Presto 02811 Stainless Steel Electric Coffee Percolator - 12-Cups, Easy-Pour Spout, Stay-Cool Handle, Make 2-12 Cups

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…..

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!!!