9 Best Coffee Percolators for Home Use Compared in 2024

This is a review of the best coffee percolators to use at home, while camping, or riding an RV. Keep on reading to find your next coffee maker.

I sometimes find myself in an awkward situation when in groups of people with my moka pot. That inspired me to write a guide on finding a percolator, which is better for groups.

I chose the Farberware Yosemite as the best percolator because it has the highest-quality body, is dishwasher safe, and has a great design. That makes it an excellent choice for anyone wanting a coffee maker that lasts at least 10 years.

It’s not electric, though. I cover a bunch of electric, and sometimes more affordable models, on this list.

Let’s get to it.

Best Coffee Percolators for Home Use

1. Farberware Yosemite Percolator: Top pick
2. Coleman 12-Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Percolator: Cheapest
3. Farberware 12-Cup Percolator: Vintage design
4. Presto Percolator: Best electric percolator
5. Cuisinart PRC-12 Classic: Includes timer
6. Bialetti – Moka Express 12-cup: Best for camping
7. Café Brew PK008: Best stovetop percolator
8. Euro Cuisine PER04: Most compact
9. COLETTI Bozeman: Best percolator, UK

Top Coffee Percolators

The following sections will review the best coffee percolators for home use and traveling. I’ll compare each machine’s disadvantages and advantages, who they’re best for, and discuss other noteworthy features.

A percolator coffee maker is a stovetop device that uses boiling water to continuously circulate through coffee grounds, resulting in a strong and bold cup of coffee.

It differs from a moka pot.

A moka pot is also a stovetop device, but it uses steam pressure to force hot water through coffee grounds, resulting in a concentrated coffee similar to espresso.

Percolator coffee makers are best for large groups, as they can brew multiple cups of coffee at once. Moka pots are better for individual cups. As they make a small amount of coffee.

1. Farberware Yosemite Percolator: Best Overall

The Farberware Yosemite (47053) is best for anyone who’ll want a long-lasting coffee percolator that isn’t electric. It’s a great companion for camping, glamping, and RVing.

Because stovetop percolator-wise, this is the best you will get. Hence, it’s worth the price.

Of course, the Yosemite has no features; it’s a percolator. The only “feature” it could have is the ability to directly plug it into your wall and eliminate the need for a stovetop. And since it’s stainless steel, it’ll work with any stovetop type (including induction).

Design choices that could make it stand out from other models include a thick plastic handle that’ll protect large and small hands from the percolator scalding them. Something that most percolators don’t do.

Another feature includes the glass knob on top. It’s not decorative. It shows what’s happening inside your coffee maker and whether it’s percolating. Since this maker’s not electric, it won’t notify you once it’s done brewing.

You’d need to look through the glass knob.

Glass knobs triumph over plastic ones because you won’t need to worry about chemicals from plastics leaching into your boiling water. Hence, you’ll have a bit cleaner-tasting coffee.

It doesn’t have any cup markings inside. You must use a measuring cup to plan the water you’ll add.

At least it uses a thick stainless steel as the casing, because this device is heavier than most percolators. Farberware doesn’t claim it’s double, triple, or quadruple-walled. Don’t expect it to keep your drink hot for hours.

But expect it to last for at least 10 years. Because that’s how long these can last with good care.

It’s dishwasher safe thanks to its non-reactive interior coating. Using detergents and soaps on this won’t ruin it like it will with other similar devices [1]. You also shouldn’t notice as much cosmetic damage over time when constantly boiling water in it.

While affordable, you’ll find many other more affordable coffee percolators. Like this next one.

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2. Coleman 12-Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Percolator: Best Cheap Coffee Percolator

The Coleman 12-cup (2157615) is an excellent choice for anyone who wants a cheap percolator to take backpacking or hiking.

With that said, it’s worth every penny. Depending on whether you can weather the cons.

It’ll take around 12 minutes for the Coleman 12-cup to boil and brew coffee. It’ll brew a cup per minute, which is fantastic for brewing coffee quickly. Ideal if you want to get back to exploring nature while camping and don’t want to take forever to get your coffee.

But the more folks your group has, the longer this will take. The same goes for if you frequently drink over a couple of cups of Joe in a sitting.

