How long should a coffee percolator be left boiling?!
How long should a coffee percolator be left boiling?
I just got a percolator, the kind of coffee maker where you put it on the stove like a kettle and the water goes up through the metal basket when it boils. I know you have to boil it for a few minutes but I forget exactly. I only drink one cup of coffee in the morning but it has to be strong enough to win in a fistfight.
Answers:
Proper perculating is eight minutes after the boil, lower your temperature and let perc. Also if you want stronger or weaker coffee you adjust the the timing of the perc after the boil.
Approximate brewing time for a 6 cup percolator is 5 minutes but will probably vary depending on your stove
We let ours boil until the liquid that boils out in the little glass bubble on top takes on a rich amber color. On our boat stove it takes about 10 minutes (from cold water to good strong coffee for a 10 cup percolator), but I think that time would vary considerably depending on what kind of stove you have. It would also depend on the size of your percolator. You just have to watch it the first few times you use the percolator and do a little sampling until the coffee gets just right for you.
Coffee "snobs" say you should never EVER use a percolator because it ruins the coffee by boiling off the flavor oils in the grounds, or that boiling will make the coffee bitter. Personally I prefer coffee that's been percolated over some that has gone through a drip type coffee maker.
Depanding on your stove! But i suggest you get a thermometer to measure it. A cup of hot normal coffee would be 150*F - 160*F, and not more than 180*F.