If you purchase coffee from restaurants, it is easy to take for granted how much effort goes into its preparation. Some coffee enthusiasts will tell you that coffee-making is an art, and you need to take careful note of every aspect, including how long you percolate coffee.
How long to perk coffee? Coffee should be percolated for about 3-10 minutes, depending on the size of the coffee grounds and the taste you want. If you percolate coffee for too long, it will taste burnt and bitter.
In a post by HomeGrounds, percolated coffee does not always taste great when compared to coffee prepared by other methods. However, an electric percolator can get your coffee ready in just three minutes.
How To Percolate Coffee
How you percolate coffee depends on whether you are using a traditional or electric percolator. Both methods require that you put some water in the percolator tank, add the coffee grounds to the basket, and connect the percolator to a heat source.
Percolating coffee is an easy process, and you can decide which will be more convenient, an electric or traditional percolator. Both methods follow similar steps except that with an electric model, you skip the process of lighting up a heat source.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to percolate coffee:
- Begin by removing the upper chamber to add your preferred quantity of water to the percolator tank. The water quantity depends on how much coffee you want to brew. Some percolators hold up to 8 cups of water but if your brewer tank is smaller, avoid overfilling it.
- Some coffee percolators are designed such that you have to take the upper chamber (including the basket) out to add water. If you had to do this, replace the chamber after putting in water.
- Next, add the coffee grounds to the replaced basket. The quantity of fresh coffee or pre-ground coffee you add depends on how strong you like your coffee. Recently ground coffee may taste stronger too as coffee beans lose their flavor with time.
- Now, place the percolator on a heat source or plug the cord in, if it is an electric model. Stovetop percolators offer more control over the degree of heat.
- What follows is monitoring the coffee as it brews. If your percolator has a glass top, you can see the brewing progress without lifting the lid. Electric percolators require less monitoring as they have sensors that can detect the coffee’s optimal temperature and prevent overheating.
- When the brewing is done, separate the upper basket from the percolator and transfer your coffee to a mug.
Which are Preferred more? Drip or Percolated?
| Percentage of those who like drip coffee makers over percolator coffee makers: | 58.97% |
| Ones who prefer percolator coffee makers over drip coffee makers: | 27.35% (rest of percentage are neither, or other) |
Percolator Coffee to Water Ratio
The recommended ratio is to add 1 to 2 tablespoons of ground coffee beans for every 6 ounces of water you add to the percolator reservoir. This may differ according to individual preferences.
While the ratio mentioned above is used quite often, you should feel free to add more water or coffee ground to achieve a weaker or stronger coffee.
You will often be able to add just as much water as the percolator tank can accommodate, so, if you want a light coffee, consider adding little coffee grounds. Depending on the device’s design, you may lose some water to evaporation as the coffee brews.
Filling the coffee basket may be tempting, especially if you intend to have the coffee at intervals all day. Remember that the longer the coffee sits, the more bitter it tastes. Some individuals prefer bitter coffee but if you don’t, it’s better to brew the coffee in small quantities each time you are ready for a drink.
For some coffee lovers, 1 tablespoon of coffee grounds for each cup of water is just ideal to get them a strong coffee. Similarly, 1 teaspoon per cup works for a weaker coffee.
What matters is that you stick to a measurement that makes the right-tasting coffee for your tastebuds. When in doubt, you can measure the roast coffee with a scale to get accurate proportions.
Measuring matters because it is the surest way to maintain a consistent coffee taste with each brew. Measuring accurately is just as important as measuring at all, so, get a scale. A standard kitchen scale, the coffee grounds, and water are all you need.
Reset the scale and measure the water first, adding a bit more for what will be lost during evaporation. Get a clean dry container to measure the coffee beans, pay attention to the servings you used, and adjust them accordingly to get the desired coffee taste.
How Do You Know When Percolator Coffee Is Done?
The easiest way to know when a percolator coffee is done is by listening to hear the sputtering sound coming from the device. Also, look out for bubbles that show the water has reached its boiling point. Your coffee is ready once the “perking” stops.
It is easier to monitor your coffee as it brews if the percolator comes with a transparent top. When sputtering begins, you will see the bubbles without having to open the percolator.
Listen for the sputtering sound to hear how fast it is as faster bubbling means the water is hotter. If you do not want your coffee deeply brewed or dark, you should take it away from the stovetop when the sputtering start.
Reducing the heat from the stovetop when you begin to hear the sputtering sound gives you more control over its taste. You can leave the coffee to brew for an additional 10 minutes if you want it to come out stronger and darker.
If you use an electric percolator, less monitoring is needed. Depending on the machine you have, the device may have a timer to alert you once the coffee reaches its boiling point. Some models have internal sensors that detect when the coffee is getting too hot. The machine then automatically shuts off.
If yours doesn’t have this feature, monitor the percolator activity so you don’t end up with over-extracted or under-extracted coffee. It might also help to use a timer. The percolator releasing steam is a sign that the coffee is brewing too hot. Unplug or bring it down for a while to cool before resuming brewing.
