Percolator Percolator What is a Percolator? The percolator consists of a pot with a chamber at the bottom, closest to the source of heat. A vertical tube leads from this chamber to the top of the percolator. Just below the upper end of this tube is a perforated chamber. The grounds go in the top chamber, water in the bottom. When the water boils, it travels up the tube, over the grounds, cooling the water, then back down to the bottom chamber to cycle again. What do I need? A percolator and a heat source, coffee, water, and a complete lack of respect for the coffee bean. What type of coffee grind? The percolator uses a coarse grind. The water will be very hot and in a lot of contact with the grounds. What else should I know? Water temperature is vital. Ideally, you want the temperature between 195 and 200 degrees F. Older style percolators are placed directly on a heat source (often a campfire). They basically continually boil the coffee (over 210 degrees, typically).

Newer electric percolators stop the continual cycling but nonetheless get too hot, boil the water hence extracting acids and other unwanted flavors. Step 1: Open the percolator. Pour cool water into the bottom chamber ... six to eight ounces per cup desired. The total amount of water must be below the top chamber when assembled. Step 2: Put the chamber and tube assembly into the percolator. Add coffee to the top chamber, two teaspoons per cup. Step 3: Place the percolator on the heat source. The water temperature rises until the water in the bottom chamber boils, forcing some of it up the tube to the top where it splashes down onto the perforated lid of the coffee chamber. This water then seeps through the coffee grounds, out through the bottom of the coffee chamber, and drops back into the water in the bottom of the pot. After a few seconds it again boils and the process is repeated. In this way liquid is continually dripping through the grounds until the temperature of the liquid (now brewed coffee) in the pot approaches (but has not yet reached) boiling point, at which stage the perking action stops and the coffee is ready for drinking.

In a manual percolator it is most important to remove or reduce the heat at this point, as most coffee-drinkers agree that it should never be allowed to boil. Step 4: Pour the coffee, add your cream and sugar, and enjoy (or not ...) NOTES: Coffee in a percolator is inevitably boiled several times over, leading to significant over extraction and the tarry bitterness which boiling produces. If you HAVE to use a percolator, choose a coffee which is low in acidity and VERY smooth, and grind it even coarser than for the French press. Allow it to perk for no more than 3 minutes. My advice for the three main steps when you have a coffee percolator: grasp firmly How to Make Coffee in a Percolator How to Make Coffee in a Percolator Making coffee in a percolator or an electric percolator is an effective alternative to drip or french press. Learn how to brew coffee in a percolator in this how-to video from About.com. Show transcript Hide transcript Transcript: How to Make Coffee in a Percolator Hi, I'm Elisa Pupko for About.com, and here's how you make coffee in a percolator.

How to Grind Coffee for a Percolator What you will need is a coffee grinder and fresh coffee beans. Coffee beans needs to be ground to coarse. So if you're buying pre-ground coffee beans, make sure they are ground to coarse. Cold tap water, a measuring spoon and a percolator. First you're going to grind your coffee to coarse, and then next you're going to open up and take everything out of the percolator. How to Make Coffee in a Percolator Next, you want to add cold water to the percolator; you want five ounces for cup of coffee. Then re-place the pump tube and the spring, and the basket back into the percolator. Add your coffee into the basket, it's two tablespoons per cup of coffee. Then, put the spreader back in and put the cover on. Plug in your percolator and your coffee will begin to brew. This model is an electric percolator, which is generally used inside households. There are other models that can be used over the stovetop or are also good when you are camping over the campfire. Why Use a Percolator?

What's great about using a percolator is that it's fast and easy to use. You just add the grounds in the coffee, plug it in and your coffee is made for you. This model also turns off by itself once the coffee brewing process has completed. However, because a percolator brews the coffee at higher temperatures, it can cause the coffee to be over extracted and make for a less flavorful cup. And that's how you brew coffee in a percolator. For more information, please visit About.com. About videos are made available on an "as is" basis, subject to the Terms of Use . Coffee Percolator - How to Make Coffee in a Percolator : Talk About Coffee Search How to Make Coffee in a Percolator Let’s start with a caveat. Nearly any coffee expert will tell you that a percolator is about the worst possible way to make coffee. Because the water is heated to a boil in order to perk, it’s really too hot for the coffee. It gets overextracted, and you end up with the bitterness and acidity that made coffee a ‘grownups only’ drink. That said, there are people still who prefer perked coffee to any other kind.

