Side by Side Comparison of: Presto

After owning a Cuisnart Grind and Brew, a Bunn NHB Drip Coffee Maker and a Bunn My Cafe (single cup), and a french press, I went back to the original and still the best - a percolator. This type of coffee maker paired with an electric bean grinder is the best cup of coffee you can make at home in my opinion. I like the design, and no frills operation of this percolator. The only thing I would say is be sure to pick the correct size for your needs... this is a 32 oz coffee maker which makes 6 cups, just be aware that a "cup" of coffee is based on a 5 oz size. Most mugs that you would use at home are much larger. With this coffee maker, you can basically make enough for 2 big mugs of coffee, and that is all. This is, however specified in the description and the directions - it's just something to be aware of.

This little coffee pot makes just enough coffee for one. It's quick, easy to clean and the coffee tastes wonderful. Plus (the best of all) you can use bulk coffee and save money. Be sure and use a paper filter unless you don't mind a few grounds at the bottom of your cup. My dad didn't mind but it sort of freaks me out. Other than that, it's a old fashioned shiny addition to my kitchen that actually gets used every day. (and I can put it in the cupboard when not in use ~~ try that with a Keurig)

I needed a new coffee pot of my own at work for either making coffee or heating water for tea and other hot beverages I enjoy. I had my old pot for about 12 years which needed replacing as mineral deposits were building up in the bottom. I had thought of contributing to the office coffee fund. However, the coffee my coworkers make doesn't taste very good as they either let it sit too long in the pot, or they don't clean the pot very good between uses, causing the coffee to have a stale cooked taste. So, I decided to give this coffee pot a try as a replacement to my old pot. I am very pleased with it as it is the perfect solution. It measures about 10 1/2 inches high. It is equipped with a safety light that comes on when the water is fully heated which automatically shuts the pot off. If left plugged in, it keeps the beverage at idea temperature all day. It also meets the fire safety regulations in our building. My coworkers are jealous! Tee hee!There is one thing I should mention. The cord on this pot measures only 2 feet in length, so one may need an extension cord in order to reach an outlet.

I wanted a percolator (like the taste) and was not worried about forgetting to unplug it etc. So I wanted an electric one. Also content to pick a small one for my own use that looked good enough to keep out on the countertop. Having one the same size as a French press was fine with me. This fits the bill. I use the 4 cup water marking and get two full size mugs of very hot coffee after 6 minutes of brew time. Like others I adapted the cone filters you buy anywhere and put a small hole near cone bottom seam with a knife tip (takes 2 seconds) and presto the cone slips on the filter cup stem no problem. I liked the thin paper rectangular trial set of filters that came in the box but didn't want to special order them from Amazon (not at my grocery) so the solution above is easy and cheap. For cleanup just throw the used filter out (you fold paper edges of filter around metal brew stem before brewing. Keeps the grounds in so afterwards those used grounds are covered and contained nicely in the filter cup--which means no grounds in your piping hot coffee after brewing either....) If I had a need to make coffee for more than two persons I would have bought the next size up--the 12 cup version. But this size has been ideal for me and I use it every day.

I am not too picky concerning all of the fancy coffee beans and grinders some people use, but I know the taste of a well brewed cup of coffee and this little coffee maker comes through. This Presto coffee maker is ALL stainless steel, even though I saw a review stating that the stem was made out of aluminum. The stem is stainless steel as is all other parts of this item except the base and handles. I know metals very well since I was a buyer for metal fabrication manufacturing and there is nothing in this coffee maker that allows your coffee to be exposed to dangerous plastics or aluminum alloys. The coffee maker comes with a set of disposable filters which are really not necessry to use. Just put your coffee grounds straight into the basket and it brews the coffee just right. There is a very little bit of sediment on the last cup, but really no issue for me. I usually brew two cups in the morning and this is exacty the coffee maker I needed. No waste, no paper filters and no coffee that tastes like plastic like all of the drip coffee makers have. Highly recommended!

