Percolator coffee help

MrKawfey · 05-20-2021, 10:28 AM

Camping with a larger group next week and decided there are enough adults to justify using a percolator. Never used one before as the Starbucks Via has always been our backpacking go-to and it just carried over to all camping.

Does anybody have any tips?

I made a test pot on the stove yesterday and...not great.
I used a light roast, med grind, 1 rounded tablespoon for each 6oz of water and let it percolate for about 10 minutes.

Just a couple of grounds in the bottom so I think the grind is about right.

I was hoping to improve on the Starbucks instant. If it doesn't come out better, then there is no point.

Thanks

montcalm · 05-20-2021, 10:56 AM

French press does best (for camping) and is pretty quick - use a large kettle to boil water if you want to make a lot.

MrKawfey · 05-20-2021, 11:16 AM

That's an option too. I have an old french press accessory for my jetboil. I tried it a couple of times in the past, also with not good results, so I had given up on it.

I was considering the percolator because I have one from a mess kit I bought about 25 years ago. I bought the kit because of a single square skillet that I wanted and couldn't find anywhere else. The percolator went on the shelf and never got used. The skillet is still one of my favorite items.

So I should revise the question,
Would love any tips for percolator coffee or using the jet boil french press.

Bluefire · 05-20-2021, 11:30 AM

Once it starts to perc turn the heat down for a gentle perc. Let it go 8 minutes. Then a small bit of cold water into spout will settle grounds.

montcalm · 05-20-2021, 11:59 AM

Not sure what we have is the jet boil version. I'll ask my wife, it's her gadget and she always seemed happy with it.

I drink tea

chairrock · 05-20-2021, 03:52 PM

5 to 8 minutes once it starts to perc, NOT BOIL ! Perc happens at just below boiling point. Boiled coffee is evil. Your ratios can be adjusted to taste,enjoy!

MrKawfey · 05-20-2021, 08:09 PM

Ok, so I made a pot with a dark roast and this time, rather than letting it boil away, I turned down the temp as soon as I saw the first blurp. I was amazed at how little flame it needs to keep it blurping.

Did 10 minutes again just so I wasn't changing 2 things at once.

Much better coffee! Way, way better.

Tomorrow I'm going to try on the pocket rocket and see how it goes. Should I be adding more coffee so that I get the strength with 5-8 minutes of percolating or should I just percolate longer to get it stronger?

bluequill · 05-20-2021, 09:41 PM

I have always used 2tb to 8oz water.

MrKawfey · 05-21-2021, 09:08 AM

Ok, now we're cooking with gas! This morning's pot was even better. 2 tbs/8oz was a step in the right direction.

I always forget how much I love my old pocket rocket. Since I've had kids and done less backpacking it hasn't had much use in the last 10 years. But it boiled the water so much faster than the gas burner on my home stove. And it was easier to control the percolating.

I learned something new. Chairrock said:

Perc happens at just below boiling point. Boiled coffee is evil.

As I played with the flame I noticed that there was a small sweet spot. It's easy to see the percolating, but by watching the spout I could keep it from boiling. Hot water will have little whisps of stream coming off, but boiling water gives off a lot of pressurized steam. Watching the spout, I could tell the difference between stream drifting out and steam being forced out.

I only figured this out half way through so tomorrow I'll try again. Today's coffee was still a bit bitter when hot, but much better flavor.

I think I've safely passed the Starbucks Via in terms of quality.

Paradox6 · 05-21-2021, 05:11 PM

Price Chopper had these, need filters and coffee. Boil water and just pour it thru. Simple fast, I use about a good rounded tablespoon for a mug.

https://www.bing.com/images/search?v...OVRSI&idpbck=1

chairrock · 05-22-2021, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paradox6

Price Chopper had these, need filters and coffee. Boil water and just pour it thru. Simple fast, I use about a good rounded tablespoon for a mug.

https://www.bing.com/images/search?v...OVRSI&idpbck=1

Yes! We love drip coffee, also my wife told me she perks our daily coffee for ONLY 3 minutes, I never knew

electbc · 05-29-2021, 01:44 PM

Yeah the french press is nice but takes a while for larger group, you would probably need 1 press for every 2 guys otherwise you would have a lot of grumpy men standing around waiting for a cup o joe.

