Percolator Taste Debate
Most coffee "experts" will tell you that the percolator method of brewing coffee goes against all the rules of how you should make coffee. While the percolator fans will tell you that there is no better cup of coffee than percolator brewed coffee.
Since a percolator cycles brewed coffee back over the grounds over and over, it makes a stronger distinct taste. If you grew up during the percolator era, then it could be a taste you have grown to love. Whether you like the taste of a cup of percolated or not, no one can deny the wonderful sound the percolator makes while brewing.
The style of the classic percolator pot really has not changed in 50 years, the pots made in the 50's look almost identical to the pots you can buy today. Their shiny classic shape looks awesome on the kitchen counter.
So what is your opinion? Do you love it, hate it, or just tolerate it?
Technically speaking, there is no difference in the chemical reactions taking place in a percolator than a french press. Hot water continually cycling through the coffee grounds isn’t really any different than the hot water steeping in coffee grounds for several minutes. The one big difference is that the percolator remains the proper temperature thoughout the entire cycle, whereas the french press will cool down far below optimum brew temps well before it is done. Percolators heat the water to 195-205 degrees, depending upon wattage, and cycle the water continuously through the coffee so that it remains in a constant state of extraction, and for the optimum time of a minute per cup. As long as you use good quality, fresh ground whole beans, percolated coffee is absolutely fantastic. Most detractors have either never tried an electric percolator, or had bad experiences with one using poor quality coffee.