Taste is, after all, a matter of taste. In addition, those enormous coffee urns are still the best way to make lots and lots of coffee for a crowd. A coffee percolator consists of five parts. There is the percolator coffee pot, into which you put your coffee. There is the stem, a hollow metal tube that fits into the bottom of the pot. In non-electric percolators, it has a flat, round bottom. There is the filter basket, which slides onto the tube and holds the ground coffee. There is the filter basket cover, a round perforated lid that fits on top of the filter basket and makes sure that the water showers the entire basket of coffee evenly. Finally, there is the coffee pot lid, which often has a glass bubble in it. The glass bubble just might be the most fun part of the entire contraption. It lets you watch the coffee splurting up from the tube and splashing inside before it spills back down onto the lid. Coffee percolators come in two distinct types – electric and non-electric. The electric percolators include coffee urns that can make up to forty cups of coffee at a time.

Stovetop percolators are great for bringing along on camping trips. Both can actually make decent coffee despite their horrible reputation, if you follow a few simple guidelines. 1. Keep all parts of the percolator clean. That means washing the entire thing with dishwashing liquid and hot water every time you use it. To clean inside the stem, use a pipe cleaner or a long, thin brush. 2. Use freshly ground coffee. Obviously, this may present a problem if you’re on a camping trip with no electricity miles from nowhere. In that case, carry your ground coffee in a vacuum container with a lid to prevent the air from getting at it and spoiling the flavor. 3. Disassemble the Coffee Percolator. Put the coffee stem in place. 4. Fill the Coffee Percolator with water to below the line on the stem where the filter basket will rest. 5. Put the filter basket in place. Add one heaping tablespoon of coffee for each cup of water in the pot. 6. Fit the basket lid into place inside the percolator. 7. Here’s where we branch off in two directions. – If you are using an electric percolator, plug it in and turn it on.

The coffee pot is now on its own until its done perking. If you are using a stove top percolator, put it over a low flame to heat the water. As soon as the first splurt of coffee hits that little glass bubble, turn the heat down. We now return you to your regularly scheduled directions. For both electric and stovetop pots: 8. Watch the pot carefully. As soon as the pot stops perking, remove it from the heat. 9. This is the most important part of making coffee with a percolator. Being careful not to scald yourself, remove the lid of the percolator and remove the entire filter stem from the pot. If you leave it in there, the steam from the coffee will continue to condense, drip over the spent coffee grounds and drip into your coffee. 10. Fill your cup and enjoy. Farberware FCP512S 12-Cup Cordless Percolator Join The Discussion - 565 Comments Have thoughts to share? Post your comment below. Please note that we use rel="nofollow" and commenting for SEO purposes won't help. Your email address will not be published.

Required fields are marked * Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You can also subscribe without commenting. Your Name* September 27th, 2014 Corning Wear white ceramic coffee percolators are (in my opinion) the very best way to make coffee. There has been a lot of discussion about the hazard or danger due to the metal top band (which the handle attaches to) coming loose and causing an hot coffee burning accident. Seems the metal band is bonded to the ceramic body of the pot with an epoxy compound that can possibly come loose over time. Well, maybe, but I have over 30 of these pots, both stovetop and electric and I have not a single one that even appears to want to come loose. Now I’m not stupid, I handle these pots carefully, and gently, and they make the greatest coffee imaginable, but there is skill in using a percolator, regardless of brand. Here are my tips: Start with a squeaky clean percolator.

The fantastic feature of the Corning Wear pots is that EVERYTHING except the cord on the electric models can be put through the dishwasher, yes, even the electric heating unit that sits inside is water tight and can be dishwasher cleaned. If you get an old nasty pot, you can clean it up fairly easily. I use liquid Cascade dishwasher soap, squirt it in pot, and swish it around with a foam brush on a handle and let it sit, and it will dissolve eventually all the discoloration. I do the same with the metal percolator parts and heater. Then I run them through a dishwasher cycle to further clean them. Anyway, a clean pot, of any style is very important. Now for stovetop percolator, you want to start with fresh cool water, freshly ground coffee, and you don’t need to use a paper filter whatsoever. After you put in the water, and the coffee grounds in the basket. Set the percolator on the stove and turn on medium-high heat, and wait, generally about 10 minutes for the percolation to start, and you have to watch this carefully because the INSTANT it starts perking you need to reduce the heat to the minimum your stove will adjust to.

