1. Let the water come to a boil and wait until you see the coffee getting the slightest bit of color in the top as it perks. Once you see color, turn the heat down to around medium - enough that it will continue to percolate. **Note the time that it started perking with color**
2. I was tempted to remove the pot once the color got darker. I have learned to let it keep percolating from the time I saw color until at least 4 minutes goes by. I found that this made the coffee richer-tasting. When I removed the pot based only on the color, I got a decent cup but missing some richness and flavor.
3. I have no science for this but thought of it for some reason: after you have put the grounds in the basket filter, wet the top of the closed filter (or top of the grounds) with a few drops of water. When I use a filter, this helps keep the grinds from leaking out. When I don't use a filter, I felt it sort of "weighted" the top grounds & I got less sediment.
4. Let the pot rest for a moment after you've taken it off the heat. I saw to do this with my electric percolator & tried it with this one. It seems to let all liquid finish leaking from the basket & grounds.
I am trying to decide whether to keep this, give it to someone, or return it. Here are the details.
What I love:
-This is sleek & stylish. The all-metal (except for the cap on top) construction is solid and seems durable.
- It's very easy to use once you learn the coffee-to-water ratio for your perfect brew.
-I've made with and without filters and did not get any grounds in my brew.
-Makes a good cup of coffee. To me, it seems like the coffee flavor was more "pure" somehow.
- Of course, the coffee is piping hot when done brewing (one of the things I dislike about my Keurig is the temperature of the brew). I can add my cream and still enjoy a hot cup of brew.
- Keeps the coffee very warm for quite a while. I haven't timed it but I can finish my 3 cups without reheating.
- Unlike my Keurig, I won't have to worry about this one starting to put out less water or needed to be descaled so often. And the price of pods is getting to me. With this pot, I can afford to have a few different bags and types of coffee around - and for cheaper.
- Unlike my other pots, there is no carafe to worry about.
- This is very lightweight out of the box. There aren't a lot of parts & all of them go inside the pot to function.
- There are no worries about cord lengths or cabinet space. I can easily clean this out, stuff it with newspaper and store it away in a closet if I need to.
- You can put all the parts of this machine into the dishwasher. (I don't. I prefer letting this pot absorb residue. Don't judge me!
- I got more aroma from the coffee than I have with my pod machine or the basic drip/carafe machines.
- I like the nostalgia. It's nice to take the time to make a cup of coffee vs plugging in a pod or using a regular drip machine.
-Since there is nothing to break or give out on this (except maybe the little plastic percolator lid), I see this as a durable and long-term item.
I don't camp or "rough it" any more than sitting in a yard. If I did, I think this would be handy. I'm telling my nieces about it because they do like to camp and hike and be "real" Alaskans. I suppose I could use this on a hotel hot plate. LOL
That's all great, right? But there are some drawbacks.
- This takes time. I think that I have been letting my coffee perk for about 5-6 minutes for dark roasts & up to 7-8 minutes for the one breakfast roast I have. And all this is AFTER the pot heats up to even start percolating. And I have to set the timer to remind myself once it's started perking. I don't know what happens if you forget but I imagine you will have an over-cooked or burned brew.
- I didn't get any grounds in my coffee without filters. However, if you do use filters, you will have to modify standard ones to fit around the hole - or buy ones made for the basket.
- It's easy to get the coffee-water ratio wrong and go too strong or weak if you aren't paying attention.
- You can't easily tell when the coffee is brewed to your strength preference. I watch for the color when it perks but it can be tricky to decide when the color is just right.
- If you have kids around, you will need to watch that they don't touch the pot when it's hot.
- You yourself have to be careful not to grab the pot when it's hot. I keep wanting to hold the lid when pouring - although it's very snug so that's not necessary. I do it from reflex.
- If you want to make another pot, you should wait until the pot has cooled down.
- When you dump this pot, the coffee catches and pools along the inside ridges so you have to rinse and shake. Not a big deal but it's a bit annoying that it doesn't easily empty out completely.
As I said, I like so much about this little pot. I have ordered an electric one just so I don't have to stand around watching this one. I would like to have both if I can afford that. I don't know yet. I'm going to wait until I try the Presto electric one and try to judge between the two. I really might keep both. I love the ritual of making and watching the coffee perk - when I have the time.
I got this to replace my Keurig when it began acting silly (granted it's been 4 years of constant use!). I need something more in the long-term or buy it for life category and I really can't afford to replace a Keurig every 4 or 5 years.