Last Updated on November 28, 2021 by John Moretti
When it comes to brewing coffee, percolation has always been a popular method because it’s so easy.
Of course, over the years, percolators have evolved. We’ve gone from the typical clunky metal pot that our grandmother had on her stove to the sleek, modern device that you find in homes today.
Whether stovetop or electric, these machines serve the same purpose. However, there are several advantages to having an electric percolator, including the fact that the brewing process is automated, and there’s less impact on the environment when compared to the traditional stovetop version.
In this article, I will be exploring the 11 best electric coffee percolators on the market today. They are as follows:
- Best Traditional Design – Presto Electric
- Best Quick Brew – Farberware Electric
- Best for Larger Groups – Hamilton Beach Electric
- Best Modern Touch – Cuisinart Electric
- Best Capacity Variety – WestBend Electric
- Best Classy Aesthetic – Moss & Stone Electric
- Best Keep Warm Mode – Mixpresso Electric
- Best Ergonomics – Euro Cuisine Electric
- Best Small Capacity – Gastrorag Electric
- Best Ease of Use – Fox Valley Traders Electric
- Best Cordless – Salton Cordless Electric Coffee Percolator
If you are planning to purchase an electric coffee percolator for yourself or as a gift, this review and buying guide will help.
The 4 Things to Consider When Buying Electric Coffee Percolator
Before you decide that you want to purchase an electric coffee percolator, there are some things you need to think about. I’ll explain those below.
1. Capacity
Whether you’re brewing coffee just for yourself, your entire family, or for a gathering, it’s easy to make 2 cups with an electric percolator as it is to brew enough for a larger gathering. Therefore, one of the things you must think about when you are purchasing a percolator is the capacity. You can find a variety of options on the market.
2. Speed
Many percolators brew coffee at a rate of a cup per minute. Then, there are others that brew more slowly, creating a stronger cup of coffee. Therefore, you must choose your percolator based on how strong you like your coffee.
3. Price
In most cases, you’ll find that an electric coffee percolator is much more affordable than other types of coffee makers. In fact, no matter what your budget is, you’re sure to find a percolator that is affordable and meets your requirements.
4. Safety Features
Since an electric coffee percolator uses electricity, you’ll want to think about safety features as well. The best options include an indicator light, detachable cord, and a handle that stays cool.
With these things in mind, I’ve chosen what I believe are the 11 best electric coffee percolators on the market today. Some of the other factors I considered were overall construction, storability, and ease of use.
The Best Electric Coffee Percolators
There are so many options on the market today that it is hard to choose the best. However, we’ve narrowed it down to 11. Therefore, if you’re looking to purchase one as a gift or even for yourself, these are some viable choices.
1. Presto Electric Coffee Percolator
If you prefer having an electric percolator with a more traditional design, this is definitely the best option for you.
The stainless steel and authentic design of this percolator add elegance and class when placed on your kitchen counter. You can brew 2 cups of coffee or 12 – it brews 1 cup per minute.
The Presto Electric Coffee Percolator will keep your coffee piping hot. It’s easy to clean; simply use soap and water, and be sure to dry thoroughly. Additionally, it includes a perk tube and filter basket.
Advantages
- Easy to load
- Brews quickly
- Durable
- Ready-to-serve indicate light
- The cord is removable for easy storage.
Disadvantages
- May not have an auto shut-off feature
2. Farberware Electric Coffee Percolator
If you want a hot cup of coffee in a minute, this is the percolator for you. This stainless-steel percolator works just that quickly. Additionally, once the brewing process is done, the keep warm mode will switch on to ensure your coffee is kept piping hot.
This percolator can accommodate 2 to 4 cups at one time.
It comes with a filter basket, spreader, lid with a stay-cool knob, and a pump tube.
Advantages
- Stay cool lid/handle
- Durable
- No-drip spout
- Cord detaches for easy storage.
- Easy to clean
Disadvantages
- Does not have an indicator light
3. Hamilton Beach Electric Coffee Percolator
If you’re planning a gathering and want to brew coffee, this percolator is a great option, as it can brew 12 cups of coffee fairly quickly. In fact, the brewing rate of this machine is less than 1 minute per cup.
The indicator light lets you know when the coffee is ready and when the brewing process is completed, the keep warm mode switches on to keep your coffee warm without burning it.
It includes a cool-touch handle, detachable cord, filter basket, and no-drip spout. If you don’t want to brew coffee in the pot, you can use it to heat water for instant coffee, hot cocoa, or tea.
Advantages
- Easy pour
- Sturdy
- Features measurement marks for easy filling.