Don’t burn your hands when trying to grab your coffee, though.

The handle can get very hot after percolation, and no rubber or plastic prevents it from burning your hand. That’s some bad design work, but you could counter this by using a towel or purchasing a separate rubber, wood, or plastic guard.

I don’t understand why Coleman couldn’t have incorporated such an important design choice into their percolator. It’s not THAT much cheaper than other models that have handle protection.

The handle’s also pretty small. Not ideal for anyone with large hands.

Practice caution when twisting off the percolator knob for cleaning, though. Upon removing it, you’ll encounter sharp stainless steel edges. Don’t cut yourself on these.

The filter basket isn’t ideal for making 10 or more cups of coffee. After packing the filter area with coffee, you’ll never get the lid to stay on entirely. It’ll always be loose. And because it’s loose, grounds can get into the coffee.

I recommend brewing at most 10 cups with this percolator. Because when you don’t overfill it, your risk of having sediment in your coffee lowers.

There aren’t any cup markings inside the percolator. This design flaw makes it a pain if you’re trying to measure water to throw into the device. You must use measuring cups to do this.

Despite my complaints, Coleman excels in a couple of areas with design. Don’t worry about the lid coming off when brewing because that sucker sits on the percolator tight. However, you’ll need to put a bit of elbow grease into taking it off.

And the device is dishwasher safe. Making it a great addition to homes that throw everything in the dishwasher.

Are you tired of me recommending non-electric percolators? The next one’s electric. Meaning you should keep reading.

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3. Farberware 12-Cup Percolator: Best High-End Percolator With Vintage Design

The Farberware 12-cup (FCP412) is a fantastic choice for homes who want an electric coffee percolator to automate things. And to have a percolator that’ll fit a kitchen’s vintage aesthetic.

The Hamilton Beach 12-cup electric percolator has a more vintage design, but it isn’t in stock a lot of the time. That led me to settle with recommending Farberware’s electric percolator.

While a bit pricey, this coffee maker’s worth the cost.

It takes around 12 minutes and 20 seconds for the 12-cup to percolate. That’s around a cup a minute. Perfect for entertaining guests and making coffee for yourself quickly.

Since it’s a percolator, you can’t program it to brew for later. A huge bummer for anyone who wants coffee upon waking up in the morning. You could fix that by blowing another $20–30 on a smart plug.

Plug the coffee maker into the smart plug, program the plug to power on at a specific time, add your coffee and water the night before, and wake up to percolated coffee. Since it’s electric, you won’t need to stand around the percolator while brewing.

Upon finishing, it’ll automatically power off. There’s no light to show you when it’s finished brewing. And no clear plastic or glass knob lets you look inside the machine. You must rely on sound or whether there’s coffee sputtering around the device’s insides.

A “keep warm” function will act like a warming plate on drip coffee makers. It’ll keep your coffee hot for a bit.

The filter basket triumphs over most on this list because you don’t need to pack grounds into it. Filling it to the maximum mark will only take up half of the filter basket, which helps prevent grounds from escaping into your coffee.

With fewer grounds in your coffee, you’ll have less sediment. Thus, a less gritty drink.

If you want finer grounds, consider paper filters for your coffee. Because it’ll prevent the fine grounds from escaping and result in a cleaner-tasting cup of coffee.

It also has a detachable cord, making it ideal for storing in RVs or kitchens that don’t have the most cabinet space. Since it’ll take a tiny bit of mass off the Farberware.

I may have misinterpreted the vintage aesthetic when looking at this machine. You may think the next one looks more vintage.

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4. Presto Percolator: Best Electric Percolator

The Presto Percolator (02811) works best for anyone who wants an electric percolator to brew enough coffee for large groups.

Despite the higher cost, Presto is known for manufacturing great-quality coffee percolators.

This machine’s all stainless steel except for the handle and the knob on top, which are plastic. However, those are the areas you want to be plastic, because you won’t want to burn yourself when opening the lid or gripping the percolator.

The knob on top isn’t glass or clear plastic like most other machines on this list. But that doesn’t matter since you won’t need to observe the brewing process. It’ll automatically stop brewing upon finishing.