You want it to just simmer and perk slowly. I generally perk for about 6-7 minutes then remove from stove, it will continue perking for a bout a minute as it cools down. I use my iPhone to time the preperk, and the perk times, as I have worked out how long it takes for my situation for the water to reach perking temperature. OK, you have perked and removed the pot from the stove and it has stopped perking. WAIT, this is not yet the time to start pouring. There is still water in the basket, and you want to let this drain back down into the pot. I generally remove the lid and the basket lid so I can observe the water level in the basket, and I wait until the water has completely drained down so I can see the grounds, I then use a paper towel to grab the whole basket and stem assembly and remove it from the pot and sit it in the sink, I then stir the coffee with a wooden spoon, and pour. After I fill my giant mug, I decant the remaining coffee in a glass lined thermos bottle, and immediately rinse out the pot, to keep it snowy white on the inside.

If you let the water fully drain out of the basket after perking you will get very few grounds in your coffee, very few. It is attempting to pour a cup of coffee from the percolator while the basket is still full of water that causes grounds to come out of the basket into your cup when you pour. Let the basket drain and remove it before you pour and you just won’t get many grounds in your coffee. Thats all for now. August 5th, 2013 The person that wrote this article must be around 18 years old or very uneducated. As a 70 year old man who has used a Kuerig, Mr. Coffee coffee maker, a Sunbeam party pot, and a Sunbeam model AP percolator, as well as a Sunbeam stove top percolator I can tell you a percolator makes the best coffee if it has a brew strength adjustment. Also, you can make around 90 cups of coffee for around $4. With a Kuerig it will cost around $54 dollars. Elitists think if you pay more for something, it’s better.

With the Kuerig or a coffee maker, water passes over the grounds just once and with a percolator it is done many times and you can control the strength of the brew. June 24th, 2013 hi all. Just bought a GE immersible 9 cup percolator on ebay. i’ve read through the comments so know how to use it. i just have two questions. The percolator did not come with a spring, but it did come with a filter basket and the basket cover. It also came with a smaller basket that looks identical to the metal one, but made of plastic. Does anyone know what this is for? I’m also not sure if these GE immersible percs require a spring or not the last two I’vew bought didn’t come with them. THe model number is a7p15 if this is any help. i’ve tried calling GE’s customer service, it’s a joke. Leads me to walmart and those people don’t seem to know much about the products they currently stock, let alont stuff that was made 30+ years ago, lol. Thanks for any help.

May 2nd, 2013 I just found a great find, a late 1970’s possibly early 1980’s GE emerceable perc at good will for $2. It works fine, but upon opening the lid, I saw that the perc tube is lacking a spring and the filter basket does not have a basket cover. I tried to add the spring from my modern GE 12 cup perc, but while the spring fits, the lid, which is a plastic dome, won’t fit over the perc with it on. i’ve mad three pots of coffee and they’ve all come out extremely week, barely flavored water. Have used community collumbian classic, folgers chocolate, and eight o’clock original. Is this perc supposed to have a spring and filter basket cover and if so where can i find replacements? I love this perc, it’s extremely quiet. I also added my basket lid from my GE 12 cup, which should work, but because of the lack of a spring the basket falls far downt he tube until a nub stops it. Will the lack of a spring impact water flow? I think water not be showering evenly over the grounds.

Thanks for any help Best Coffee Percolators - Coffee Percolator Reviews Coffee Percolator Reviews: What is a coffee percolator? Benefits of using coffee percolators How much do percolators cost? Which should I buy? For coffee lovers, there is nothing better than the smell of freshly brewed coffee in the morning. If you need a reason to get up in the morning, this is it. Coffee is wonderful because you can smell the flavor and taste the smell; it is a treat for all of your senses, and coffee connoisseurs (or coffee addicts) can appreciate the quality of the beans and of the percolating process. While coffee from a drip maker is good, it can't compare to the taste and aroma unleashed by coffee percolators . Making percolator coffee is somewhat of an art, but those who master it swear by coffee percolators and eschew automatic drips and even the more trendy French press. Is a coffee percolator right for your needs or should you just get an auto drip? Should you go with stove top or electric? What are the best percolators on the market? We'll answer all your questions so you'll waste no time in making the perfect cup of coffee.

