A glass stovetop percolator is the least complicated brewer in the kitchen, and the most commonly ruined by heat.

Low flame, long climb

The water should rise into the basket in a slow rhythm — roughly one gurgle every two seconds. A roaring flame boils the water, and boiling water pulls bitterness out of the grounds. On a gas hob, that means the smallest burner turned low.

Grind

Coarser than filter. A fine grind falls through the basket, clouds the pot and turns the last cup gritty.

The first pot

Run one pot of plain water through a new percolator before making coffee. It rinses the manufacturing residue out of the tube and the basket.

Heat diffuser

On a gas hob, a diffuser plate spreads the flame and stops the base of a glass pot taking the full heat at one point. Where a percolator we stock includes one, the product page says so.

Care

Let the pot cool before washing — thermal shock, not clumsiness, is what breaks most borosilicate glass. Wash by hand and dry the basket fully before storing.