If you love coffee, then it can be a confusing time when you are trying to decide what brewing option is going to give you the perfect cup of joe. Some of the top ones that you could go for are the drip coffee machines or even the percolators and you need to know how to make the choice. You should make sure that you are aware of the brewing methods that you would be able to use and much more before you make the choice.

If you aren’t sure about what you want to use, then keep reading on to find out more about the older version, which is using the percolator, or the newer version, which is the drip makers. Here is our comprehensive guide that will help you to make the right choice for your needs no matter what they might be.

 

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Differences Between Percolator vs Drip Machines

Percolator vs Drip Coffee Maker

The first thing that you are going to want to know is the differences between these 2 brewing methods that will give you a delicious cuppa. The percolator was created in 1865 in the US, while the drip machine wasn’t invented for another 100 years in the 1970s.

You are also going to want to know what the ideal grind size is for each one and the percolator will perform better if you use coarse-textured beans, while the drip machine can use fine or medium grinds.

Another thing to consider is how the brew is going to be made and if you are using the percolator you need to add some water in the pot and then add the ground beans into the basket. The next step would be to insert the hollow tube and then put the pot on heat to brew for around 5 to 50 minutes.

The drip machine just requires you to fill up the water tank and then add the grinds into the filter and push the button to start brewing and only takes around 5 minutes total.

The brewing capacity is another area where they are different since when you use the percolator you can create around 2 to 12 cups at once depending on the size of your pot.

With the drip machine, you can easily make 2 to 16 cups and the flavor that you get with this is going to be much milder than the stronger brew from the percolator. The more you know about the differences, then the easier it would be for you to make the right choice for your needs.

 

What to Know About the Percolator

 

COLETTI Bozeman Camping Coffee Pot — America’s Favorite Percolator [12 cup]
  • NO ALUMINUM OR PLASTIC — Our camping coffee makers are toxin free, and make the best camp kitchen equipment. Don’t brew with lesser perculators that use aluminum and plastic. Choose a coffee percolator that will serve you well when you brew your camping coffee
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  • BREWS BOLD COFFEE — Early mornings call for strong coffee, and the Bozeman is a perfect stove top coffee maker. Percolation brews bolder coffee than any instant coffee packet or pour over. The Bozeman percolates better than every aluminum percolator ever, but don’t just take our word for it. Brew with a Bozeman for yourself
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The percolator has often been praised universally because they have a good ability when it comes to making a good amount of brew at once.

This is often the most popular method for making a brew for huge groups at one go, especially if you don’t have a machine that can do it automatically for you. The typical percolator has a large metal pot, a basket where the grinds are placed and in the center, there is a hollow tube made of metal.

This method of brewing is more manual than the other options and you are going to have to add the ground beans and the water into their respective chambers. You would need to then place this on the stove so it can brew or even plug it in if you have the electric model. This device was invented sometime between 1810 to 1814 by one of the American soldiers before it was patented in 1865 by James Mason.

 

What to Know About Drip Coffee

Braun KF6050WH BrewSense Drip Coffee Maker, White
  • Note: 1)Too coarse a grind, too little coffee, or insufficiently tamping the grounds before brewing can all lead to inadequate pressure for a proper brew. 2)It is important to note that the amount of espresso extracted will vary depending on the grind size and amount and reprogramming may be needed when the size and amount are adjusted
  • The perfect cup of coffee: Braun’s pure flavor technology ensures your coffee is made at the right temperature and brewing time to extract the best coffee flavor and aroma. Expect excellent results, whether you brew a full pot or choose the 1–4 cup setting
  • Wake up to a fresh pot: A programmable 24-hour timer means your coffee will be ready when you are. The auto shutoff feature will turn it off automatically. And the easy-to-read clock is visible from anywhere in your kitchen
  • Rich flavor anytime: The brew pause system lets you pour a cup anytime during the brew cycle without dripping. Plus, the 12 cup flavor carafe seals in the fresh flavor by minimizing air exposure
  • Your coffee your way: A unique water level indicator lets you brew an 11-ounce mug or up to 12 cups of coffee
  • Smarter by design: The sleek, elegant design features a smaller footprint, lower profile, easy-access control panel and convenient cord storage
  • Pure pleasure with every sip: The Braun gold-tone filter, unlike paper, enhances the flavor of your coffee by allowing essential oils to reach your cup. A charcoal filter purifies brewing water, and a cleaning feature can be customized to different water hardness levels
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If you don’t want to deal with manually putting the water, ground beans, and the tube into the machine, then the drip machine is going to be better. However, there are other options and brewing methods that you can use when it comes to drip coffee, including enjoying the pour-over method. These use paper filters that would hold the ground beans and then gravity is put into play to push the water through the grounds.

These machines have a much more automated process, which means that the results you see are going to be much more consistent. This is one of the reasons why this method is more popular in homes these days since it doesn’t require a lot of effort.

