Stovetop Percolators: How do you use them?

[dalangdon]

I found a Corningware percolator in the wheat pattern, and thought it might be nice to have when the power goes out, but I have a few questions.

1.) Are these units OK to use on a gas stove?

2.) What setting do you use for the flame?

3.) How do you know when it's done? Won't it keep perking unless you turn the heat off?

 

[58limited]

I use mine periodically on a gas stove, and it great to have in a power outage. Its a pyrex percolator from the 1940s. I put the flame on high to start the process and then lower it once it is percing at a good rate. I let it perc for at least 5 minutes and then I turn it off to stop the process.

I'm usually not a big perc fan, but it makes pretty good coffee - just don't perc too long or it will start to get bitter.

 

[pturo]

I have a really older Revere one that is metal. It makes good coffee and if the power went out, coffee is the one thing I could not do without. I have even used it on a gas barbeque. Five minutes perking is sufficient. The aroma is fabulous. You can get filters to line the basket for a more refined, less home on the range, taste to the coffee.

 

[andrewinorlando]

Corning Ware stovetop pots take a little longer than Pyrex or other types of pots to start to perk, but once they come to a full perk, let it perk for 8 minutes, no more. Be careful what heat setting you use on the stove - the flame should initially cover only the bottom of the pot....don't let it creep up the side or it may begin to melt your handle. They make pretty good coffee. Make sure the pot does not boil over...if it has a snap on cover, rather than the screw on type of cover, the top can literally blow off the pot if the pressure builds up too high inside. It's quite a mess to clean. The screw on covers, where the basket screws into the cover, which then screws into the pot itself, is probably the better of the two setups. The snap on covers are found on the older Corning Ware pots. I have 5 pots, two electric, and have enjoyed using them for many, many years. They're all over 35 years old.

If the cover of the pot has a glass insert that is glued on, rather than one that screws into the cover, make sure the setting is tight. They tend to give out with age, heat, washing, etc. It's a fun toy to play with, but takes much longer to make coffe than your drip pots or electric percs do.

 

[toggleswitch]

One standard coffee scoop (1/8th cup?) per two cups coffee. (A standard cup of coffee is considered to be 6 ounces, not the regular 8 ounces).
Some say add an extra scoop for the pot, as well. A small bit of salt in with the grounds is said to cure bitterness.

As all have said start on "HI" till percolation begins, reduce to low to perc. Electic cookers edpcially smooth-tops need more heat than you'd think. (ceramic is a poor conductor of heat!) Perc 5 minutes. If you forget to time it, shut off when the coffee smells up the room!

 

[~sudsshane]

Hi Dan~

As Andrew can attest, I use my Vintage Corningware (Centura) Stovetop Perc as my daily driver. Nothing and I mean nothing beats Percolator coffee as far as I am concerned. Your perc should be just fine on a gas stove. My stove is gas and it works great. Whatever you do, set the flame on medium heat. If the setting is too high, you run the risk of the top exploding off the top of the perc.( I learned the hard way). Also, you can burn coffee in these easily if you are not careful. Once the pot starts percolating, wait about 8 minutes before turning off your burner. I would also recommend the wrap around style filters versus the traditional disk filter if you don't want any grinds in your coffee. Cleanup is alot easier also.
Lastly, I never put mine in the dishwasher. I always wash it by hand. I just don't want to take any chances with my perc getting damaged.

 

[~sudsshane]

and for the very best coffee

Eight O' Clock French Roast or Bokar blend are my favorites!

8 cups, to 8 tablespoons for me!

 

[selectomatic]

Medium heat is the answer.

180 degrees Faherenheit is the correct temperature to extract the delicious flavor without releasing excess acids. That means that you need to get the water just hot enough to boil up into the tube, but not so hot that it'll burn the coffee down below.

It takes practice to get it right and it takes time to make it correcty. But it'll smell wonderful, and the sound is always welcome and cheerful.

Good luck!

-kevin

 

[veg-o-matic]

I find the 4-cup "cupcake" filters fit great in the 10-cup Corningware basket.

When I use my stovetop model, I put it on fairly high heat to get the water boiling (which takes forever with Cware). Once it's boiling, I turn it down to simmer, put the basket in and let it perk gently for 7 minutes. Coffee comes out great, but it's a lot more inconvenient than using the Electromatic.

Link is to an instructional video on archive.org. Tells you how to brew coffee in different kinds of pots.

veg

 

[peteski50]

Stovetop

The best way to go. I have the same pyrex coffee pot 9 cup as in the movie. (what a great movie). I hate all these modern drip coffee makers. If I do drip I do it on the stove top with boiling water.
Peter

 

[~sudsshane]

Veg~

Where can I get 4 cup "cupcake" filters?

thanks for the link, great video!

 

[peteski50]

"cupcake" filters

Shane,
Some of the supermarkets carry them. Their are also the flat filters and the wrap around for the perk.
Peter

 

[~sudsshane]

Hi Pete~

I have not seen the "cupcake" filters down here. I do have the wrap around kind but they are rather flimsy and tear easily.
Where do they sell them in NY? Stop & Shop or Waldbaums?

 

[laundromat]

Corning recalled this years ago because, evidently,the handels are only glued on and some fell off scolding the users.So they recalled and discontinued manufacturing them.The are great but,I prefer the Sunbeam vacuum drip or the new Hamilton Beach drip coffee maker that has the press to get coffee out into your cup.

 

[andrewinorlando]

I think Corning recalled only the electric percs, not the stovetops, but not 100% sure on that. The stovetops use a different ceramic cement to hold the handle on. I've got two of them, about 35 years old, and no problem, though when I pour, I hold the pot from the handle and the bottom with a potholder....just in case.

The old Corning Ware pots don't use a standard 6 oz cup, but rather a full cup or better, so a little extra coffe per cup may be in order, according to taste. I do one heaping Tablespoon per cup, but I like it strong. Not sure if the later models are the same or not. Mine are from the 1960's/1970's.

 

[toggleswitch]

This may explain the "one for the pot" theory of scoops of coffee. Gets ya from 6 oz. cups to 8 oz. cups!

6 cups @ 8 oz. each = 48 oz.
6 cups @ 6 oz. each = 36 oz.
-------------------------------
difference:...................12 oz. @ 6 oz. per cup = 2 cups or 1 scoop

 

[andrewinorlando]

Works for me Toggles...the stronger, the better!!

 

[jasonl]

Heaping scoops at that

Heaping scoops @ 2 cups per scoop makes great coffee for me in the drip, vac, and perc. Two heaping scoops in the FP is perfect and is the daily routine here.