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Farberware Stainless Steel Percolators
I used to have a Keurig coffee maker. It was so easy to put in a k-cup pod and make coffee conveniently and fast. However, I realized that I was brewing hot coffee in plastic. Hot temperature, acidic coffee liquid, plastic parts are not a good combination together. The plastic parts may leach harmful chemicals into the coffee while coffee is being brewed. I didn’t like the idea of hot liquids touching plastic parts in both the Keurig coffee maker and also in the k-cup pod. As soon as I realized I should avoid coffee touching plastic parts in a coffee maker, I started to research for a non toxic coffee maker. While I was researching for a non toxic coffee maker for my past post, ‘Plastic-Free, Non Toxic Coffee Maker – Coffee Makers Without Plastic‘, I found a stainless steel percolator, Presto Stainless Steel Coffee Maker. I loved the percolator. It made good coffee and it was easy to use. The reason I chose the Presto stainless steel percolator because it was made with stainless steel. It had a stainless steel interior and it also had stainless steel on the outside. It was great until a few of my readers inquired about the Presto stainless steel percolator having an aluminum heating element exposed to coffee in the interior of the percolator. Later, I found that the small well (heating element) which comes in contact with the liquid was made of aluminum. Acidic coffee liquid and aluminum are not a good combination. I didn’t want the coffee liquid to be exposed to aluminum. I was surprised because I thought the Presto percolator was made of stainless steel (interior and exterior). The interior was made of stainless steel except the small well located inside of the percolator was made of aluminum. Therefore, I started looking for a coffee maker that doesn’t have water coming in contact with an aluminum heating element. I didn’t want to get a French press or glass pour over coffee maker. I like a percolator as a coffee maker. I just wanted to find another percolator that had an all stainless steel interior. Luckily, one of the percolators I found previously had an all stainless steel interior. That percolator is the Farberware Stainless Steel Percolator. In this post, I share with you what I found with the Farberware Stainless Steel Percolator and how it has been for me using it as my every day coffee maker.
Aluminum In A Coffee Maker
Aluminum is a great heat conductor. It heats up quickly and transfer heat very well. For this reason, stainless cookware usually has an aluminum layer between stainless steel layers (at least in the bottom of the a pot or a pan) as part of its construction. Stainless steel is not a good heat conductor. Therefore, the stainless steel percolators typically have an aluminum heating element located in the base of the percolator to heat up water. That is all good. However, aluminum is a reactive metal which means it can interact with certain foods or liquids. When it is exposed to acidity, it can leach aluminum into the food and liquid. Coffee is considered to be acidic.
On the other hand, the amount of aluminum being leached from a coffee pot seems to be small. One study measured the amount of aluminum leached form aluminum moka pot when coffee was brewed. In the study, drinking a mixture of apple juice and mineral water in an aluminum bottle exceeded the total weekly intake (TWI) for adults by 86.6% whereas aluminum moka pot resulted in a 4% excess of the total weekly intake. The study does not recommend using acidic beverages such as apple juice with mineral water or tea in aluminum drinking bottles. However, the study mentioned that the amount of aluminum leached from the moka pot was small.
Health Effects of Aluminum
So it looks like a percolator with a small aluminum part exposed to water may not release a lot of aluminum. However, there is always a possibility that small amounts of aluminum can leach from the percolator. Then is aluminum harmful? Afterall, some experts say aluminum is linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers found elevated levels of aluminum in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. However, some experts say it is not clear if aluminum has any association with Alzheimer’s disease. This is an controversial issue. According to International Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, aluminum can enter the bloodstream and enter the brain through blood. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry also say that exposure to aluminum can lead to bone disease, decreased functions of the central nervous system and Alzheimer’s disease. Some scientists associate over exposure of aluminum to Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, breast cancer, central nervous system disorders, bone disease and learning difficulties. The World Health Organization limits the acceptable dose of aluminum per day. We may consume aluminum from drinking water, food, cookware, deodorants, food packaging, aluminum foil and many more. In one study, migration of aluminum to food from camping dishes and utensils made of aluminum exceeded aluminum limits for a child and an adult. Preparation of a fish dish with a marinade containing lemon juice in camping dishes resulted in the total weekly intake limit by 871% for a child and 187% for an adult over a period of one week. Aluminum intake of an individual can come from numerous things and they can add up and accumulate. Most of aluminum leaves the body but small amounts can accumulate in the lungs, spleen, skeleton, kidneys, parathyroid glands and thyroid. Therefore, if you can avoid aluminum intake by choosing a different material, that can add up too. Aluminum released from one coffee maker may not lead to immediate negative health effects but by avoiding aluminum material whenever possible, you can avoid adding your aluminum intake overall.