The video below shows the basics to coffee making done by Consumer Reports: Coffee Percolators vs. Automatic Drip Makers Coffee is coffee, right? Why does it matter how you brew it? The method of brewing can actually make a big difference in the taste of your coffee. You will find that experts almost universally dislike percolators. Why? When you brew coffee, it is optimal to keep the temperature under the boiling point. Percolators, on the other hand, work by boiling the water and recycling the coffee through the grounds. Those who favor drip makers or French presses love to disparage the humble percolator. One article in EHow reads, "Percolators just boil the flavor out of your beans. If you are completely indifferent to the flavor of your coffee, by all means, keep that old percolator." Another says that while many people use percolators, "not everyone is a connoisseur." These are what percolator fans call "coffee snobs." Percolators do make what is known as "cowboy coffee," and it can be a bit on the "robust" side. However, if you take the time, percolator coffee can be the most aromatic and enjoyable way to make coffee.

Admittedly, it does take a little more effort than drip coffee makers , but if you love the aroma of a perfectly brewed cup, you'll find it well worth it. And in a power outage, those coffee snobs will be begging for a cup of your cowboy coffee. What Type of Coffee Percolator is Right for You? - Inside the percolator is a stand that holds a basket over the top of the water level. You fill this with coffee grounds after you've filled the percolator with the desired amount of water. From here, there are different methods of brewing the coffee. You can put it on the stove on medium heat and wait for it to percolate. You'll see the water turn brown through the clear glass knob at the top of the percolator. This indicates that it is done. Another method has you putting the percolator on high heat, waiting until it begins to boil and the basket is full of water. Remove from the heat, wait for the water to drain, and then heat on medium until the basket is full of water once more. Then take it off the heat and wait for the water to drain. Finally, enjoy! This is an old-fashioned cowboy style percolator.

An electric coffee percolator works in the same way but instead of using the stove top, it plugs in and goes through the brewing cycle unassisted. Many will switch to a warming setting when the brewing is complete. You can browse the best selling coffee percolators here . Best Coffee Percolators: For percolator purists, stove top models will be the top choice. An added benefit for these is that they can be used over a campfire, and in fact, there are many camping models. The Coleman Enamelware Coffee Percolator , for instance, is a lightweight camping percolator that is light enough to carry on treks to the camp ground. The enamel is ideal for camping because of its weight, but that also makes it very hot to handle. For your home, you'll probably prefer a stainless steel version. About.CoffeeTea recommends the Metro Stainless Stove-Top Percolator for home use. This simple coffee pot is made of high quality 18/10 stainless steel and features stay-cool phenolic handles. That's it. No buttons, no gadgets, no timers: this is coffee at its most pure. You can find the Metro at Amazon for $26.

These things last forever, so you're getting your money's worth. Another good stove-top percolator to try is the Coleman 12-Cup Stainless Steel Percolator for $30. To check out how to use a coffee percolator to create great coffee - click the image below to go to video. Electric coffee percolators: Electric coffee percolators may be more appealing for those who don't want to watch their coffee closely. Another top pick of About.CoffeeTea and a great favorite of Amazon reviewers is the Farberware Percolator . Farberware is a huge name in the industry, and their percolators have a stylish design that will fit in any kitchen. The stainless steel percolator has a stay-cool handle, keep-warm function, and detachable cord for easy serving. A nice feature of this percolator is that you can adjust the brewing time for lighter or more robust coffee. A great function for those who aren't quite up to cowboy strength coffee yet. An Amazon reviewer sums it up best, writing "Ol faithful brews a reliable, delicious cup of joe." Can't argue with that.

You can get the 4-, 8-, or 12-cup percolator for $38, $48, and $54, respectively. Budget/Value Coffee Percolators: A good choice is the Hamilton Beach Percolator. This is even better for impatient types because it uses a quick-brewing system to perc up 12 cups of coffee in just minutes. The stainless steel percolator has a shiny chrome finish, ready-to-serve indicator light, keep-warm setting, stainless steel permanent filter basket, detachable cord, and drip-free spout. It is a very easy percolator and one that delivers the taste you expect with the ease of a drip machine. You can find this for $48. A favorite of About.CoffeeTea, Amazon reviewers love its looks and longevity. What do coffee experts know? They pay $7 for a latte. Those who love the aroma and taste of real, slowly brewed coffee know that percolators are well worth their weight in stainless steel. Check out the top rated percolators here .