Update - I have had some inconsistent brews... weak, then rich ...I'm exchanging for the 12 pot....as I find it's usually weak when I brew 6 cups, and the filter is just a little guy...with a bigger basket, I can add more coffee.I was very skeptical about this little guy...I had never ever used a percolator before, but after years of horrible drip coffee I decided to experiment.After reading reviews on amazon.com regarding this product (by the way it's cheaper there and does ship to Canada), I was not certain, but for the price thought I would try it. I have noted some of the downsides I was worries about after reading the reviews, and here are my thoughts:-People had said that it was poorly made, because it was made in China, I completely disagree!! I am very strict when it comes to design, and quality, and this is a well built, solid little machine. No scratches, or dents - its heavy for its size, and well-constructed all stainless steel ...PS- check your laptop, TV, and most other appliances, I bet they are made in China!!!- It was noted that the coffee was weak - The 1st 3 pots I made was weaker than drip coffee - I remedied the problem by changing my Breville grinder to the French Press setting - then it was dark and rich! Whew...that was an easy fix!- It was noted that it takes long to brew - NO IT DOESN'T - it's less than 5 min for a full pot!- It was noted that it was hard to put together....DUH...I've never used a perc pot before, and it was a breeze, it's called READ THE MANUAL - watch You Tube...It's not difficult at all!- People said it was a poorly designed spout...not sure why...it looks perfectly fine to me and easy to clean!This is a great little percolator, wish I got the 12 cup, however it's perfect for 1 or 2 people, but not if you want seconds....I might order the 12 cup!I will update once I use it more, but so far so good!

I wanted to wait until I had some time to fully use the percolator before writing my review. As my title suggests, I love it! I purchased this after trying a couple of different coffee pots because I no longer wanted a carafe (which I keep burning). I started with a carafe-less pot, but it stopped working after a week (literally) so I returned it for a refund. I purchased a second model with a stainless steel carafe, which worked well but just did not keep my coffee hot enough. My mother actually suggested a percolator, which I would have never thought of purchasing, and I am certainly glad she did. This thing is awesome. It keeps my coffee piping hot and fresh for a couple of hours, which is usually how long it takes me to drink what I brew. The last cup is definitely as hot and fresh as the first cup. Thanks to a tip on YouTube, I created some homemade filters to fit it from the filters I already had (I have so many that it would be a waste to throw them out), so I don't have to clean the grounds out of the holder. A few grounds do slip through sometimes, but I just don't drink the last inch or so of coffee, and it's fine. Overall, I would definitely buy this percolator again, and I am very satisfied with my purchase.

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!!!

If you're like me and love coffee why must we rush something that gives us so much enjoyment. I grew tired of Automatic drip coffee,
used different brands over the years and though ready when I awoke in the morning I was not enjoying that first sip. Dissatisfied with my lukewarm cup of joe I decided to harken back the days of ole when one would take time to make coffee. To my surprise the Presto 12 cup did just that. I loved hearing that percolator and to my delight was a piping hot cup of coffee that I longed for that was brewed to perfection. I've had now for a week and tested with an instant read thermometer the temp of the coffee as I pour. 203 degrees. I found using the 1-4 cup coffee filter fits perfectly into the basket which is a must to absorb the 2 types of diterpenes found in coffee. The substances are trapped by the filters that can be responsible for elevated cholesterol levels.
Wonderful coffee maker and highly recommend.

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 wanted
1) First, we needed hot coffee and fast!
2) Coffee must taste good
3) NO plastic - at least where the nearly boiling hot water comes into contact with it
4) Ease of use - KISS rule applies here, as we're operating on very little sleep these days

How it performed

1) 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 clocks

3) 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.

This coffee percolator is exactly what I was looking for! I have coffee in no time, and its a great cup of java. Its all stainless steel, and for the price, it IS a steal! I have had two other models of Presto percolators in the past, and loved them. We have hard well water and drip coffee makers clog up quickly, The Presto is a breeze to clean, and I don't have to worry about lime build-ups inside of them since I can scrub every piece of them by hand.

The pot makes a nice brew, and stops percolating when the coffee is ready. I thought it might also shut off, for safety, but it does not. There's no on or off switch; you just plug it in and in a few minutes, you're ready for a cup. I bought it for the small size (makes two mugs - not the teeny cups, and not the huge cups). I like percolated coffee (old-school stuff for me), and this will do it or now.

I would buy again; then why the 4 stars? You have to clean the pot completely everyday or it gets "junky". After 4 weeks, it still needs to be cleaned with a dishwasher detergent. It works flawlessly as a coffee maker.

I wish it brewed quicker, but I do like this little coffee maker. I'm not sure how to explain it, but the coffee it makes tastes cleaner. I bought a Ninja a few months ago and it does not make hot coffee like this little guy does. Easy to clean it a big plus!

This was such a great buy. I bought it in early 2014 and still use it to this day. It makes the coffee pretty strong in less than 5 minutes. The only drawback is that it doesn't truly produce 6 cups of coffee. It's more like 4 full coffee mugs.

