Perking off in the morning

[jasonl]

While Helen was at JCPenney, she bought another little present for me. A Farberware 8-cup percolator. This isn't your mama's Farberware because it's made in China but it does perk a good cup of coffee. Not as good as vacuum pot or french press but definitely has that old classic perc taste.

 

[frigilux]

Ah, yes.... I always woke up to the sound of percolating coffee when I was a kid. We had a GE for quite awhile and sometimes an individual 'perk' would get lengthened, so it would go ssssllllllluuuuuurrrrrrrrrp! Then it would take a breath and chug away some more.

Of course, now that we're a more coffee-savvy society, we all know it's best not to keep running hot liquid through the grounds over and over. But nostalgia definitely trumps technique in these cases, LOL.

What a nice gift, Helen. Have a great weekend, you two.

 

[scott55405]

Jason, you've got to love JCPenney's. They sure have wonderful sales. I might go down and have a look around after my car's brakes are fixed today, but I'm not sure with back to school looming in the background.

I love the Farberware percolators and they've been daily drivers in mine and my folks households for many years. I have both the 8 and 12 cup size. If you've been using them for years you can see subtle differences in the newer vs. older units, but the newer seem to perform just as well and give good service.

I have an electric clear glass Corning I've been using a lot lately because it's got red trim which matches my kitchen scheme nicely, and sometimes I like to enjoy my clear rangetop Pyrex one.

Frigilux, people have been trying to convince me for years that the newer methods somehow produce better coffee and I'm still not buying it, LOL. Only one I've found that comes close is the Bunn. But, since I have a small kitchen and other things to think about, and only make coffee at home on weekends and days off, I couldn't justify the cost nor do I wish to give up permanent counterspace for it.

Macy's did have a cute little red trimmed French Press for $9.99. I might pick that up sometime so I can give that a try.

 

[jasonl]

It's all inside

And the Farberware percs are FAST! They are the fastest coffee machines I've seen. MUCH faster than a drip pot (except for a Bunn) and faster than my Pyrex and my mom's old GE perc. The GE used to go "Perk...... Perk..... Perk...." The Farberware start out going "perkperkperkperkperkperk" and towards the end it's one long slurp except for a few times it stops just to start again.

I was surprised to be able to drink coffee just minutes after starting it. The Sunbeam takes a while, like 10 minutes. The french press is manual so the electric kettle takes about 3 minutes, then another 4 minutes to brew. My Mr. Coughee (which I do NOT display or use) takes FOREVER.

 

[westie2]

Faberware Perk

Our daily driver is a Bunn but got letter yesterday on a recall again. Ours was a replacement for a previous recall and now it is recalled. Have had bunns for years. Pulled out our old faithful 12 cup Farberware that was given to us by a cousin where my aunt passed away. It is almost as quick as the Bunn. Can't collect washers no room but do collect coffee makers. Have a corning electric bout at a yard sale for $0.50, a Nunn vacuum pot that is non electric, Chemex (good coffee) but lots of work, Subeam from the 70's in harvest, small manual drip pot, eco stovetop perk.

For you Bunn owners go to this link for the recall.

http://https//www.regcen2.com/replacement/

 

[tlee618]

When I made the move to Florida this past July I left my old faithful Bunn behind. Had it for 10 years and only had to replace a seal two times. It was still working great so I gave it to a friend. Since being here I have been using my 8 cup Farberware and I must agree with Scott. It sure makes great coffee. Terry

 

[gadgetgary]

8 cup Farberware and I must agree with Scott. It sure makes

The Farberwares make excellent HOT caw-fee....and an original 4 cup(Made in NY) is my daily driver.
Drip coffee just does not compare to perked.

 

[appnut]

i SWITCHED BACK TO PERCOLATOR COFFEE i GUESS ABOUT 3 OR SO YEARS AGO AFTER HEARING THE VIRTUES OF PERC VS. DERIP AND i COULDN'T AGREE MORE. gANSKY1 SENT ME AN 8 CUP fARBERWARE HE GOT (sorry for the caps, didn't notice but too lazy to go back and correct) at an estate sale. I had previously gotten a 12-cvup GE from Wally World. I alternate between the two. I don't think I'll ever go back to drip. We have drip at work and even with StarBucks grounds, it's not the same. Maybe that explains why I perc up at home and become a drip at work.

 

[jasonl]

YOu should always perk off daily to avoid excessive dripping.