Percolator - TeaChat teachat Percolator Post by FrazzledGlispa » Dec 14th, '09, 18:16 I have been searching for an electric kettle that does not have any plastic that comes in contact with the water or steam. This doesn't seem to be such a major thing to ask for, but apparently it is. The only ones that don't seem to have any plastic in them are the Kamjoves, but reviews and quality are mixed. So my question - is there any reason that I couldn't use a percolator (that has never been used to make coffee) to boil water for tea? I wouldn't intend to actually brew the tea in it, just boil the water. They seem to be relatively inexpensive, come in a variety of sizes, and most are all metal on the inside - even the lids - some have the little glass bubble, but others don't. Thoughts? Criticisms? I don't drink coffee, so I don't know if there is a reason that this wouldn't work, Thanks!

Re: Percolator Post by FrazzledGlispa » Dec 14th, '09, 23:37 Thanks for the suggestion. I read through the thread that you linked, and several others as well. I had considered going the hot plate/kettle route - this is what I do at work when making black teas or iced teas, but I really don't want to do that at home. I would rather do an all in one. In addition to wanting to avoid plastic contacting boiling water, I also like things to be aesthetically pleasing, and to get a good value for my money. I do like the looks of some of the Kamjove Kettles, as well as the one you linked, but I am just concerned about build quality - one owner stated that it felt like the handle was going to fall off. It didn't, but it felt like it.

It would seem that an electric percolator is a tried and true design that would be hard to screw up (though reading the reviews of some of them on Amazon it seems that they have managed to do just that.) I guess my question is just - is there anything inherent about a percolator that would recommend against it's use as an electric kettle? Thanks again Re: Percolator Post by beachape » Dec 15th, '09, 00:07 As long as the percolator is simply a stainless steel or iron kettle, there is no reason not to use it. They make plenty of simple stainless steel kettles for very cheap which may work a little nicer. They won't have the percolating basket, but the construction may be a little nicer. I went through the whole electric kettle debacle a while back. I'm still using my plastic kettle because I could never find a decent product that does such a simple thing. Lots of friendly teachat members gave great suggestions, but i just couldn't find the ultimate solution for myself. Boiling on the stove takes longer and is less efficient (I'm not sure about this, but it seems that more heat escapes.

Also not sure if using gas would make up for this...). But it also requires that you don't forget about your kettle on the stove. And every single electric kettle I found seemed suspicious or inconvenient in some way. Hope your search goes better than mine. Good luck Post by Cha Nacho » Dec 16th, '09, 02:16 Hi FrazzledGlispa, If you are still interested in all stainless steel kettle, have a poke around for the 'Lu yu' brand kettle from Ten Ren, I have been using it for a couple of years now and its great. It has three settings: continuous boil, boil cycle (full boil then cool down to 85c then reboil), and off. The only thing is it might be hard to find, and it is quite expensive. I got mine for about a hundred bucks (canadian) after a bit of bartering. If your willing to make the investment though its a fairly ideal electric kettle for gong fu sessions. The only things that are plastic on it are the handle on the outside and the nob on the lid.

Re: Percolator Post by FrazzledGlispa » Dec 16th, '09, 23:22 Thanks for the advice, all. I haven't really made up my mind yet as to what to do. I may just wind up with a hot plate and a standard kettle. It doesn't seem to me that a nice, high quality electric kettle that has not water/plastic contact should be such a difficult thing to find. But apparently it is. Personally, I prefer the idea of glass. Couldn't they make a glass kettle something along the lines of a french press? A glass beaker sits in a stainless steel sleeve with a handle on it. Inside the base, under the glass is the heating element. No need for silicone or other sealants because the glass is sealed on its own. A stainless lid is attached with a hinge to the top of the - the handle? And the stainless lid doesn't have a stupid plastic liner in it. Maybe I should invent one. Or maybe I am just being too leery of the Kamjove.

