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Coffee percolators are the coffee makers capable of brewing coffee faster than the commercial coffee machines. In fact, these makers will not only allow you to brew the coffee faster but also in higher volume at a single stretch. Apart from that, the electric heating element of this Presto percolator works way faster than actual stove burners.
On the contrary, there is only one drawback of using the Presto coffee percolator i.e. the stakes of over-extracting the coffee. However, we are not sure if over-extraction will result even after you take care of the brewing time after switching the machine.
Also, make sure the brewing time will change the percolator depending upon which one you purchase. There are two coffee makers depending upon the type of the machine i.e. either 6 cup percolator or the Presto 12 cup percolator.
About Presto Percolator
The Presto 02811 percolator is a regular coffee maker resembling the stovetop espresso makers. Despite an equivalent brewing method, the percolator is nowhere close to the espresso. In fact, the percolator is very different from the Presto coffee pots as well.
However, talking about the Presto percolator, it is an electrical coffee brewer. It is a carafe plus coffee brewer plus water heater plus coffee serving vessel. You can perform all of these tasks on the Presto stainless steel coffeemaker simultaneously or individually.
Moreover, the Presto electric percolator works similar to that of any stovetop Moka pot. The only difference here is the presence of an independent heating element. Whereas, the Moka pots depend on the stove or other external heating sources.
Having said that, the Presto 02811 boils the water with its heating element at the bottom of the percolator. Thereafter, the warmer water itself starts rising upwards via the perk tube at the center. Water rises through the perk tube because the heating element boils the water faster beneath the perk tube. It gets the water rising upwards faster than from any other spot of the 6 cup electric coffee percolator.
In this manner, the perk tube introduces water in the coffee for extraction. It ultimately ends in brewing the coffee which drips down automatically. This is the final coffee which you can pour in the coffee mugs to sip it hot.
What Are Presto Coffee Makers?
The Presto percolator is a coffee brewing machine shaped as a carafe. It contains a heating element at the bottom of the carafe to boil the water inside. On the other hand, it will have a coffee basket at the top. Hence, the vapor and water rising above will enter the coffee basket and extract the grounds via a perk tube placed in the center of the flask.
Hence, the extracted coffee grounds will remain in the basket and the coffee(water) will drip downwards.
Presto Coffee Percolator Types
The Presto percolator comes in different sizes meant to produce different volumes of coffee. Further, there are two different types of Presto percolators which vary in sizes and have a different type of heating element respectively. Because of the variation in the size of the Presto coffee maker, their heating elements would change accordingly.
To be precise, the Presto comes in two different variants i.e. the 6 cup coffee percolator and 12 cup sizes. It means the 6 cup electric percolator can brew up to 6 cups of coffee at once. In the same manner, Presto 02811 12 cup stainless steel coffee maker brews up to 12 cups of coffee at once.
This is a useful provision for different types of people. For example, a person who makes coffee for more than half a dozen people will choose the larger Presto. Whereas, if a person who hardly has to brew coffee for more than 5 to 6 people will purchase the smaller product.
Both of these coffee makers have a huge difference in their final prices. The smaller coffee maker will cost at least half the price of the larger one. In addition to that, the larger Presto coffee maker will consume more power for brewing the coffee than the smaller one. Hence, the Presto has provided a useful deal by manufacturing differently sized coffee makers.
Presto Coffee Maker Review
As we mentioned about the Presto coffee percolator design, working, and construction, in a simple way. Now you will get to know about the reliability and functioning of the Presto.
The Presto review is divided into two main parts where one part will focus on the overall description if the Presto. On the other hand, another part will cover the part by part review of the individual components of the Presto 02811.
Having said that, Presto seems to be a lustrous material body made with a combination if another material at its bottom. Further, it is the Presto stainless steel coffee maker all over its lid, side walls, etc. But it has an aluminum face at the bottom for accelerating the boiling.
Apart from that, there were myths early in time that the aluminum vessels causing Alzheimer’s. However, aluminum does not cause Alzheimer’s disease and there no certain substance prove otherwise.
Coming back to the review, the aluminum surface accelerates the boiling process. Only for that reason, the Presto boils water faster than some of the elite coffee makers.
