Presto 12-Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Percolator
Whether you’re starting your morning routine, entertaining guests, or just craving a classic cup of joe, the Presto 02811 12-Cup Electric Coffee Percolator is a must-have for coffee lovers. With its durable stainless-steel build, automatic keep-warm function, and easy-pour spout, this percolator redefines home-brewed elegance. It offers the nostalgic perking process with the convenience of automatic operation, producing robust, flavorful coffee that rivals high-end cafes.
This percolator isn’t just about great coffee—it’s about an experience. From the aroma of bubbling brew to the satisfying pour from its stay-cool handle, every detail is engineered to deliver satisfaction.
Product Highlights & Features
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☕ Brews 2–12 Cups Quickly – Enjoy a cup a minute! Perfect for small households or large gatherings.
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🔥 Keeps Coffee Hot Automatically – No more cold coffee! Maintains the ideal serving temperature.
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🌟 All-Stainless Steel Construction – Beautiful, durable, and easy to clean—even the filter basket and perk tube.
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✅ Easy-Pour Spout – Designed for drip-free, elegant serving.
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✨ Classic Look, Modern Performance – A sleek, hotel-style design that looks stunning on any countertop.
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🔌 Detachable Cord for Convenient Storage – Tidy up with ease after use.
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🚫 No Plastic in Brewing Path – Coffee only touches stainless steel, for purer taste and peace of mind.
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💡 Signal Light When Ready – Know exactly when your brew is complete.
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👋 Stay-Cool Handle & Knob – Safe, comfortable handling every time.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Presto |
| Model Number | 02811 |
| Color | Silver |
| Capacity | 12 Cups |
| Material | Stainless Steel |
| Item Weight | 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg) |
| Dimensions | 9.7″ D × 13.1″ W × 6.2″ H |
| Coffee Maker Type | Electric Percolator |
| Wattage | 800 watts |
| Voltage | 120V, 60Hz |
| Special Features | Signal Light, Stay-Cool Handle, Easy-Pour Spout |
| Included Components | Filter Basket, Perk Tube, Power Cord |
| Dishwasher Safe | No |
| Operation Mode | Fully Automatic |
| Warranty | 1-Year Limited Manufacturer Warranty |
Final Verdict
If you’re looking for a reliable, stylish, and flavorful way to brew coffee, the Presto 02811 12-Cup Stainless Steel Percolator is a top-tier choice. It combines classic percolator brewing with modern design and durability, creating a full-bodied coffee experience that’s hard to beat.
From its all-metal internal construction to its automatic keep-warm feature, it checks all the boxes for convenience, taste, and elegance. Whether for everyday use or weekend entertaining, this is the kind of coffee maker that brings joy to your morning ritual—without the fuss of digital programming or plastic aftertaste.
✅ Bottom Line: If you love hot, rich coffee and appreciate quality craftsmanship, the Presto 02811 is a timeless, dependable addition to your kitchen.
