OK, so while we're on the subject, I use a 7 cup aluminum camping percolator, and it makes coffee just fine, as long as you start with -good- coffee (duh!) There's a trick to getting the coffee measurement just right in the basket. It's hard to find them anymore (one here on ebay cheap) http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120588775779&rvr_id =134314852873&crlp=1_263602_263622&UA=L*F%3F&GUID=056d1c3f11e0a09c1446 3006ffcfbe4f&itemid=120588775779&ff4=263602_263622 But 9 cup newer models are plentiful. The downside to the percolator approach that I see is the energy consumption. I use one of those 8000 btu single burner butane stoves and it does OK, bringing a full pot to percolating in about 8-9 minutes. However, then you turn down the heat some and still run the stove to percolate for another 5-10 minutes. So aside from taste, a big advantage to the french presses (or instant) is that you only use energy to boil the water--that's it. It's not so much the cost of the fuel, but if your storage space on your pocket cruiser is limited--especially on longer cruises--then you'll want to make coffee with a press. I only stay on my boat for a night or two so a non issue. I tasted some coffee out of a french press this summer and found there were more grounds in the coffee than I would prefer. I don't know if that's just how it is or if the press was over full or other form of "operator error." One more option is to buy Melitta coffee and get a Melitta funnel, filters and caraffe or travel mug: https://shop.melitta.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=64+013&Cat= Welcome to SparBucks :-)