Everything to Know About Percolator Coffee Machines
Coffee machines come in all shapes and sizes. At the end of the day, we’re all looking for that perfect cup of coffee to start our day, but many of us will simply walk into a store and point at the ‘prettiest’ looking machine, not really exploring the features that will add an additional layer of convenience to your morning. Did you know that there are multiple different types of coffee machines out there? You may have been aware of this on a subconscious level, but today we’d like to explore one of these extra kinds in particular. Let’s have a gander at percolator coffee machines, and weigh up the pro’s and con’s of using this in your brewing process, compared to the traditional drip coffee option.
What is a Percolator Coffee Machine?
A coffee percolator is a type of pot that allows for the continually boiling of coffee grounds until the desired strength is reached. Invented by an American scientist and patented in 1865, these were used as a staple in households before drip coffee makers arrived on the scene. In essence, percolators cycle the water multiple times, in a process that is sometimes referred to as “over extraction” which affects how strong or bitter the pot is, based on the consistent boiling and length of time the percolator runs. It requires you to pay attention more closely than with another type of machine (not always a good thing if you’ve had a bad night’s sleep), but can also give you a truly unique, personal experience, ensuring you get the perfect cup just for you, each time.
Comparing a Percolator Coffee Machine with a Drip Coffee Maker
Coffee percolators were very popular until the 1970’s, when automatic drip coffee makers were introduced to the market, allowing for more efficient and consistent cups to households and businesses of all industries. You need to be more hands-on with a percolator, as it also exposes the grounds to a higher temperature, and the brewing process can make your cup rather susceptible to over extraction. While removing some of the volatile compounds in the beans, you may well end up with a more delicious cup of coffee. The basic difference between percolators and drip coffee makers is that the former can yield a more delicious cup of coffee with a bit of extra effort, whereas a drip coffee maker, albeit more consistent, requires less effort, and are more suited to people not interested in spending extra time trying to brew their cup in the morning. It will be up to you to decide which will work better based on your current needs.
Deciding on Your Next Coffee Machine
Aquaspresso are absolute coffee machine experts, having provided South Africans with affordable machines based on their individual needs for many years. If you’d like to learn more about percolators, perhaps as part of becoming more of a “home barista” slash aficionado, or if you are simply in the market for a new option to fulfil your coffee needs, give them a call. They’ll be more than happy to talk you through the range of options they have available, as well as giving you the chance to try out some of their products, should you wish to rent a machine, before committing to a purchase. Happy brewing, percolator or not!