MrKawfey · 06-03-2021, 09:34 AM

Ok, so...percolator was a mixed bag. Not sure it's worth it.

On the upside the coffee was very good. My small percolator was able to make 4 good size cups for each pot and we could make it as strong or weak as needed.

But it takes a fair bit of babysitting. I noticed that the brewing goes through a couple of distinct stages that each need flame adjustments. Just guessing, but it seems to be:

Initial heating of water
Blurping hot water into dry cold grounds
Saturated grounds dripping warm water back into the pot
Saturated grounds, now hot, dripping hot water back into the pot.

On the downside, the stackup of a tall jetboil canister, the pocket rocket and a tall percolator pot, meant that the whole rig was dumped more than once on the trip.

Plus, now you have to deal with disposing of coffee grounds. The french press and pour over also have the same issue and don't lend themselves well to a larger group.

So I think the focus will be on trying newer instant coffee options and see what we can see.

montcalm · 06-03-2021, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrKawfey

Plus, now you have to deal with disposing of coffee grounds. The french press and pour over also have the same issue and don't lend themselves well to a larger group.

Just let them dry out and dump them in your trash bag, NBD. This is much easier with a filter than with a French press.

JimVroman · 06-03-2021, 02:37 PM

Adirondack coffee.
Fill a 12 cup coffee pot with water, no innards.
Two small handfuls of coffee.
Bring it to a boil and then a slow roll for 5 minutes.
Set it to the side to let the coffee grounds sink to the bottom of the pot.
Best coffee in the world.

viewseeker · 06-13-2021, 10:36 AM

I only perc for 1-2 min then flame out.. let set few min then drink.. this way the coffee don't get Boiled or burnt

aft paddle · 06-21-2021, 10:27 AM

I use the coffee directly in the pot of water method but since I can't wait for the grounds to settle I pour through fine mesh strainer into cup.

05-20-2021, 10:28 AM	#1
MrKawfey Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 206	Percolator coffee help Camping with a larger group next week and decided there are enough adults to justify using a percolator. Never used one before as the Starbucks Via has always been our backpacking go-to and it just carried over to all camping. Does anybody have any tips? I made a test pot on the stove yesterday and...not great. I used a light roast, med grind, 1 rounded tablespoon for each 6oz of water and let it percolate for about 10 minutes. Just a couple of grounds in the bottom so I think the grind is about right. I was hoping to improve on the Starbucks instant. If it doesn't come out better, then there is no point. Thanks

05-20-2021, 03:52 PM	#6
chairrock Indian Mt.Club Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,708	5 to 8 minutes once it starts to perc, NOT BOIL ! Perc happens at just below boiling point. Boiled coffee is evil. Your ratios can be adjusted to taste,enjoy! __________________ Be careful, don't spread invasive species!! When a dog runs at you,whistle for him. Henry David Thoreau CL50-#23

05-29-2021, 01:44 PM	#12
electbc Outdoorsman Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Northern N.J. Posts: 181	Yeah the french press is nice but takes a while for larger group, you would probably need 1 press for every 2 guys otherwise you would have a lot of grumpy men standing around waiting for a cup o joe. Last edited by electbc; 05-29-2021 at 07:47 PM..

06-03-2021, 09:34 AM	#13
MrKawfey Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 206	Ok, so...percolator was a mixed bag. Not sure it's worth it. On the upside the coffee was very good. My small percolator was able to make 4 good size cups for each pot and we could make it as strong or weak as needed. But it takes a fair bit of babysitting. I noticed that the brewing goes through a couple of distinct stages that each need flame adjustments. Just guessing, but it seems to be: Initial heating of water Blurping hot water into dry cold grounds Saturated grounds dripping warm water back into the pot Saturated grounds, now hot, dripping hot water back into the pot. On the downside, the stackup of a tall jetboil canister, the pocket rocket and a tall percolator pot, meant that the whole rig was dumped more than once on the trip. Plus, now you have to deal with disposing of coffee grounds. The french press and pour over also have the same issue and don't lend themselves well to a larger group. So I think the focus will be on trying newer instant coffee options and see what we can see.

