Brewing coffee in a percolator is an art form, and picking the right type of coffee for a percolator is an important part of this art form.
Generally, dark roasts of coffee are preferred when using percolators because they tend to hold up better against the heat and are often more flavorful. Medium roasts and light roasts can also work well, depending on your preference.
If you’re looking for the perfect coffee variety for your percolator, this post is for you. We’re going to shed light on 10 of the best coffee brands to use with a percolator, so stick around.
What Grind of Coffee Do You Use in a Percolator?
The best grind of coffee to use in a percolator is coarse grounds of darker roasted beans. They ensure even extraction and maximum flavor during the brewing process.
If you decide to go for fine grounds, you need to use a paper filter to prevent the grounds from getting into the pot.
How Much Coffee for a Percolator?
If you want a strong brew, you must add one tablespoon of ground coffee for every cup of water you add. If you don’t like your coffee strong, then go for one teaspoon per cup instead.
10 Best Percolator Coffee Brands
The top 10 best coffee brands for percolators that we’re about to shed light on have earned their place by providing customers with rich, flavorful, and high-quality coffee. One of them will surely meet your needs.
1. Kicking Horse Coffee Three Sisters
Best for Richness and Smoothness
Kicking Horse Coffee's Three Sisters blend is a medium-roast, whole-bean blend sourced from Indonesia and Central and South America.
It has been certified Organic, Fair Trade, and Kosher, so you can be sure that the beans have been ethically sourced.
The flavor of this coffee is rich and smooth with chocolate and fruit notes, but it doesn’t have any bitterness.
This coffee is placed in a 2.2-pound bag, which is larger than most bags of gourmet coffee and will last a good amount of time for regular drinkers.
Pros:
- Certified Organic, Fair Trade, and Kosher
- Rich and smooth flavor with chocolate and fruit notes
- No bitterness
- Lasts a long time for regular drinkers
Cons:
- On the pricier side
2. Kicking Horse Hola Coffee
Best for Slightly Burnt Flavor
If you’re looking for convenience but still want a high-quality cup of coffee, Kicking Horse Coffee’s ‘Hola’ Light Roast may be just what you need.
This ground coffee is made from beans sourced in Central and South America, certified Organic, Fair Trade, and Kosher, and is roasted just before packaging.
When brewed, it’s easy to see why ‘Hola’ has garnered such a loyal following. The flavor profile is dominated by notes of chocolate and honey that are balanced out with a slightly burned flavor.
Some may find this burnt taste to be a little too intense when using a percolator, but the coarse grind ensures that it works well with metal filters.
Pros:
- Notes of chocolate and honey, balanced out with a slightly burnt flavor
- Coarse grind ensures that it works well in percolators with metal filters
- Certified Organic, Fair Trade, and Kosher
Cons:
- Higher price point than other ground coffees available on the market
3. Café Las Flores Grandes Cosechas
Best for No Bitterness
The Café Las Flores Grandes Cosechas blend is an affordable option for those who enjoy a smooth and never-bitter flavor.
The beans are grown in Nicaragua and have a light side of medium roast level, which creates a milder taste that will appeal to a lot of people.
This blend of coffee has a smooth, mild flavor. It’s not as intense or bitter as other blends and makes for a pleasant morning cup of coffee with no added sweeteners or flavors.
The light roast level allows the natural taste to stand out without being overwhelmed by any roasting notes.
Pros:
- Excellent for those who don’t like their coffee bitter
- No added sweeteners or flavors to overwhelm the natural taste
- An affordable option for those who enjoy smooth coffee
Cons:
- May not be ideal for some percolator preferences due to its milder taste
2. Koffee Kult Whole Bean Coffee
Best for Aroma
For coffee lovers looking for a smooth, full-bodied roast, Koffee Kult's Medium Roast Whole Bean Coffee is an excellent choice.
The delicate blend of beans from Brazil and Colombia creates a unique flavor profile with notes of cherry and caramel. To add, the beans are oil-free and have an exquisite aroma.
Koffee Kult Whole Bean Coffee is sold in 16 and 32-ounce bags, making it convenient for both home and commercial use.
It’s worth noting that Koffee Kult stands behind its products with a no-questions-asked return policy if you are unsatisfied with your purchase.
The company also offers direct trade and organic options for those wishing to support sustainable farming practices, making their beans both ethically and environmentally conscious.
Pros:
- Full-bodied flavor profile with notes of cherry and caramel
- Beans are oil-free for improved aroma
- No-questions-asked return policy if unsatisfied
- Direct trade and organic options are available
Cons:
- No roast date printed on the bag for freshness assurance
5. Starbucks Espresso Roast Whole Bean Coffee
Best for Bold Taste
Starbucks Espresso Dark Roast Whole Bean Coffee is a great choice for those desiring a robust cup of coffee. With this blend, you can expect a full-bodied and flavorful cup with solid notes of both chocolate and caramel.
The beans used in this blend are grown in Latin America and the Asia/Pacific region, making them reasonably priced. They also come freshly roasted in vacuum-sealed bags, ensuring that you always get high-quality, fresh coffee.
While the flavor profile may lack some complexity, the dark roast gives it a bold taste that many coffee drinkers find appealing.
The main downside here is that the flavor notes don’t always stand out in a percolator due to how bold this blend is, which can make the coffee taste too dark and one-dimensional.
Pros:
- Full-bodied and flavorful
- Comes freshly roasted in vacuum-sealed bags
- Reasonably priced
Cons:
- Lack of complexity in flavor profile
6. Fresh Roasted Coffee Costa Rica Tarrazu
Best for Low Acidity
The Fresh Roasted Coffee Costa Rica Tarrazu is a single-origin coffee with light acidity and flavors of honey and chocolate. Grown at over 4,000 feet in the beautiful hills of Costa Rica, this medium roast variety has a lot to offer.