I guess the chances of it crapping out after a month are no greater than that of a percolator, or anything else that is mass produced in these days of declining quality, and disposable products. Sigh (and veering off topic.) That Lu Yu looks pretty sweet - but the idea of having to hunt and haggle for a tea kettle doesn't appeal to me all that much. Anyway, thanks again for the advice - and listening to me whine about how "they just don't make things the way they used to." Time for a cup of chamomile before bed! Post by wyardley » Dec 17th, '09, 01:09 FrazzledGlispa wrote: It doesn't seem to me that a nice, high quality electric kettle that has not water/plastic contact should be such a difficult thing to find. But apparently it is. I did mention one, and I think I linked to it in the previous thread. The tentea.com site doesn't seem to have it anymore, but ITC does: ... e-P23.aspx Built like a tank, with a Bakelite base. I've had the same one for 2-3 years.

I have a similar one from a different manufacturer at work, as well as a Kamjove TP-680. Mostly I just use a hot plate and glass kettle at home these days. On the other hand, the Kamjoves are often 1/3 of the price or less, so might be worth dealing with slightly flimsier construction? I have had pretty good luck with them - most of the problems I've seen has been when they're used in a busy shop more than at home. I don't know if you're ever going to be completely sure about water / plastic contact with any of the electric kettles that have an immersion element, though, because it's hard to see what's under there, and of course there has to be some sort of seal that the power gets to the heating element through. As best I can tell, though, there is no plastic-water contact. Re: Percolator Post by beachape » Dec 17th, '09, 20:13 There must be some trick to it. I thought the same thing when I was looking for an electric kettle. How hard could it be to make an electric kettle with a "pure" water compartment?

One that doesn't come into contact with plastic, solder, sealants, paint etc. When I first saw some of the "glass" electric pots I was really excited, but after reading reviews I found out they were only partially glass and left bad plastic flavor to the water. Has anyone come across comparisons for the amount of energy or the cost to run for the various boiling methods? I imagine it would be pretty easy to estimate for the electric kettle. But what about comparing it to a gas stove, electric stove, and a induction stove? I always got the feeling that using an electric kettle was faster and cheaper. But I could be wrong. Percolator - definition of percolator by The Free Dictionary Percolator - definition of percolator by The Free Dictionary Also found in: Thesaurus , Medical , Wikipedia . per·co·la·tor (pûr′kə-lā′tər) n. A coffeepot in which boiling water is forced repeatedly up through a central tube to filter back down through a basket of ground coffee beans.

percolator (ˈpɜːkəˌleɪtə) n (Cookery) a kind of coffeepot in which boiling water is forced up through a tube and filters down through the coffee grounds into a container per•co•la•tor (ˈpɜr kəˌleɪ tər) n. a type of coffeepot in which boiling water is continuously forced up a hollow stem and filters down through ground coffee, collecting in the bottom of the pot. ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend: Noun 1. percolator - a coffeepot in which boiling water ascends through a central tube and filters back down through a basket of ground coffee beans coffeepot - tall pot in which coffee is brewed Translations The 7 Best Coffee Makers to Buy in 2017 The 7 Best Coffee Makers to Buy in 2017 The 7 Best Coffee Makers to Buy in 2017 Shop for the best coffee makers on the market for all coffee lovers By Erin Meister Updated December 27, 2016.

The humble coffee maker is any coffee-lovers best friend, so it's important to find just the right model and style for the type of brew you love. Whether you like a strong single cup, or brew batch after batch all day long, having the right tools for the job will keep you perfectly caffeinated. From automatic brewers to pour over devices, there’s a coffee maker for everyone. We took a look at the options on the market right now, and selected the seven best models. You can’t go wrong with one of these coffee machines. Courtesy of Amazon.com. Buy from Amazon If it's possible to have a crush on your coffee maker, then prepare to fall in love with this beautiful, sleek machine. One of only a handful of automatic home brewers that meet the Specialty Coffee Association of America's standards for proper coffee extraction, the Moccamaster is a perennial favorite for professionals and coffee geeks alike. The Specialty Coffee Association dictates that coffee be extracted properly and brewed to a particular strength to optimize flavor; these parameters can only be achieved by meeting three criteria: brewing with hot-enough water, an even distribution of the water over the coffee grounds, and the perfect length of brew time—all of which the Moccamaster is designed to do.