PetiteCharette –
All around fantastic coffee maker
We have tried several coffeemakers since starting our family (it takes a lot of coffee to fuel our two-working-parents-with-a-new-house-and-two-children-under-two household) and this, my friends, is THE BEST. To understand my rating you may need to know what we were looking for to begin with, and how this machine satisfied our criteria.What we wanted1) First, we needed hot coffee and fast!2) Coffee must taste good3) NO plastic – at least where the nearly boiling hot water comes into contact with it4) Ease of use – KISS rule applies here, as we’re operating on very little sleep these daysHow it performed1) This pot knocks this out of the park. It only takes about 6-8 minutes to brew 6 cups. It is HOT and it stays hot for a long time (actually, it will stay hot as long as you have the machine plugged into the outlet, which is a really nice feature when we’re home on the weekends). A couple of our other machines actually took longer to brew coffee as we encountered filter problems and other issues. Side note – we keep a huge Brita filter of water in our fridge, and use it for coffee so we don’t need all the extra filtering of other machines.2) The taste of coffee will be affected by many factors, not the least of which is the quality of your selected beans, the roast, how freshly ground it is, and using COLD water to begin, however even with the best coffees our previous coffee makers left something to be desired. This machine consistently makes delicious coffee. Seriously, it is such a pleasure to drink.3) This one is really important. As we increased the amount of coffee we drink, we realized that pretty much all other machines involve plastic parts somewhere in the brew process, despite having metal baskets and the like. That means there is a pretty good chance some unhealthful substances could be leaching into the water, and into the coffee. We use steel and glass with our other beverages and for our children’s drinks – but had ignored the almost 16 oz of coffee a day we were consuming! This entire machine, with the exception of the base and handle, is steel. All that boiling hot water comes in contact with is metal. I suspect that also has something to do with how well it performs on the flavor scale.4) Again, home run. This machine isn’t any more labor intensive to use than a Mr. Coffee or a Cuisinart. In fact, it might be simpler since you don’t have to pour water from a carafe into some silly little hole somewhere on the machine, risking spilling water all over the counter. Fill the carafe with cold water. Fill the basket with grounds. Insert bar, basket, and lids. Plug it in. Pour your cereal, hug your kids, pack your lunch, whatever you fancy. 8 minutes later you’re pouring a delicious, hot mug of joe. We have a grinder and only buy whole bean coffee. Sometimes we grind the coffee the night before to save time, but plenty of mornings we have grind it just before making the coffee. Still a simple and quick process..even when we are exhausted.Additionally, you can make small amounts of coffee without needing a special setting. The coffee isn’t any weaker as a result, unlike other machines. I think this has to do with how hot this machine gets the water prior to brewing. It isn’t heating up along the way, like some other machines. So the first few cups are just as good as the rest. You can, however, make a big full pot, which is nice for us because our parents come to visit often and all drink coffee too. And the whole big pot is piping hot. That brings me to a negative aspect of this machine. If you brew a pot, and want another, you have to wait until the pot cools. I’ve been raving about how hot it makes coffee, and that it’s made of metal. Well, it becomes a dangerously hot piece of metal. Clean up is easy with this machine too. We compost our grounds so it is as simple as dumping the basket into our compost container, and rinsing out the parts. Something to be mindful of, though, is ensuring that you UNPLUG the machine before you leave. Best case scenario, you return to hot coffee in the evening, if that’s your thing, but I’m afraid of causing an electrical fire so our post-coffee routine is simply unplugging it before leaving for work. Again, it is usually too hot to clean right away so we do this in the evening.You’ll notice some features we weren’t looking for, and which this product does not have:1) Brew interrupt for pouring a cup while it is still brewing. We aren’t that impatient. We have plenty to do while we wait for the full pot to brew. But some folks may not like that.2) Clock – we have that on our stove…and our phones…and our toaster oven…and our wall. We’re good with clocks3) Programmable brewing – again, not necessary for us as we find using this machine to be quick and easy. We did enjoy this feature on other products (waking up to coffee brewing for you is so nice!) but the trade off for no plastic parts was worth it to us. Plus, my husband is so sweet about getting up first and making the coffee, so not much has changed for me in this way ;-)Well, this is the longest review I have ever written, but I know how people are about their coffee…because I am one of those people. I hope this review helps. We’ve had this machine for 6 months, it’s going strong, it looks cool on the counter, it’s easy to use and it makes one darn good cup of coffee.
630 people found this helpful
RR –
12+ years and still going
Bought this 12 years ago (2013), and it’s still going strong. It’s the only percolating coffee pot I’ve personally owned, so I can’t offer a comparison to other percolators. I do like it better than drip coffee makers. I recommend a carafe or large thermos to put the coffee in once the brewing completes. You can leave the coffee pot on for a bit after brewing is complete to keep your coffee hot, but if you leave it on too long your coffee starts to taste burnt.
