how do percolators work?

[nageov3t]

eg: percolating coffee pots

I'm house sitting for my parents this weekend, and all they have is an electric percolator. I'll be damned if I can figure out how to use it, though.


(also, in before "go buy a french press" I'm not buying a new coffee pot just because I'm stuck in my parents house for the weekend)

 

[olds]

Coffee in basket.
Water in pot.
Plug in.
Turn on.

 

[Matthiasa]

Plug it in flip switch?
Coffee goes on top water goes on bottom?

 

[Fritzo]

Water is heated and pushed through the tube in the middle up to the grounds. The longer you leave it on, the stronger the coffee gets.

 

[Iron Woode]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percolator

I remember seeing them all the time when I was a kid. I remember seeing one that appeared to be 2 feet tall at a PTA meeting once.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

OP, you need to go home and slap your mother and father for allowing you to leave without understanding how basic things in the world work.

 

[nageov3t]

OP, you need to go home and slap your mother and father for allowing you to leave without understanding how basic things in the world work.

a percolator? /shrug

I've never had to think about it, living on my own or at various workplaces, I've always had either a drip machine, french press, or a kureig.

but I seemed to figure out the percolator well enough... took a guess on how much coffee to add, but I'm now drinking a nice cup of iced coffee

 

[lxskllr]

I use a percolator every day. On mine, water goes in the pot, you put the straw in the middle, coffee goes in the basket, basket goes on the straw, basket lid goes on, and pot lid goes on(don't forget this step! :^P). You then plug it in, and it works. When it quits making noise, it's done. Pull the basket and straw out of the pot, pour coffee in cup, and enjoy.

 

[nageov3t]

I use a percolator every day. On mine, water goes in the pot, you put the straw in the middle, coffee goes in the basket, basket goes on the straw, basket lid goes on, and pot lid goes on(don't forget this step! :^P). You then plug it in, and it works. When it quits making noise, it's done. Pull the basket and straw out of the pot, pour coffee in cup, and enjoy.

that step didn't occur to me but good to know for tomorrow morning :thumbsup:

 

[sdifox]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6b/Coffee_Percolator_Cutaway_Diagram.svg