I'd love to find a classic Farberware (with the glass bubble on top), or better yet an avocado/glass one from the 70s.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Do the newer Farber perks have the ceramic insulating sleeve around the pump stem? In their sales literature in the 60s and 70s, they played up the importance of the sleeve in keeping the water hot as it traveled up through the pot of cold water.

 

[jasonl]

No sleeve

Nope. Just a metal rod. But the water must be plenty hot for it to be going up the tube.

Yes, at the current time, this is my favorite pot because it's so quick. You get your fix faster.

 

[pulsator-power]

She bought it cause she loves ya, baby!

Perking-off also helps keep the equipment in good shape too!

 

[scott55405]

Tom the ceramic tube is gone and the handle is a bit thinner, other than that they're pretty much the same. I saved one of the lids from a glass top one I had that went bad. They fit the new ones.

 

[tlee618]

Guys that is a new one on me. I sure don't remember the Farberware having a glass top. Bob, the weekend Greg found all the Farberware perks was on my first visit there. We had so much fun "diving" for those. Terry

 

[appnut]

Terry, I'm glad you remembered. BTW, I think Jason's "glass top" was the little glasss thing where you could see the water shooting up into the glass thing while it was perking. Mine has that, but the GE just has the "handle". BTW, on my Farberware, the glass thingy is the handle for the lid.

 

[jasonl]

The real thing, glass bubble and all

http://cgi.ebay.com/Older-FARBERWAR...yZ116012QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[gadgetgary]

The little glasss thing

Speaking of 'things', picked up this replacement piece last week while shopping in a gourmet coffee shop in NY......

Appropriately named a 'Fitz-All'(ducks and runs)

Guess those little glass things are harder and harder to find...

 

[gadgetgary]

And the backside...

You simply unscrew the 'aluminum' holding ring, and thread the glass knob thru the top of the hole and screw the aluminum part to it.......and Viola......Fitz-All~!

 

[gadgetgary]

My DailyDriver....

Complete with the 'Fitz-All'........

And this pot was made in NY(not China)~!

 

[lederstiefel1]

I have several percolators too! As I do not collect only washers.....smile!
But they do not make very good and aromatic coffees because they boil the coffee continiously up the pipe - that kills any aroma!
Best machines with a delicious aroma make my old Karlsbergian machine as well as the vaccuum-machine with seperate infusion container! Even better then filtering manually!
Ralf

 

[toggleswitch]

ooooh that basket is so bouncy....

Ya gotta love a Farberware. Spring-loaded shaft and all.

 

[jasonl]

Fitz-all

Gary, where can I find me a Fitz-all for my CHINA Farberware machine?

 

[mixfinder]

Ceramic Sleeve

Tom,
In my years of appliance collecting and sales, it was my understanding the ceramic tube was there to capture oils that made the coffee bitter. The tube was cleaned white and "sweet" with dip it or a run through the dishwasher. They could be replaced when they became too saturated. Who knew I invested so much time, interest and money in a gimmick to keep the water hot during while shooting!
Kelly

 

[gadgetgary]

The ceramic tube was there to capture oils that made the cof

Kelly, the little tidbits you learn here are amazing....Thanks for that infomation...I never knew the purpose of the ceramic tube.

Jason, you need to find an old replacement lid with hole so you can insert your Fitz-All in it. Hope this helps.

 

[jasonl]

I just noticed that. The new Chinese lid has no hole :-( , and that's NOT a good thing. I could just find a vintage one on Ebay and it will work.

 

[jasonl]

of course...

I could drill a 11/16" hole in the lid and be able to stick a Fitz-all in it. It's just thin stainless steel. Any drill press can do the job.

 

[toggleswitch]

with a nice bulbous Fitz-all.......

Won't pretty much any size hole do?

 

[sudsmaster]

Currently my only perc machine is a 60 cup stainless Delonghi.

It does have a genuine glass bubble top, though.

It sounds like a volcanic eruption heating up, though, until it starts to perc. Lots of ominous low frequency rumbling.

I'd have to overdose on coffee for a month to justify plugging it in just for one... lol...

 

[jasonl]

Any hole within the range that the specs say it needs. I prefer a small hole but a larger one would make it easier.

 

[sudsmaster]

Drilling through thin sheet metal can be a little tricky. You'd probably want to use a hole saw, and clamp the workpiece very firmly to the table so it won't scoot around when the hole saw hits it. Use plenty of lube, cutting oil is best but any oil will help (lard oil used to be the preferred cutting oil base!) and run the saw as slow as the drill press will go.

Another possiblity is to use the right size punch and die to create the desired hole... but finding the punch and die can be challenging.