PERCOLATOR

A type of coffee brewer where water is “percolated” through a mass of ground coffee to extract the flavour. Was much in use in mid-19th century US. Often associated with bad coffee, percolators can actually produce a good flavored brew when using good coffee and the equipment is kept clean. Still the best way to produce a large quantity of coffee at once, hence their use (usually as large urns) in hotels and catering.