Last updated : February 2021.
I have been writing about coffee brewing as well as the top coffee percolator picks for quite some time now BUT I am yet to offer my two cents on which stainless steel electric coffee percolator is best. That’s all about to change in this 3-way comparison review article !
Hamilton Beach 40616
Farberware FCP412
Just for you (my fellow coffee loving aficionados), I will delve deep into the main features of the Hamilton Beach 40616 (click HERE to check out its full review), Farberware FCP412 (click HERE to check out its full review), and the West Bend 54519 (click HERE to check out its full review) stainless steel electric percolators in order to help you figure out which of these units will best suit your needs.
Searching for the Best Stainless Steel Electric Percolator ?
Contents
N.B. If you are not searching for the best stainless steel electric percolator and prefer a stovetop option, click HERE to check out the Farberware Classic Stainless Steel Yosemite 8-Cup coffee percolator review.
This unit happens to be my second top pick (the first being the Stanley Adventure 6-Cup when camping is involved. (Click HERE to check out a side by side comparison of the two units in the article “Farberware Yosemite 8-Cup vs. Stanley Adventure 6-Cup: Which is the Best Camping Coffee Percolator?”).
To create this article, I first decided to come up with the few key features that only the best stainless steel electric percolators would be equipped with.
1 – The Unit
Ought to be constructed (at least all the components that come directly into contact with the brew) from pure stainless steel. In this regard, most individuals are unaware that although many percolator brands/ models claim to have a stainless steel construction, some tend to have water wells, filter baskets, and a few other brewing components that are actually constructed from aluminium.
The main problems with aluminium is that it tends to alter the taste of a brew (it makes a brew taste of metal) and the resulting brew has been associated with the infiltration of BPA (a toxin that has been linked to the development of various health concerns!)
2 – Power Cord Features
(is it long, short, detachable?) Here, I took into account how each power cord feature would affect portability, the serving process, and the unit’s storage.
3 – Safety
(in terms of handling and serving) Features.
4 – Auto- shut off and Keep Warm Features
Comparison Review Based on the Selection Criteria
– Construction
When it comes to their advertised unit construction, all three stainless steel electric percolators boast of being constructed from the durable, sturdy material. However, are they all truly stainless steel constructions?
In this category, the Hamilton Beach 40616 clearly takes the cake as it is completely (and I mean entirely) made out of stainless steel. Luckily, the same applies to the West Bend 54519. However, the Farberware FCP280 is dishonestly advertised to be a stainless steel electric percolator since its water well is actually made out of aluminium.
– Power Cord Features
In terms of length, all three units have a short power cord. Although this may seem slightly disadvantageous for some people, the length is actually justifiable (well, at least according to their manufacturers). In this sense, the main reason for the short power cords is to reduce the risk that is related to power cord entanglement, that is, tripping over lengthy cords can create situations that can be extremely risky especially for individuals who have children running all over the house at any given time.
However, I must mention that you can always opt to purchase a longer power supply cord so long as it fits the specifications of the one supplied by the manufacturer. As for the additional power cord aspects, the Farberware FCP280, West Bend 54159, and the Hamilton Beach 40616 percolators all feature a detachable cord to allow for easy serving.
All equals in this category!
– Safety Features
When considering the units’ serving safety features, the Hamilton Beach 40616’s and the West Bend 54159’s spouts are particularly designed to prevent spillage and dripping. Also, the Hamilton Beach 40616 features a unique twist lock lid which precisely locks the perk pot’s lid in place to prevent any spillage during the percolating process.
This feature is great when it comes to serving as you will not have to worry about holding the lid in place when pouring out the pot’s last few millilitres of coffee. This is great for people who tend to be clumsy every now and then.
However, the same cannot be said of the Farberware FCP280. Why? Well, (having the unit’s hefty price in mind) the unit simply lacks a precision pour spout so you will have to be ready to wipe away some spillages if you are not careful when serving up your fresh brew.
– Technological Brewing Features
Although potholders and hot pads function perfectly to prevent you from scalding yourself when carrying hot items around the kitchen, we can all agree that they can be a little bulky when it comes to carrying a percolator to the table for serving. Luckily, the Hamilton Beach 40616 is fitted with a heat resistant handle that works perfectly to prevent scalding burns.
The unit is also equipped with automatic shut off as well as keep warm technology. These two tech features offer those with little time to spare in the morning with peace of mind since they are assured that the unit won’t reach its dry-boil limit. The same applies to the West Bend 54519 (which is great!)
However, the Farberware FCP280 doesn’t make the cut here as it lacks most of these techy features (what a downer eh?).
Final Verdict
Considering all the above-mentioned selection criteria, my top stainless steel electric percolator pick is the Hamilton Beach Stainless-Steel 12-Cup Electric Percolator (Model No: 40616). Adding on to the already mentioned beneficial features, this perk pot’s extra-large brewing capacity produces a total of 12 cups which is great for serving a whole party of visitors (or serving an entire family and leave a little to spare).
The very same feature also makes the Hamilton Beach 40616 a perfect item to add to any business kitchen/ coffee station.
Of course (and as mentioned earlier), if you are not searching for the best stainless steel electric percolator and prefer a stovetop option, click HERE to check out the Farberware Classic Stainless Steel Yosemite 8-Cup coffee percolator review.