I am a child of the seventies, and only vaugely remember my parents making coffee in a percolator. As long as I have been drinking coffee, I have had a "Mr. Coffee" type machine. Now the only option for coffee aboard DreamBoat is percolator coffee made on an alcohol stove. I have tried several times, but I can't get a decent cup of coffee. I hope there are some old salts (or young salts) out there who can give me some advice on the best techniques for brewing coffee on board. Instant coffee has never been satisfactory, so please give me some help. How much coffee grounds per cup? How long should it brew? Which brand does better in a percolator? Tap water or distilled water? The Admiral and I both thank you in advance.
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Perking is the only way to go.....
1 raised tablespoon of good coffee for every 6 oz. of cold clean water. once it starts to perk, turn down the heat so it just perks. don't boil the snot out of it. let it go for 6 to 8 minutes. All set.....
1 raised tablespoon of good coffee for every 6 oz. of cold clean water. once it starts to perk, turn down the heat so it just perks. don't boil the snot out of it. let it go for 6 to 8 minutes. All set.....
the mister coffee type makers simply
dribble boiling hot water through a filter with ground coffee in it. You can duplicate this with a funnel and a filter. The percolator functions the same way but the reservoir never gets empty as it does with a coffee machine Once the percolator gets going allow it to continue for the same time as a coffee machine takes. I think that the measure for ground coffee is about a level tablespoonful per cup. more or less depending on your taste. When the coffee is finished pour it into a thermos type decanter to keep it hot and not burn it.
dribble boiling hot water through a filter with ground coffee in it. You can duplicate this with a funnel and a filter. The percolator functions the same way but the reservoir never gets empty as it does with a coffee machine Once the percolator gets going allow it to continue for the same time as a coffee machine takes. I think that the measure for ground coffee is about a level tablespoonful per cup. more or less depending on your taste. When the coffee is finished pour it into a thermos type decanter to keep it hot and not burn it.
Start with good coffee
Since you're already good at making drip coffee, your best option may be a Melita drip system. You boil the water, then pour it through the Melita cone (with a filter in it, of course) into a Thermos. Use the same amount of coffee you'd use in your Mr. Coffee. Melita also makes a 1-cup cone...use one coffee measure per cup. Melita cones and filters are sold in most supermarkets, but a funnel and a cone filter works just as well if you can't find the Melita cone.
Since you're already good at making drip coffee, your best option may be a Melita drip system. You boil the water, then pour it through the Melita cone (with a filter in it, of course) into a Thermos. Use the same amount of coffee you'd use in your Mr. Coffee. Melita also makes a 1-cup cone...use one coffee measure per cup. Melita cones and filters are sold in most supermarkets, but a funnel and a cone filter works just as well if you can't find the Melita cone.
Give me strength
to contain the urge to be a smart ass on this one. I use the Malita Stu is talking about at home and bring it to the boat when overnighting. You can buy one at any decent supermarket. No problems, no plugs, no moving parts. Makes the best cup IMO. Alcohol stoves put out very low heat - use an aluminum pot - the water will boil faster.
to contain the urge to be a smart ass on this one. I use the Malita Stu is talking about at home and bring it to the boat when overnighting. You can buy one at any decent supermarket. No problems, no plugs, no moving parts. Makes the best cup IMO. Alcohol stoves put out very low heat - use an aluminum pot - the water will boil faster.
Don't know how you like your coffee.
Use regular drinking water bottles if your tap water has an undesirable taste. Distilled water is devoid of minerals and taste; best saved for batteries. Get a good quality coffe ground especifically for a perculator; not too fine, not too coarse. I like my coffee strong so I use almost 50% more than the canister lines would indicate for a number of cups. My favorite is the Colombian blend. For every day use as far as taste and price "Eight O'Clock Coffee" is hard to beat. "Starbuck" brand coffee is pretty decent and there are others. Good coffee making takes practice, take the perculator home and experiment with different coffees and the amounts of coffee to water until you get a combination of taste you like. A good cup of coffee at anchor in the morning is hard to beat.
Use regular drinking water bottles if your tap water has an undesirable taste. Distilled water is devoid of minerals and taste; best saved for batteries. Get a good quality coffe ground especifically for a perculator; not too fine, not too coarse. I like my coffee strong so I use almost 50% more than the canister lines would indicate for a number of cups. My favorite is the Colombian blend. For every day use as far as taste and price "Eight O'Clock Coffee" is hard to beat. "Starbuck" brand coffee is pretty decent and there are others. Good coffee making takes practice, take the perculator home and experiment with different coffees and the amounts of coffee to water until you get a combination of taste you like. A good cup of coffee at anchor in the morning is hard to beat.