Furthermore, the handle of this coffee maker is made up of temperature resistant material which is easy to grip. It also simplifies handling the Presto coffee maker. Not to mention, the knob of the lid of the Presto is made of similar material. It allows you to open the lid safely just after brewing the coffee.
Working of Presto 12 Cup Percolator
The Presto 02811 boils the water and utilizes the rising steam to extract the coffee grounds. Having said that, the coffee grounds are located at the apex of the Presto percolator in a filter funnel. You may use the paper filter as a strainer to keep the infused coffee free from the solid grits.
Additionally, Presto coffee maker uses the active heating element for rapidly boiling the water. In the same manner, the pit at the bottom of the Presto coffee percolator will allow the water to boil faster at the center of its base. It will force the warm water bubbles upwards. Not to mention, the hot water has the tendency to rise above the colder water.
Hence, vapor, as well as the boiling water rising upwards via the perk tube, will reach to the tip of the Presto percolator lid. Thereafter the nozzle of the perk tube directs the flow towards the spreader plate of the coffee basket.
Similar to the perforated coffee basket, the spreader plate also has a perforated body. It allows the water to evenly passing inside of the coffee basket. Ultimately the temperature of the water and downwards flow of the water will extract the coffee.
Finally, the coffee(water) will drip down from the coffee basket from its perforated surface into the serving chamber of the carafe. This process will keep on repeating until you switch off the Presto stainless steel percolator.
Apart from that, the repetitive brewing process can often result in over-extracting the coffee. In fact, this is where the delicacy of using the Presto 12 cup percolator comes in. Keeping the Presto percolator switched on for a longer time will result in over-extraction. On the other hand, switching the percolator for a shorter time will result in under-extraction.
Hence, minding the brew time and using it perfectly for different coffee volumes is an intricate art.
Components of Presto Percolator
Coming to the Presto design and components of the coffee maker, there are some vital components which we have reviewed in this section. You will find the components of 02811 which contribute to smooth functioning.
1. Design of Presto Coffee Percolator
Starting with the exterior of the coffee percolator, the Presto percolator is made of the rugged stainless steel material. The shiny body of the percolator has an elegant appearance. In fact, it gets easy to wash the Presto after every brew. Because of its smooth side walls and lid, the stains of the coffee will start fading as soon as you rinse it with water.
However, washing Presto 12 cup percolator with metal or hardwired scrubs is not advisable. Use soft nylon or fabric cleaning wool for washing the percolator.
Apart from that, the Presto percolator has an aluminum base which covers its heating element. Aluminum is a good conductor of heat compared to stainless steel. Although both these materials are reliable metals which are good conductors of heat yet the aluminum is better.
In this manner, the Presto delivers the best-designed product. Because the stainless steel material of the Presto percolator is the best for aesthetics and cleaning as well. On the other hand, the manufacturer of the Presto coffee percolator has used the aluminum enclosure to accommodate the heating element in a way that it accelerates the water boiling to a great extent.
Not to mention, all the components of the Presto 02811 are made of aluminum material except for the main kettle. The perk tube, coffee basket, and the spreader plate are made of aluminum material. It will not only accelerate the coffee brewing process but also add to the ease of cleaning the vessel.
On the contrary, you shall not keep these components damp for a longer time. Because the smaller edges of the Presto percolator accumulate corrosion to some extent.
2. Temperature Indication Light
Moving further from the design and built quality of the Presto coffee percolator, we have the temperature indicator light. This is the useful feature of the Presto percolator which indicates the moment when you need to switch off the Presto coffee maker.
This is the temperature indicator light which senses the temperature with its thermostat to trigger the light whenever needed. Hence, you will not have to estimate the brewing time every time you use the machine. You can rely on the temperature indicator light and relax till the time your coffee reaches the perfect temperature.
Furthermore, the location of the light does not even hinder the user from cleaning the machine completely. However, you will have to remove the power cable from the socket before washing the Presto. Need not to worry about the power cable, it is an easily removable cable with an insulated plug.
Hence, there are no possibilities of getting the shocks inserting or removing the plug. Not to mention, always keep the power supply off while you handle the power cable.
