Common Grounds

I have not yet, nor will I likely become, a Keurig fan.  Yes, I've used them -- the break room at my old office had one and I would bring my own K-Cups in.  But with each cup I brewed, I died a little inside.  It's not just the cost, it's the wasteful packaging.  More than that, it's the flavor. To me, the best brew comes out of a percolator -- the older, the better.

Those who have read my past blog will probably recall my percolator obsession.  My motto is "When you see an old percolator, buy it."  The newer models don't brew as well and will only do if there is no alternative.  The specimen shown here came from a garage sale in Williamson, NY.  When I saw the sign for the house sale on the way to our camp, I knew I'd come by the next day to look for a percolator.

This particular style is my favorite -- set the brew to "Stronger" and you'll get a rich cup that is piping hot.  These old versions brew a very hot cup and the aroma is out of this world.  Chez Petite has about five percolators at this point.  The one currently in use is an avocado green version of the one shown today.  While it will probably last forever, I need replacements to fall back on.  Since the supply of these old things is not unlimited, I buy them whenever I see them.

A good price for one of these is certainly no  more than five bucks.  This one cost me a buck.  Always check to be sure the cord is in good condition -- it's the part that is most likely to go first.  Keep the cord dry and check it regularly to be sure it's not falling apart.

Aside from the storage space they take up in my basement, once a unit is put into use, it is easy to store in a cabinet -- unlike a Keurig, which generally takes up counter space.  A one pound bag of coffee takes up half the space of a box of 12 K-cups -- but makes about eight times as much coffee.  Aside from taste, the economy of space is the reason I love percolators.  That, plus you can keep multiple cups warm for an extended period of time.  When we are entertaining, I can get two going -- one with regular and one with decaff.  Guests always love the taste of perked java.

And when it's all said and done... there is a cool factor to a percolator that you don't get from a drip machine!