French Press
Without a Mr. Coffee machine (or similar 110v device), a French press is the only way to go, IMHO. My admiral and I, both of whom love good, strong coffee, are very satisfied with the results. Boil the water in a tea kettle on your stove, pour over the grounds in the press (about 1 nicely rounded tablespoon per cup), wait 10 minutes or so, then press. Magnifique!
Without a Mr. Coffee machine (or similar 110v device), a French press is the only way to go, IMHO. My admiral and I, both of whom love good, strong coffee, are very satisfied with the results. Boil the water in a tea kettle on your stove, pour over the grounds in the press (about 1 nicely rounded tablespoon per cup), wait 10 minutes or so, then press. Magnifique!
How about a French Press?
About as easy as it gets and makes a GREAT pot of coffee. Simply get coffee course ground for a French Press, put it in the pot, boil the water, let it set a few minutes, and you have great coffee. I generally use about a tablespoon per cup-great presses are available in several sizes that fit the boat quite nicely.
About as easy as it gets and makes a GREAT pot of coffee. Simply get coffee course ground for a French Press, put it in the pot, boil the water, let it set a few minutes, and you have great coffee. I generally use about a tablespoon per cup-great presses are available in several sizes that fit the boat quite nicely.
The best way - IMHO
As two others have said, go with the French Press. We use one rounded tbsp per mug. Tastes great.
As two others have said, go with the French Press. We use one rounded tbsp per mug. Tastes great.
Expresso anyone?
There is nothing like a good cup of coffee in the morning but, for mid afternoon and after a good dinner an "expresso" is hard to beat. I feel pretty safe in saying nobody makes better expresso coffee than the Cubans. Their tool of choice is a small, stove top, cast aluminum, expresso maker which comes out of Italy or Brazil. They sell them here in Florida at all grocery stores and supermarket. From a few ounces of water you get a rich, dense and very strong coffe. They add quite a bit of sugar and whip it into a froth and serve in a demitase cup. Talk about a jolt. If you are diabetic or on a diet you can have it plain but would be missing part of the richness. I was looking for ours to provide the brand name of the coffee maker but realized it is in the boat. We use a more convenient electric expresso maker at the house. Expresso grade coffee comes in a fine grind and dark roast.
There is nothing like a good cup of coffee in the morning but, for mid afternoon and after a good dinner an "expresso" is hard to beat. I feel pretty safe in saying nobody makes better expresso coffee than the Cubans. Their tool of choice is a small, stove top, cast aluminum, expresso maker which comes out of Italy or Brazil. They sell them here in Florida at all grocery stores and supermarket. From a few ounces of water you get a rich, dense and very strong coffe. They add quite a bit of sugar and whip it into a froth and serve in a demitase cup. Talk about a jolt. If you are diabetic or on a diet you can have it plain but would be missing part of the richness. I was looking for ours to provide the brand name of the coffee maker but realized it is in the boat. We use a more convenient electric expresso maker at the house. Expresso grade coffee comes in a fine grind and dark roast.
Percolator
I use an enamel camping type percolator on a single burner propane stove, usually in the cockpit. I agree with everyone here, the french press is probably easiest, the paper filter and holder work great, but the perc gives a completely different taste. The only place I use it is on the boat, so it makes my "boat coffee" - strong and a little oily. I fill the top with as much coffee as will fit, fill with water about 1.5 inches below the pour holes, and let it boil.
I use an enamel camping type percolator on a single burner propane stove, usually in the cockpit. I agree with everyone here, the french press is probably easiest, the paper filter and holder work great, but the perc gives a completely different taste. The only place I use it is on the boat, so it makes my "boat coffee" - strong and a little oily. I fill the top with as much coffee as will fit, fill with water about 1.5 inches below the pour holes, and let it boil.
Perk...
