This post is not about whether coffee is good for you. If you’ve landed here, I assume you’re a coffee drinker, just like me.

Actually, I lead a very healthy lifestyle. (This is a natural health blog.) I don’t smoke and I don’t eat junk food. Most of my meals are made from scratch, using organic meat and produce. I get a moderate amount of exercise. I avoid chemical cleaning solutions. Instead, I use DIY cleaners made from essential oils.

Coffee is my one vice. But I make it in a non-toxic coffee pot. At least I thought I had been doing that. (Read my important update below.)

Or, I use a French press, made from glass and stainless steel. It has plastic handles. But that don’t come in contact with the coffee. Plastic is something I don’t want to drink. If plastic is exposed to hot water there’s the possibility of leaching. That’s why I don’t use drip coffee makers with plastic parts. Nor do I own one of those fancy machines with little plastic disposable cups filled with coffee.

Stainless Steel Coffee Maker No Plastic

Important Update: I love my coffee. I thought we were making it with a non-toxic percolator. That’s because the product description clearly stated the “inner fixtures” were made from stainless steel, “rather than the more common (and less durable) aluminum.”

However, I need to thank one of my readers for telling me that all wasn’t well with the Presto Perk, the coffee maker we own. (Very soon it’s going in the recycle bin.) This observant reader noticed a product description in a local brick and mortar store. It said the Perk contained aluminum.

Non Toxic Stainless Steel Coffee Pots

A call to the company confirmed this was correct. For years, I’d been drinking coffee that came into contact with aluminum. This toxic heavy metal has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease and kidney problems. Even worse, I’d been recommending this coffee maker to my readers. After all, I was using it myself.

The good news is that the Perk doesn’t contain plastic. But it contains aluminum. There’s a little well in the bottom with aluminum. And it comes in contact with your java. I feel like I’ve been taken for a ride. I also sincerely apologize to my readers for inadvertently misleading them.

Where To Find a Non Toxic Coffee Maker

(This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase anything, I receive a referral fee, at no extra cost to you.)

So, how do I make my morning cup of strong black coffee?

Remember in the 1960s, when you wanted coffee, you had to wait for it to percolate? Well, guess what? Percolated coffee is back. Except you won’t to wait too long for that strong cup of java. That’s because you can now find electric coffee percolators that make steaming hot coffee quickly.

We own a Presto Perk Stainless Steel Coffee Maker. (But not for long.) In the next week or so I’ll be shopping for a new non-toxic coffee maker. (This time for real.) I’ll tell you what I bought. I’ll also call the manufacturer just to make sure.

Meanwhile, I won’t have to suffer. I can still have my morning coffee. Until I get a new percolator, we can make it in our non-toxic French press.

Presto Stainless Maker

Many health conscious coffee drinkers are turning to stainless steel coffee makers. Glass French presses are also popular. Stainless steel is considered a better choice than plastic.So is glass. Coffee is very caustic. So it can potentially pull chemicals out of plastic. Same with aluminum.

I mistakenly used my Presto coffee maker thinking that it was aluminum free. That meant it had no parts on the inside that contained aluminum. Sometimes I’d even let coffee cool in the Perk and heat it up later. I hate to even think about that now, since it has an aluminum well at the bottom. Needless to say I cannot recommend this brand to my readers.

Coffee Maker Without Aluminum

I also don’t want to drink coffee that may contain aluminum. So I will be looking for a new percolator without aluminum. This is a heavy metal that has been associated with a variety of serious or degenerative diseases, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease.

Aluminum is widely present in the environment. But it has no function in the human body. We don’t need aluminum like we need iron or trace amounts of copper.

I remember my grandparents brewing coffee in a stove top aluminum percolator. However, most people nowadays don’t buy aluminum coffee pots unless they are planning to take a lightweight model on a camping trip. (A better option is a stainless steel coffee pot designed for camping.)

Using a Non Plastic Coffee Maker

Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the dangers of plastic, especially in the kitchen. Coffee and plastic are an especially bad mix. That’s because of the highly acidic and caustic nature of coffee.

This is especially true when the coffee is piping hot. That’s when it’s much more likely to draw toxins out of the materials it comes into contact with.

Much has been written about one chemical, in particular. Bisphenol A is found in many plastic. This compound has been found to cause early puberty in laboratory mice, probably because it mimics estrogen.

Is There BPA in Keurig Cups?

Federal health officials in the United States have differing opinions on the potential hazards of BPA. The FDA has ruled that it is safe, as it’s now being used. However, the National Institutes of Health has issued various warnings, and has advised consumers to limit their exposure and to store food in glass or stainless steel, rather than in plastic containers.

Although many people are now aware of the possible dangers of BPA, some environmental advocates believe all plastic warrants concern, when it comes into contact with something we plan to consume.

From what I can gather, the popular Keurig cups contain no BPA. However, you may want to read this Mother Jones article on polystyrene coffee pods, so you can make your own decision.

(I’ve decided that I’m simply don’t feel comfortable drinking anything made from hot water that comes into contact with plastic.)

Presto Electric Coffee Maker Alternative

The Presto Perk Coffee Maker makes anywhere from 4 to 12 cups at one time. I’m now searching for another brand that does the same. I liked the speed of brewing. It made about one cup a minute. But the aluminum is a deal breaker. I will let my readers know as soon as I find a new coffee maker.

Many serious coffee drinkers prefer the taste of percolated coffee. That’s because the water has more contact with the grounds, resulting in a richer taste. Before the advent of automatic drip coffee makers, people used to percolate coffee for at least 10 minutes for a full, deeper flavor. I find the flavor of perked coffee far superior to drip coffee.

Presto Coffee Maker Review

At this point I just have to say don’t buy one. The representative I spoke with said the company should update the product description. I hope they hurry. If you purchase a stainless steel

Presto Coffee Maker Filters

Another area of concern are coffee filters.  You need them for the Perk. I suspect you need them for other types of percolators as well.

We went through great pains to purchase a non-toxic coffee percolator. Or so we thought. So it made sense to use only an unbleached filter when we use a percolator. We buy these at the grocery store. But you can also order them online.

Non Toxic French Press

We also own a French press coffee maker. (Just like the one you can see in the picture on the top of this post.) Sometimes my husband likes to use the French press, instead of using the percolator. This is a good option if just one or two people will be drinking coffee. Our French press makes enough coffee to fill two medium–sized mugs.

Like the Presto Perk, our French press is made from glass and stainless steel. There is a plastic base and handle. But it doesn’t touch the coffee. Using a French press is very easy. You put ground coffee in the bottom and pour boiling water over it. Then you let it sit for about 10 minutes, before pressing. This involves using a plunger device that comes with the press, which separates the grounds from the coffee.

A French press would also be an excellent choice for camping or vacationing. It doesn’t need electricity. Just boiling water.