I just used this for the the first time and wow what a delicious cup of coffee. I have been using a dip coffee maker my whole life and thought I would try a percolator when my coffee pot died. It is super easy to use. I only wish it had an automatic shut off but I knew it didn't when I bought it. Also be very careful when opening the lid as it is a tight fit and stuff may go flying everywhere when you pull it off. Overall though I love it! Oh and it's cute. 😊

This 6-cup percolator is just what I expected, except it's smaller than I remember.If you're wondering if you should get the smaller 6-cup model or larger 12-cup model, go for the 12-cup. Here's why:My favorite mug, which is a fairly generic one in terms of size, can comfortably hold 2 measuring cups worth of coffee.This percolator can make 6 "cups" of coffee, where each "cup" is about 5/8 of a measuring cup, or around the size of the coffee cups that my grandma's china set had. In other words, this percolator makes at most about 4 measuring cups of coffee (any more would touch the bottom of the grounds basket), or 2 mugs worth.Other than that, it's great. It only takes around 5 minutes to make a couple of mugs of coffee, it smells wonderful while doing it, it's very simple to use (1 tablespoon of grounds per "cup" plus "one more for the pot" makes the coffee good and strong but not overwhelming).As for the flavor of the coffee it makes, well, that's completely subjective. I'm an old dog and grew up on percolator coffee. Drip coffee has always tasted weird to me, like it's missing something. Starbucks tastes like it's burned to me. This little percolator makes proper coffee, with the full complex taste I expect, no burning flavor, nothing missing.

Makes great hot coffee. I've quit using pods and drip since the coffee doesn't get hot enough . The only reason that I didn't give it a 5 star is because it's hard to read the water level ( indented lines on the interior for 4,6,8,10,12 cups) inside the pot. I used an indelible marker so that I could see the lines. The "12" cup size is more like 6 mugs. It does not automatically shut off. Other than that it's a great coffee maker. Pretty too and takes up less counter space than a drip or pod type coffeemaker.

I am a fan of percolators and prefer them greatly over other coffee-making products. This is my second Presto. I also owned a Hamilton Beach 40614. We used both daily, making about six cups of coffee (sometimes more when we had company) and typically let it sit for two to three hours before finishing off our morning cups. Both the Presto and the Hamilton Beach performed beautifully for our needs and made delicious tasting coffee. Both lasted 2-3 years, then the heating element burned out and the unit had to be replaced. (That is the only reason that I lowered my rating to 4 stars instead of 5).

It is always best to use paper filters when making coffee. I don't know the science behind it, but they absorb by-products of the coffee that will raise your cholesterol if you don't use a paper filter. Doubly, the paper filters help to eliminate small grinds from getting into your brewed coffee. There is no need to buy special filters. I use my fingers to tear a small slit near the center of regular unbleached filters. It's simple to do and the filter goes in the basket with no trouble.

So here is what I liked and disliked about these two percolators:
Presto... the ergo-dynamics seem to be a bit better with this model. It is sleeker to handle. The center post seems to be stainless steel, that is good. The interior basket is brushed stainless steel. It was so gritty when I first opened the package that I (and many others) thought it was aluminum. I scrubbed it a few times and it is much smoother now. The interior of the unit also has a large nut in the bottom that makes it more difficult to clean.
Hamilton Beach.... it seems heavier, a bit more difficult to handle. The interior basket is stainless steel as is the post going up the center. There is no nut in this model, so it is easier to clean the parts of this percolator.

In the end, I liked both models equally well. Both brew delicious tasting coffee. When you consider the cost savings of these percolators versus things like the Keurig, it is much more economical to buy one of these every few years. More importantly, I prefer the coffee I get from my percolator much more than any cup of coffee I've ever had brewed in a Keurig or other style of coffeepot.

Aah - back to simplicity! I have never found a coffee maker with a separate carafe where the carafe doesn't drip when pouring. One doesn't have this problem with a good old fashioned percolator. Yes, there will be residue at the bottom of the pot but this has always been the case in my experience over many years. Still makes a great cup of coffee, easy to use, good buy. Cord is short which irritates me to no end, but that seems to be an issue with all appliances in my experience. I attribute that to too many lawyers and too litigious a country. I do recommend if you want a cup of coffee fast and efficiently without hassle.

I absolutely love this perculator. NO more Bunns Mr Coffee Proctor Silex My coffee just did not taste good I cleaned my pot. It was not HOT. Maybe the industrial type differently made. I decided it was time for a change as I am avid addicted coffee lover. I don'te want creme and sugar not big on flavored ocffee. I decided on the Presto as I have other presto products. I am so happy at last I have good hot some black coffee. good to the last dropl I know you say not 5 stars. well my biggest con is that I have to wait about 10 minutes in the morning for my coffee to really perk buy definatly worth the wait. I also use the disc filters ewith it to keep grounds from falling through. I am happy now I have my wonderful coffee pot. In fact I think it just stopped perking so time for a cup. If you love coffee like me It is the bomb.

