Using a percolator is very easy. To use a percolator, fill it with the desired amount of water. Then put the coffee basket on the pump stem before putting it in the percolator. Add the desired amount of coarsely ground coffee in the coffee basket and then put the cover on the basket followed by the percolator top. To prepare the coffee, put the percolator on the stove (or fire for those camping) and cook over medium heat. When the coffee is done, remove the percolator from the stove and enjoy!

There are many guidelines that those who have never used a percolator should follow. Those brewing coffee with a percolator should make sure that the percolator doesn’t get too hot since the coffee can burn which can ruin the flavor. Those using a percolator should also be careful not to leave it on the stove or fire for too long. This can also cause the coffee to burn and ruin the flavor. The optimal time to heat the coffee is eight minutes.

Using coarsely ground coffee is best as more flavor can be pulled from the coffee by using ground coffee than beans. While these guidelines may seem strict and make percolating coffee not seem worth the trouble, it is! Coffee from a percolator is much better than coffee from a drip coffee maker and no other type of coffee maker can match the rich flavor and aroma than coffee from a percolator. Because of this, percolators remain popular even after the introduction of easy-to-use drip coffee makers. The flavor of percolated coffee is simply unrivaled!

It is important that when brewing coffee that the freshest roast of coffee is used and that the correct grind is used based on the kind of cup of coffee that is desired. Those who wish to brew espresso should use a very fine grind of coffee beans. This grind is so fine it is often the same consistency of dust.

Those who wish to brew a regular drip cup of coffee should use a medium grind so the coffee isn’t too bitter as it would be with a fine grind, but isn’t watered down tasting as it would be with a coarse grind like the grounds used for a french press coffee maker. This, by no means, means that coffee brewed from a french press tastes watered down, it just shows how different grounds work with different coffee makers.

There are three grind categories when it comes to coffee and these are fine, medium, and coarse. The differences between them are simple. For example, the finer grinds don’t need to be in contact with water as long as the coarser grinds, this is why this type is perfect for espresso. Medium grinds are used for regular drip coffee makers and coarse grinds are used for french press. Each grind works with a certain type of coffee maker in order to allow the coffee maker to brew the perfect cup of coffee.