West Bend Classic 12-Cup Percolator vs Presto 02822 6-Cup Electric Coffee Maker

Buy the West Bend Classic if you regularly brew for a crowd or want cordless tabletop serving; buy the Presto 02822 if you usually make a few cups and want a smaller, simpler pot. Both are stainless steel electric percolators with automatic keep-warm and a ready light, so the real split is capacity and footprint. The West Bend's 12-cup rating comes from a much larger pool of owners and sits at a solid 4.4; the Presto's 4.9 comes from far fewer ratings, so treat it as promising but thin. Neither is a drip machine, so expect percolator-style coffee that some drinkers find stronger and less smooth.

• Choose the West Bend Classic if you brew for family, guests or a whole pot at once and want to carry the pot to the table without the cord.
• Choose the Presto 02822 if you make two to six cups at a time and want a compact pot that is easy to store and clean.