Then a signal light will let you know once it finishes.

Because of all the integrated electric components, you can’t throw the machine in the dishwasher. You must clean it by hand. Otherwise, you’ll destroy it.

Presto recommends waiting for the machine to cool completely. Then wash it with warm, sudsy water. And do not submerge it. Cleaning it this way will also preserve the stainless steel’s gloss. So long as you don’t use steel wool or other harsh cleaning utensils.

It has an interesting spout design that won’t drip or spill coffee everywhere, that almost has a vintage aesthetic. If you’re after that, this device will serve as a nice decorative piece that blends vintage and contemporary.

While plugged in, the Presto will also keep your beverage warm if you want to drink it later.

This device should take about a minute to brew a cup of coffee. It’ll take around 12 minutes to brew 12 cups. I couldn’t find anything extraordinary about the filter basket; no complaints here.

You may not like this machine’s design, or want something cheaper. Consider this next pick.

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5. Cuisinart PRC-12 Classic: Best Electric Percolator With Timer

The Cuisinart PRC-12 Classic is a fantastic choice for anyone wanting an electric coffee percolator with an extended warranty period.

Those 2 “features” alone make this machine worth the money.

This device will take around 10 minutes and 20 seconds to brew 12 cups of coffee. That’s less than a minute per cup.

Let’s start from the top of this machine. The lid knob, it’s clear, but it’s plastic. There’s no information anywhere on whether the plastic knob is BPA-free. And I couldn’t reach a representative who knows.

I’d imagine it’s BPA-free, but you may have better luck reaching a representative who knows. However, many manufacturers don’t make stuff with BPA these days, and Cuisinart is a reputable manufacturer [2].

Anyway.

The clear knob will let you view what’s going on inside your percolator and whether your coffee’s brewing. Though, it’s pointless since it’s an electric machine, which’ll automatically power off once it’s done.

And once it’s finished brewing, it’ll emit a light, but no sound.

The handle’s great for folks with bigger and smaller hands who don’t want to burn their hands when touching the percolator. The cable’s also detachable, which allows you to carry it to the table once it’s finished.

And there’s no way it’ll burn your tabletop, since it has a plastic base.

You may want to use a paper filter with this specific maker to help prevent sediment from finer coffee grounds from escaping into your drink. The filter basket doesn’t have fine mesh on the bottom and has big holes.

But the basket size isn’t too small, which helps mitigate the risk of sediment entering your drink from that means.

Want a smaller, plastic-free coffee maker? Check out the next pick.

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6. Bialetti – Moka Express 12-cup: Best Coffee Percolator for Camping

The Bialetti Moka Express is a perfect choice for campers, travelers, and folks at home who don’t use an induction stovetop.

It won’t work on induction stovetops because Bialetti used aluminum to make this device. It’s cheaper and more lightweight. However, it’s not magnetic like stainless steel. Thus, nothing will happen if you place it on an induction stove.

Before continuing—yes, this device is worth the cost. It’s robust and will brew great-tasting coffee.

Its small size and lightweight body make it a perfect companion for camping, hiking, backpacking, RVing, and traveling. It’s durable enough for other items in your bags not to crush it. But it’s not too durable that’ll cause it to weigh a ton.

These things should last for at least 10 years with proper cleaning and maintenance. Speaking of. It’s not dishwasher safe. And Bialetti recommends cleaning this thing only with hot water and no detergents or soaps.

Otherwise, you risk corrosion or damaging the aluminum body.

I have large hands and had trouble gripping this device’s handle. However, it didn’t burn my hand. Making it easier to grasp for those with smaller hands, but usable by anyone since it won’t burn you.

Unlike most percolators and moka pots, this one doesn’t spurt coffee everywhere like a baby throwing up on its parents. It’s safe to open the lid a bit to check on the percolation process, which I recommend doing frequently.

Because you don’t want this thing to over-extract your coffee and produce a bitter drink. And since it’s a moka pot (and not a percolator) it shouldn’t have as much sediment. Since the coffee grounds sit at the bottom of the device instead of the top.

Why include a moka pot on a list of percolators? To give you options. You’ll also find models that serve up to 12 cups of coffee, which makes it not different from percolators.