I've just used this once and, admittedly, didn't want to spend a lot of money on a percolator. The coffee was delicious. It IS a very basic percolator: there's no water level indicator on the side; no glass top to see it bubbling. There are volume marks inside, but they are almost invisible to middle-aged eyes. A light goes on when it is finished percolating. It is VERY lightweight. I do think it is a bargain for the price (approximately $39.00). It arrived promptly. I purchased it based on the fact that it was they highest rated percolator on Amazon.

It is ok, but I think that they have metal on the inside and not stainless steel, so the coffee does have a back taste. I owned another one that I bought a couple of years ago and it made good coffee. I do use it, but not often.

I'd really love to give this coffee pot a great review. But it continues to make it difficult because its moody. SOMEtimes it makes a great pot of coffee, and at other times the coffee comes out pitifully weak. I have said to myself, "Maybe you didn't sit the stick in the cradle correctly." So I am now steadfast about how I put the stick in the cradle at the bottom of the pot. But its not like there are many options where this is concerned and I continue to waste coffee insisting on pouring out full pots to re-do in order to get the pot I'd like. Like I said, its moody. But cute.And it has made me cut down on my consumption. Now I'm going to see if that second try came out right. I THINK I smell something, which is a good sign.

i loved this item after I got it....the size is perfect for me and my husband...recently in the past 6 months I noticed the coffee was weak....so I just increased the amount I put in....some days it was fine and then it was weak again....its been a little over a year so there is no mfgr warranty anymore.... I am purchasing a different brand this time and if there is an additional warranty I will take it....for the most part it made great coffee

It's nice to be able to make coffee without touching any plastic. This coffee maker does it and at a quite reasonable price. It is called 6-cup percolator, which means you can brew about 3 cups. That's fewer than I need, but since it would cool off if you let it stand in the can, I'm not sure if the larger model would have been better for me. You have to watch out not to burn yourself when you've just made the coffee, so a better thermal design of the product would have been preferable.Preparing coffee is a bit of a chore compared to a conventional coffee maker. So I won't throw my old machine away and will probably use both of them, each at their appropriate time.

I bought this percolator because of the reviews. Unfortunately it is very small. 6 cups it leaves grounds so I only make 4 cups at a time. The ground basket is very tiny and you will need smaller fingers to manage the filter in it. I do like the taste of the coffee. It is very hot and it doesn't seem to cause the coffee any bitterness if left - but then again it is small - 4 cups or actually 2 mug fulls. If I had the option I would return it and get a larger size.

I think I read every review on this product and its 12-cup cousin before buying it, hoping to find a fast, easy coffeemaker that was better than my mid-range drip machine and not as silty as french press. Love french press, but mostly I just want coffee that's like what I get at Peet's that I can set up to let run and have it stay warm for a bit, without spending $300 on the Mochamaster.I tried an old, stovetop percolator and could not get the temperature right to get the water just hot enough to perk but not too hot. Ugh - it always ended up as an experiment to see what I'd end up with when really, I just wanted some fricken coffee without the pioneer-days-level of effort.So, I bought the wee little Presto and most of the time, it seems to work OK. I read a review about seating the rod properly in the well and if you don't do that, it doesn't work as well, and maybe that's my problem because it seems like half the time I get bold, rich, properly brewed coffee and the other half of the time it's weak, barely brewed coffee, which results in me pouring most of it into a measuring cup, then pouring that back over the grounds to get the taste & strength I'm looking for. I've no idea what's happening in there to get the weak results - would love to know if anyone else has experienced this and if you found a way to fix it (or if that's just how it's gonna be).It seems to really have a problem brewing 6 cups properly - never comes out as it should, it's always weak - but it seems to handle 4 cups OK. Maybe the water just isn't saturating all the grounds when brewing 6 cups? I've not dug around in them to find out, but also shouldn't have to. It should just work.Also, I've had it maybe a couple of months now and the plug that goes into the pot is cracked. Definitely cheap materials there. And as another reviewer mentioned, the cord is rather short.It's OK for what it is - a cheap percolator that seems to work well some of the time, but I'm getting tired of setting it up to make coffee then wondering if it's really going to do its job properly or if I'm going to have to help it out.Once I've got some excess cash, I'm gonna try the Mochamaster. I feel like at some point, I just have to know what that's like.

This thing doesn't last very long because after a while water starts to rust the metal electrical connectors on the bottom, the plastic encasement of the electrical connectors chips off, and the unit malfunctions. It has several parts to it (the stick thing, the disc thing, the basket, the lid) which must be assembled to make the coffee. And sometimes if you don't set the stick thing exactly in the bottom in the middle of the carafe, it comes out as just hot water instead of coffee (but that's rare). I like it because it's all stainless steel --no plastic, no aluminum, so your coffee is not contaminated. I just wish it lasted longer. They need to design it so the electrical connector is protected from water damage. The way it is now is rather dangerous. This morning there were sparks coming from the electrical connector as I was fidgeting with it to try to get it to work.

