Review: Primula percolator (6 cup)

Why choose Primula Percolator 6-cup (PES-3306) over other percolators?

When I first saw Primula PES-3306 6-cup percolator, I was thinking whether it was somewhat related to Bialetti Moka Espresso Makers. Though I was not correct, I was mesmerized by Primula percolator’s price: it sells for low $.

This aluminium coffee pot is unique in several ways:

• Extremely affordable
• Lightweight and compact
• Seems to be of better quality than cheaper versions of Moka percolators

Who is Primula percolator 6-cup perfect for?

This exact aluminium coffee pot made by Primula can a decent choice to save some money while still being able to brew fine espressos. Here are some other reasons why I’d recommend it:

✓ Very, very affordable

✓ Easy and fast to use

✓ Brews for 1-2 people at a time

✓ Compact and lightweight

✓ No electricity needed (suitable for camping)

Who is Primula 6-cup percolator NOT perfect for?

Just like with other percolators, I would love to remain honest in this Primula Percolator (6-cup) review. I think that there are a couple of examples where where this product might not be a perfect choice:

✗ Need time to learn brewing in percolator

✗ Not compatible with induction stovetops

✗ Not dishwasher safe

✗ It looks and feels a bit cheaper than Bialetti

✗ Made in China

✗ Manual coffee brewing

Primula Percolator 6-cup (PES-3306) Review and Evaluation 🕵️

→ Appearance

The Primula PES-3306 percolator comes in three different colors: aluminium, black and red. The color option is a unique feature and helps in fitting it in color-themed kitchens. All the colors are very bright and attractive. This aluminium coffee pot really has a nice shiny exterior and also an interior finish.

The design is somewhat modern and stylish, with an aluminium body. Primula says the handle and knobs are made of heat resistant plastic. I, unfortunately, managed to melt this heat resistant plastic from high heat. It was an accident, but my Primula’s plastic was not heat resistant.

As far as shape is concerned, it has the classic octagon design, but it’s slightly different from the classic aluminium Moka pots, which have sharp angles. Primula percolator does not have sharp edges (they are more round).

Overall, Primula percolator is smaller and lighter than a 6-cup Bialetti Moka Express. It is about 8 inches tall (vs 9 inches for Moka), and 1.5 pounds (vs about 2 pounds for Moka). The differences are not massive, and both units are visually appealing.

→ Features and technical specs

Voltage: No electricity is required. I’ve used my Farberware 6-cup percolator on an electric coil stove top. It is suitable for glass, ceramic and gas stove tops, as well. Interestingly, there were warnings not to use it on induction stove tops.

Beverage size: This Primula percolator 6-cup (PES-3306) brewed about 6 cups of concentrated coffee. These 6 cups are espresso cups, which are about 1.5 ounces each. While it is possible to brew smaller amounts, I would personally not recommend it. A balance between amount of water and coffee grounds needs to be found.

What I usually do is fill the whole unit up, and then dispense it into 2 normal sized coffee cups (filling each up about ½ to ⅔ of the way) and then top it off with some milk for a nice, strong and delicious cup of coffee.

Weight: The whole unit weighs about 1.4 pounds. Due to a difference in design and construction, this is slightly less than Bialetti Moka Express (6 cup). Just like with Bialetti, I was able to carry this unit with me on outdoor trips and to work.

Unit size: This aluminium percolator measures about 5.5 x 4.25 x 8 inches in size. It does not take up much space in my kitchen. I’d say it is quite practical (much smaller than a french press, Keurig or electronic espresso maker). Further, it fits into my backpack quite well, so I can enjoy some coffee while on the outdoor trips.

Carafe: The carafe was aluminium. I personally did not like it very much. During the first couple of times, I felt like coffee had an aluminium aftertaste.

For the most part, I had no problems pouring coffee from the carafe. I occasionally spilled coffee due to the spout issues. Bearing this in mind, I try to pour coffee into my cup over the sink.

Additional perks: Primula percolator is a simple aluminium coffee pot. It does provide flexibility and ownership in coffee brewing. I was able to brew good coffee with it.

✓I liked that Primula percolator mimicked Bialetti Moka Express percolators in design. Though I had some difficulty in assembling the unit, I was very familiar with what the appliance was supposed to do.

✓Because of the low price, I did not hesitate to use primula aluminium percolator on camping trips and at work. Even if I damaged it, I was alright with $12 going into waste.