3 people found this helpful
G. Burnell –
Presto! Coffee with Flavor
I am a coffee drinker, and have been for decades. I have tried most systems out there-French Press, Filters of all kinds, stovetop espresso pots, etc. Of all of those, French Press makes pretty good coffee. But this Presto percolator extracts more flavor than any of them to my taste.Here are some clues. The kitchen fills with the smell of coffee brewing. It’s nice, and I haven’t smelled that wonderful, welcoming smell in a long time. The coffee comes out rich and thick. For those of you that use cream or milk, you will still have a decent coffee flavor after the addition.The pot itself is a fairly simple device. I am sure there is a micro-processor thermostat under the black base, but still a simple device. All parts are Stainless Steel. The pot, the basket holder, the basket and the basket top. No plastic touches the coffee. Parts, should they become damaged for any reason are easily available from the Presto site. But with reasonable treatment these are sturdy, workable pieces of coffee brewing goodness.The brew cycle is regulated by the amount of water in the pot. I have tried making four cup, six cup, eight cup, and ten cup batches. Following the directions that come with the pot or that area available on the Presto site will yield weaker or stronger brews according to your taste. One just has to experiment a bit to get a feel for it.The brew cycle ends with a flourish of percing. Then the light on the front goes off. Here’s what they don’t tell you. Wait another minute or so till the last batch of water filters through the basket, then open the top take out the basket top and then the basket and brewpipe. Pop the top back on. The coffee will stay hot for as long as you leave the pot plugged in. And at a good hot temp, too.This holding part of the cycle is a double edged sword. Coffee definitely looses its full flavor after a while, but the coffee will stay hot for as long as the pot is plugged in. I recommend making several smaller batches over the day rather than just brewing a big one. That hassle aside, I haven’t yet let the pot burn with no coffee in it.All in all, this Presto pot brews a great cup of coffee in batches from four to twelve cups. Best purchase to my quality of life I have made in some time. Highly recommended.1/27/2014–The Presto 02811 still percing away! I have experimented with different coffee grinds and techniques. Now finers grinds flow through the basket holes leaving considerable sediment in the pot. More coarse grinds don’t, BUT you either have to use more coffee to get full flavor or find a way to extend the brew…..Here’s my solution. I grind my medium roasted beans one notch before the coarsest setting on the grocery grinder. This results in very little sediment in the coffee pot after brewing. I will put six tablespoons of ground coffee into the basket. Then I get the pot, add the brewing tube, and fill the pot with ice from my freezer to the eight cup mark. Then I get filtered chilled water from my fridge dispenser and also fill the pot with water to the eight cup mark. Now add the covered basket to the pot, snap on the pot cover, and plug it in. This tastes really good to me when it is done, though it takes a bit longer in the brewing.
447 people found this helpful
Arthur SeniorArthur Senior –
If Your Looking For A Coffee Percolator That Makes Excellent Tasting Coffee, This Is It!