Bought this 3 years ago and waiting for it to go down. No corrosion like in other complaints. My biggest complaint is no matter what type of filter I use I get coffee grounds in my coffee!! The use of the filters lessen the grounds but still get them. My husband thought if we weighted down the top with a couple of small metal bolts before putting the lid on that would help. Guess what? It did! But you shouldn't have to do that to get a good cup of groundless coffee!. So I am just waiting for this coffee pot to die (because I am frugal) before i buy a DIFFERENT one.

Awesome coffee maker but lasted only 2 years. I purchased this item in February 2015. I have loved it. Makes great tasting coffee. Nice and hot and for some reason the coffee did not taste "burnt" after several hours of sitting in the pot. Unfortunately the plug that attaches to the coffee maker and the prongs it connects too rusted somewhat. The prongs are not supposed to be immersed in water (which I didn't do) but its impossible to keep them dry with each wash. Anyway one day the pot perked but no water made it to the coffee holder. It happened several more times over the next few days and then it died completely. I dont think 2 years of use covered what I paid for the percolator. The percolator I had before this lasted 15 years. Great coffee while it lasted.

I have pretty high standards for my coffee, and after using a French press for many years, the taste of coffee coming from this percolator seems quite metallic, especially after sitting for a few minutes. I find it entirely undrinkable if it is kept "piping hot" for an hour or more (there's no way to control the temperature -- the heat is on or off). Still, the device is right for certain circumstances. It can be set up to be ready to go the night before, so an early rising guest can just plug it in. But I certainly won't be using it every day.

Makes excellent coffee, though I do add more than is recommended as I like my coffee rich. I used the 5 little filters it came with. When they ran out I just use the regular drip coffee filterers (8-12 cup size) and cut a tiny hole in the bottom. Occasionally there have been coffee grounds in the bottom so I simply do not drink the very last of the coffee.

Edit: Well it has been exactly 2 years that i have been using this (actually) with time off for using my Nespresso machine) and the Presto is almost at its end of use. The cord seems to have worn out; I need to jiggle it to get the machine to work. I paid a fairly high price for this; I see it is now offered at a significant lower price. I am going to search other brands before re-ordering this as it should have lasted more than 2 years.

Mine was a terrible experience with this percolator. The 6-cup Presto is a cute little pot but it provided only equally small performance in brewing a cup of coffee.I've used many percolators over the years and I ended up returning this one for a refund.No matter how much coffee I put into the aluminum basket, the percolator would never brew anything more than a weak-looking brew akin to a glass of iced tea.I contacted Presto and they politely tried to help me with suggestions of how to properly use their percolator. I dutifully responded to their suggestions. Eventually, they sent me a return ticket but informed me that getting a repair or replacement would probably take a month. Good grief.Thankfully, I had purchased this item from Amazon. I contacted them and they immediately authorized a return/refund.I then ordered a replacement percolator from Amazon made by Farberware. Having received the Farberware, I can say WOW!! The Farberware is a much nicer and infinitely better performer than the Presto. Both the Farberware and the Presto are made in China but the Farberware is visibly a much higher-quality item than the skinny little Presto. All of the internal parts of the Farberware are made from stainless steel instead of mill-finished aluminum like the cheap little Presto.From my first brewed cup in the Farberware, I got a perfect cup of coffee that was MUCH hotter than the cheap little Presto pot ever provided.Yes, the Farberware was a little bit more expensive than the Presto but having a decently-brewed cup of coffee is more than worth the added cost.The Farberware advertises that it brews cups at 25 degrees higher than other percolators. I believe it. It's wonderful.Avoid the Presto and get a Farberware. Oh, the Farberware also has a lifetime warranty too !.

It brewed too fast and produced less than tastey coffee for me. The product is well built and had no other flaws that I can see. this is good for people that enjoy weak coffee, i just prefer strong coffee.

Purchased in June 2015, made one pot five days a week. Yesterday it just made warm water. An appliance should last more than 7 months. Made great coffee up until that point, but now Into the dumpster with it.

Good coffee, but only it worked about 6 weeks before it started making weak coffee. I think the temperature sensor/ shut off switch failed. Warranty was very inconvenient. Amazon did not cover it. Presto wants me to pay shipping to and from their facility for inspection. That will cost more than it is worth. I could not find replacement parts. I would not recommend this. I had similar problem with the Farberware, at least they had replacement parts available if you have the inclination to self repair. I like perked coffee so I am going to try a stovetop unit, no parts to fail.