 

How to Brew the Coffee

No matter what type of machine you are going for, which could include the drip machine or the percolator you need to know how to make the best one. There are plenty of brewing options that you would be able to use when it comes to your beans, including:

  • Percolator

This device is extremely hard to forget about when you are making the brew since they have a distinct sound of bubbling that comes from the hollow tube and the boiling water. This method works by forcing some of the boiling water up through the tube in the center and into the ground beans.

This would allow the water to cycle through the grounds a few times to create a robust and strong brew. Here are some of the steps that you would need to do when it comes to this brewing method, including:

  1. Grind your beans to a coarse texture if they aren’t already pre-ground
  2. Add water to the highest level in the specified pot
  3. Place the coarsely ground beans into the basket
  4. Put your pot onto the stove to boil it or plug it in if required
  5. Let it brew for around 5 to 10 minutes depending on the strength you want

Make sure that you know what the steps are so that you can be prepared to enjoy a strong cup of joe whenever you are interested.

  • Drip machine

The drip machine works differently than other methods since this will be extremely quiet and you can easily set it to start at a specific time if your machine allows for it. The water will only be passed through your ground beans 1 time, which means that you are going to be getting a much milder brew than if you were to use a percolator. Here are the steps of using this machine, such as:

  1. Filling up your water tank to the desired level
  2. Adding the fine or medium ground coffee beans depending on the type of filter you are using
  3. Putting the pot under the dispenser and the filter basket
  4. Push the switch or brewing button and wait for the brew to be completed

This is the more automatic method that you can use when it comes to drip brew, but there is also the pour-over method. For this, you would need a cone, the right filters, and the fine ground beans that can be placed over your mug.

These are just a few of the steps that you are going to want to think about and know about before you can choose the right machine. It all depends on how much work you are going to want to do and what will be easiest for you and your family.

 

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How to Choose the Right Brewing Method

Percolator vs Drip Coffee Maker

 

There is plenty that you are going to want to make sure that you are considering when you are trying to decide which brewing method to go with. Here are some of the main factors that you are going to want to look at and think about carefully before you make a choice, including:

  • Brewing capacity

You are also going to want to know about the brewing capacities of each of these methods since there will be differences. The main differences are going to be based on the manufacturer and the model that you are going to be choosing.

Normally the percolator is associated with brewing larger amounts for groups, but even if you make it at home the majority of the models will make around 12 cups. There are, however, smaller models that you can choose that would make around 2 cups if there isn’t anyone else who would drink it.

However, for those who choose the drip machine, then there are various models that would fit any budget. This also allows you to make the perfect number of cups that you want since you can adjust the water based on how many cups you want. If you don’t want a larger model, then you can find one at a reasonable price, but the larger ones are more expensive.

  • Portability

Another thing that you are going to want to consider is how easily you can carry it around with you. This would be important if you are going on outdoor excursions or camping and want to make sure you always have your morning cuppa.

The percolators for the stove don’t need any electricity, which means that you can still make it during the morning just by using the campfire. They would also be easily carried around since they are made of metal and there aren’t any fragile or delicate components to worry about.

If you are using the drip machines, then it won’t be as easy to carry around with you since the machines are much bulkier. If you don’t have any electricity when you are outside, then this method won’t work for you, but you can use the pour-over brewing method at this point if you need to.

  • Ease of cleaning and use

You don’t need to think about how hard these machines and pots are going to be since both the drip machines and the percolator are pretty simple to use. You just need to know where the water and the ground beans would need to be placed and then you can let it do the work.

One thing that you are going to want to consider is whether or not you are going to have to watch them while they are brewing. If you are using a percolator you aren’t going to want to leave the room while it is brewing to avoid any over-extraction of the brew.

Another thing to consider is how easy they are going to be cleaned and the percolator can just be taken apart easily. However, the drip machine would require a specific solution for cleaning and even descaling if it doesn’t work properly.

  • Brew flavor and strength

The final factor to consider is the brew strength as well as the flavor of the final brew you are going to get. If you want a stronger brew, then the best option for you would be the percolator since the water would go through the beans plenty of times. However, with the drip machine, it goes through the grinds only once, which gives you a much milder flavor.

Another thing that you are going to want to consider is the filter that is being used, which can trap the numerous mineral oils responsible for the flavor of the brew. If the percolator goes through too many cycles, then it can be over-extracted and that can lead to a bitter flavor. For those who don’t want to worry about watching the brew to ensure it comes out perfect, then the drip machine is going to be a better option.

Make sure that you are thinking about all of these factors when you are trying to decide what method is going to work the best for you. You need to consider how many cups you are going to need to make at once and how much effort you would need to give behind cleaning, using, and watching the machine.

 

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Final Thoughts

How Long Do Coffee Makers Last

Go ahead and think carefully about whether or not a percolator is going to work for your needs or if you want something simpler like the drip machine. You are going to want to consider the portability of the devices along with how many cups they can brew at once as well as the price.

These are just a few of the things that you need to check out, so make sure to do your research before you make any final decision about what you want to use and then buy.

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