Farberware Stainless Steel Percolator Materials
Presto stainless steel percolator had been a great coffee maker for my husband and me. We loved it! However, I personally made a decision to get a percolator with no aluminum exposure to water. So then, what materials is the Farberware Stainless Steel Percolator made of? Does it have aluminum parts exposed to water? Any plastic parts? Let’s take a look!
Non Toxic Stainless Steel Percolator – Farberware Stainless Steel Percolator has a stainless steel exterior and interior.
Farberware Stainless Steel Percolator has a stainless steel interior and exterior. It does have some plastic parts. The plastic parts include the handle for the lid, the handle for the percolator and also the base of the percolator. The plastic lid knob and the handle for the percolator are located only on the outer part of the lid and percolator. Therefore, there is no plastic parts touching liquid in the interior part of the percolator.
Non Toxic Stainless Steel Percolator – Farber Stainless Steel Percolator knob
Non Toxic Stainless Steel Percolator – Farber Stainless Steel Percolator lid Interior
The Farberware percolator comes with some parts you place inside of the percolator. The parts include a basket for coffee, a basket lid and a tube. They are all made of stainless steel.
Non Toxic Stainless Steel Percolator – Farber Stainless Steel Percolator Parts
Now, below is where Farberware percolator is different from the Presto percolator. The picture below shows the interior of the Farberware percolator. Everything you see inside is made of stainless steel. Farberware percolator’s heating element is made of aluminum, however, it is located in the base of the percolator (underneath of what you see.). The heating element is not exposed, and does not come into contact with water.
In the Presto percolator, the small round well you see in the picture (in the middle) is made of aluminum and it is exposed to water.
Non Toxic Stainless Steel Percolator – Farber Stainless Steel Percolator interior
Farberware Performance
So does the Farberware Stainless Steel Percolator make good coffee? I like the taste of coffee made from my Farberware stainless steel percolator. The Farberware stainless steel percolator makes about one cup of coffee per minute. I have a 12 cup model and I find it quickly makes coffee. It has an automatic keep warm function. The percolator automatically goes in to ‘keep warm’ function right after the coffee is brewed. The power cord is detachable so you can move and pour coffee easily. However, the power cord should be attached to the pot if you want the ‘keep warm’ function to work. I find percolators simple and easy to use. I can keep coffee warm for a while if I want to. I like the taste of coffee made from percolators. Therefore, a percolator is my first choice of coffee makers among a percolator, french press, pour-over-glass coffee maker. I wanted to find a percolator with no aluminum parts exposed to water and this is exactly what I wanted.
Farberware Percolator Sizes
Farberware Percolator comes in 2-4, 8 and 12 cup. Let’s take a look below. My husband and I both drink 2 to 3 cups of coffee every day. For us, the 12 cup size is perfect. We owned the 8 cup when we used to use Presto Percolator and it turned out that the size was too small for us. Therefore, we got the 12 cup for the Farberware Percolator.