Its copper heating element ensures proper brewing temperature, its brewing spray-head design promises even extraction, and its gorgeous overall design is actually something worth getting out of bed for. Available in different colors and a variety of sizes, the Moccamaster also has a hot plate for keeping brewed coffee drinkable, and is programed to gently "pulse" the heat on the warmer rather than hit the brew full-blast, like other makers do. Check Amazon rating » Courtesy of Amazon.com. Buy from Amazon No company beats Bonavita for their expertise on hot water—and considering that brewed coffee is actually 98 percent water, there's no better place to turn for better brewing through H20. Bonavita, a manufacturer famous for its electric kettles (among other steamy tools) makes one of the best budget-friendly brewers out there: Where most low-price coffee makers heat brewing water to around a measly 185 degrees Fahrenheit as opposed to the ideal temp of 195–205 degrees Fahrenheit, this one is built with ideal brewing water in mind, and hits the mark every time.

The Bonavita BV1099TS Carafe Coffee Brewer is practically a steal at around $135, considering how easy to use it is, how reliable its brewing temperature is, and the fact that it comes with an insulated carafe, designed to keep your coffe at the perfect drinking temperature for longer. While they might not be the fanciest-looking machines on the market, these workhorses are built to last, built to brew, and won't break the bank. Check Amazon rating » Courtesy of Amazon.com. Buy from Amazon One of the latest innovations in pour-over-brewer design, the Kalita Wave is an elegant, forgiving, and exacting brewer that has been used to win worldwide coffee-brewing competitions. The delicate dripper's flat (rather than cone-shaped) bottom allows the coffee bed to lay flat throughout the brew, which encourages a uniform extraction even if you're not quite awake enough to pay full attention to the process. The filters' special wave-like design helps keep the coffee grounds in a flat and orderly bed at the bottom of the dripper cone, allowing the brewing water to build up in a kind of "reservoir" on top, slowly and evenly dripping through the coffee for the optimal extraction.

The Style Set comes with a gorgeous glass brewer and serving carafe. Be sure to stock up on filters, though: The Kalita Wave brewers require their own special design in order to work. No rinsing necessary; the shape is the key to the brewing process, and rinsing them can compromise the waves. Check Amazon rating » Courtesy of Amazon.com. Buy from Amazon Who says you need to be a pod person to achieve fantastic single-serve coffee brewing? The Ninja Coffee Bar eliminates the waste of plastic capsules while offering a wide range of possibilities for your individual coffee brewing needs. Use the coffee of your choice to craft hot and cold drinks including brewed coffee, iced coffee, and even lattes, and cappuccinos, courtesy of a milk frothing wand. For its versatility, power, and relatively nice price, it also has a remarkably small footprint, and snuggles easily into a cramped kitchen. As with most all-in-one devices, this multi-beverage machine makes serviceable versions of coffee-shop favorite drinks, even if it isn't as high-octane as the equipment in the café. Check Amazon rating » Courtesy of Amazon.com.

Buy from Amazon Still one of the most gorgeous and useful brewing devices ever invented, the Chemex undoubtedly deserves its place in the permanent collection of NYC's Museum of Modern Art : Its stunning hourglass shape, subtle wood and leather accents, and extreme ease of use make the Chemex emblematic of the blend of form and function. Unlike most other pour-over brewers, the Chemex is capable of brewing for a couple of people or for a large group as they come in 6-, 8-, and even 10-cup brew-and-serve sizes; the proprietary Chemex filters contribute to a clean, sweet, articulate flavor in the cup. Most users agree that these filters require rinsing, however. Their thickness and material can contribute a strong papery flavor to a brew without proper rinsing first. One downside of the Chemex is that the curved shape can make cleaning a pain: A bottle brush or coffee-specific cleaning products will go a long way to keeping that glass sparkling. Check Amazon rating » Courtesy of Amazon.com.

Buy from Amazon For a dramatic vacuum-brewing experience with more control (and less open flame, which is the traditional heat source for siphon brewers), this digitally controlled Japanese-style siphon brewer is perfect for anyone who wants to feel like a scientist while whipping up a brew. The electric heater brings water to the ultimate temperature for creating the vacuum necessary to brew delicate, clean coffee with flair. While most siphon brewers are impractical for everyday use, this one can more easily fit into a busy morning routine, and will certainly be a conversation piece with guests. Feel free to experiment with different coffees and techniques—using the scientific method, of course. Check Amazon rating » Courtesy of Amazon.com.

Question: What is a percolator used to make?
Answer: Coffee