It’s been a sad morning at my house. Almost every Sunday for the last couple of years I have enjoyed an early morning treat. No, not a big stack of pancakes dripping in butter and syrup, although I do enjoy that occasionally; my treat was a simple cup of coffee. What made this coffee so special and the reason my Sunday morning has been so upsetting is my coffee maker died.
You might think in this day and age my coffee maker is some high-tech gadget with a built-in coffee grinder and a charcoal filter to give you that wonderfully smooth cup of coffee, but this coffee maker is pink, it’s quite old, it reminds me of grandma, and it’s a treasure.
I’ve been making coffee in my pink 1950 West Bend, Flavo-Matic percolator which I suspect that sometime during the 1950s was considered high-tech. I found this beauty in an antique shop and had to have it. I didn’t even know if it worked, but it had the original cord so I bought it. How could I resist the pink aluminum pot and the Bakelite handle? My pink percolator has been sitting on my kitchen counter ever since.
I love how the aroma of coffee drifted through my house
As soon as I got my percolator home I just had to try it out and within minutes it was making that wonderful bubbly, hissing sound that I remember from my grandma’s percolator.
What I loved about this percolator is the great coffee it made. I soon became addicted to the smooth taste and how the aroma of coffee drifted through my house; it was such a calming effect for me, like meditation. I would sit at my counter with my cup and coffee pot enjoying the start of my day.
These West Bend Flavo-Matic Coffee Pots were $13.95 in 1951, that seems pricey for that era. However, I bet they were the rage at that time. A coffee pot to “brighten your table.”
I do have a high-tech coffee maker that I use during the week when I need to rush out the door. But, I’m going to miss my Sunday morning coffee ritual. I am now on the lookout for a replacement; maybe I can find one in blue.
Just curious, who out there has ever used one of the coffee pots? Maybe you had one in 1955 or maybe your grandma had a blue one like the one I want.
With love ~
Jere’
Ben
Hey Jere – I just came by one of these. It’s the next version, the “newer one.” I was wondering…. what water/coffee ratio did you settle on? I can experiment… I KNOW… but a good place to start is a good place to start.
Thanks,
b.
Jere Cassidy
Hi Ben,
I am trying to find a gold pot for my daughter, she has fallen in love with perked coffee.
Since I am the only one drinking the coffee I don’t make a full pot which is 8 cups. My pot has marks on the side that say 6 cups and 8 cups. I fill the pot to the 6 cups mark and add a 1/2 cup of coffee. That works for me.
If you are making 8 cups I would probably use 2/3 cup of coffee.
Hope this works for you. Happy perking!!!!
Jere’
Ben
Thanks Jere:)
Keep on perkin’!
ben.
Ben
hey… one more thing… the other percolator I have, is a stove top Worthmore aluminum 6 cup’r but I think 1950’s cups weren’t as big as what I expect today so in my mind it’s a 3 cup max. Anyway…. it’s my new favorite thing. Aluminum with a glass bubble piece. The coffee taste better than French Press. Found on ebay: https://ebay.to/3sBO0rc
Any my electric Westbend is the gold one… also on ebay! – https://ebay.to/2XMRyZt
I love the vintage. I love using the stove top percolator that my grandmother used. It makes me happy AND caffeinated.
ben
Jere Cassidy
Oh, I love that gold pot. I actually replaced my old pink pot and got another pink pot. I actually made a pot of coffee for my daughter who never had perked coffee and she is now a fan, it is just so much better. Thanks so much for sharing your percolator treasure.
Victoria L Enigk
I just dug my old West Bend Flavo Matic out of a box in the basement. It belonged to my grandparents, and we used it when we went camping (in rustic cabins that DID have electricity). Mine is only regular aluminum, not colored, but it still works. I decided this week that I miss the good taste of coffee as I use my modern coffee maker. I want to perc some and see if it’s as good as I remember.
Kasper
I just bought the identical to yours,red one today..i don’t think it was ever used!! My regular perc is a pot bellied GE.. shares duty with my pyrex flameware!
Karen Reeves
I have a blue one I picked up at an estate sale. It’s missing the cord. Is there any place I can buy a new cord for it?
Jose A Torres
I made mine work by opening up the bottom and soldering a cable to it then used resin to waterproof the electric part
Jere Cassidy
Interesting. I should have my husband look at it. Curious, what kind of cable did you use?
Adam Barnes
I recently purchased a rare 1970s corningware 12cup percolator I love that the pot is glass (I can taste aluminum after awhile)
Jere Cassidy
Wow, what a find, plus to have the glass pot too. I was in my teens in the 70’s and remember all the great Corning items for the kitchen. I miss using my percolator. Enjoy your coffee.
Victoria Enigk
I have a 12 cup Corningware Percolator. It’s not electric, it sits atop the stove. Haven’t used it in a while, but it was a wedding gift to us in 1968. Still looks like new on the outside. Inside is stained.
Jere Cassidy
I say put some coffee in that percolator and brew some good coffee. That is amazing your pot still looks new. I also agree with you on the cold old taste of coffee, I miss it too. There is something about the perked coffee that tastes so much better than these quick and easy coffee makers. Enjoy that coffee!
cynthialand
I own ALL THREE (one in each color!)! Love anything old and anodized aluminum! Have you found your replacement yet?
Jere Cassidy
Oh, wow, how did you find all three colors? Are they working? I haven’t found a replacement. It’s funny the pink one I have still sits in my kitchen, not working, just looking pretty.
Cathy
Oh no! I remember my mother having a very similar one and we always made our coffee in it! I hope you find the blue one!
Elizabeth
What a sweet story and gorgeous gadget! Is there no way it can be saved?? I’m so bummed for you that you lost this beautiful antique.
Jillian
It’s always a bit sad when our fun traditions have to change. Hope you find something new you’ll love!
Tracy
Oh my gosh what a sad day!! What an adorable vintage percolator though – I can totally see why you were so sad!
Chef Mireille
how pretty they look in the vintage colors. I would love to have one of these to perk my coffee 🙂
Belinda
I have one just like it. I consider mine red though, even though it could be considered pink. A West Bend flavo Matic. I bought it on eBay because I love everything retro. It came with the original cord and was guaranteed to work and it does. I absolutely love the coffee it makes. The coffee is delicious and as I’m drinking it I sit and wonder who else made coffee out of this Percolator the last 50 or 60 years? Was it somebody famous, was it a neighbor I knew when I was young? Even if it break I’ll keep it as a decoration. And yes, it too reminds me of the kitchen of my mother or grandmother. And makes the house smell wonderful.
OneHotOven
I remember watching an I Love Lucy episode and she had one of these coffee pots. Oh, I bet the red is beautiful.