Percolator coffee is made by cycling boiling water up through a tube and over the grounds repeatedly. It’s an old-school, often campfire-friendly method that doesn’t need electricity—just heat and a percolator pot. This guide covers how to percolate coffee: water amount, coarse grind, heat level, and how long to percolate so you get a strong, clear cup without over-extracting. For grind and other manual methods, see our coarse ground coffee and best French press guides.

What You Need

A stovetop percolator (or campfire-safe one), water, coarse ground coffee (see coarse ground coffee), and a heat source. The percolator has a basket for grounds and a tube that sends water up and over them. You fill the bottom with water, add grounds to the basket, put the lid on, and heat until the coffee is perking and the desired strength is reached.

Water and Coffee Amounts

Use the percolator’s markings for water if it has them; otherwise about 1 tablespoon (5–7 g) of coarse ground coffee per 6 oz cup is a starting point. Don’t overfill the basket—water needs to flow through. Use cold water in the bottom; it heats and cycles through the grounds. For a 30-cup percolator, see our how much coffee for 30 cup percolator (Priority 2) for scaling.

Heat and Time

Start on medium-high until the water begins to perk (you’ll see it bubbling in the lid or hear it). Then reduce to low or medium-low so it perks gently. Percolate for 5–10 minutes—longer and it can get bitter from over-extraction. Some people prefer 7–8 minutes. Watch the color in the glass knob if your pot has one; when it’s dark enough, remove from heat. Let the grounds settle a moment before pouring. For timing details, see how long do you percolate coffee (Priority 2).

Grind: Coarse Is Best

Use coarse ground coffee so the water doesn’t over-extract and so fewer fines end up in the cup. Pre-ground “percolator” or “coarse” works; for best flavor, use a burr grinder set to coarse and grind fresh. See coarse ground coffee for more.

Conclusion

To percolate coffee: add cold water to the pot, coarse grounds in the basket, heat until perking, then keep at a gentle perk for 5–10 minutes. Remove from heat when strong enough, let settle, then pour. For grind and other methods, see coarse ground coffee and best coffee makers.

See Also