Let’s get back to reviewing percolators. Here’s another good stovetop option.

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7. Cafe Brew PK008: Best Stovetop Coffee Percolator

The Café Brew PK008 is an ideal coffee percolator for anyone who wants to stray away from stainless steel and experiment with a potentially cleaner-tasting coffee.

This machine’s very affordable despite using high-quality parts in many areas.

By “many areas”, I’m not referring to the filter basket, because it’s made from plastic. It’s BPA-free and dishwasher safe, but I always worry about other chemicals that could come from other plastics.

I’d also recommend using paper coffee filters with this device to reduce the amount of sediment that leaks into your drink. Because the holes on the filter are pretty large and not ideal for finer coffee grinds.

The handle design’s nice for people with wrist issues (in a way) because of the way the grip forms. Making it easier for most folks to grip. However, it doesn’t have the widest opening, making it a horrible pick for folks with large fingers.

Anyone with large hands and skeletal fingers won’t have an issue gripping it.

Borosilicate glass is a type of glass that won’t shatter at temperatures up to 515 °F [3]. Making it ideal for percolating coffee.

And since it’s glass, it includes 2 perks:

1. See everything going on inside the coffee maker.
2. No risk of having coffee that tastes metallic.

The first feature is ideal considering you’ll need to monitor this device during the entire brewing process. To ensure you don’t over-extract your coffee.

If you don’t want to monitor your percolator the entire time, consider the next pick.

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8. Euro Cuisine PER04: Best Small Electric Coffee Percolator

The Euro Cuisine PER04 is ideal for anyone who wants an affordable, compact, and aesthetically pleasing electric coffee percolator.

It’s worth the money, considering it does what it should and includes all the major design choices percolators should have.

The glass knob at the top allows you to watch your coffee percolate. Meanwhile, it doesn’t risk leaking chemicals from plastic into your drink since it’s glass. A great combination for the paranoid.

You can’t program this machine to brew for later, and it may not work with a smart plug. If you have a smart plug, you could plug it in, fill it with coffee and water, and leave the switch “on.” Then schedule the smart plug to power on at a specific time.

I haven’t tried using a smart plug with this device yet. I can’t tell you whether this would work. With other devices that automatically power on when plugging it, it would work, though.

The cord is too short, which doesn’t give you many options of places to plug it in. You may need an extension cord or power strip if the only open space on your countertop is far from a plug.

The cord is removable, which makes it easier to store. Or you could remove the cord and take the percolator to your dining room table to make serving coffee during meals easier.

Let’s swing back to the brewing itself.

The holes in the filter basket are large, which limits you to more coarse grinds unless you want more sediment in your drink. Use paper filters to counter this and allow you to use finer grinds.

If you attempt to brew more than 3 cups of coffee, you may have water sputtering out of the device. Because there isn’t much distance between the 4-cup fill area and the entrance to the spout.

A blue light will glow upon brewing to let you know once it finishes. It won’t make any sounds; you’ll want to stay in the same room while brewing. Or come back at a later time.

This machine doesn’t brew many cups and isn’t great for large groups. The last pick is, though.

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9. COLETTI Bozeman: Best Coffee Percolator, UK

The COLETTI Bozeman is best for folks in Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom because of COLETTI’s potentially wide-reaching warranty policy. It also doesn’t require electricity, which eliminates worries about voltage compatibility.

This specific device is worth the money due to its design choices and aesthetic.

It took around 10 minutes to brew 6 cups of coffee during testing.

Even though that’ll support up to 9 cups of coffee, I recommend using 5 cups. Otherwise, you’ll overfill the filter basket, resulting in sediment getting all over the top of the filter lid and inside your coffee.

This reaction happens because it’s harder for the lid to close over the ground filter, which makes it easier for them to escape.

Everyone I’ve seen using this device complained about too much sediment in their drink. Counter this by following my advice from the former paragraph and using a paper filter. Both will also result in a cleaner-tasting coffee drink.

The handle’s fantastic for anyone with smaller hands because the treated hardwood prevents the percolator from burning your hands. Though some small holes inside the handle expose the steel part of the handle, that won’t burn your hand.

