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Happiness is: A vintage percolator

pam kueber - Updated: June 10, 2009

Retro Renovation stopped publishing in 2021; these stories remain for historical information, as potential continued resources, and for archival purposes.

coffeematic-1959

MONEY can’t buy you love. But it can buy you a percolator full of coffee and that’s darn close enough.

universal-coffeematic-percolator

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  1. sumac sue says

    We use vintage percolators, which we find at garage sales for a few bucks. We currently have two almost identical GE models, with black bases and handles and stainless steel tops. They have a nifty feature on the side that lets you set the strength from “mild” to “strong.” (I’ve never heard anyone refer to “mild” coffee, but I guess that word sounds better than “weak.”)

    I agree with Northside CJ — these pots look great on the counter. Also, the whole sensory experience is better with a percolator — they make a nice bubbly sound, you can watch the coffee splurt up into the little glass bulb on top, the handle is pleasant to hold, and steam from the spout looks cool and has a great aroma.

    We are the only ones among our relatives to use percolators — except for my 96-year-old grandma!

  2. Jeff says

    Nothing beats vintage percolators! I have several, dating to the 40’s, and all work wonderfully well. I have Farberware, Citation by Proctor Silex, Montgomery Ward’s own brand, and others.

    The Citations have glass bodies with etched starbursts, chromed fittings and peach colored bakelite handles and base. Super stylized 50’s!

  3. atomicbowler-laura says

    We have two, a smaller one and a 12-cup!
    David got me into perk coffee and I’ll never go back. We did find a Universal like the one in the pic at one point and booted it on e-bay.
    Melitta makes some neat disc filters to go in the bottom of the basket to keep the grounds out of the coffee, too. Hey-mine’s almost ready now!
    Laura

  4. Patrick Coffey says

    As I type this I am sipping on a cup of coffee made in an earlier version of the Universal CoffeeMatic (circa 1946) and I say that there is no tastier way to make coffee than in an automatic percolator or an automatic vacuum coffee maker…

  5. Northside CJ says

    I have a small collection of vintage G.E. Percolators. One has been in the family since new back in the late 50’s and still works. They make great coffee. I use one every morning. I also think they look better sitting on the counter than the modern coffee maker.

  6. Anita says

    We bought a reproduction one about 7 years ago and used it until it gave out (about 3 years later). I thought it was great but Nathan wasn’t so keen on it…..

  7. sablemable says

    I have a 4 cup Farberware electric perc that I had bought new when Farberware reissued the product about 20 years ago. It makes a very good cup of java and I am fussy about my coffee!

  8. Justin says

    I have a small collection of vintage perculators. In fact I have that one in the ad. That is the one I use every morning to make my coffee. Tastes delicious.