- Sturdy
- Easy serving
Disadvantages
- Filter basket slightly difficult to clean
4. Cuisinart Electric Coffee Percolator
The Cuisinart Electric Coffee Percolator brings a modern touch to the traditional process of making coffee. This machine allows you to make 4 to 12 cups of coffee, which means you can brew hot coffee to serve your guests in no time at all.
The glass lid on this percolator is unique, as it allows you to watch as your coffee brews.
The cool touch bottom and detachable cord allow you and your guests to pour your coffee without getting burned. This percolator includes an ergonomic handle with a knuckle guard, pump tube, and filter basket.
Advantages
- Includes measurement marks
- Durable
- No-drip spout
- Easy to clean
- Ready-to-serve indicator light
Disadvantages
- Does not keep coffee hot for very long
5. WestBend Electric Coffee Percolator
This stainless-steel percolator will give you the robust, flavorful coffee you need to get your day started. It has a capacity of 2 to 12 cups, and the indicator light lets you know when it’s ready to serve.
The keep-warm function switches on automatically when it’s finished brewing to ensure that your coffee stays nice and warm for you.
The cool-touch handle features a coffee level indicator that allows you to keep an eye on the water level you are adding. Plus, the glass knob allows you to watch your coffee as it brews.
Advantages
- Easy to pour
- Heat-resistant base/handle
- Cord detaches for tabletop serving.
- Sturdy
- Easy to clean
Disadvantages
- The knob is not very durable.
6. Moss & Stone Electric Coffee Percolator
This percolator has a copper body and glass knob, which gives it a classy look. It is beautifully designed and will add charm to your kitchen counter.
You can quickly and easily brew 2 to 10 cups of coffee and serve it when you’re ready. The automatic keep-warm mode will keep your beverage warm for hours without burning it.
It includes a removable coffee filter, pump tube, and filter basket.
Advantages
- Ready to serve indicator light
- No-drip spout
- Cool-touch handle
- Cord detaches for easy serving/storage.
- Easy to clean
Disadvantages
- Does not include auto shut-off function
7. Mixpresso Electric Coffee Percolator
If you’re concerned that the coffee you brewed for your loved ones will cool down before they even arrive, this is the percolator for you! You can brew 2 to 10 cups of coffee at a time in this percolator. This machine features a keep-warm mode that will keep the coffee warm for several hours.
The built-in indicator light will indicate when your coffee is ready to serve. This percolator is also multi-functional in that you can also boil water to make instant coffee, tea, or even hot cocoa.
It includes a removable coffee filter, pump tube, spreader, filter basket, detachable cord, and lid.
Advantages
- Easy to pour
- No-drip spout
- Durable
- Cool-touch handle
- Dishwasher safe
Disadvantages
- The knob is quite fragile.
8. Euro Cuisine Electric Coffee Percolator
Brewing your coffee in this ergonomically, elegantly designed stainless-steel percolator with a copper finish is a great way to get your day started. You can brew up to 4 cups in this percolator, making it perfect for a small family that enjoys coffee.
The indicator light lets you know when it’s ready to serve, and the keep-warm function keeps each batch perfectly warm until you’re ready to serve it.
The cool-touch handle and detachable cord make it perfect for tabletop serving.
Advantages
- Dishwasher safe
- No-drip spout
- Durable
- Brews quickly
- Heat-resistant base
Disadvantages
- The cord is a bit short.
9. Gastrorag Electric Coffee Percolator
This electric coffee percolator will brew a cup of coffee in less than 1 minute. You can make up to 4 cups of coffee in this machine.
The indicator light lets you know when it’s ready to serve, and the keep-warm function keeps your coffee piping hot if you wish to save some for later. You can be sure that your coffee will not be burned.
It includes a filter chamber and pump tube – and the heating element is concealed, which means it is easy and safe to clean.
Advantages
- No-drip spout
- Stay cool handle/base
- Cord detaches for easy serving.
- Durable
- Dishwasher safe
Disadvantages
- Stains easily
10. Fox Valley Traders Electric Coffee Percolator
If you’re tired of making daily trips to your local café, this percolator is the ideal solution to ensuring that you can enjoy fresh, flavorful coffee in a minute. Since this percolator can brew up to 12 cups of coffee, invite your friends to come over!
If you don’t want to finish the pot in one sitting, the keep-warm mode ensures that your coffee stays warm without burning. The no-drip spout and detachable cord make serving easy.
It includes a pump tube, a hidden heating element to make cleaning easier, and a stainless-steel filter basket.
