Hamilton Beach 12 Cup Electric Percolator Coffee Maker, Stainless Steel, Quick Brew, Vintage Spout

After straying away from percolators to give other methods a chance, we are back and have been enjoying excellent coffee from this Hamilton Beach unit.We had used percolators by other manufacturers for MANY years. Started with Faberware. When that died after many years of use we tried to replace it with their (at the time) current version which we found to be very flimsy compared to our original so we switched to Presto. After 9 years of reliable use the Presto eventually died and we replaced it with their (then) current version but the thermostat went bad fairly quickly. Though we are convinced that percolators are capable of making superior coffee (despite what the coffee snobs will tell you), we decided to try some other methods. French press is awesome cumbersome for the quantity we need. We have been using a Bonavita coffee maker that calls itself “pour-over” method but is honestly just automatic drip. It was ok but we got tired of the frequent clogs, generally low build quality, smallish output, and mediocre coffee. Somewhere along the way we tried (and returned) a KitchenAid vacuum/siphon machine. Now we are back with a percolator and having excellent luck.After straying to other methods for a while, we are still dialing-in our “recipe” but have been having good luck with 80g of coarsely ground beans per 12cup (60oz) pot.Pros:Sturdy constructionGood 60oz capacityConsistent resultsGreat coffee at a good tempEasy to cleanFoolproof with the right recipeCons:Power cord is a bit short but not a big deal. Can probably raid my computer-parts cable junk drawer to find a longer one that would work.Stamped metal measurement graduations in coffee pot are under the handle (so they’re not visible outside) which makes it awkward to read when filling.Stamped metal measurements on coffee grounds filter basket don’t seem to correspond to the amount of coffee that is really needed for a proper pot.Plastic nubs on bottom had rough-cast edges that scratched a wood counter top, requiring me to file the sharp edges to smooth them out.Interior heating “well” that the perk tube sets into appears to be aluminum, though the rest is stainless steel. Done for thermal transfer purposes but would prefer copper or steel here.All things considered, it’s the coffee that is the end result and for this I give this unit a 5/5 rating. Though there are some “cons” listed above, none enough to drop the rating. I will update if opinions change over time.

I really enjoy the looks and function of this percolator. It makes a great, rich, cup of coffee and cleans-up easily afterward. Also, I find the 'percolating' sound oddly reassuring. I just bought a second one so that I will not be out if something does go wrong with it.After 2 years of using this percolator I have never had grounds in my coffee. If you have trouble with this, try stretching the spring a little. You want the spreader at the top of the basket to press up against the underside of the cap. That way it cannot rise up and allow coffee grounds to be released from the basket during brewing. Also, I prefer to use a paper filter in the basket so as to prevent clogging or silt (never had a problem with that, either). If you have a silt problem you might be using too fine a grind. I grind my whole beans in a Krupps for 10-12 seconds -- pretty fine, but not enough to be a problem.If you have a problem with this percolator brewing for too short a time, tripping a GFCI, or making weak coffee, it almost certainly is because of trouble with an inexpensive thermostat in the bottom of the unit (very common problem!). If you have a little electrical know-how, open the bottom (two spanner/notched security screws) and locate the ceramic thermostat that is labeled 36TMH01 L80-20C. That's the one that controls the perc (the other is a safety in case the unit overheats). The 80 means that it will perc until the water temperature reaches 80 C, or about 176 degrees F, then shutoff until the temp falls by 20 degrees C, or to about 140F (well below where the warming circuit will keep the water temperature, so you don't have to worry about it starting to perc again).If the perc time is just too short or your unit is making weak coffee (and you are definitely putting the pump tube in the well at the bottom correctly), first try putting some thermal grease between the thermostat and the bottom of the water chamber. Reassemble while ensuring that the retaining bracket holds the thermostat TIGHTLY against the chamber (if you don't, the water temperature will not affect the thermostat as much as the hot air from the heating element nearby, causing it to trip way too prematurely).If that does not help, or if you have a GFCI trip issue, then replace the thermostat. I could not find a direct replacement online (and HB will not sell you the part), so I purchased a Ceramic KSD302, Normally Closed, 90C from AliExpress for less than a dollar (free ship) and that is working well for me! 80C would be match for the original thermostat, but I wanted to increase perc time by using a higher temperature cutoff (that extra 10C/18F gives me 8-9 minutes of perc time instead of 6-7). If you use a KSD301/302 (the 302 handles more current and should last longer), trim a little of the woven glass insulation off the red 'hot' wire and use it as an electrical insulator between the thermostat and its retaining bracket.Please check to ensure that the green ground wire is connected correctly before final assembly.Hey, did you know that you can extend the perc time by using cold water? I find that using water below 40 F increases perc time by about 1.5 minutes (compared to room temperature water). In Winter, before going to bed, I place a full quart canning jar on a window sill next to the glass and close the thermal blind. In the morning it's ready for fresh coffee!

I have been using the Nespresso coffee machine for some time but simply cannot afford the cost of the pods so decided to buy a percolator because I prefer them over the drip machines. After reading reviews I decided on this machine. I drink a lot of coffee, black with no sugar so I'm very picky on my coffee. This machine produces a great tasting coffee and for a fraction of the cost. I now buy the Costco dark roast, 3 pounds of coffee for $8, I do like strong coffee and that depends on how much coffee you add for the brew, nothing new with that. I've used this percolator a lot and have no problems with it. I have tried the paper filters with it and found them to be a huge waste, they made the coffee weak. Do not waste your money on the filters, just wet the metal basket as the instructions mention and just fill it with your favorite coffee and plug it in. It makes a very hot delicious coffee. Without the filters, cleaning it is not as easy but still not a big deal. If you love coffee, buy this machine. I'm not an expert on machines but am an expert on what good coffee tastes like, a percolator is the way to go. I have the 12 cup model and have brewed it at 6, 10 & 12, every time was very happy with the results. I still use my Nespresso machine but now only once a week instead of 7 days so no longer spending a fortune on coffee. I can also recommend the Costco brand dark roast, 3 pounds for $8, you can't go wrong. I looked into buying beans and grinding them but beans are way too expensive. If you drink a lot of coffee like I do, go with this percolator.

Mientras preparamos el desayuno el café está listo, bien caliente y con un sabor y aroma deliciosos, mejor que el de una cafetera por goteo.

Mi mama tenia este tipo de cafeteras desde hace muchos años y no podía encontrarla en ninguna tienda departamental, hasta que la encontré en Amazon. Leí los reviews para decidir que marca comprar y fue una muy buena decisión. La cafetera llegó a solo unos días de haberla comprado, en perfecto estado y funciona muy bien. Para reuniones familiares puedo servir fácilmente 12 tazas de tamaño normal y se mantiene caliente. Aun para mi sola, puedo hacer solo 2 o 4 tazas y funciona igual de bien. No hay derrames al hacerse el cafe, ni al servirlo. Realmente la recomiendo.

Como esperaba , muy buen producto

Calienta muy bien y funciona correctamente lo recomiendo

Excelente calidad.