Percolator, Stainless Steel, 12 Cup
This is a totally different percolator from most. It is different in make and appearance. The first major difference is that it has a twist top lid. So the lid is securely attached when percolating.
The second difference is that this percolator is made of both plastic and stainless steel. Plus it has a cool-touch handle which helps stop burns from happening.
Also, it has a ready to use indicator light. As well as a no-drip spout, detachable cord, and a heater that keeps your coffee warm.
This percolator also has a permanent filter basket too.
Pros
- A secure screw-top lid
- Cool-touch handle
- Detachable cord
- Ready to use indicator light
- No-drip spout
- Heater that keeps coffee warm
Cons
- Made out of plastic which usually equates to it being less durable than stainless steel.
- Received low marks by some buyers for quality concerning the locking lid.
5. GSI Outdoors Enamelware Percolator
This is meant to be a lightweight yet heavy-duty percolator. It is actually meant to be used in camping situations.
However, it would be great for everyday stovetop use or use over an open fire as well in those camping or off-grid instances.
Plus, this percolator was Kiln-hardened twice in a 1400 degree temperature in order to better withstand chipping and cracking.
Pros
- Seems to be very durable
- Lightweight makes it easy to carry along in camping instances
- Removable stainless steel filter
Cons
- This is only an 8-cup percolator
6. Cuisinart PRC-12 Classic 12-Cup Stainless-Steel Percolator
This percolator can serve anywhere from 4-12 cups of coffee. It has a stay-cool option on the bottom which means you can set the percolator on any surface and not worry about it scorching the surface.
Plus, this percolator has a detachable cord and a ready-to-serve indicator light. It also has a no-drip spout as well.
Pros
- It has the ability to brew 12 cups of coffee
- Stay cool option
- No burn knob
- Detachable cord
- Ready-to-serve indicator light
- Reasonably priced
Cons
- Some people have problems with product quality
7. Hamilton Beach 40616 Stainless-Steel 12-Cup Electric Percolator
This percolator has a sleek design that is different than a lot of other percolators. However, this design makes it beautiful for serving coffee with guests.
Plus, it makes up to 12 cups of coffee, has a detachable cord, is made from stainless steel, and has a drip-free spout.
Pros
- It makes 12 cups of coffee
- The price is reasonable
- Has a detachable cord and a drip-free spout
- Has a permanent filter
Cons
- Has had complaints about long-term durability.
8. Euro Cuisine PER08 8 Cup Stainless Steel Percolator
This sleek and functional 8-cup percolator from Euro Cuisine is a great choice for any coffee lover.
The attractive stainless steel with copper finish design lets you brew and serve your coffee in style. User-friendly features include a ready-to-serve indicator light, a detachable cord for easy serving, and the pot automatically keeps your coffee warm.
If you like to see your coffee percolating, the clear glass knob allows you to watch your coffee as it percolates to perfection.
Pros
- Sleek stylish design
- Ready-to-serve indicator light
- Clear glass knob shows the coffee percolating
Cons
- Only makes 8 cups of coffee
- A little pricey in comparison to other larger percolators.
The Best Percolator:
All of the percolators had really nice functions about them. They also had great designs about them whether they were sleek and modern or on the classic side.
However, we chose the Cuisinart PRC-12 12-Cup Stainless Steel Percolator. The reason we chose this percolator as our pick is for these reasons:
1. The Stay-Cool Bottom
We really liked this feature because you don’t have to worry about where you set this coffee pot. If you want coffee with your breakfast, you can easily bring the percolator to the table.
Or if you are serving coffee at a gathering, you don’t have to worry about where you set the coffee. It can easily be brought to guests and left at a place that is easily accessible.
2. Ready-to-Serve Indicator Light
We liked this function because that way you can easily tell when the coffee is done perking. With all of the other things we must keep up with in life, it is nice to not have to keep up with when the coffee is done perking.
3. Capacity
We absolutely loved that this percolator could hold up to 12 cups of coffee. It is a nice benefit to have, even if you don’t want that much coffee on a daily basis, because when you need it you can make it.
However, if you don’t need that much coffee you don’t have to make that much coffee. So it is nice to have the luxury to decide.
4. Price
Considering all that you get with this percolator, the price is very reasonable. In comparison to a lot of luxury coffee pots that cost well over $100, it is great that you can get a nice percolator for half of that price.
5. No-Drip Spout
It is nice to have a no-drip spout. No one wants to pour their coffee everywhere when pouring it. So to have this feature whether it be for daily use or for entertaining purposes only, this is ideal.
6. Detachable Cord
A detachable cord is great for serving and storing the percolator. So to have a percolator that provides this option is a nice feature to have.
