what's your method for PERCOLATING coffee?

[TimK]

I've got an 8-cup stainless steel percolator. I try to fill it with the coolest water I have in camp, for using cooler water somehow makes the coffee richer. I tear a small hole in the middle of a basket filter (so it fits around the perking tower: it also removes some of the bitterness from the finished coffee) and put it into the coffee basket; this also makes cleanup a bit easier. I use a standard coffee measure (1 TBS/cup) and put in one measure per cup PLUS "one for the pot." I prefer Colombian or Costa Rican coffee, medium-fine or fine grind. I turn the burner on "high" until the water starts to perk, and then I turn it down so it just continues to perk. I allow 2 to 3 minutes PER CUP of perking time from the time it starts to perk, but I eyeball it for proper color. I, personally, prefer my coffee on the strong side, so I'd sooner over-perk a bit than under-perk. When I judged it done, I turn off the heat but allow the pot to sit on that burner. And when it's finished, I drink it black. I like coffee in my coffee!

[mstrbill]

some information in this topic

http://www.popupexplorer.com/forum/index.php?topic=78533.0

[TimK]

Thanks, Bill, but if you've read it you'll see that it does not pertain.

[Chuck S]

Percolators make some of the worst coffee known to man!*  They were popular immediately after WW2 as that was the way military forces could make large quantities of coffee for hundreds of men.  Home percolators are scaled down versions of the 100 cup models.  They're constantly recycling boiling water thru the coffee grounds which brings out all the bitterness.  When we can't use a drip coffee maker I just use a Melita funnel and lots of coffee.

If the coffee is too strong dilute the coffee after brewing, don't run water thru less grounds.  Recall how good that first cup of coffee tastes out of a drip coffee maker?  That's because none of the bitters have been flushed into it by too much water.

Letting coffee sit on a hot plate is bad for it as well.  Starbucks won't serve coffee more than an hour old.  My coffee-snob college daughter (and certified Starbucks barrista) refuses to drink the coffee her Mom made more than an hour ago and has her own Keurig single cup coffee maker.

-- Chuck

* You can make really bad coffee the old Army way of just spreading coffee right out the can into several gallons of hot water in a giant pot.  Sprinkle cold water on the top to drop the grounds to the bottom.  Actually pretty good coffee unless you're at the end of the chow line and dip too deep and get into the grounds!

[CampingFamily1]

Here is what we use



Coleman coffee maker sits on propane stove.  Availble at Walmart

[waynedog327]

Perc coffee is the BEST!!!  IMHO nothing tastes better than black perc coffee!!  I have the family heirloom perc pot, it was my gram's who gave it to my parents when they started camping.  Now it's MINE!!!!!  I do use a filter in the basket for ease of cleaning, and NEVER EVER WASH THE POT!! Only rinse it with water, that deep patina in the pot makes the coffee better with every pot!!!!

[RangerBill]

For me, camping means "cowboy coffee" properly boiled in an enamel old time coffee pot.  I've got two: a 1 quart size for when it's just DW and me and a 3-quart for when we're camping with friends.  Start with cold water, 1 tbsp of coffee per cup, and an egg shell.  Bring it to a boil, then let it simmer for as long as you want it strong, then take it off the heat and add a cup of cold water.  That'll make the grounds settle (pretty much) around the egg shell.

I think some of the folks who go camping with us do so because the enjoy the cowboy coffee so much!

[Between Trips]

I prefer to make coffee one mugful at a time...with a coffee press similar to this:



I always buy whole bean coffee and ground it up right before it's brewed. Nothing finer IMO.

[beacher]

I never PERCOLATE coffee.  That's my method, and I'm sticking to it!

As a hoot in my college backpacking days, I'd lug a Bodum Santos vacuum pot, (and all of it's accoutrements),  to completely ridiculous destinations many, many, miles from civilization just to enjoy coffee in the morning.

At home we regularly enjoy a full pot of coffee prepared in three minutes by a Bunn drip coffeemaker that was given to us as a wedding present 13 years ago, and still works great.  When I run across a special batch of coffee beans, I'll dig out the old Santos Vacuum pot, or use a French Press to sample the new brew, but then return to the drip machine for daily use.

When RVing/Camping in the PopUp we enjoy our Coleman Drip Coffeemaker.

[chiefd]

Here is what we use



Coleman coffee maker sits on propane stove.  Availble at Walmart

We used to perc until I bought one of these 7 or 8 years ago.  Still carry the percolator as a back up.

[Scramblin]

     I use magic. I wake up an walk out of the camper and within fifteen minutes our friends/neighbors bring me a fresh brewed cup, just like magic!

[miataman]

Anytime boiling water is used, the temps are high enough for the bitterness to be brought out.  That is an easy google search you can research.

A coffee press allows one to regulate the temperature passing through the beans to around 190 degrees.

Perfect.

[Merks]

After spending time on this site and hearing about others using the coleman coffee pot I offered to get one for DH, but He refused saying the coffee I make him in the perc is just great. I don't drink coffee so I couldn't tell ya what it taste like.

[Makenna]

I just stay in bed until it's ready    DH is up earlier than I am, so coffee is always ready when I get out of bed.

[PudgyPie]

Here is what we use



Coleman coffee maker sits on propane stove.  Availble at Walmart

+1 for the Coleman Drip coffee maker.  My DW and I need to have our morning coffee and had gotten tired of the inconsistency of the percolator.  I figured the 30 bucks was worth the risk and it has been awesome.  So much so that to save space we have removed the 110v Mr Coffee from the camper and use this.

Highly recommend.  It makes great coffee.  Downside is it takes a bit longer 20 mins or so for the pot.