For more than a century, Coleman (the company, not the man) has been a well-known, heaven-sent business with a thick catalogue of products that have made life a pleasure for most individuals.
This fact is particularly true for coffee lovers who tend to be the outdoorsy type. This is due to the fact that the Coleman 12 Cup Stainless Steel Percolator can be used in the comfort of an individual’s home as well as in the rugged, unforgiving outdoors.
In fact, other than the Stanley Adventure 6-Cup, I must admit that am yet to discover a coffee percolator that can make a positive impact on any of my camping experiences like the Coleman 12 Cup Stainless Steel Percolator.
In this review, I will tell you exactly why this unit is a must-have for those who to take part in different types of outdoor experiences as well as for the simple home-body who enjoys having a perfect cup of Joe every now and then.
Not only is the Coleman 12 cup durable and really easy to use, it also has a large brewing capacity which is enough to easily sort out your entire camping gang’s (or any company you may have in your home) coffee craving within a matter of minutes!
If your are push for time and want a closer look at this unit, click HERE to go to Amazon.com or click banner below.
The Coleman 12 Cup Stainless Steel Percolator Review
Contents
Sturdy and Durable Construction
Going for approximately $35, one can be WRONGLY led to assume that the Coleman 12 Cup is constructed from a cheap metal alloy or aluminum (which has been associated with the development of numerous health conditions).
This unit is actually completely constructed from tough, and I mean heavy grade, stainless steel. It contains no plastic part which means that you do not need to worry about issues relating to toxic seepage from hot plastic parts (away with the BPA Health risks!).
Also, stainless steel is perhaps one of the most chemically inert metals and won’t react to chemicals that you would normally find in any kitchen, or to the rough outdoor elements.
As such, the unit can tolerate rain, mud, and dust that are typical outdoor elements that typically cause stuff to rust (so yes, the unit is rust-free).
If you have super energetic kids running around your house, the fact that the Coleman 12 Cup is made out of steel will ensure that the unit’s pot won’t destroy easily when it is knocked off the kitchen counter.
An additional feature that makes the unit even sturdier is that it is designed with seams (in contrast to other models which are typically molded from one part) that securely fit together
Large Pot = Augmented Brew Volume
According to the unit’s manufacturer, the unit can brew up to 12 cups at a time. I put this fact to the test and you can imagine my surprise when I found out that when I filled the pot well, the unit brewed coffee that actually amounted to approximately 14, not 12, cups of coffee.
With this in mind, I must note that I have found no other coffee percolator that can brew more coffee than what the manufacturer advertises.
Equipped with a Glass (NOT PLASTIC) Dome
The unit’s top is fitted with a glass dome which is supposed to allow a brewer to see the color of the coffee the unit is brewing.
This feature is great when it comes to gauging the strength of the brew throughout the unit’s percolating cycle thus; allowing you to choose when to stop the brewing process when you think the coffee has reached your desired strength by simply removing the unit from the heat source.
Remember, a darker colored brew is a great indicator of rich, strong coffee). It is very important to note that this part is very easy to break so crucial care should be taken when handling it because it is designed in a way that makes you think you can just grab it without causing any damage to it (trust me, I will not make that mistake again!).
Coleman Provides FREE REPLACEMENTS for Broken/ Cracked Glass Domes
It seems like the designers at Coleman were clearly aware of the fact that the unit’s glass dome is super fragile (and is bound to break or crack accidentally or as a result of user error) and thus, offer replacements at no extra charge !
As an advisory note, I would recommend that you request for the glass dome replacements (which typically come in two’s) as soon as you receive your unit just to be on the safe side.
This way, even if your unit’s glass dome cracks or breaks, you can continue to use the unit to make your morning brew as you wait for another replacement to arrive.
Customer Opinion
A vast majority of customer reviews rate the unit with 5-stars. Nevertheless, there are several 4, 3, 2, and 1-star ratings. Below is a summary of both the good and bad points as noted by both lovers and critics of the Coleman 12 Cup Percolator.
The Good
– Made out of Stainless Steel (making the unit’s pot durable, rust-free, and thus, safe to use in the rough outdoors)
– Can brew up to 14 cups of rich java (in spite of the manufacturer indicating that it can make up to 12 cups)
– Consistent brew quality as the unit has no taste-altering plastic components or paper filters (this specific fact actually works to save you money in the long run)
– Manufacturer provides free replacements for broken or cracked glass domes
The Bad
– The main issue the unit has been criticized for is the fragility of the glass dome
– The unit’s handle is slightly uncomfortable to hold and is further not equipped with safety/ cool touch features (which means you need to be careful when removing it from the heat source)
N.B. Since the main problem associated with the Coleman 12 Cup is that of its glass dome cracking or breaking, I thought it would be best to impart a little knowledge on how to preserve it.
Needless to say, you must READ THE INSTRUCTIONS that comes with the unit’s purchase!
The manufacturer’s instructions clearly state that you shouldn’t screw on the unit’s glass dome too tightly as both the metal and glass will expand when placed on a heat source. Tighten these two parts together just barely enough to make sure that it won’t make annoying rattling noises as it percolates.
Final Verdict
Seeing as the main issue with the unit is the easy to break glass dome (a disadvantage that can be easily rectified via free replacement and proper care/handling) and the uncomfortable handle grip, the various advantageous features of the Coleman 12 Cup Stainless Steel Percolator far outweigh these two minor issues and make the unit a worthy purchase.
In this review, you were told exactly why this unit is a must-have for those who to take part in different types of outdoor experiences as well as for the simple home-body who enjoys having a perfect cup of Joe every now and then.
Click HERE to check out the Coleman 12 Cup Stainless Steel Percolator at Amazon.com as well as the numerous conveniences the unit will offer when it comes to making your outdoor experience a java blast for you and your mates!