This boon vanishes if you have large hands. Because there isn’t any wood to protect the top and bottom of the handle. Meaning if you were to rub against those parts, you’d likely scald the edges of your hands.

With that said, the little lip you’d use to open the lid should cool within a couple of minutes, which will prevent you from burning your fingers on that part.

It’s much thinner metal than the rest of the maker. It shouldn’t take long to cool. You’ll need to wait a second anyway for your coffee to cool. Unless you like burning your tongue.

COLETTI uses a tempered glass knob at the top of the lid to allow you to watch the coffee brew. Since it’s not plastic, you won’t need to worry about chemicals leaching into your drink.

There’s not much else to say about this device. I recommend you keep reading to learn what factors to consider when shopping for a machine.

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How to Choose the Best Coffee Percolator: Buying Guide

Consider these factors when shopping for a coffee percolator:

Factor	Why it’s important
Drinks it can brew	Drinks it will produce.
Ease of use & cleaning	How long you’ll spend on cleaning & maintenance.
Materials	How long percolators will last.
Brewing capacity	Determines how much you can brew.
Electric vs. stovetop	Percolator type can determine cost & convenience.
Price	How much you’ll pay.

The following sections will dive further into each of these points. Keep reading to figure out what you should consider when shopping for an espresso coffee percolator.

1. Drinks It Can Brew & Flavor

Percolators can brew the following types of coffee drinks:

Latte	Flat White	Espresso shots
Cappuccino	Macchiato	Lazy Eye
Black Eye	Mocha	Irish Coffee
Americano	Black coffee

Since percolators brew “espresso-style” coffee, you’re technically not getting any of the above espresso-based drinks. Depending on how you view them. Meaning you could also technically have these drinks.

Regardless, it’ll taste similar, but not the same as what it would if you had espresso. Since espresso uses 9 bars of pressure, has no sediment, a smooth taste, and has more crema.

And since you’re getting concentrated coffee, it’s a bit of black coffee, but also not.

To get drinks like “lattes” and “flat whites”, you’ll need a milk frother to froth milk. Otherwise, these drinks are impossible to make.

2. Ease of Use & Cleaning

Here are some specific examples of features and design choices that contribute to ease of cleaning and maintenance in percolator coffee makers:

• Removable filter basket: Remove the filter basket from the coffee maker to clean it, without having to disassemble the entire unit.
• Dishwasher-safe: Put the carafe in the dishwasher after use, without having to hand-wash it.
• Easy-to-open lid: This makes it easy to access the coffee maker’s interior for cleaning.
• Durable construction: More resistant to damage, making it easier to keep clean over time.
• Easy-to-access heating element: This makes it easy to clean the heating element; a common source of build-up and residue.

While not all percolator coffee makers have these features, there are a number of models on the market that do.

3. Materials

Let’s compare different materials commonly used for percolator coffee makers.

1. Stainless Steel Percolators

Stainless steel is the most popular material for percolator coffee makers. It is durable, rust-resistant, and easy to clean. However, stainless steel can be more expensive than other materials.

Stainless steel percolators are a good choice for people who want a durable and long-lasting coffee maker.

2. Aluminum Percolators

Aluminum is less expensive than stainless steel, but it is also less durable. Aluminum percolators can corrode over time, and they may not be as easy to clean as stainless steel.

This material’s great for people who are looking for an affordable option.

3. Copper Percolators

Copper is the most expensive material used to make percolator coffee makers. It is also the most conductive, which means that it heats up quickly and evenly.

They’re often difficult to find, and they require special care to prevent them from tarnishing.

Copper percolators are a good choice for people who want the best possible cup of coffee and who are willing to pay for it.

If you are looking for a durable and long-lasting coffee maker that is easy to clean, stainless steel is a good choice. If you’re looking for an affordable option, aluminum is a good choice. And for the best possible cup of coffee, copper works best.

4. Brewing Capacity

Brewing capacity is an important factor to consider when shopping for a coffee percolator because it determines how much coffee the percolator can brew at once.

