Percolators are professional coffee preparation appliances for large-volume coffee in cafés, hotels, conference centres, canteens and other HoReCa businesses across Europe, where hot coffee needs to be readily available for a large number of people. A percolator differs from an espresso machine or an automatic coffee machine — it circulates water through the coffee grounds to prepare a large volume of filtered or American-style coffee, which is kept hot and ready for serving. Percolators are a popular solution for buffet breakfasts, seminar coffee breaks and event catering, where simple and reliable coffee preparation for a large number of guests is required. BHS offers percolators as part of the beverage equipment range, including flasks and other appliances for HoReCa businesses.
BHS specialists help choose the most suitable percolator based on volume and daily coffee consumption needs. Also explore thermos flasks with tap, water heaters and electric kettles.
Percolators are an effective solution for providing large coffee capacity in HoReCa businesses, where simplicity, reliability and large volume are more important than espresso precision. The coffee prepared by a percolator is suitable for buffet formats, seminar coffee breaks and all situations where a large amount of hot coffee is needed quickly.
Percolator operating principle and advantages
A percolator prepares coffee by circulating hot water through the coffee grounds repeatedly or once, depending on the model type. Simple operation — a percolator requires minimal maintenance and training compared to more complex coffee machines. Large single-batch capacity — one cycle prepares a large volume of coffee (depending on the model, 1–30 litres or more), which is ideal for coffee breaks with many participants. Integrated heat retention system keeps the prepared coffee hot after brewing. Easy cleaning — the percolator has no complex mechanisms, making daily hygiene maintenance easier. Cost-effective — a percolator is a cost-efficient solution for large coffee capacity. Also explore thermos flasks with tap and the flasks range.
Where to use a percolator
Percolators are suitable for various HoReCa and event catering contexts. Conference centre or seminar room — a percolator for coffee breaks with 20–100+ participants, providing readily available hot coffee without continuous staff presence. Hotel buffet breakfasts — a percolator as a standard element for preparing regular coffee alongside an espresso machine for a complete coffee offering. Catering company — a percolator as a mobile, high-capacity coffee preparation solution for off-site organised events. Office kitchen with a large number of employees — a percolator as an efficient daily coffee preparation solution for a large group. Banquet hall or wedding venue — a percolator for coffee service between meals and for guests.
Hygiene and maintenance
Regular cleaning of a percolator is essential for HoReCa businesses providing coffee service. Coffee oils and residues accumulate in the tank and pipes, affecting the coffee’s taste and creating a risk of bacterial growth. Daily cleaning with water and regular cleaning with specialised coffee appliance cleaning agents maintain the percolator’s cleanliness and coffee quality. Stainless steel inner tank — a hygienic and easy-to-clean material. Regular maintenance ensures the percolator’s longevity and consistent coffee quality. Also explore water heaters.
HoReCa usage scenarios
International seminar or conference with 50+ participants — a percolator for daily coffee breaks provides large coffee capacity with minimal staff involvement and simple operation. Hotel buffet breakfasts with a large number of guests — a percolator, alongside an espresso machine, provides a filtered coffee option for guests who prefer traditional coffee. Corporate event or wedding banquet coffee corner — a percolator as a compact and reliable coffee preparation element for events with many guests.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a percolator and an espresso machine? A percolator prepares a large volume of filtered coffee in a simple process — an espresso machine prepares concentrated espresso under high pressure. A percolator is more suitable for high-capacity buffet coffee needs. Contact the BHS team. Also explore the flasks range.
What capacities are BHS percolators available in? BHS offers percolators in various capacities — contact the BHS team for specific models. Also explore electric kettles.
Why choose BHS?
BHS – Baltic HoReCa Solutions supplies professional equipment for restaurants, cafés, hotels and canteens: more than 20,000 products from many manufacturers. Our specialists help you choose the right equipment and spare parts for your kitchen or bar.
Delivery
We deliver across the European Union. Delivery time and cost depend on the order volume and destination — contact the BHS team for an exact price and lead time.