Last summer we got tons of advice on the lake ontario message board about brewing with a stainless perc. It is simple, relatively breakproof, and rinses clean.
1. Use good water. Bottled or filtered. Good water means good coffee.
2. Grind you own beans, and leave them rough ground. Grind it too fine and you''ll get grounds in your mug.
3. 1 spoon to 1 cup of water. (We use tablespoons, but we like strong coffee as well.)
4. Put on the burner until it starts to perc, then give it 6-8 minutes on LOW heat, (just enough to keep perking). High heat will burn the bottom.
It sounds more complicated than it is. (Like explaining sailing to a powerboater.) It does make great coffee, with only one item placed on a gimbaled
stove, versus, the Frech press which can slide off the counter, or an electric device which robs your batteries.
Like sailing, skill makes it better.