I have been using a nice french press and an AeroPress to make coffee, and after I tried a some coffee at a friend's house made with a percolator, I decided to give this a shot. The brew time is roughly comparable to the time I spend with the french press, but frankly the coffee tastes way worse. It is weak and does not have any fullness to it. It is nowhere near as nice as a cup made with the AeroPress.I had also purchased this in order to have the option to make more coffee than fits in my standard french press, but this does not seem like a full 6 cup coffee maker to me. It might brew slightly more than my 4 cup french press, but not significantly. I might try another brand and see if that manages to duplicate the coffee I had at my friend's house, but for the moment I am sticking to the french press.

I like the fast speed and the great taste of the coffee it brews but I have purchased two of these in the past. They lasted less then two years. I took them apart and it appears water/moisture leaks in and the electrical connections rust out and no longer heat the element. They both had the red lens for the on indication fall out. I think that's where water gets in before the lens falls out.

This pot worked fine for a little over a year, but then the cord was loose where it connected to the pot. We got a replacement cord, but that one was worse; it smelled of electrical burning while brewing, so we unplugged right after it was done. (So much for hot coffee all day!) The "Care and Cleaning" section of the manual says that after using, one should "Unplug cord from electrical outlet and then remove from coffee maker." I contacted customer service, even though we were past the warranty period, and received this response, "Make sure you plug the cord in all the way and if you don't need to remove the cord, don't." We're moving on to a new machine!

the coffee pot stopped working today after 8 months. I do not consider $38 "throw away". very disappointed in the product.an update.... the company replaced the coffee maker. what they found was the electrical part was rusted. I was told do not immerse the pot in water. who does that? I explained to them that I never have, never was the outside, BUT it is inevitable that some water will get on the outside of the pot from rinsing the inside and just from hands while holding it. I believe in is a flaw in design. the replacement one is doing the same thing... it you shake it, a bit of water will come out of the black area where the electric parts are. I have an electric coffee pot years ago that never had this problem... then again I have just had a coffee travel mug, brand new, that leaked. unfortunately, everything seems to be made now as if it is throwaway after a few months.I appreciate the company replacing it(I had to pay the $12 shipping for the return) but again, the replacement one is doing no better and it will just be a matter of months before it is thrown away.

I purchased this coffee maker July 16th 2013 based on the positive feedback and thought I was set for years of good gava, but in less than a few months the connection to the cord started corroding, I like this coffee maker so I bought a new cord (2 over a period of 1 year) but eventually (yesterday to be precise) the connection totally overheated.

I never write reviews but I was just checking to see how long I've owned this and realized it's been less than a year. My recommendation to anyone buying this product -look for reviewers who have owned this for more than a year. Right out of the box, it was fantastic. Worked like a dream, great tasting coffee. Then, we started having problems with the grounds occasionally getting into the coffee - even though we didn't change a thing. OK, so I could deal with it. But then it became grounds almost every day - and then grounds every day - and then lots of grounds every day. It appears that when it's percolating, it gets one or 2 REALLY strong percs that blow the lid of the basket right off....then grounds everywhere in the coffee. OK, I could solve that problem easily enough. I bought the wrap-around percolator basket filters. Kinda bites because I always liked the "ease of use" of a percolator, never needed filters in other units, and the filters are a pain in the butt extra step. But OK fine, the coffee still tastes great and no more grounds. I can live with it. And now, 2 months after the "coffee filter" solution, it has sprung a leak. At the base of the spout. Seriously. Same deal...a little bit of coffee on the counter, then a little more, and then a whole cup. Solution: we put a bead of crazy glue along the outside seam of the spout. Seems to be holding up now, but as my husband says - we use a percolator so we aren't drinking coffee made in plastic parts. And now our coffee is made in parts being held together by chemicals! But...the coffee still tastes great. I can't wait for my next coffee-making adventure. By the way - I bought this in May, 2014.