However, I was not a fan of the handle and I wish the manufacturer made it sturdier. For instance, I read that the handle was heat resistant, yet mine melted down under heat. Just like Moka Express, it is not stainless steel. Though both are aluminium, I feel like Moka Express is made with better and higher quality materials.

→ Performance

Brewing time: The primula PES-3306 6 cup percolator brews coffee in about 6-10 minutes. While I realize that this range is rather large, the brewing time depends on a lot of factors, such as amount of heat, water and coffee grounds.

Based on my multiple trials and errors, I’d say the key is to find a happy balance of low to medium heat.

Flavor: As I experienced first hand, my unit of Primula percolator 6-cup PES-3306 brewed coffee with aluminium flavor in the first 5-6 attempts. I later read that most aluminium percolators and coffee brewers yield slightly bitter aluminium aftertaste in the first 5-10 brewings. After this, this unpleasant flavor should go away.

Besides this, I use moderately ground coffee, in order not to clog the appliance. Large and coarse grinds typically result in a cup of weak, thin coffee. I personally recommend buying coffee beans and grinding them fresh daily or every other day for the best, strongest, and freshest cafe con leche experience.

What comes out (if prepared correctly) can be strong and great-tasting coffee (espresso-like). By adding milk, syrup or ice the taste can get even better. To make it the best I also recommend filling up the filter basket fully with grounded coffee and the water reservoir also with water. The brewing time (if cold water is used) should be around 5 minutes (3 minutes with hot water).

Temperature: Because I had flexibility over the brewing process, I was able to reach perfect brewing temperatures. I always make sure to use low heat when using my aluminium Primula pot. I have a gas stove and I heat the coffee on low or medium-low until I see coffee in the upper chamber. As soon as that happens, I turn the heat even lower (to low or super low) to get a slow boil and extraction of coffee grounds.

Noise levels: When you think about a percolator, you think about Bialetti Moka express famous brewing noises. Similarly, Primula percolator yields similar, though not quite the same, sounds and noises. There’s this sizzling/bubbling noise when coffee coffee is about ready. It is important to listen to the sound though. If left on high temperature after it’s finished, coffee can get burnt.

Cleaning: Primula provides specific instructions on how to properly take care of this appliance. I found the appliance to be rather easy to clean, and the process was similar to Moka Express. I had to disassemble the unit, remove the funnel from the lower chamber, and detach a filter plate with a rubber wash. I washed it with a soft sponge in warm to hot water. I further allowed each part to dry thoroughly. It appears that using soap or medium-to-hard sponges are not recommended. The unit does not appear to be dishwasher safe.

Customer-reported technical issues

Customer-reported complaints indicate that Primula percolator may not be of the same quality as Bialetti Moka Express 6-cup or 3-cup percolators. There is a large number of user complaints, which have to do with, among others, the following:

• The knob getting loose – difficult to tighten it again
• Leaking gasket (this could be because of an inappropriate use though)
• Broken/melted handles
• Staining on the inside

I personally experienced 3 issues with the product:

• My handle melted down due to heat
• Coffee brewed in this percolator had an aluminium flavor in the first several brewings
• the pot developed this greyish sheen after a couple of uses, which was difficult to get rid of

→ Health and safety

Primula percolator 6-cup PES-3306 unit is made mostly with aluminium. Besides the plastic handle, there does not appear to be much plastic.

The health effects of exposure to aluminium are still being researched. There have been conflicting results (e.g. some individuals have been found to suffer from Alzheimer’s diseases, while others not, but it has not been conclusively found that aluminium was the cause).

Though Primula claims that the plastic is heat resistant, this was not the case with my unit. The plastic handle melted down.

For my own safety, I was very careful not to touch the container when it was still hot. Though the handle was supposed to be safe and heat resistant, I also proceeded with caution.

→ Price to value: is Primula percolator 6-cup PES-3306 worth the money?

The primula percolator sells at a very low $-price point. For this price, I did not expect an amazing quality of Bialetti Moka Express. I found the price-to-value ratio to be very sensible. Primula percolator is reliable and delivers coffee that I enjoy most of the time. It might not be as nice as a $200 espresso maker but it does the trick.

Should I buy Primula Percolator 6-cup? Owly’s verdict! 🔨

This primula aluminium coffee pot is a very nice pot, with an eye-catching finish and design. It worked well for me for the most part (with the exception for aluminium flavor and a melted handle). It was easy to use, and brewed good coffee. The quality was not premium by any chance, and I could tell that Primula percolator looked rather cheap.

Do you like your Primula 6-cup percolator? Did you enjoy our Primula PES-3306 review? Let us know in the comments!