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In the first years of my life, I grew up with a coffee percolator. Its in my humble opinion, a percolator is the best way to make coffee. Back in the 1990’s, companies started marketing drip style coffee makers. They would classically show somebody getting coffee grounds all over their percolators, and using that as a reason to switch to drip. Well, it must have worked, because our family switched to drip style coffee makers, and we went through many of them, as they never lasted more then 3 to 5-years!I gotta be honest, when you’ve tasted drip brewed coffee, it just isn’t as good. When you’ve tasted percolator brewed coffee, its like a night and day difference. After a power outage spike took out our old coffee maker, it was time to finally go back to the percolator, and we chose the Presto. How does it measure up? Well, let me install a new surge protector first, plug the percolator into it, and then I’ll tell ya.The coffee maker comes packaged fairly well, nice box, cardboard separation inserts. Comes with an included 2-prong power cord, the same kind waffle irons, rice makers, and crock pots use. It comes with a instruction manual, and all the parts that make up the percolator, all packaged in plastic bags, which you must take out, and install properly to get ready for use.With the lid removed, filter basket and tube, fill the unit with the amount of water you require for the needed cups you want. For example, if you want to make 12-cups of coffee, fill to the 12-cup mark. I grind my own coffee beans with a portable B&D electric coffee grinder. I like my coffee strong, so I fill the grinder to its max level, and I just do a medium grind, that way you don’t get a lot of grounds getting past the filter basket into your coffee.Yes, I am well aware of the age old discussion, to paper filter, or not paper filter, that is the question. To be perfectly honest, using paper filters will indeed alter the taste of the coffee to be less desirable, all to have no grounds at the bottom of the pot. If you do a medium grind, you won’t get that many grounds at the bottom of the pot anyway, so I recommend to not use a paper filter for best flavor results.Once you have filed the filter basket, just place the percolator pickup tube into it, then center the bottom half of the tube, with the bowl shaped recessed notch at the bottom of the coffee pot. Then just hold it in place while you install the lid. The lid literally snaps into place, so there is no way that lid is ever coming off on its own, without human intervention, so you can trust it, which is a plus. Then all you have to do is plug the cord into the wall, and the coffee maker begins percolating after just a few seconds.When the coffee pot is fully filled, it is surprisingly heavy, so much so, I decided to weigh it. The coffee maker weighs in 6-pounds and 10.7-ounces, that is almost 7-pounds! It is in my opinion, that seniors who are suffering from arthritis, will have quite a bit of difficulty managing this coffee pot. I remember my mother had a lot of trouble, just trying to lift a 12-cup drip style pot. So you might want to use a second hand with a pot holder, to help you support the pot as you pore.The good news however, is that this pot has an excellent handle, that remains cool to the touch, so you never have to worry about getting burned, as what would happen with a stove top percolator! Additionally, the percolator has a beautiful spout, and it functions as good as it looks, pores beautifully. I recommend that you use filtered water, I use a Britta filter, which is better for your health, and helps to reduce calcium deposits in the coffee pot.The company claims that the percolator takes 1-minute per cup, so 12-cups = 12-minutes. I am always wary of company claims when it comes to marketing, so I decided to test that. The water sat long enough in the pot to reach room temperature before I plugged it in. As my video clearly shows, the Presto 12-cup percolator took a total of 12-minutes and 55-seconds to finish brewing. So while that is nearly a whole minute longer then company claims, its well within the norm, so they get a pass…..This time.By now your wondering, all this is well and good, but how does the coffee taste? I am happy to report, that the coffee that this percolator makes, tastes phenomenal! Literally, every time I took a sip, I was in heaven. Its like one of those things that makes you ask yourself, “what have I been doing with all of my life?” The answer is, you’ve been doing it wrong for years, but now you own a percolator, so you’ve redeemed yourself. I can’t recommend the flavor that this machine produces enough!Please note that, unlike drip style coffee makers that never get the coffee that hot, this percolator makes coffee piping hot, 195-degrees Fahrenheit. Be careful with your first sips, unless you cool it down a bit with some liquid creamer or milk.Now as far as cleanup is concerned, its not the huge ordeal that companies made it out to be, when they suggested that you switch to drip style coffee makers. Simply, remove the lid, run it under hot water, set aside. Remove the filter basket, knock it against the inside of your trash can, most of the grounds fall in, or use a piece of paper towel to assist. Run the filter basket under hot water to rinse out any remaining grounds. Run some water through the pickup tube, just make sure its clear, set aside to dry.A quick rinse of the pot as well, not even soap is required, Its literally that simple, and now your percolator will be ready for the next pot you make. I recommend only plugging and unplugging the cord from the male end that goes into the wall, there is really no need to detach it from the coffee maker itself. But when the coffee percolator finishes brewing, it will automatically turn off and switch to warming mode. I don’t recommend leaving the pot in warming mode for longer then 30-minutes though, that way the coffee stays fresh and doesn’t turn bitter on ya.I would have preferred that this coffee maker had an on/off switch, but that doesn’t appear to be a feature, that is found on percolators in general, not just from this brand. Other then that, I literally have nothing else negative to say about it. The percolator is both beautiful in design, as it is, in its function to make excellent tasting coffee, what more could you want? I really love this coffee maker and I can’t recommend it enough. If you’ve been using a drip style coffee maker, please do yourself a favor, and get a percolator.I rate this coffee maker a solid 5 out of 5 stars! Highly recommended!