UPDATE: Just read that the well for the percolator is actually made of aluminum. this tipped the scales for me, and now I am returning it. and subtracting an additional star.---most of the reviews here are focused on a) the taste of the coffee, b) its relative functionality compared to other percolators, and c) the fact that it has no aluminum/plastic. i bought this first and foremost because it has no aluminum or plastic. but is convenience also a factor naturally. taste only matters insofar as it is at least as good as drip coffee.i am thrilled that i have an all stainless steel coffee maker, and it does make at least drip quality coffee (if it makes better coffee than drip coffee makers, then it is lost on me [im no coffee connieseur]).where this loses points is on convenience. it is less convenient than drip coffee for sure:1) the base is not detachable. this would have made it super easy to lift the pot for easy filling, dishwashing etc. This is also annoying when cleaning it as the base has exposed parts that are sensitive to water which could cause electrical malfunction. so not only is it annoying it is slightly dangerous! minus 0.5 star2) there is no on off switch! the only way to turn it off is by unplugging the darn thing! what the hark! a simple on/off switch would make it so much easier to quickly turn it on or off rather than awkwardly searching for the plug to remove from the outlet, or from the back of the percolator. For me, I had my drip coffee brewer at a high location on a stationary service cart, and the plug reached all the way down back to wall outlet. That set up was not feasible with this percolator, and therefore showed a painful lack of versatility integrating with how my kitchen was set up. minus 1 star.3) the lid is a pain to remove; you have to pull with a bit of force, and then it will suddenly release in dramatic fashion. Additionally, the container for the grounds is sitting on a spring inside the pot, and is pressed down by the lid. So when you remove the lid (suddenly, as i mentioned), the brew container pops up and results in a little spill of coffee grounds. minus 0.5 stars4) it is awkwardly tall, and is a bit top-heavy post-brew. in a normal coffee maker, the coffee grounds are separate from the coffee which is in a pot that you can conveniently remove from the rest of the apparatus to pour your coffee. but with this, the grounds remain in the top of the pot as you pour and it has a little bit of an awkward hold to it. Additionally, the height of this makes it a little to reach down the center to clean all the corners of the pot. minus 0.25 stars (not a *big* deal, but certainly a notable annoyance)anyways, its may be worth the 40 bux i spent on the used amazonwarehouse version, esp since i wont be drinking plastic anymore... but at the same time they havent perfected its convenience to make it suitable for anyone to seamlessly replace drip coffee. buy this if you are ready to deal with some moderate annoyances in making your coffee every day. however, i believe one of these days a new more convenient percolator will come out and i will be ready to buy that when that happens!

I bought this after going to my aunts and tasting her peculator coffee (not sure the maker). I was disappointed because the coffee tasted watery. It was less flavorful than my drip coffee maker. I tried two coffee brands just to make sure it wasn't a bad coffee. I tried one drip grade grind and the other perc grad grind. I didn't notice a difference in taste both were watery. I tried both with and without the filters, no difference. I tried to follow the instuctions and even watched a Youtube video to ensure I was prepping the coffee correctly.I used it everyday for a week... all watery. I returned it for the Faberware and there is a world of difference. The tube sits nicely in the whole on the Faberwae unit whereas in the Presto it wobbled and perhaps got misaligned(?). I'm not sure if that matter. There is a possibility that I bought a lemon. But the Faberware coffee tastes 100% better. There was not second guessing on if I was using it correctly based on its superior taste.There are aspects of the presto that I like such as the sturdy handle and top. The coffee was piping hot. The chord is longer than Faberware's cord and Presto has a small orange light that goes off when the coffee is ready. But these niceties are not enough to make me suffer through gross, sub par coffee.

I washed out with warm soapy water as directed. I heated my first pot of coffee and it had no smell, way to hot to drink, and when it did finally get to a temperature that would not scald my tongue had a metallic taste. I had to throw it out and put this in the closet. I am still concerned that I drank some sort of metal. Do not buy.

I bought this November 1, 2016 and it's already leaking all over the place. Also, it doesn't make 6 cups, it makes 4 cups -- assuming you use a normal coffee mug.

The pot stopped percolating in less than 10 months. I contacted presto about warranty. 3 days and 4 emails later they advised I will have to return the pot to them and pay for the shipping. I really don't even want it fixed. I've decided to buy a larger one from Farberware.

I have been a satisfied user of Prestos 12 cup coffee percolator for decades; so when I needed to purchase this smaller cup model I figured it was a no brainer. Unfortunately; I was wrong. It was the smaller verion; absolutely. And it was perfect For making smaller amounts as I had planned. However, what I did not plan on was finding that the coffee maker had changed the composition of the metal lock nut down inside the vessel; and therein lies the reason for the poor rating. This important piece which is inside the vessel and which is always in contact with the water and the subsequent coffee you will be making; is not stainless steel but is instead made of some type of inferior metal composition now. Why is this important? Because, when it is heated... It turns black and it discharges some type of residual particulate which continuously contaminates the water inside the vessel. I noticed it the first time I used the coffee maker and rinsed out the contents. There it was, big as life; the metal had begun to turn black in areas and when I wiped the inside dry with a clean cloth to further inspect this; black residue was all over the cloth. I then decided to fill the coffee maker with fresh water and this time not putting any coffee bean grounds inside the vessel as usual. It would just be clear water alone. I plugged it in and it heated the water as usual. When it was finished; I inspected the water. To my horror; there was a residue floating in the water. So, I rinsed it out again, wiped the interior dry and inspected the lick nut and my clean cloth. The locknut was blacker; having turned even more black and there was even more black residue on my cloth. I repeated this five more times. Everytine there was a black residue floating in the clean water after heating and the metal turned blacker. I dont like metal residue in my coffee. And so I emailed the company but never received a reply... As of yet. I wouldnt use this coffee maker again. Something has changed in the metal used for the vessel and its inferior and concerning... So beware.

