Fill the bottom chamber with cold water up to the fill line. Add coarsely ground coffee to the basket, about 1 tablespoon per cup. Assemble the percolator, place it on your heat source over medium heat and watch the top. Once coffee starts bubbling through, drop the heat to medium-low and percolate for 7 to 10 minutes. Pull it off the heat, wait one minute for the grounds to settle, then pour.
A percolator works by cycling hot water repeatedly through ground coffee to extract a bold, full-bodied brew. Cold water sits in the bottom chamber. As it heats, it travels up a hollow stem and showers down over the coffee grounds in the basket above. Gravity pulls the brewed coffee back down, and the cycle repeats continuously until you remove the percolator from heat. The COLETTI Bozeman has a glass viewing knob at the top so you can watch this process in real time and pull the pot at exactly the right strength.
Yes. COLETTI percolators are made from 18/8 food-grade stainless steel. The same grade used in commercial kitchens and surgical instruments. There is no plastic and no aluminum in any component that contacts the coffee. This means no plastic taste, no leaching, and no parts that warp from heat over time. The 18/8 designation refers to the chromium and nickel content, which gives the steel its corrosion resistance and durability over an open campfire or any other heat source.
Yes. The COLETTI Bozeman is built from 18/8 food-grade stainless steel and works directly over an open campfire, gas stove, electric stove, and glass-ceramic cooktop. The hardwood handle stays cool enough to grip without a pot holder even after extended campfire use. The all-stainless construction means no warping, no hot spots, and no materials that affect the taste of the coffee at campfire temperatures. Note: the standard Bozeman Stainless does not work on induction cooktops. For Induction use, see the Bozeman Induction Percolator.
The COLETTI Bozeman Stainless Steel percolator does not work on induction cooktops. For induction compatibility, COLETTI makes the Bozeman Induction Percolator, which is built for induction stoves while using the same 18/8 stainless steel construction with no plastic or aluminum. The stovetop Bozeman works on gas, electric coil, glass-ceramic, and open campfire heat sources.
A percolator cycles hot water through the grounds multiple times, producing a bolder, fuller-bodied, and hotter cup than a drip machine. A drip coffee maker passes water through the grounds once, which produces a lighter, cleaner cup. Stovetop percolators require no paper filters, no electricity, and no plastic components in quality models like the COLETTI Bozeman. Drip machines are simpler to automate with timers. If you want bold, hot coffee that works anywhere including over a campfire, a percolator is the better choice. If you prefer a lighter, more delicate cup and want a programmable machine for home use, a drip maker suits you better
7 to 10 minutes over medium-low heat is the sweet spot for most percolators. Less than 7 minutes produces weak, under-extracted coffee. More than 10 minutes turns it bitter. Watch for a steady, gentle bubble cycling through the top. A violent boil means your heat is too high.
Watch the glass viewing knob at the top of the Bozeman. A slow, steady percolation cycle -- roughly one bubble per second means the coffee is extracting correctly. When the liquid in the knob turns from pale to a medium amber color, the coffee is ready. Remove from heat at this point and let it rest for 60 seconds before pouring. If the knob shows rapid boiling or very dark liquid, your heat is too high or you have percolated too long. Reduce heat and watch more closely on the next brew.
Coarse grind, similar to what you would use for a French press. Fine or medium grinds pass through the basket filter and make the coffee murky and over-extracted. If you are buying pre-ground, look for "percolator grind" or "coarse grind" on the label.
For the 9-cup Bozeman, use 9 tablespoons of coarsely ground coffee for a standard brew. For a stronger cup, increase to 11 to 13 tablespoons. One percolator 'cup' equals 5 oz, so the 9-cup Bozeman makes 45 oz of coffee total. For the 6-cup Bozeman, use 6 tablespoons (30 oz total). For the 12-cup, use 12 tablespoons (60 oz total). Adjust to your taste after the first batch -- if it is too weak, add more coffee next time rather than percolating longer, which causes bitterness.
Start with 1 tablespoon of coarsely ground coffee per cup of water. For a stronger brew, increase to 1.5 tablespoons per cup. Adjust based on your taste after the first batch.
Yes. Percolators are designed to brew without paper filters. The metal basket holds the grounds and the stem filters the coffee as it cycles through. The COLETTI Bozeman includes a pack of medical-grade filters as a bonus, which catch any finely ground sediment for an even cleaner cup, but they are not required for operation. If you use a coarse grind as recommended, the Bozeman brews a clean cup without any filter at all. The included filters are particularly useful if you prefer a finer grind or want a completely sediment-free result.
Yes. A stovetop percolator is one of the best coffee makers for camping because it requires no electricity, no paper filters, and works directly over an open campfire or camp stove. A quality stainless steel percolator like the COLETTI Bozeman brews 9 cups at once, handles campfire temperatures without warping or affecting the taste of the coffee, and cleans up with a quick rinse. For group camping in particular, no other coffee method matches the combination of volume, simplicity, and coffee quality that a percolator delivers. The Bozeman is also compact enough to fit in most camp kitchen bags.
Rinse all parts with warm water after each use. Disassemble the basket, stem, and lid for a thorough rinse. COLETTI percolators are dishwasher safe on the top rack. For a deeper clean, COLETTI makes a coffee pot cleaner designed specifically for percolators. Drop a tablet in, run a cycle, rinse, and it is ready to go. For mineral buildup from hard water, equal parts water and white vinegar works too. Run it through a percolate cycle, discard, then rinse twice with clean water.
Yes, typically. Percolators recirculate hot water through the grounds multiple times, producing a bolder, fuller-bodied cup than a standard drip machine. If you prefer a lighter brew, use less coffee or reduce the percolation time slightly.
The two most common causes are heat that is too high or percolating too long. Keep the heat at medium-low once brewing starts and remove from heat between 7 and 10 minutes. Using fine ground coffee instead of coarse grind also causes bitterness.
Yes. All COLETTI percolators come with a 1-year warranty. If your percolator fails within the coverage period under normal use, COLETTI will replace it. COLETTI is a veteran-owned company and stands behind every product it makes. To make a warranty claim, contact the COLETTI support team at support@coletticoffee.com with your order number and shipping address. The team will arrange a replacement immediately.
