Coleman Stainless Steel Camping Coffee Percolator 12 Cup

Overview

Not an electric coffee maker, the Coleman percolator is a stainless pot that brews on whatever heat the campsite has: a stove, a grill or a fire. Water cycles up the center tube through the grounds basket until the coffee in the glass knob looks dark enough, then it pours from the side handle.

Group capacity and a body that wipes clean are the reasons to carry it, since a pot this size serves a whole campsite from one brew. The limitation is that the listing describes only the pot and its basket, so there is no way to set strength or time other than how long it stays on the heat.

Who it's for

Campsites, RVs and backpacking trips where the only heat is a stove, grill or fire and the pot has to be light and tough. Solo drinkers who want a cup or two, or anyone brewing at home from an outlet, should look at a smaller or electric design.

Pros and cons

Performance notes

Brew strength comes from how long the pot stays over the heat, because water continues cycling through the grounds for as long as it boils. Lower the heat once the knob shows color, or the coffee turns bitter from over extraction. The body heats directly on the burner, so the pot needs moving on an uneven campfire to hold a steady cycle.

Specifications