Presto 02811 Stainless Steel 12-Cup Electric Coffee Percolator

My family has owned this percolator for 6 years now, purchased right here on Amazon in 2010, and I'm about to buy another one for work. This pot has consistently delivered the best tasting coffee - better than all restaurants we frequent, better than friends and family's coffee... just awesomely, amazingly good. I've had a couple of minor maintenance issues over the years (see below) but they were super easily overcome, and in general this has been a super-reliable and very inexpensive appliance. Honestly, this has to have been one of my most favorite appliance purchases ever. And all for less than $40. Take THAT, you overpriced, overly featured drip machines that make lousy coffee!! ;-) *TIPS* With this, and any other stainless percolator, there are some basic guidelines to follow that aren't necessarily in the manual: 1. DO NOT use a paper filter. Ever. Use the metal basket ONLY. The holes are tiny enough to allow the coffee through, but to keep 99.9% of the gains in. Using the metal basket without a paper filter allows the flavor oils that naturally exist in the coffee bean to STAY in the coffee and contribute to its amazing and full flavor. If you use a paper filter, you'll lose the oils and get an "over-extracted" flavor that's more bitter than bold... so don't use a paper filter, follow the instructions, and you're GOLDEN - perfect coffee every time. Yes, you'll get a couple of grains in the last cup without a paper filter... whoop-de-do, just don't drink the very last few drops of the very last cup - problem solved. ;) 2. Cleaning the pot: Make sure it's clear of any build-up, but don't scrub the interior... allow the percolator to become seasoned. It's hot enough to prevent any bacterial issues, just like a wok or a cookie sheet. So let that puppy get seasoned, it's perfectly safe AND more delicious over time! The key place for build up is the receiving "hole" at the bottom of the pot for the metal tube. That can build up coffee debris pretty quick, and if you don't clear it, it will keep the metal tube from seating properly and you won't be able to brew properly, if at all. You only need to scrape away the excess with a fingernail, and you're good to go. The outside of the pot, however, feel free to scrub and make super shiny. It's really a nice looking piece when cleaned! 3. Cleaning the basket: The basket's tiny holes can get plugged up over a month or so of daily use. There's two ways to deal with this: chemically (cleaners) or with a wire brush. I prefer the wire brush route and just tap the bottom of the basket, which instantly clears the holes and allows you to keep the years of perfect seasoning intact. Wire brush FTW. 4. When assembling the pot in order to brew coffee, if you don't get the metal tube lined up with the receiving hole in the bottom of the pot, you'll get a misfire where you'll get a weak pot of coffee (at best), if not a mere pot of hot water. To ensure this doesn't happen, once the metal tube is aligned with the receiving hole, twist it left and right like you're trying to gently screw it in. It doesn't actually screw in... the twisting movement simply forces it to pop into the hole if it isn't in the hole already. Best. Trick. Ever. 5. Don't overfill the basket with coffee - the closer you are to the top of the tube, the more likely to get grains in the bottom of the pot. However, don't underfill or you'll get weak coffee. Follow the instructions, and you should be fine. 6. It's OK to let the coffee sit plugged in and ready to go for a long time as a FULL pot. If you're going to be leaving less than half a pot for more than an hour, UNPLUG IT, the coffee can burn if it sits long enough, just like ANY coffee pot. However, I've let a full pot sit for 4 or 5 hours, plugged in, and it's still not bad at all. Obviously, the fresher the better - just don't let it sit plugged in with very little coffee left, or your coffee will be understandably less delicious than you were expecting. 7. MAINTENANCE: I've had to replace the wire/plug once because using it thousands of times caused it to develop a minor short. Any plug/wire off the shelf that fits will do... it's just a straight up, no frills, 2 prong AC cable. Easy-peasy. I've also seen the screws holding on the bottom decay over time as they're not made of rust-resistant metal, sadly. However, a quick trip to your local hardware store will get you brand new ones; just bring the old ones with and ask the hardware guy for help. I replaced the bottom screws about 2 years ago when they got too rusty, so I got 4 years out of mine. You might be able to forestall the rusty screws issue by covering the holes with hot glue to prevent water from getting up in there when you wash the outside. That'd probably work perfectly, but I haven't actually tried it. Finally, stop reading reviews, buy this pot, and enjoy your awesome coffee!!!