So long as the coffee tastes right to you, then it is done. You want to avoid overheating it as this can cause the percolated coffee to taste bitter. Just make sure you can see the brew producing bubbles without boiling. Once it begins sputtering, leave it for a few more minutes on reduced heat.
Can You Percolate Coffee Too Long?
Yes, percolating coffee for more than 10 minutes is considered too long. It affects the coffee’s flavor and makes it taste burnt and bitter. Between 5-10 minutes should be ideal to get the right flavor.
Percolating coffee for too long results in over-extraction and even for people who prefer a stronger brew, over-extracted coffee hardly tastes right. This is why proper monitoring is essential during percolation. Overboiling is the first sign that the coffee grounds are soaking up excessively.
Ideally, the percolating coffee should not boil. Pay attention to when the machine begins to produce steam and reduce its temperature so that the liquid keeps moving up and down in the pot without boiling. It may sound like a demanding process but using the right technique is important to get delicious, percolated coffee.
What causes the bitterness in over-extracted coffee is the brewed coffee going through the cycle again. Aside from a lengthy brewing duration, the size of your coffee grounds can affect its taste too. For the best results, use a coarser grind if you are brewing your coffee for a longer time.
Coarse coffee grounds pair with hot water to create a great-tasting coffee. Another advantage is that they can’t penetrate the basket and ruin your brew. You can set your coffee grinder to achieve the texture or look for products labeled “coarse” if purchasing pre-ground coffee.
Some coffee grounds come with instructions to brew for up to 7 minutes but brewing for a shorter time can also produce enjoyable coffee. It’s best to experiment with different durations if it’s your first-time percolating coffee. However, it is advisable to start by brewing for a brief period and then increasing the time if you find that the initial result wasn’t strong enough.
The longer the coffee brews, the stronger the result. If you like your coffee strong, around 6-8 minutes of brewing should be ideal. Even for people who enjoy strong coffee, percolating for more than 10 minutes can affect the coffee’s taste.
When Should You Make Coffee in a Percolator?
You should make coffee in a percolator if you want a hotter, bold-flavored coffee. Using a percolator is the most suitable option for brewing coffee outdoors and in copious quantities. Percolators are also perfect if you want a solution that allows you to clean up quickly after brewing.
It’s why professionals love to brew with percolators because they can trust the rich flavors of percolated coffee. It may be a classical approach, but the combination of the double-brew method and hot temperatures is what sets this brewing method apart.
If you want to enjoy coffee while camping or during other outdoor activities, brewing with a percolator is a convenient method. The machine has a strong build and is compact enough to fit into your travel bag.
With a stove percolator, you don’t need an electrical outlet to brew coffee. As long as you have your coffee grounds, clean water, heat source, and the machine itself, you can enjoy coffee outdoors.
Since percolators brew in 10 minutes or less, you have plenty of time to carry on in your adventures.
Percolators come in big sizes too and using one of those allows you to brew a large capacity of coffee at once. Some can take up to 12 cups of water and are ideal for serving many guests.
Large coffee percolators will prevent the trouble of having to brew coffee in several batches when there are lots of cups to fill. So, if you’re hosting a party, making coffee in a percolator is timesaving.
Percolators have a straightforward design so you can separate the upper chamber and tank. This allows for proper cleaning without leaving residues that give the coffee an acidic taste. If you make coffee frequently and want a machine that provides easy cleaning, consider a coffee percolator.
Do Percolators Make Stronger Coffee?
Percolated coffee is stronger than most brews because it goes through a continuous cycle of brewing. As the water in the tank rises to the tube, it reaches the coffee grounds, and the process repeats itself.
Preparing coffee in a percolator delivers the most authentic coffee flavors.
Percolated coffee creates a bold flavor that can be even stronger when you use fine coffee grounds. Unlike coarse grounds, fine coffee grounds transfer their flavor into the water faster as it recirculates. The water temperature when brewing in a percolator is usually around 392 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius) which is ideal.
Allowing your coffee to boil beyond this temperature ruins its flavor and creates an overly strong coffee. To get a milder brew, use a light coffee roast that contains little acid. Of course, brewing the coffee for a shorter period also creates weaker coffee.
The brewing method makes percolated coffee stronger but there’s the possibility of over-extraction. When the water recirculates the coffee grounds too many times, this occurs, and the result is a bitter-tasting coffee. Therefore, brewing with a percolator requires more attention. You’d have to consistently regulate the temperature to prevent the brew from boiling.
Your goal should be to percolate coffee that is strong enough without tasting burnt. The coffee begins brewing once it starts to “perk”. This is the right time to adjust the temperature if you are using a stovetop percolator.
With an electric model, you may need to unplug the percolator at this point to let it cool before you plug it in again to begin brewing. Keeping the water temperature right and brewing for the right duration creates percolated coffee with optimal strength.