Farberware 8 Cup Stainless Steel Percolator
Farberware 12 Cup Stainless Steel Percolator
Farberware 8 Cup Stainless Steel Percolator
Farberware 8 Cup Stainless Steel Percolator
Farberware 2-4 Cup Stainless Steel Percolator
Farberware 2-4 Cup Stainless Steel Percolator
Final Thoughts
I would like to apologize to my readers about stating in my previous post that the Presto Stainless Steel Coffee Maker is made of all stainless steel. I thought it was made of stainless steel in the interior until a few of my readers inquired about the small aluminum part touching liquid in the Presto Stainless Steel Coffee Maker. Don’t get me wrong. The Presto Stainless Steel Coffee Maker makes good coffee and my husband and I loved it. The aluminum part in the interior of Presto Stainless Steel that is in contact with water is very small. It may or may not leach aluminum at very small level. However, my husband and I made a personal decision to avoid our coffee being in contact with any aluminum (whether the part is small or not) so we decide to change our percolator to Farberware Stainless Steel percolator. We wanted a percolator with an all stainless steel interior. We have been quite happy about our new Farberware Stainless Steel percolator ever since. If you are on the lookout for a stainless steel percolator with no aluminum parts exposed to water, the Farberware Stainless Steel Percolator is a great option.
If you want to find out which bottled water brands are safe, please read my post ‘Safe Bottled Water Guide: Which Bottled Water Brands Are Safe?‘
If you are interested in non toxic dinnerware, please read my post, ‘Non Toxic Dinnerware – Which Dinnerware Is Lead-Free?‘
If you are interested in non toxic cookware, please read my post, ‘Non Toxic Cookware Guide – What Is The Healthiest And Safest Cookware?‘
If you are interested in non toxic, solid wood platform bed frames, please read my post ‘Solid Wood Bed Frame – What To Look For When Buying A Solid Wood Platform Bed‘.
If you are interested in organic latex mattress, please read my post, ‘Non Toxic, Organic Mattress – The Best Organic Latex Mattress Brands‘.
For non toxic sofa companies that you can shop from, please read my post, ‘Non Toxic Sofa Guide – Which Sofa Brand Is Non Toxic?‘
First of all great site and content! Question about the Presto coffee maker, it’s advertised as SS, so I’m just wondering as a consumer who always tries to made healthy choices, how would I know that there was a little piece on the coffee maker that was made of aluminum? It is obvious or a slightly different shade? I’m just trying to educate myself so I know what to look out for. Also, what’s your secret for getting to the right person (at the manufacturer) who can answer product questions ? I feel like I always get the customer service rep who knows nothing about the product, or is reading off a tear sheet but is clueless. Thank you!
Hi Aileen,
I think aluminum has a slightly different shade but it is very hard to tell by just looking at it.
With Presto coffee maker, I didn’t know it had an aluminum part exposed to coffee until a few of my readers mentioned to me.
However, later, I was able to confirm the aluminum part with the customer service.
As for the customer service, if they can’t answer my inquires, sometimes, they forward me to the person or department who can answer the questions.
I also inquire or request who I can speak to about the product. Hope this helps!
I am so thankful for your article and research! I, too, have been searching and searching for an electric percolator with no aluminum touching any part of the coffee. I was so excited when I found the Presto, it looked promising, but after a call to customer service they verified that there is the small aluminum part that comes in contact with the coffee. I had just started looking at the Farberware brand, and am so thankful that you’ve already done the digging with their customer service people! I’ve worked hard to eliminate as much exposure to heavy metals as possible, and having it in my coffee was not appealing. We drink a LOT of coffee around here! Many thanks to you!
Thank you! 🙂
Thank You So Much for this information!!!
I have been trying to find a percolator that is ALL stainless steel– i had Presto to because it was advertised as all stainless.. but the bottom “nut” “well” is aluminum– it had changed color (darkened/blackish/not shiny like stainless) after product-recommended cleaning method, snd i called vustomer service snd asked why. Was told it IS aluminum. I was upset because i’m avoiding aluminum purposely, trying to use as safe as possible products.
Thank you for your review explaining that Faberware coffee pot covers the aluminum heating part with stainless so it is not in touch with the coffee!
I have been looking and looking.. Thank You!
brenda
Thank you! I am glad the information was helpful.
I just bought the Farberware Perculator FCP412-12 from walmart copied the link to walmart, know I’m wondering if it will be the same one, I don’t want no aluminum, I’m asking do you think it will be same one?
Hi Pamela,
Sorry for a late reply. If the brand and model number is the same, it should be the same one.