Farberware Percolater - Are They Better?

There's no doubt about it. We've become so attuned to modern drip-style coffee makers with minimal parts, messy paper filters and average results from lackluster coffee grind choices, that many are unacquainted with an old standby from yesterday's kitchens: the coffee pot known as a percolator. While shiny electric percolators once defined special occasion dining tables, stove top models were the darlings of the family kitchen. Perhaps believing what’s old is new, both kinds of Farberware percolators are making their presence strongly known and popping up increasingly on shopping wish lists.

While using a percolator coffee pot to "perk" coffee involves a few more parts and a little more know-how than current drip machines, fans of perked coffee would agree that the “little more” is well worth it. For them and for many disenchanted with drip machines, a Farberware percolator represents starting with a well constructed appliance from a company long respected in the kitchen.

Farberware percolators of attractive, yet durable, heavyweight stainless steel are available in two basic styles. The corded electric version sports a removable cord enabling it to transition directly from coffee brewing to tabletop serving. Available in three sizes, 2-4, 8 or 12 cup capacity, all have cool-to-the-touch handles and constant brewing speeds of one cup per minute. Moreover, permanent filter baskets eliminate messy paper filters, and a keep-warm function that kicks in automatically after brewing, but while still plugged in, is convenient. Ease of controlling brewing strength is noteworthy. Since brew strength depends on the appliance’s continuous circulation of water through the ground coffee, simply adjusting brewing time influences the result.

As if the Farberware electric percolator were not enough, there's the classic Yosemite model. A dead-ringer for the old kitchen favorite, with timeless good looks and a see-through knob on top, it boasts additional authenticity: stove top cooking! No electricity required, it sits atop the stove and brews 4-8 cups of “perked” coffee from a mirror-finish stainless steel pot. The clear top, a hallmark of yesteryear’s models, showcases the dark, rich coffee as it spurts upwards with the familiar perking sound, a comforting aroma filling the room. When perking subsides, the job is done and the pot can be removed from the heat. With a stay-cool handle and dishwasher-safe parts, the pot is best hand-washed, a small price for sampling the glorious results.

If tired of the same old brew and drip machine, taking a turn with a Farberware percolator might bring new life to any coffee routine. With Farberware's sleek, well-honed designs come coffee pots that feel and look “retro” while satisfying current tastes. Starting with a Farberware percolator, fresh water and good ground coffee, any modern kitchen can become a testament to quieter days when, gathered around the table, people took time to savor the delightful taste of coffee perked to perfection.