I do enjoy a good cup of coffee and the percolator makes the best.

Who doesn’t enjoy the taste and smell of a good cup of coffee.  Many of us can’t start our day without a cup of Joe, our Java, our mocha.  It’s the kick start to our day.  Our quest for brewing that good cup of coffee has taken several forms over the years but I have realized that one of the best ways is an old way.  The way Grandma used to do it, on the stove with a percolator.  I have always heard how good percolator coffee was and I will attest that it is in fact one of the best ways to a perfect brew.  It may take a little longer but as with most good things in life the wait is worth it.  Some things just can’t be rushed and besides what are we all in such a hurry for anyways.  So lets just set back and brew up that good cup of coffee.

Our Flint percolator by Echo has been a treasured vintage find.

First you need a good percolator, you can use an electric one but I like the stove top percolators.  They still make new ones but I find as with most things the older vintage ones are better made.  I like the stainless ones and if it has a copper bottom so much the better.  The percolator we use is a vintage Flint by Echo made in the USA that makes 8 cups.  We like to grind our beans as that way we can grind them to the coarseness that works best in a percolator.  You don’t want them too fine or you’ll get grounds in your coffee.  You can use a filter in the percolator basket but why bother when you can just avoid the added expense by grinding the beans yourself.  Besides I think the whole beans stay fresh longer than preground coffee.

A favorite little cookbook I picked up for 25 cents. It’s a Metropolitan Cook Book from 1948.

Going by the instructions in one of my favorite old cook books, you need 1/2 cup of coffee grounds for 8 cups of coffee.  Add the water up to the 8 cup line on the coffee pot and then put in the basket and strainer with the grounds.  Put the percolator on the stove on low heat. We don’t want it to perk fast just nice and slow and gentle.  Too fast and you’ll have bitter coffee.  Let it perk for 15 minutes and then turn off the heat and let it set for a couple of minutes until all of the coffee drains out of the grounds.  Remove the basket and strainer before pouring the coffee.  You should now have one of the best cups of coffee you’ve ever enjoyed.

My Dad just before leaving for WW2.

I can never think of drinking coffee without thinking of my Dad.  He was the original Mr. Coffee.  How he loved his coffee and was seldom without a cup close at hand.  My Dad was a Sea Bee in the Navy during WW2 and one thing our servicemen learned was a love for a good cup of coffee.  So Dad I dedicate this post to you.

Thanks for stopping by.

Jeanne

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

Exodus 20:12