In the 1950s, the West Bend percolator was a kitchen must-have, cranking out hot, strong coffee with its sturdy stainless steel build. It was easy to use, looked great on the counter, and made sure every cup packed a punch.
Honestly, perked coffee should make a comeback—there’s something about that rich, bold flavor you don’t get from modern machines! Read on to find out how to perk coffee.
I love how the aroma of coffee drifted through my house
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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 that 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 was considered high-tech sometime during the 1950s. 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.
Table of contents
Perculator Highlights
- Introduced in 1950 as an automatic electric version of the Flavo-Perk model.
- Available in stylish colors like pink, blue, and copper, making it a standout in mid-century kitchens.
- Percolates coffee by cycling hot water through the grounds multiple times, creating a bold, full-bodied flavor.
- Made with durable stainless steel for long-lasting use.
- Designed for easy brewing—just add water and coffee, and the percolator does the rest.
- Produces hotter coffee than many modern drip machines.
- A classic brewing method that many coffee lovers believe should make a comeback!
As soon as I got my percolator home, I had to try it out. 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 the way the aroma of coffee drifted through my house; it had such a calming effect on 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, which seems pricey for that era. However, I bet they were the rage at that time. A coffee pot to “brighten your table.”
I have this exact pot, and it was my great-grandmother’s. I use it for holidays only and feel like she is with us ❤️
~ Jess
How To Make Percolator Coffee
Prepare the Percolator – Make sure the percolator is clean, then remove the basket and stem.
Insert the stem – Place the stem inside the coffee pot. This is what holds the coffee basket.
Add the coffee – Use coarsely ground coffee (a finer grind can clog the filter). A good starting point is one tablespoon per cup of water—adjust to taste.
Cover the coffee basket with the lid – this just sits on top of the basket.
Cover with the lid and plug it in – The Flavo-Matic is electric, so just plug it in, and it will start percolating automatically. You’ll hear it bubbling as it brews!
Perking – Now enjoy the aroma of fresh, perked coffee.
The percolator will stop brewing once the coffee reaches the right strength, usually in 7-10 minutes. Some models have a light that indicates when it’s ready.
Serve – When your coffee is ready, serve and enjoy. Pour your fresh, hot coffee and enjoy the classic percolated flavor.
Brew the coffee a little stronger by using less water, then use it to make my homemade vanilla latte.
Cleanup– Unplug the percolator, let it cool, then rinse the basket, stem, and inside of the pot to keep it brewing smoothly.
I get asked if you can still find these vintage percolators, and you can. I bought another percolator from eBay, just like my original one. I occasionally look to see what is available, and they still show up.
If you can’t find a vintage percolator, try a new model and see why I love perked coffee so much. Try this 6-cup percolator; it will perk some great coffee.
FAQ’s
Use your favorite coffee, but make sure it is medium- or coarse-ground.
Yes, leaving the percolator on keeps the coffee hot.
What to Serve with a Freshly Perked Cup
There’s nothing like a hot cup of perked coffee paired with something sweet. Try it with a slice of chocolate cake fresh from the oven, buttery orange scones, or a classic piece of apple pie. And you can bet the coffee pot is on whenever I bake a batch of these cinnamon madeleine cakes.
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Recipe
Vintage West Bend Flavo-Matic Percolator in Pink
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 cups water
- ¾ cup Coarse ground coffee 1 1/2 ounces
Instructions
- Remove the basket and stem from the perculatort and make sure your coffee pot is clean inside.
- Fill the pot with water. There should be markings on the side of the pot, mine has two. One for a full pot using 6 cups of water and one for a half pot with 3 cups of water.
- Replace the stem and the basket in the coffee pot.
- Add the desired amount of coffee. I use ¾ cups for a full pot, or ⅜ cups (6 tablespoons) for half a pot.Of course, you can adjust the amount of coffee you perfer for taste.
- Please the cover over the coffee basket, place the lid on the perculator, plug it in and let the coffee perk for 7-10 minutes.
Notes
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Nutrition
First published Dec. 27, 2018, updated Feb. 6, 2025 for better readability.
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Hello there, I’m Jere’
From learning to cook on a farm in Indiana to culinary school in California, my passion for food is never-ending. Turning on my oven to bake something for friends and family is my happy place, and I am glad to be here at One Hot Oven® sharing sweet and savory family-friendly recipes for your cooking and baking inspiration.
