Coffee Percolators - How Much Coffee?

We frequently get asked how much coffee should be used in a coffee percolator, like those we rent through Party Production Rentals. Here are some simple tips on using a coffee percolator.

Use “Regular/Electric Perk” ground coffee or "Coffee Ground for All Coffeemakers" for best results. DO NOT USE DRIP OR FINELY GROUND COFFEE as flooding of the basket can occur. There are some coffees that state they can be used for both drip and perk coffee makers, however through our testing it was found that this is ground too fine and can cause flooding of the percolator style coffee makers.

As a guideline, I generally recommend 1 heaping tablespoon per cup of coffee you make. This will give you a nice, rich cup of coffee. If you prefer weaker coffee, use a little less. I also found the chart below, which simplifies measurement of grounds. Use standard measuring cups ( as used to measure flour, sugar, etc.) to measure the coffee. The amounts of coffee below will brew mild to medium strength coffee which most people prefer. The amount of coffee can be adjusted to suit personal preference. As a guide, there are about 5 cups of coffee to a pound (16 ounces).

• 12 - 18 Cups Coffee = 1 - 1 1/4 Cups Grounds
• 20 - 25 Cups Coffee = 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 Cups Grounds
• 28 - 36 Cups Coffee = 1 1/2 - 2 Cups Grounds
• 40 - 45 Cups Coffee = 2 - 2 1/2 Cups Grounds
• 50 - 60 Cups Coffee = 3 - 4 Cups Grounds
• 70 - 80 Cups Coffee = 4 1/2 - 5 Cups Grounds
• 90 - 100 Cups Coffee = 5 1/2 - 6 1/4 Cups Grounds

For a more detailed article on using a percolator, click here.