Advantages
- Easy to pour
- Cool-touch handle
- Measurement marks
- Long-lasting
- Indicator light
Disadvantages
- The cord is slightly short
11. Salton Cordless Electric Coffee Percolator
If you enjoy having a cup of conventional, robust coffee, the Salton Cordless Electric Coffee Percolator might be a great option for you. This machine can hold 4 to 12 cups of coffee and brews in less than 1 minute per cup.
When the brewing process is complete, the indicator light will switch on. Additionally, the keep warm mode automatically switches on to ensure that your coffee stays warm without the risk of getting burnt.
The cool-touch handle and cordless feature make it easy to carry around and pour coffee without making a mess.
It includes a pump tube and filter basket, as well as a cord wrap that will ensure your countertop remains free of clutter.
Advantages
- No drip spout
- Stay cool base
- Durable
- Reusable brew basket
- Easy to clean
Disadvantages
- Does not shut off automatically
What is A Coffee Percolator?
A percolator is a kettle with separate chambers for the coffee grounds and the water, and most people associate them with camping.
This is because the traditional version works well over a campfire, just as it does on the stovetop. As mentioned in this article, our focus is on electric coffee percolators. These make it easier than ever before to brew delicious, flavorful coffee.
How Does it Work?
As stated previously, a percolator has 2 chambers. The lower chamber holds the water and the upper chamber holds the coarsely ground coffee. As the water heats up, it’s forced up through a tube that passes over the coffee grounds before dripping into the bottom of the pot.
Percolator brewing is different than other brewing methods because the coffee is brewed multiple times. Each time the coffee water is forced up the tube, it passes back through the grounds. This creates an aromatic, decadent cup of coffee.
The primary disadvantage to this method is that it’s easy to over-brew coffee. Other methods, such as pour-over and drip, have the water passing through the grounds only once. This means it’s easier to keep the flavor under control.
Just like using the French Press, you’ll want to use a timer to ensure that you don’t end up with coffee that is too strong.
The 5 Reasons to Use A Percolator for Brewing Coffee
There are several reasons why you might want to consider using a percolator to brew your daily cup (or several) of coffee. Let’s look at 5 of these reasons below:
1. Easy to Use
First and foremost, a coffee percolator is really easy to use. You don’t need high-end machines to make a delicious cup of coffee. Plus, most of them brew the coffee fairly quickly.
As you can see, most of the electric percolators mentioned here can brew your coffee in less than 1 minute per cup.
2. Easy to Clean
When looking at the above electric percolator reviews, you can see that one of the advantages is that they can go in the dishwasher. This means that a percolator might actually be easier to clean than your regular drip coffee pot.
3. Brew Coffee Quickly
Many people believe that perhaps a percolator takes longer to brew a cup of coffee than a standard coffee pot. In fact, the opposite is true.
As you can see, most of the machines on this list actually take less than 1 minute per cup to brew a pot. This means if you are brewing 12 cups, it may take as little as 10 minutes. That’s just enough time to get the cups down and the coffee area/additives set up.
4. Portable
Percolators are portable, meaning you can take them with you anywhere you go.
As long as there’s an electrical outlet available, you can use an electric percolator. This means that no matter where you are, you can enjoy a delicious cup of coffee without spending a lot of extra money.
5. Allow You to Adjust the Strength
When you use a percolator to brew your coffee, you can brew it as strong or as weak as you want.
If you prefer milder flavored coffee, you’ll use fewer coffee grounds. If you prefer stronger flavored coffee, you’ll use more coffee grounds. Either way, you can have the perfect cup of coffee, no matter how you like it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Several questions arise when discussing coffee percolators. Some of those are as follows:
What Kind of Coffee Should Be Used?
Since the coffee is rebrewed, darker roasts tend to be overwhelming. You’ll want to find low-acidity coffee that is labeled as smooth, mild, or light roast. It’s also important that the beans be coarsely ground.
This way, they don’t fall through the basket, and you end up with grounds in your coffee.
How Much Coffee Should Be Used?
As a general rule, if you prefer a stronger cup of coffee, you’ll want to use 1 tablespoon per cup of water. If you prefer a weaker cup, you’ll want to use one teaspoon per cup of water.
Either way, this is a personal preference, and you’ll get the hang of it once you’ve done it a few times.
How Long Should Coffee Be Percolated?
Again as a general rule, you’ll want to percolate for 7 to 10 minutes.
It’s critical that you keep even heat while it’s percolating, which is why electric percolators are great. If the water gets too hot, the coffee will have a bitter flavor, and if it’s not hot enough, you won’t get the maximum flavor from the grounds.
The Bottom Line
For many years, percolators have been a popular method for brewing coffee. They have come a long way since that time, and now you have some really great options for electric coffee percolators.