In terms of its taste profile, this coffee has a light-medium acidity level that is desirable for many coffee drinkers.
The flavor profile of honey and chocolate is balanced, making it an easy drinker. Also, the roast level of this particular variety is generally consistent throughout the bag without being too dark.
Pros:
- Light-medium acidity level
- A balanced flavor profile of honey and chocolate
- Consistent roast level throughout the bag
Cons:
- Higher price point than some other single-origin coffees
7. Volcanica Guatemala Coffee Antigua Whole Bean
Best for Sweet Aftertaste
Grown in Antigua’s volcanic soil, Guatemala, this single-origin gourmet coffee is certified SHB (Strictly Hard Bean) because it's grown at an elevation of 5,000 to 6,000 feet.
The beans are roasted fresh before being shipped out and arrive ready for you to grind and brew your own delicious cup of coffee.
The flavor notes are mellow with hints of citrus and a sweet aftertaste. It’s a medium-body coffee with high acidity levels that make it a great choice for those who like to drink black coffee or espresso.
Volcanica Coffee has a 100% satisfaction guarantee, so if for any reason you don't love this coffee, you can easily return it and get your money back.
Pros:
- Certified SHB single-origin gourmet coffee
- Excellent for black coffee and espresso drinkers
- 100% satisfaction guarantee for returns
Cons:
- The flavor may be too mild for some coffee drinkers
8. Dunkin' Donuts Original Blend
Best for Availability
Dunkin' Donuts Original Blend is a popular coffee choice for those who are looking for a bold and flavorful cup of Arabica coffee.
It features strong notes of chocolate and caramel, making it a great pick-me-up before work or during your morning commute.
The medium roast has a smooth and balanced flavor profile with low acidity and no bitter aftertaste.
It’s also Kosher certified, so it meets the dietary requirements of many people. Plus, you can easily find this coffee at most grocery stores and online retailers.
Pros:
- A bold and flavorful blend of Arabica beans
- Low acidity level, smooth flavor profile, no bitter aftertaste
- Easily found at most grocery stores and online retailers
Cons:
- Higher price point than some other coffee blends
9. Lavazza Crema e Aroma
Best for Espressos
Lavazza Crema e Aroma is a full-bodied Italian espresso blend that’s perfect for those who want to experience true Italian coffee.
It has an intense flavor profile with strong notes of dark chocolate and roasted hazelnuts, along with hints of spice and dried fruit.
The beans are slow-roasted and ground to create the perfect espresso that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. This blend is made up of a mix of Arabica and Robusta beans and is certified Organic, Fair Trade, and Kosher Coffee.
Lavazza Crema e Aroma is best enjoyed as an espresso, but can also be used in other coffee drinks such as cappuccinos and lattes. It’s available in both medium and dark roasts, so you can choose the roast that best fits your flavor preferences.
Pros:
- Full-bodied Italian espresso blend with an intense flavor profile
- Certified Organic, Fair Trade, and Kosher
- Available in both medium and dark roasts
Cons:
- Higher price point than other blends
10. Newman's Own Organic Special Blend
Best Organic Blend
Newman's Own Organic Special Blend is a sustainable and organic blend of coffee beans that are carefully handpicked from all over the world.
This medium roast has a smooth flavor profile with notes of dark chocolate and nuts, along with hints of spice. It also has a lower acidity level, making it a good choice for those who are sensitive to acidic coffee.
This blend is certified USDA Organic and Fair Trade, so you can be sure that the beans were sustainably sourced with respect to the environment and its people.
It’s also Kosher certified, so it meets the dietary requirements of many people. Plus, you can easily find this coffee at most grocery stores and online retailers.
Pros:
- Smooth flavor profile with notes of dark chocolate and nuts
- Lower acidity level
- Certified USDA Organic, Fair Trade, and Kosher certified
- Easily found at most grocery stores and online retailers
Cons:
- May not be as flavorful as some other coffee blends
- Higher price point due to sustainably sourced beans
FAQs
Do you need a coffee filter for a percolator?
No, you don’t need a coffee filter for a percolator. This coffee maker uses the traditional method of brewing coffee by boiling water and sending it up through a tube until it passes over the grounds several times, creating a flavorful and aromatic cup of joe.
Instead of using a paper filter to strain out the grinds, percolators have a fine mesh filter built into the apparatus.
What is the best coffee for percolator?
The best type of coffee grounds for a percolator you should use is one that has been freshly ground. This allows for maximum flavor and freshness when brewing coffee.
Coarsely ground coffee works excellently in a percolator, as it will produce more of an intense flavor with a slight bitterness.
Can you use whole coffee beans in a percolator?
Yes, it’s possible to use whole coffee beans in a percolator. However, you should consider the percolator coffee grind size recommended before brewing for the best results.
Whole beans will still work in a percolator but may take longer to brew and have an uneven flavor extraction. Grinding allows for more even extraction and a more flavor-rich cup of coffee.
Can I use Folgers in a percolator?
Yes, Folgers can be used in a percolator. Percolators rely on coffee grounds and hot water to create the brewed coffee, so pretty much any coffee grounds can be used in them.
However, it’s essential to note that different types of coffee have different flavor profiles and grind sizes, which will affect the overall taste of the coffee.
Can you make espresso in a percolator?
Yes, you can if you have a coffee percolator that can withstand high pressure with the aid of safety valves. Check out this guide on how to make espresso coffee in a percolator.
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