*****Dont buy it if you don't like rust in your coffee. We've had this for 2.5 years now and there is a rust layer in the bottom where the stem sits. This is very disappointing as I thought I was purchasing something stainless steel. ********We have had this for over a year now and it's still going strong! My husband uses it twice daily and even has made tea in it. I can't complain because it takes up less space then our old coffee maker. I only wish it didn't stain!

I am so upset with this purchase. I have used a Farberware percolater for many years which i've had to replace twice due to weak tasting coffee. I purchased this one due to good reviews, etc and because i personally enjoy percolated coffee. I have only used this machine about 10 times since receiving it and almost every time the coffee has been awful. The first time i brewed it was delicious. Thereafter it wasnt as good but the past 2 days i have had to remake the coffee 2-3 times in the morning to get it to brew properly. And it has nothing to do with the amount of coffee grinds i am using. The instruction booklet notes that the percolator tube must be sitting properly for it to not taste weak. This machine is poorly designed in the the tube does not sit in the hole - it gently lays on top and only by being held with your hand. there is no control over getting it "just right" therefore the coffee is a hit or miss every time. And mostly miss. I am very very upset because i assumed it would work fine and got rid of its original packaging box and now I am stuck with it and am unable to return.

We bought the insurance coverage for this after reading the reviews, however it does us no good because the cord is the problem which is not covered. It never worked right from the beginning, and less than a year old it is Done. Not worth it- they don't make them like they use to- and this aint Costco either.

Buyer Beware. I have had to purchase a new Presto Peculator every 1.5 years. I don't want to use a coffee maker with plastic, so I have "bit the bullet" and spent the money. Being stainless steel is the only thing that is right about this coffee maker. This time, the peculator stopped working properly after 6 months. The company customer service is not the easiest to work with so know that from the start. Their warranty states that you have to pay to send back the unit and that they will look at it and ship you a new one. I shouldn't have to spend more money after only having it for 6 months. I will never, ever buy this product again. I am not sure why or how amazon always gives it such high ratings. Please think carefully about this purchase.

This appliance quit this a.m. It was purchased in June of 2014. The A.C. receptacle on the pot itself has failed. The a.c. cord and receptacle began loosening up about 5 months ago. It would work again after it was jiggled around so we never pursued the warranty repair. Today the customer service person refused to honor the warranty which should be retroactive to when the trouble began. This product had a service life of 14 months and a warranty of 12 months. Of course this cord problem is a safety issue also but Presto doesn't seem to care. The coffee it made was just fine and we would still be using it if it weren't so shoddily built.

The nut that secures the heating element is made from aluminum. Other reviewers have stated the heating element is aluminum as well.Some reviewers have commented this coffee pot lends a metallic taste to the coffee. I too found the coffee to have a strange taste which got worse over time.After discovering the nut corroding at the bottom of the pot, I called the manufacturer. The manufacturer confirmed via email the nut was made from aluminum.See attached photo depicting the corroded aluminum nut at the bottom of the pot.

I bought this coffee pot because I wanted a full-bodied, hot cup of coffee that my mom's percolator made years ago. I was sorely disappointed. The stem doesn't fit properly into the hole on the bottom of the pot, so as a result, it hops up and down with each perk, causing the basket to hop as well, and the grinds go all over and fall back into the coffee. I tried using the filters that completely encase the grinds, but that still produced grinds in the coffee, and the coffee produced was weak and tasteless. I am very upset that I spent so much on a coffee pot that doesn't do what it is supposed to do. I like that it is stainless steel and looks nice, but that is about it. I tried using different filters and different coffee grinds, thinking that I would give it a fair try, and now I can't even return it because it is past the 30 day return policy, so I'm stuck with it. I decided to write this review, so that others would be warned not to buy it. If you want a great cup of coffee, don't buy this coffee maker.

The percolator always made weaker coffee than I wanted, but the coffee made grew progressively weaker. After buying it in March, by September it was making tea water with 6 cups of water and 12 scoops of coffee. Not worth it unless you want a hot water heater.