506 people found this helpful
Paula Ali –
Great Percolator
I love this percolator! This is only my second one in 10-15 yrs. The Coffee is always hot, and stays hot. I have never had a problem with it and am only replacing because I wore the other one out! So if you are looking for a good percolator that will last a long time, I highly recommend this one.
BKA –
No more microplastics!
Mix plastic and heat together and what do you get? Microplastics. I searched for a drip maker w/o plastic components. They are out there, but they cost $200-300+. I settled on this. This percolator is all stainless – including the basket. The coffee comes out more full-bodied than my drip, and takes up less space on my counter. I LOVE IT. Takes 12-13 minutes for a full 12C brew. I had a stove top percolator but you couldn’t keep the coffee warm at a steady temp. This keeps it warm for hours and when you’re done, press the button to turn off the warmer. I am never going back to a plastic drip maker. This is the best, and healthiest and 100% worth it.
CSC –
No plastic internal compartments
We absolutely love this. We were looking for a coffee maker that had no plastic components inside and stumbled upon this. It makes terrific coffee. The cleanup is a little more than a typical coffee maker but it is well worth it to not have piping hot coffee that is sitting in plastic.
Quality Shopper –
Very Good!
I’ve waited 2 months to write this review as I wanted to use it every day for that long to evaluate. I read all the reviews before purchasing and feel like a lot of people have never had percolators before. I’ve used a perc for 50 years.1. The cord is NOT too short. It’s perfectly sized and there are zero issues with using the pot.2. I do NOT use paper liners in the filter basket. Using very hot water and a scrubber removes the grit. Be mindful of the holes and coffee oils that can build up and make the holes smaller forcing grounds to spill over into the pot. When I see this happening, I just use hot water (no soap!) and scrub it down.3. Time: does it take slightly longer than my old Presto? Yes but just slightly. This is not a Mr. coffee… it’s worth the extra minute.4. There is no spill when you pour. Coffee comes out clean and no drips.5. Do not over fill coffee. The amount of grounds you may be used to in your old maker may be too much for this one. I found I use slightly less coffee in this one.6. I consistently make 10 cups every single morning. I do not over fill the water.7. The coffe is hot and good.8. I’m a coffee percolator snob. Been making coffee in a perc since I was 8 yrs old. Always had a glass knob and I do have to say I truly miss that. A LOT. I liked being able to see color change and the flow. However other percolators have the knob but it is plastic and I did not want plastic anything in a percolated. The steam escapes normally from the special little recessed vent molded into the lid.9. The lid snaps on tightly. Zero chance of it popping off.10. Coffee stays hot in the keep warm after-perc mode.11. I did purchase a marble round trivet to put it on as I had no clue how hot the bottom would get on my counter tops. I like the look of it and any drips or mess is easily cleaned up. Purchased on Amazon. It’s cute!12. Other people have commented on how good the coffee is. I do not buy fancy brands and have used a Maxwell house style for decades. I’m sure whatever brand you use would be fine. Just know a coarser grind or finer grind affects how much you fill the basket and how it will clog. Just watch oil build up and you’ll do fine.13. The highly polished stainless steel is very pretty and easily cleaned to stay shiny.14. Price is normal. Could you find cheaper ones out there? Yes.15. How long this will last. I feel like every modern appliance, this will have a shorter life than the appliances of old. If you LOVE an appliance, then purchase a back up and keep it on a shelf. Switching to an all new maker every few years is tiresome. I suspect we will get a few years out of this and then something will go wrong. Things just aren’t made like the old days.16. Overall? Yes we like it. But I do miss the glass knob…..
