Don't throw out that old percolator yet! Historically, the percolator is outdated and was replaced with modern drip coffee makers, expresso machines and the French press. However, that somewhat old-fashioned percolator, still makes amazing fresh brewed coffee.

The percolator has been around for many years here in America. Most historical records show, that the first percolator was invented in 1818, by a man named Laurens, a Parisian metal smith.

In 1840, James Napier of England, created the vacuum pot, which consisted of two glass globes. Water in the lower globe would boil and vapor was forced into the upper globe, where the coffee was brewed. When the pot was removed from the heat, the lower globe would cool, creating a vacuum, pulling the brewed coffee down.

In America, early frontiersmen and settlers made coffee by placing coffee in boiling water. Then, they waited for the grounds to settle to the bottom to drink it. Some would put coffee grounds in a cloth sack, before placing in the boiling water. Often today, we refer to the percolator as the "Cowboy" pot, due to it's popularity in the early days of our country.

On Dec 26, 1865, James H Mason patented the first coffee percolator in the United States. The percolator, as we know it, is filled with the desired amount of water. Then, a corresponding amount of coffee grounds is placed in the coffee filter/basket. The pot is then placed over a source of heat. The hot water rises up through a central tube and infuses the coffee grounds, located above in a metal basket, then filters back down through the filter/basket. The coffee continues to cycle until it reaches the desired strength.

Over the years, the coffee pot was revised and perfected by many manufacturers. In 1972, the "Mr. Coffee" machine was the first home drip coffeemaker introduced. It was designed by Vince Marotta. After Joe DiMaggio became the spokesperson for the Mr. Coffee Company, the Mr. Coffee machine became the best selling model in the United States. It wasn't long before percolators were replaced by automatic drip coffee makers.

Occasionally, the percolator or "Cowboy" pot is still used today, due to the unique quality and flavor of the coffee. Because percolators are convenient and lightweight, they are especially popular with campers, hunters and fisherman. In the outdoors, they enjoy fresh brewed coffee the old fashioned way!

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