Here’s a table that compares different brew capacities and who they are best for:

Brew Capacity	Number of People
2–4 cups	Single person or couples
6–12 cups	Small families or groups of friends
12–20 cups	Large families or groups of people

If you are not sure what size percolator to get, it is always better to err on the side of caution and get a larger one. That way, you’ll always have enough coffee.

Additional tips for choosing the right brewing capacity include:

• Consider how many people you typically brew coffee for.
• Think about how often you entertain guests.
• If you often travel, get a smaller percolator; it’s easier to pack.
• If you have a limited amount of counter space, get a percolator with a compact design.

Keep all these tips in mind when determining the percolator size you want.

5. Types: Electric vs. Stovetop Coffee Percolators

The best type of coffee percolator for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences. 

If you’re looking for a convenient and easy way to make a large batch of coffee, then an electric percolator is a good choice. If you’re on a budget or want a more durable coffee maker, then a stovetop percolator is a good option.

Still require more help? Let’s compare both percolator types.

1. Electric Percolators

Best for: People who want a hands-off coffee maker that can brew a large batch of coffee quickly and easily.

An electric percolator is a coffee maker that uses heat to circulate water through coffee grounds, resulting in a strong, bold cup of coffee.

Pros:

• Easy to use: One-button operation; set it & forget it.
• Convenient: Brews a large batch of coffee quickly; ideal for busy households or for entertaining guests.
• Durable: Made from durable materials & can withstand everyday use.

Cons:

• Expensive: Tend to cost double the price of stovetop percolators.
• Power-hungry: Uses electricity; ensure you have a dedicated circuit to avoid overloading your breaker.
• Can be messy: Can be messy to use.
  • The hot water can splash out of the pot if you’re not careful.

Electric percolators are a good choice for people who want a convenient and easy way to make a large batch of coffee. However, they can cost a lot and are power-hungry.

2. Stovetop Percolators

Best for: People who want a budget-friendly coffee maker that can brew a large batch of coffee quickly and easily.

A stovetop percolator is a coffee maker that uses heat from a stovetop to circulate water through coffee grounds, resulting in a strong, bold cup of coffee.

Pros:

• Affordable: More affordable than electric percolators.
• Easy to use: Just add water, coffee grounds, & turn on the stovetop.
• Durable: Made from durable materials; they can withstand everyday use.

Cons:

• Not as convenient as electric percolators: Require more supervision than electric percolators, as you need to keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t boil dry.
• Can be messy: The hot water can splash out of the pot if you’re not careful, and the grounds can also get messy.
• Can produce a bitter cup of coffee if over brewed: They use a continuous brewing process, which can result in a bitter cup of coffee if over brewed.

Stovetop percolators are a good choice for people who want an affordable and easy way to make a large batch of coffee. However, they can be messy to use and can produce a bitter cup of coffee if over brewed.

6. Price

Lower-end percolators usually will cost $30 to $50. Meanwhile, more expensive ones will cost more than $70. The more expensive ones will generally have better design choices that reduce the risk of spillage and allow them to last longer.

Percolator vs. Drip Coffee Caffeine Content

Percolator coffee typically has 200 mg of caffeine per cup. While drip coffee, on average, drip coffee has 95 mg. The number’s much higher because percolators heat water to a higher temperature and circulate through the grounds multiple times, which extracts more caffeine.

Caffeine content of coffee can vary depending on a number of factors, such as the type of beans used, the grind size, and the brewing method. So, it is possible to have a cup of drip coffee with more caffeine than a cup of percolated coffee.

The best way to determine the caffeine content of your coffee is to measure it yourself using a coffee scale. This will give you a more accurate measurement than relying on estimates.

FAQs: Percolator Coffee Makers

Read more to find frequently asked questions about percolator coffee makers and machines.

Our Verdict

Let’s review our top choices:

• Farberware Yosemite Percolator: High-quality stainless steel construction.
• Coleman 12-Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Percolator: Affordable & portable (kind of).
• Farberware 12-Cup Percolator: Pairs well with smart plugs.

I went with the Farberware Yosemite as the best coffee percolator because it has the most robust build quality, is dishwasher safe, and doesn’t let too much sediment escape into drinks.

Footnotes:

• * Price will vary by model, manufacturer, and vendor.