06-13-2021, 10:36 AM	#16
viewseeker Wright 2-18-12 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: fulton, NY: AVATAR: W46r completion Posts: 754	I only perc for 1-2 min then flame out.. let set few min then drink.. this way the coffee don't get Boiled or burnt __________________ ADK 46-R # 6750W CL-50 #51 CATSKILLS 9/35 NPT--Complete 7-6-13

05-20-2021, 10:56 AM	#2
montcalm Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 2,279	French press does best (for camping) and is pretty quick - use a large kettle to boil water if you want to make a lot.

05-20-2021, 11:16 AM	#3
MrKawfey Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 206	That's an option too. I have an old french press accessory for my jetboil. I tried it a couple of times in the past, also with not good results, so I had given up on it. I was considering the percolator because I have one from a mess kit I bought about 25 years ago. I bought the kit because of a single square skillet that I wanted and couldn't find anywhere else. The percolator went on the shelf and never got used. The skillet is still one of my favorite items. So I should revise the question, Would love any tips for percolator coffee or using the jet boil french press.

05-20-2021, 11:30 AM	#4
Bluefire OFGIC Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Grafton NY Posts: 72	Once it starts to perc turn the heat down for a gentle perc. Let it go 8 minutes. Then a small bit of cold water into spout will settle grounds.

05-20-2021, 11:59 AM	#5
montcalm Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 2,279	Not sure what we have is the jet boil version. I'll ask my wife, it's her gadget and she always seemed happy with it. I drink tea

05-20-2021, 08:09 PM	#7
MrKawfey Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 206	Ok, so I made a pot with a dark roast and this time, rather than letting it boil away, I turned down the temp as soon as I saw the first blurp. I was amazed at how little flame it needs to keep it blurping. Did 10 minutes again just so I wasn't changing 2 things at once. Much better coffee! Way, way better. Tomorrow I'm going to try on the pocket rocket and see how it goes. Should I be adding more coffee so that I get the strength with 5-8 minutes of percolating or should I just percolate longer to get it stronger?

05-20-2021, 09:41 PM	#8
bluequill Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Keene Posts: 849	I have always used 2tb to 8oz water.

05-21-2021, 09:08 AM	#9
MrKawfey Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 206	Ok, now we're cooking with gas! This morning's pot was even better. 2 tbs/8oz was a step in the right direction. I always forget how much I love my old pocket rocket. Since I've had kids and done less backpacking it hasn't had much use in the last 10 years. But it boiled the water so much faster than the gas burner on my home stove. And it was easier to control the percolating. I learned something new. Chairrock said: Perc happens at just below boiling point. Boiled coffee is evil. As I played with the flame I noticed that there was a small sweet spot. It's easy to see the percolating, but by watching the spout I could keep it from boiling. Hot water will have little whisps of stream coming off, but boiling water gives off a lot of pressurized steam. Watching the spout, I could tell the difference between stream drifting out and steam being forced out. I only figured this out half way through so tomorrow I'll try again. Today's coffee was still a bit bitter when hot, but much better flavor. I think I've safely passed the Starbucks Via in terms of quality.

05-21-2021, 05:11 PM	#10
Paradox6 Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Washingtonville, NY Posts: 259	Price Chopper had these, need filters and coffee. Boil water and just pour it thru. Simple fast, I use about a good rounded tablespoon for a mug. https://www.bing.com/images/search?v...OVRSI&idpbck=1

06-03-2021, 02:37 PM	#15
JimVroman Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 170	Adirondack coffee. Fill a 12 cup coffee pot with water, no innards. Two small handfuls of coffee. Bring it to a boil and then a slow roll for 5 minutes. Set it to the side to let the coffee grounds sink to the bottom of the pot. Best coffee in the world.

06-21-2021, 10:27 AM	#17
aft paddle Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Northern Greene County Posts: 327	I use the coffee directly in the pot of water method but since I can't wait for the grounds to settle I pour through fine mesh strainer into cup.

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