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Maxi-Matic
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Credit:
Maxi-Matic
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This stainless steel percolator ensures fresh and balanced coffee every time. A handy safety feature turns off the heat when the pot is empty. Read More
This well-loved percolator from Presto is durable, easy to clean, and user-friendly. But the filters can be a little hard to swap out. Read More
This Hamilton Beach percolator is heavy and not all that portable, but it’s free of plastic and comes with handy features such as a dip-free spout. Read More
The Cuisinart Classic has an indicator light and an attractive, understated design, but it can be inconsistent with flavor. Read More
This 12-cup Farberware percolator has the features you want, and it’s well made. But we found the coffee it produced to be bitter and underwhelming. Read More
Considering the evolution and advancements in contemporary coffee culture and brewing methods, it’s been tough for the percolator to shake its unsexy associations with church functions, corporate meetings, and that thing gathering dust in your great aunt’s house.
And granted, little has changed in its construction since its invention in the 19th century. But the percolator remains relevant for the same reasons it always was: Its ability to produce copious amounts of strong, in-your-face coffee, and keep it steaming hot for extended periods of time. They're perfect for big holiday gatherings, too.
Percolator proponents also adore these coffee makers for their soothing, characteristic burbling; owing to the force of steam it uses to cycle water through coffee grounds until an especially full-bodied brew is produced.
Even newer models like our favorite, the Elite Platinum Maxi-Matic 12 Cup Percolator (available at Amazon for $47.59) , refuse to reinvent the wheel, chirping cheerfully on the counter as it speedily spurts out up to 12 cups of concentrated joe.
Paper filters included in the packaging
Easy to clean
Durable and long-lasting
The filters are hard to replace
Ready-to-serve indicator light
Drip-free spout
Detachable cord
Heavy build
Not portable
Slim, elegant appearance
An indicator light
The brewing capacity is limted
Inconsistent flavor
I’m Sarah Zorn, and I’ve been a food writer and editor for almost 10 years. Like most busy professionals, I almost exclusively function on coffee, and need it ready at an instant in the morning, in embarrassingly large amounts. As an enthusiastic cook, I also frequently entertain, and like the idea of being able to easily produce plenty of piping hot caffeine for my guests at the end of the night.
We set up the percolators and brewed three cups of low acidity coffee in each, assessing how long they took to brew, how easy they were to pour, and how bitter tasting (or not) the coffee was. We repeated this process three different times over the course of the week, also analyzing how simple each unit was to clean, how comfortable they were to use, how portable and well-built they were, and how effortless they were to store. We also took note of safety concerns and special features.
Size definitely matters when purchasing percolators. While you can find two- to four-cup options—if that’s all the caffeine you require—percolators are favored for their capacity and can go up to 12 cups. Your next big choice is whether you want an electric or stovetop coffee percolator. The classic moka pot springs to mind when people think of open flame models, but for our purposes, we only evaluated electric models, which allow you to have more control over the brewing process.
And while construction is pretty standard, percolators primarily made of stainless steel—especially its brewing elements — are preferable. Not only is steel more durable than plastic, it won’t impart unpleasant flavors and leach harmful chemicals into your cup of coffee. Other desirable qualities include speed (all options we tested averaged one cup per minute), as well as non-drip spouts, stay-cool handles, ready-to-serve indicator lights, easy to disassemble parts to aid in cleaning, and long, detachable cords, which make it simpler to brew, serve and store.
Sarah Zorn
Contributor
Sarah Zorn is a food writer, cookbook author, and product tester for Reviewed, Wirecutter and the Food Network. She regularly contributes to outlets such as Saveur, Esquire, and Civil Eats, and has very much passed her food obsessions down, as her beloved rescue hound, Rowdy, regularly deglazes his kibble bowl.
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