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If you are a coffee lover, your day is sure to start with a good cup of coffee. The majority of people use instant coffee powder as it is easy to make. But have you ever thought of changing the way you brew your coffee? Do you want to go the traditional way of extracting those aromatic drops from rich coffee beans? Then an electric percolator comes as a blessing.
How to Make Coffee in an Electric Percolator?
Making coffee using an electric percolator involves the following steps.
- Pour water into the percolator.
- Assemble the parts.
- Spread the coffee grounds
- Switch on the percolator.
What is an Electric Percolator?
An Electric percolator is a coffee-making pot that lets you make freshly brewed coffee. It comes with a kettle-like body that is connected to the heat source. You can pour water into this chamber for making coffee. In addition to this, you will also find a pump tube, basket spreader, lid, and power cord attached to the device.
The electric percolator makes use of high temperature from boiling water for brewing coffee. The steam is circulated repeatedly through the coffee beans until you extract coffee of the right strength.
Most of the electric percolators are made of high-quality stainless steel. Hence, it is highly durable and lasts for years.
What Are the Steps Involved in Using an Electric Percolator?
- Pour water into the percolator
The percolator comes with marking on the sides. Depending on the number of cups you need, you can fill the percolator with water. While a small percolator can hold a few cups, you can fill a large percolator with up to 30 cups of water.
While filling water, you should make sure that it does not go above the permissible limit.
- Assemble the parts
Now, place the basket spreader on top of the pump tube. You should ensure that the pump tube sits perfectly in the base.
- Spread the coffee grounds
You can now spread the coffee grounds on the basket. If you have coffee beans, then grind it coarsely before adding to the basket. You can add up to 2 tablespoons of ground coffee for a strong cup.
Once done, you can place the spreader on the basket and close the lid.
- Switch on the percolator
Now, you can plug in the percolator and switch it on. As the water in the pot gets heated, it converts into steam. The steam slowly goes up through the hollow tube to the basket where you have spread the ground coffee. The water particles then enter the coffee grounds and extract the water-soluble substances. These water particles then fall back to the pot with freshly brewed coffee drops. This process gets repeated for the time set.
You can adjust the brew timing as per your choice. But most of the electric percolator will have a preset time after which it keeps the coffee warm. Once it reaches the preset time, the pot makes a sound, which indicates that the coffee is ready.
How to Get the Best Coffee from an Electric Percolator?
To get the best coffee from an electric percolator, you should get the basics right. This includes the following.
- Get the best raw material
Good quality coffee beans are the secret behind the success of an electric percolator. It is best to go for a medium roast coffee to get the right taste. Dark roasted coffee can be bitter, whereas lightly roasted coffee may not give the right flavor.
- Grind the beans coarsely
The right grinding of the beans is essential to get the best coffee. If you grind the beans too powdery, then the coffee particles will seep through the tube and may not give you the right result. On the other hand, if you do not grind the beans properly, the water may not seep through the coffee particles. This again can affect the outcome.
You can grind the beans yourself with a grinder or buy coarsely ground coffee beans from the market. Also, while arranging the coffee in the spreader, you should make sure to spread it evenly.
- Use a filter
If you feel that the coffee is not ground coarsely or powder particles are present, you can use a filter. A filter prevents small particles from getting into the coffee and changing the taste of the final extract.
- Get the right ration of coffee to water
The coffee grounds that you add to the spread =er should be of the right ratio to the water in the basket. If the coffee is less, then you get a very light extract. On the other hand, if you pack the spreader with coffee, the steam may not pass through it properly, affecting the outcome.
The right coffee to water ratio is one tablespoon of ground coffee to eight ounces of water.
- Get the right water temperature
The water in the basket should be of the right temperature to get the best result. If the water temperature is too low, then the steam may not enter the coffee particles. On the other hand, if it is too hot, the extract gives out a burnt-out flavor. The right temperature ensures that the steam enters the coffee grinds and extracts the right flavor.
This is where an electric percolator comes as a blessing. It cuts off the heating mechanism once the water temperature reaches the optimum level. Thus, you get the best cup of coffee.
- Set the right time
To get coffee with the right taste, the percolation should happen for the right duration. If the percolation occurs too long, then the coffee extracted gives a bitter taste. When done for less time, the extract may not be strong.
With an electric percolator, you can set the right time for percolation. After this set time, the power automatically cuts off.
- Clean the percolator
It is very important that you clean the percolator after every use. This prevents the build-up of old coffee, which can result in a change of taste.
You can clean the removable parts of the percolator with soapy water after every use. For cleaning the tube, you can use a pipe cleaner. Wipe it clean before storing it.
Why Should You Go for an Electric Percolator?
There are various reasons to opt for an electric percolator
- Best flavour
An electric percolator can extract the right flavor from a coffee. The coffee that you extract with an electric percolator is smooth and creamy. It is also strong as you brew the coffee twice.
- Can preset the temperature
In a stovetop percolator, you should check the temperature of the water to ensure that you get the right result. But in an electric percolator, the water stops heating after a certain temperature. Thus, you get freshly brewed coffee in the right strength.
- Easy to clean
You can remove all parts of an electric percolator. This makes it easy to clean. You can just wash it with a sponge and soapy water.
What to Consider While Selecting an Electric Percolator?
Before purchasing an electric percolator, it is best to take into consideration the following things
Size: The size of the percolator depends on the number of cups you are brewing at a time. If all members of the family are coffee lovers or you host coffee mornings, then you might need a large percolator. You can then opt for one with 12 -20 cups capacity.
On the other hand, if it is just you who will be enjoying the coffee, then a small percolator with 2-4 cups capacity will be enough.
Price: Just like any other product, electric percolators also come in different price ranges. The price ranges from $30 – $80, depending on the brand and capacity.