I have an eight cup percolator. I use three 8 ounce bottles of Poland (or any other) spring water and four well rounded tablespoons of Maxwell House. Use high flame until it comes to a full perk then turn the heat down as low as possible to continue to perk and let it go for another seven minutes. Turn off the heat and let it rest for five minutes before serving. We are the most popular boat on the mooring field. People stop by all the time for a cup. Cheers, Bob
I have an eight cup percolator. I use three 8 ounce bottles of Poland (or any other) spring water and four well rounded tablespoons of Maxwell House. Use high flame until it comes to a full perk then turn the heat down as low as possible to continue to perk and let it go for another seven minutes. Turn off the heat and let it rest for five minutes before serving. We are the most popular boat on the mooring field. People stop by all the time for a cup. Cheers, Bob
DQOTD
So, aside from garage sales, where can one actually buy a percolator these days? I've wanted to give it a try and couldn't find a small percolator, or any percolator for that matter. (too embarrased to ask until I saw this post)
So, aside from garage sales, where can one actually buy a percolator these days? I've wanted to give it a try and couldn't find a small percolator, or any percolator for that matter. (too embarrased to ask until I saw this post)
Melita for me
I use a Melita system (including the Melita glass pot) to make great drip coffee from filtered water heated on my stove in an aluminum teapot. French press is good too, but I prefer the throw-the-filter-out-clean-up and no dregs. Percs do bad things to coffee. Mostly they burn it as the coffee boils in order to perc up the tube, no way around it. The water only rises when it boils and you don't want to keep reboiling little bits of coffee until the whole pot is strong enough to drink. Better than no coffee, but drip or french make a much better cuppa joe.
I use a Melita system (including the Melita glass pot) to make great drip coffee from filtered water heated on my stove in an aluminum teapot. French press is good too, but I prefer the throw-the-filter-out-clean-up and no dregs. Percs do bad things to coffee. Mostly they burn it as the coffee boils in order to perc up the tube, no way around it. The water only rises when it boils and you don't want to keep reboiling little bits of coffee until the whole pot is strong enough to drink. Better than no coffee, but drip or french make a much better cuppa joe.
coffee bags
I travel alot and pick up the coffee bags in hotel rooms. Put a pan of water on the stove, bring to a boil, turn off the heat and throw in a bag. Let brew for about 5 minutes. It's as good as you get at the hotel...some good, some not so good. Mark
I travel alot and pick up the coffee bags in hotel rooms. Put a pan of water on the stove, bring to a boil, turn off the heat and throw in a bag. Let brew for about 5 minutes. It's as good as you get at the hotel...some good, some not so good. Mark
Good Coffee
Perk it: One level tablespoon per cup. Cut out a paper towel the size of basket and place it into the bottom. Seven cups, as soon as it starts to perk, turn the heat down as low as you can get and let it perk for 10 mins. Let it rest for five mins. The trick is to not burn the coffee in this process. Even in a perk type pot you can heat the water and pour it through. No perk perfect coffee. Hotel Type pot: One level tablespoon per cup. Can be used at the dock (with 110 volts) but also, just heat water in a pan and pour it into the basket, may take several times before you get your four cups. One pot two functions. Works for me. At home -- take to the boat: Make it at home, freeze it and while on the boat, heat the amount you want.
Perk it: One level tablespoon per cup. Cut out a paper towel the size of basket and place it into the bottom. Seven cups, as soon as it starts to perk, turn the heat down as low as you can get and let it perk for 10 mins. Let it rest for five mins. The trick is to not burn the coffee in this process. Even in a perk type pot you can heat the water and pour it through. No perk perfect coffee. Hotel Type pot: One level tablespoon per cup. Can be used at the dock (with 110 volts) but also, just heat water in a pan and pour it into the basket, may take several times before you get your four cups. One pot two functions. Works for me. At home -- take to the boat: Make it at home, freeze it and while on the boat, heat the amount you want.
Start With...
...a good percolator and good coffee. We use an 8 cup Farberware percolator and Folger's Breakfast Blend coffee. Get the 9" square filters - makes clean-up a lot easier and also filters the grounds out of the water. We use a standard coffee measure bought in a kitchen store. 5 measures to the full pot. Fill the pot with bottled, jug water up to the spout hole & place on fire. Put coffee into the perc innards and place in pot when ready (before the water boils). Allow to heat and begin to boil and time it for 5 minutes when it starts to perc. Remove from heat and drink. Delicious!
...a good percolator and good coffee. We use an 8 cup Farberware percolator and Folger's Breakfast Blend coffee. Get the 9" square filters - makes clean-up a lot easier and also filters the grounds out of the water. We use a standard coffee measure bought in a kitchen store. 5 measures to the full pot. Fill the pot with bottled, jug water up to the spout hole & place on fire. Put coffee into the perc innards and place in pot when ready (before the water boils). Allow to heat and begin to boil and time it for 5 minutes when it starts to perc. Remove from heat and drink. Delicious!
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