46 people found this helpful
RMG –
Makes a great cup of hot coffee
I’ve run the gamut on all sorts of coffee makers and know how to make a good cup of coffee. Pour over using a kettle and kalita wave, v60, or Chemex will get you the most nuanced coffee as long as you know how to pour it. It takes practice and I used to have the time and patience for it, but now I reserve those moments for when I’m truly in the mood. There are good drip brewers out there that make good coffee and I recommend using, especially the ones that brew at the right temps and speed, and I never thought old fashioned percolators can make good coffee. I always thought they “burn” coffee and brewing with recirculated coffee ruins the taste. I was wrong. I recently learned through experience that Percs and can make great coffee. I purchased this coffee maker mostly out of curiosity. I wanted my coffee to stay hotter in my mug for longer, and drip coffee just seemed to cool down too fast, even from the SCAA recommended machines. Preheating the mug is a workaround, but requires an extra step that you really don’t want in the morning. Knowing that percs are known for making hotter coffee, I purchased this one. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint. This thing makes great tasting, hot coffee. There is a learning curve though. Here is what works for me:I put a scoop of ice in the pot along with my water to make it very cold before brewing. These electric percs need very cold water to start to get the best results.Do not use a filter. I tried using the sample filters that came with the pot but the few times I tried I got very weak coffee. I think these filters allow water to bypass the coffee grounds in the basket, and don’t allow the full and even saturation needed. The benefit you get of easier clean up is not worth getting a horrible tasteless pot of coffee.Use freshly ground beans. If the beans are freshly roasted, even better. But at a minimum, to get the best tasting coffee from any brew method the beans need to be ground right before brewing. Burr grinders give the best results. However if you don’t have a grinder that’s ok. I buy pre-ground coffee too. I make sure to buy only small containers so the grounds don’t get too stale before they are used.Grind the beans to a coarseness level slightly above drip. However, regular drip grind works just fine.Experiment with coffee to water ratios to get the results you want. In this perc I prefer a 20:1 ratio (20 parts of water to 1 part of coffee grounds, by weight).Unplug the perc shortly after brewing. Doing this will preserve the best flavors of the coffee.Lastly, after it’s cooled, if there is still unused coffee that you want drink, you can “freshen” it up easily. First take out the basket and tube. Put the lid back on and plug it in again. The pot will start heating the coffee. In about 2 min the light will go on and the coffee will be at the same hot temp again. Unplug the pot and enjoy your cup. (Won’t be a good as first cup but close enough for me).Using these guidelines for myself, I always get a delicious, full bodied, piping hot coffee that is better than any cheap drip machine, just as good as high quality drip machines, and the coffee stays hot in my mug longer. I was surprised that these vintage style percs made good coffee, but I guess they knew what they were doing 50+ years ago when these were popular. The convenience of drip took over, but I’ve found that percs have a certain charm to them. While not as “convenient” its still very easy to use. I enjoy the sounds it makes, and I like that they are so simple to clean. It’s all metal, no plastic, which also means hot water is not touching any plastic during brewing, which you can’t say for most drip machines. Plus it has a small blueprint so takes up a lot less space. The only thing I wish it had was auto-shut-off. The only way to turn it off is pulling the plug out of the pot. Auto-shut off after 1-2 hours should be a standard feature. I can’t see how leaving the pot on all day would be desirable at all.Overall I really like this pot. It’s nostalgic and makes great coffee!
