I bought this unit as a replacement for a Mr. Coffee drip-brew that died after 5 months. This was a very disappointing turn of events because I expected a lot more out of that coffee maker. I brew coffee daily, but coffee makers should be able to last longer than 5 months. Anyway, I decided to switch to a percolator because I decided the bells and whistles of the modern drip-brew didn't really do me that much good and the quality of the coffee was only decent at best. I originally ordered a percolator made by Presto, but the shipping was so slow I cancelled the order and opted for this West Bend model, which was Amazon Prime-Eligible and arrived in two days. I usually use a dark roast (French or Italian roast) with distilled water (the tap water where I live has a lot of lime in it). The coffee out of this percolator is fantastic. It's quick to brew and easy to use. The best feature of this percolator is something very simple, the thermostat. This percolator brews at the perfect temperature, and when it's done it'll leave the coffee at a perfect temperature, about 200 degrees. Also, there is no auto-shutoff, so you can expect your coffee to be at a perfect temperature until you unplug the percolator. This is really great to me because my previous maker shut off after two hours, but the coffee wasn't hot enough to enjoy until it had been sitting on the burner for about 40 minutes. That meant I had to slug down all the coffee in the remaining time or turn the burner back on, which was a slight pain in the neck. I pace myself, but I drink coffee from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, so I like it hot and ready when I want a cup. Some reviewers have complained that this percolator has a plastic dome rather than glass, but I don't really think that's a big concern. Firstly, this percolator is very affordable, so you have to expect cheaper materials. Second, considering the era in which it is manufactured, it's not at all unexpected that a manufacturer would use cheaper materials without compromising quality. Some percolators out there don't even have a clear plastic dome, so being able to watch it percolate is kind of a cool treat. The overall fit and finish of the percolator is quite nice, especially considering its price. If you're a coffee drinker that depends on timers, auto-shutoffs, pre-ground beans, built-in clocks, and other amenities, this might not be the maker for you. However, if you are enthusiastic about the flavor and quality of your coffee, percolators in general are a great choice, and this percolator specifically is a cheap and easy way to try it out. The quality of the coffee that comes out of this percolator is amazing. This is my first percolator, and I just figured bitterness and harsh flavor were something that you just had to expect from some blends, but this device proved me completely wrong. For the first time, I brewed a strong French roast and got a rich, brown, flavorful cup of coffee without any bitterness. It was almost off-putting because it didn't taste anything like what I was used to, so it took a bit to appreciate the pureness of the brew from this machine. I highly recommend this percolator. Read more
After our last 'modern' brewer became possessed - the grinder (which hadn't worked at all in quite a while) on the stupid thing would start up on its own - I decided to go back to a good old reliable percolator. After much thought, I decided on this one. Glad I did! This is a very nice percolator and it does everything I expected. I also love the fact that it doesn't take up half my counter space like the fancy new drip machines that don't last long anymore. I read all the reviews and took some advice from other reviewers (like making sure the basket is wet before putting the filter in, especially if using finer (drip grind) ground coffee - genius!) I'm using regular basket filters ... just take a little stack, fold in half, make a snip; fold in half the other way, make another snip; now you have a filter with a 'hole' in it to fit over the stem in the basket. A couple of reviewers said they have had problems with coffee dripping from the clear knob on the top. (The clear knob is plastic, by the way ... but what else can you expect in today's throw-away world?) Mine has had maybe one drip on a couple of occasions, but no big deal. I just make sure the lid is securely fitted onto the pot and haven't had a problem since. Since this percolator does not come with a timer on it, I plug it into an outlet timer, and taa-daa! Freshly brewed coffee when I wake up! It smells wonderful as it brews and I can't help it, I love the percolating sound and watching it perk (fond childhood memories). The coffee is HOT and tastes so much fresher than drip. It stays hot until it shuts off (if empty) or you unplug it - without that hot plate burned taste to it (and I've left it on for 3-4 hours...). There are only 2 negative things I can say about this pot: 1- it seems kind of loud, but you get used to it pretty quickly, and I rather expected it for this kind of brewing process; and 2 - unless you grind your own beans (or can grind them at the store), it is difficult to find "percolator grind" coffee, which is coarser than drip grind. But the grind is not the percolator's fault! If using a drip grind, make sure you use a filter! I have made both grinds with and without filters and there will be a little bit of grind residue without a filter with the percolator grind. Drip grind without a filter leaves a LOT of grounds residue ... but it's no big deal to me, I just close my eyes, enjoy the aroma and taste, look out at all my trees and remember the good old days of camping and coffee by the fire :) Overall, I'm very happy with the purchase and would buy it again. Read more
I did not know that there was such a difference between drip coffee and percolator coffee. Let me say it is amazing. So much smother. I love this percolator. It’s very easy to use and it only takes 10 minutes to make a full pot of coffee. I did see some reviews that said it was too loud, and it is loud when it starts. It does get quieter once it gets going. So it’s not a big deal. I highly recommend this percolator. Will have a hard time going back to auto drip coffee. I did add some of the basket filters to my order. They work great and recommend getting them when you purchase this percolator. Read more
Makes good coffee, but the plastic knob on the top has broken around the inside edge that keeps it in place. Why they made it out of plastic knowing that the heat would break it down is beyond me, so now I have to see if we can just replace the knob or if we can get a knob, or will have to buy a replacement top. Read more
