Don’t Be Afraid of a Vintage Percolator – Great Coffee Ahead

Are you looking for an old-school way to make a perfect cup of coffee? If so, look no further than the vintage percolator. The percolator has been around since the 19th century and is used to brew fresh, delicious coffee. Many times you will see them on a camp fire next to a camper trailer in 40s – 60s family photos. It’s easy to use and can be found in many antique stores or online auction sites like eBay or Etsy. Here’s how you can make the perfect cup of coffee with a vintage percolator. 

Step 1 – Grind Your Coffee Beans 

The first step is to grind your coffee beans. Make sure you don’t grind them too fine, as this will make the brewing process take longer and your resulting drink won’t have as much flavor as it could. It’s best to use medium-coarse grounds for optimal results. Once you have your grounds ready, add them into the top insert chamber of your percolator and then fill the pot with cold water (there is usually a fill to line or cut in the percolator).  

Step 2 – Place on Stovetop & Heat 

Next, place your full percolator onto a stovetop (later models but still vintage had built heating elements that plugged in directly without needing to use the stove) set at medium heat and let it sit until the water starts boiling. This should take about 10 minutes or so depending on how much water is in the pot. As soon as it begins boiling, turn down the heat just enough that it continues boiling without overflowing out of the pot.  

Step 3 – Let It Perc  

At this point, you’ll need to let your pot “perc” – that is, allow steam from the boiling water to pass up through the coffee grounds in order to create that rich flavor we all know and love. This step should take about 5 minutes or so until all of the water has been filtered through the grounds and into your cup below.  

Step 4 – Enjoy Your Delicious Coffee  

Once all of your liquid has been filtered through, carefully remove your pot from the heat source and allow it to cool for a few minutes before pouring yourself a cup. You now have some delicious homemade coffee that was made using an old-fashioned percolator method. Enjoy. 

Making coffee with a vintage percolator might seem intimidating at first but it’s actually quite simple once you get used to it. All it takes is some freshly ground beans; cold water; some patience while waiting for it to boil; and lastly, letting it perc until all of that delicious flavor seeps out into your cup below. So next time you’re looking for an old-school way to make some amazing tasting coffee – try using a vintage percolator.

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