I’ve run the gamut on all sorts of coffee makers and know how to make a good cup of coffee. Pour over using a kettle and kalita wave, v60, or Chemex will get you the most nuanced coffee as long as you know how to pour it. It takes practice and I used to have the time and patience for it, but now I reserve those moments for when I’m truly in the mood. There are good drip brewers out there that make good coffee and I recommend using, especially the ones that brew at the right temps and speed, and I never thought old fashioned percolators can make good coffee. I always thought they “burn” coffee and brewing with recirculated coffee ruins the taste. I was wrong. I recently learned through experience that Percs and can make great coffee. I purchased this coffee maker mostly out of curiosity. I wanted my coffee to stay hotter in my mug for longer, and drip coffee just seemed to cool down too fast, even from the SCAA recommended machines. Preheating the mug is a workaround, but requires an extra step that you really don’t want in the morning. Knowing that percs are known for making hotter coffee, I purchased this one. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint. This thing makes great tasting, hot coffee. There is a learning curve though. Here is what works for me: I put a scoop of ice in the pot along with my water to make it very cold before brewing. These electric percs need very cold water to start to get the best results. Do not use a filter. I tried using the sample filters that came with the pot but the few times I tried I got very weak coffee. I think these filters allow water to bypass the coffee grounds in the basket, and don’t allow the full and even saturation needed. The benefit you get of easier clean up is not worth getting a horrible tasteless pot of coffee. Use freshly ground beans. If the beans are freshly roasted, even better. But at a minimum, to get the best tasting coffee from any brew method the beans need to be ground right before brewing. Burr grinders give the best results. However if you don’t have a grinder that’s ok. I buy pre-ground coffee too. I make sure to buy only small containers so the grounds don’t get too stale before they are used. Grind the beans to a coarseness level slightly above drip. However, regular drip grind works just fine. Experiment with coffee to water ratios to get the results you want. In this perc I prefer a 20:1 ratio (20 parts of water to 1 part of coffee grounds, by weight). Unplug the perc shortly after brewing. Doing this will preserve the best flavors of the coffee. Lastly, after it’s cooled, if there is still unused coffee that you want drink, you can “freshen” it up easily. First take out the basket and tube. Put the lid back on and plug it in again. The pot will start heating the coffee. In about 2 min the light will go on and the coffee will be at the same hot temp again. Unplug the pot and enjoy your cup. (Won’t be a good as first cup but close enough for me). Using these guidelines for myself, I always get a delicious, full bodied, piping hot coffee that is better than any cheap drip machine, just as good as high quality drip machines, and the coffee stays hot in my mug longer. I was surprised that these vintage style percs made good coffee, but I guess they knew what they were doing 50+ years ago when these were popular. The convenience of drip took over, but I’ve found that percs have a certain charm to them. While not as “convenient” its still very easy to use. I enjoy the sounds it makes, and I like that they are so simple to clean. It’s all metal, no plastic, which also means hot water is not touching any plastic during brewing, which you can’t say for most drip machines. Plus it has a small blueprint so takes up a lot less space. The only thing I wish it had was auto-shut-off. The only way to turn it off is pulling the plug out of the pot. Auto-shut off after 1-2 hours should be a standard feature. I can’t see how leaving the pot on all day would be desirable at all. Overall I really like this pot. It’s nostalgic and makes great coffee!

Was on the hunt for a plastic free coffee pot. I’m a regular drip coffee pot user and wanted something simple. This was the best bang for you buck I could find. Completely stainless steel. Once you get used to the set up it’s wonderful. HOT coffee. Main thing is you have to unplug it to turn it off. There is not on off switch. You just plug it in to start and unplug to turn off. So you have to remember to do that. We also don’t use any paper lines so a minimal amount of coffee grounds get through but doesn’t bother us. Your last sip of last cup of coffee will have some grounds. No biggy. I like it. Have had it 2 months

Nice percolator. Not overly bulky and makes hot coffee! I do recommend using a filter as you get quite a few grounds in your coffee without it. Also I wish it had a percolation setting for stronger coffee. Have to use a lot of coffee to avoid a weak brew due to short percolating time. Can’t even unplug and replug to percolate again. Won’t percolate until unit cools down.