3. Temperature Resistant Handle & Knob
Presto provides the temperature resistant handle and knob of the lid. Both of these components of the Presto will help you to easily handle the carafe even when it’s hot. Moreover, these components are useful for pouring the coffee instantly after brewing it.
Adding to the fact, the design of the handle and the lid-knob have a unique appearance compared to the regular coffee carafe. Because of the tall tip and slim waist of the knob, it seems to handle the coffee carafe not only easy but also fun. In the same manner, the handle with the curved inside and flat on the outside. Not to mention, the raised tip of the handle adds a lot to the appearance of the handle.
4. Heating Element
Here, we have the most important part of the Presto i.e. the core of Presto percolator. The heating element of this carafe comes in two different types according to its small and large variants.
Having said that, Presto has delivered two different types of products for the reason for optimizing the power for making coffee. Because of the different sizes of the heating elements, you can easily brew coffee in either low or high volumes. It will not only save power from getting wasted but also save a lot of time which gets wasted brewing coffee especially when you have to brew more than regular.
The heating element is nothing but an electroplated coil at the bottom which starts heating when power is supplied to it. Thereafter the coil conducts the heat to its adjacent conductor which is in contact with both heating coil and water. Hence, it acts as a heat sink to the heating element and also keeps it from overheating.
Not to mention, Presto has included the thermostat which triggers the temperature resistant light. Hence, you get an indication of the time to switch off the power supply. In the end, keep away from the base of the Presto 02811 which gets extremely hot because of its heating coil.
5. Coffee Basket & Perk Tube
Lastly, we have the perk tube which remains in the center of the Presto and the coffee basket funnel. Both of these components are made of stainless steel material. Washing the perk tube can be difficult because of its small size and diameter. However, you can use a perfect brush to wash the perk tube to ease off the efforts to a great extent.
On the other hand, you can wash the coffee basket without any great deal of efforts. Because cleaning the wide and shiny coffee funnel is a child’s play.
Hence, you can have the clean coffee apparatus in a jiffy if you use the Presto percolator.
Difference Between the Percolator and Moka Pot
While describing the percolator, we often came across the concept of the Moka Pot. Moreover, the stovetop Moka pot brews the coffee using similar methods as that of the percolator. On the contrary, both of these methods differ from each other greatly if you consider the intricate factors.
Having said that, you can get to know about the major difference between the percolator and Moka pot below.
Percolator
The percolator extracts the coffee utilizing the rising water and vapor. Whereas, the coffee(infused in water) again reaches the boiling water ultimately getting diluted initially.
This process continues until the coffee grounds get extracted completely and water storage space has the perfect coffee.
Stovetop Moka Pot
The Moka Pot utilizes the rising water and steam to extract the coffee kept in a funnel just above the water boiler space. Thereafter, coffee(infused in water) rising above will end up in the serving chamber of the vessel. Hence, it will not over-extract the coffee by repetition of the process.
However, you will need an external heating source to brew a coffee.
Pros/Cons of Using Presto Percolator
Go through the positives and negatives of the Presto coffee percolator.
- Stainless steel body, coffee funnel, perktube are smooth and shiny.
- The economic cost works great for many of us.
- Percolator is easy to wash and clean.
- Temperature resistant handle and lid knob.
- Heating element varies depending upon the variant you choose.
- Presto 02811 has two different size options.
- Removable power cable.
- Temperature indicator light is a great provision.
- Small fasteners and fixtures are made of metal which corrodes.
- The Presto percolator brews coffee at a rate of a cup per minute.
- Washing can be difficult considering its power socket.
- Percolator brews coffee close to a Moka but not that great.
THE ENDNOTE
In the end, the Presto percolator is a coffee maker which uses its heating source to boil the water. Cleaning, washing the Presto coffee percolator is easy and so is its handling due to its temperature-resistant handle. However, Presto coffee maker does not brew coffee as good as the Moka pot. You can call this coffee maker only an equivalent to the Moka pots or the pour-over brewing methods.
Nevertheless, getting a legit coffee with an intense taste is not a bad deal especially with its economical price. You are getting more than what you pay for.
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