176 people found this helpful
Robb Ryniak –
Tips for a genuinely amazing cup of a coffee…
My family has owned this percolator for 6 years now, purchased right here on Amazon in 2010, and I’m about to buy another one for work.This pot has consistently delivered the best tasting coffee – better than all restaurants we frequent, better than friends and family’s coffee… just awesomely, amazingly good. I’ve had a couple of minor maintenance issues over the years (see below) but they were super easily overcome, and in general this has been a super-reliable and very inexpensive appliance. Honestly, this has to have been one of my most favorite appliance purchases ever. And all for less than $40. Take THAT, you overpriced, overly featured drip machines that make lousy coffee!! ;-)*TIPS*With this, and any other stainless percolator, there are some basic guidelines to follow that aren’t necessarily in the manual:1. DO NOT use a paper filter. Ever. Use the metal basket ONLY. The holes are tiny enough to allow the coffee through, but to keep 99.9% of the gains in. Using the metal basket without a paper filter allows the flavor oils that naturally exist in the coffee bean to STAY in the coffee and contribute to its amazing and full flavor. If you use a paper filter, you’ll lose the oils and get an “over-extracted” flavor that’s more bitter than bold… so don’t use a paper filter, follow the instructions, and you’re GOLDEN – perfect coffee every time. Yes, you’ll get a couple of grains in the last cup without a paper filter… whoop-de-do, just don’t drink the very last few drops of the very last cup – problem solved. ;)2. Cleaning the pot: Make sure it’s clear of any build-up, but don’t scrub the interior… allow the percolator to become seasoned. It’s hot enough to prevent any bacterial issues, just like a wok or a cookie sheet. So let that puppy get seasoned, it’s perfectly safe AND more delicious over time! The key place for build up is the receiving “hole” at the bottom of the pot for the metal tube. That can build up coffee debris pretty quick, and if you don’t clear it, it will keep the metal tube from seating properly and you won’t be able to brew properly, if at all. You only need to scrape away the excess with a fingernail, and you’re good to go. The outside of the pot, however, feel free to scrub and make super shiny. It’s really a nice looking piece when cleaned!3. Cleaning the basket: The basket’s tiny holes can get plugged up over a month or so of daily use. There’s two ways to deal with this: chemically (cleaners) or with a wire brush. I prefer the wire brush route and just tap the bottom of the basket, which instantly clears the holes and allows you to keep the years of perfect seasoning intact. Wire brush FTW.4. When assembling the pot in order to brew coffee, if you don’t get the metal tube lined up with the receiving hole in the bottom of the pot, you’ll get a misfire where you’ll get a weak pot of coffee (at best), if not a mere pot of hot water. To ensure this doesn’t happen, once the metal tube is aligned with the receiving hole, twist it left and right like you’re trying to gently screw it in. It doesn’t actually screw in… the twisting movement simply forces it to pop into the hole if it isn’t in the hole already. Best. Trick. Ever.5. Don’t overfill the basket with coffee – the closer you are to the top of the tube, the more likely to get grains in the bottom of the pot. However, don’t underfill or you’ll get weak coffee. Follow the instructions, and you should be fine.6. It’s OK to let the coffee sit plugged in and ready to go for a long time as a FULL pot. If you’re going to be leaving less than half a pot for more than an hour, UNPLUG IT, the coffee can burn if it sits long enough, just like ANY coffee pot. However, I’ve let a full pot sit for 4 or 5 hours, plugged in, and it’s still not bad at all. Obviously, the fresher the better – just don’t let it sit plugged in with very little coffee left, or your coffee will be understandably less delicious than you were expecting.7. MAINTENANCE: I’ve had to replace the wire/plug once because using it thousands of times caused it to develop a minor short. Any plug/wire off the shelf that fits will do… it’s just a straight up, no frills, 2 prong AC cable. Easy-peasy. I’ve also seen the screws holding on the bottom decay over time as they’re not made of rust-resistant metal, sadly. However, a quick trip to your local hardware store will get you brand new ones; just bring the old ones with and ask the hardware guy for help. I replaced the bottom screws about 2 years ago when they got too rusty, so I got 4 years out of mine. You might be able to forestall the rusty screws issue by covering the holes with hot glue to prevent water from getting up in there when you wash the outside. That’d probably work perfectly, but I haven’t actually tried it.Finally, stop reading reviews, buy this pot, and enjoy your awesome coffee!!!
2,421 people found this helpful