This is the perfect solution to brewing coffee without plastic. The percolator is pretty and takes up a lot less space on my counter than my automatic drip coffee maker. The flavor is also richer than coffee brewed in an automatic drip. I had the Cuisinart which was awesome for what it was, but I am making an effort to avoid plastic whenever I can which is very difficult. I miss the clock and the timed brewing but it's a small tradeoff for the peace of mind. I have been following the suggestion of others and use very cold water with an ice cube or two and my coffee has been super-hot and delicious. Brewing time is a little slower but not that much. It's very easy to use and much less expensive than many other plastic free alternatives. I've only had it for a week so I can't speak to the longevity but so far, I love it! I certainly recommend it.

This little gem is FANTASTIC!! It is so easy to use and the coffee tastes great! It's gentler coffee flavor than other brewing methods and, trust me, I've tried them all! (All the mainstream ones and some rarer ones, too, like the syphon.) It reminds me of Grandma's percolator, straight out of Mad Men! Love it, great quality, great coffee!

In a nutshell: this is a FABULOUS percolator. More specifically: the body and parts are all steel, no plastics, and function flawlessly and are easy to clean. It makes the most delicious cups of coffee and I like that its size is big enough to make a lot of coffee and easy to store, though I proudly keep mine displayed on the counter so the rest of my appliances can bow down to its superiority. The coffee is hot and stays hot, never tastes burnt. The lid stays secure and there is no glass/plastic inside of the lid to worry about. The percolating process is quick and I can honestly say I'll never go back to pot/drip coffee. A good percolator will change you, and this is just the one to do it. Some tips/advice for anyone new to percolator coffee: 1. You need less coffee in the basket than the booklet says or you think you need; water continously moves over the grounds, creating a really strong brew, as opposed to passing over it once and dripping down. 2. It makes *really* strong coffee; do not take that lightly. Because it passes through the grounds so many times, the caffeine (and flavor) is amplified. You've been warned. I dilute my caffeinated coffee with decaf, a hard lesson I learned after using this a few times. 3. Once the light comes on to indicate the coffee is ready, it's not. Give the water and grounds in there time to sink all the way down to the bottom for about 5 minutes, then you can pour. That's not a fault of the percolator's, thats a little tip passed down to me from my percolator elders, and now I give it to you. 4. Unless you've used a paper filter, some grounds will sink to the very bottom of the coffee, and if you empty everything into your cup on your final pour, there will be grounds in your coffee. This is normal and to be expected with any percolator. Simply don't pour the last little bit of coffee when you're getting your final cup! And last, the people complaining about the "noise" of this percolator are absolutely crazy. It's a percolator, it's *going* to make noise, but this one in particular is much more quiet than others! And enjoy the sounds it makes-- that's the sound of your most delicious cup of coffee being made. It's homey; it's a remaining sound of the past and a timeless gadget; appreciate it.

This makes the best coffee! I have an expensive coffee maker but it does not make large pots so I bought this percolator and I love it! The coffee comes out so hot and it brews in less than 10min!

Funciona bastante bien.

De percolator zorgt voor lekkere koffie! Echter is de machine na 6 maanden al kapot.

it's 110volts, half-powered and will burn itself up if you simply use an adapter. very inconvenient and expensive to return to las vegas.

コーヒー豆と水を入れたら勝手に大量にコーヒーを作ってくれるマシンを探していたので購入。 特に問題なく大容量のコーヒーがすぐに作れます。 気になる点としたら機械部分が丸洗いできないことくらいかな。 あと、もうちょっと安いといいな。

Excelente cafetera. Fácil de usar y fácil de servir. A diferencia de las cafeteras de "vaso" o jarra de vidrio, este tipo de cafetera sí calienta el café como se debe además de dar un mejor sabor al manejar temperaturas más altas. Así es como deberían ser todas las cafeteras, ya que además no hay riesgo de que se te rompa o quiebre tan fácilmente. Por otro lado, puedes usarla sin filtro, lo que la hace además una opción más ecológica y barata a largo plazo.