I want a little teapot, short and stout

April 4, 2018 7:27 AM

I'm looking for a teapot (EU/UK) with certain criteria: Does not drip! Holds enough for two medium mugs of tea; preferably comes with its own infuser; no plastic parts; lid will not fall off; not fragile or fancy, yet still becoming to the eye and a joy to use.

I think I've found it, and the style is just right*, but the price is discouraging (the least expensive comes to around $50 US / 40€ with shipping to my location). Do you have a beloved teapot to recommend that fits my wish list, but is maybe less spendy?

I don't want to hold the lid to keep it from falling off when I pour. I won't treat it roughly and will hand wash, but I don't want delicate fine china or fragile glass to worry about, and stainless steel for a teapot just feels so wrong. I'd really rather not deal with a tea ball or similar third party part (strainer, etc) if I can avoid. And srsly, Must. Not. Dribble. No Dribbling!

* homey, friendly, warm diner- or cafe-style is my jam

posted by taz to Shopping (15 answers total)

Perhaps you might like this style? Available in other colours if lime green isn't your taste. It's fairly stout, has an infuser basket, and the lid is recessed which keeps it from falling off. Matching cups available, if you so desire.

Shipping to EU would be an additional $15USD, putting it a little over $30USD.
posted by halation at 8:02 AM on April 4, 2018 [1 favorite]

I have one of those Forlife teapots, and they tick all your boxes. I would say that they're worth their price, and for their quality are a good buy. They're quite robust; it's even durable enough to go in the dishwasher. The basket is really nice, but the handle is plastic (mine sees irregular use, and shows no real signs of wear). Around here, they're a favorite of coffee-cafes that also serve some teas. I'm usually a huge fan of products that can survive a daily-use retail enviornment, because that means they're probably close to bulletproof for home-use. If you have a cafe that sells them, you might ask them to pick you up one. They might just have one on hand and sell it to you close to their cost (which is dramatically cheaper than retail...hooo boy). This is one area where the actual company might be able to direct you to a local source that might be cheaper than amazon.

I don't like knockoffs and generally don't like suggesting them, but it appears a company named Benali makes a knockoff of the Forlife stump (UK amazon link). But even that looks a bit scammy...but it might fit your price point? No idea on quality in that game; you might end up buying it twice, and then you're in the price point of the real item.

Beehouse also has nice options. Their baskets are not as nice as the Forlife ones, but they have wider distribution, and I would assume you could get one in your local market with minimal hunting.
posted by furnace.heart at 8:32 AM on April 4, 2018 [1 favorite]

I have the ForLife Curve, and it is the best. No drips.
posted by girlpublisher at 8:43 AM on April 4, 2018

I have the ForLife Stump, and it really is that good. I think it only cost me $20-30 in the US including shipping from Amazon - any chance you’re traveling here soon or have a friend who is?
posted by asphericalcow at 9:40 AM on April 4, 2018 [1 favorite]

Just came in here to suggest the ForLife Stump which I have and love. It was a gift, but think it cost around £20 from a local tea shop in the UK. Highly recommended.
posted by car01 at 10:06 AM on April 4, 2018 [1 favorite]

Another ForLife Stump owner and lover here.
posted by pinkacademic at 10:15 AM on April 4, 2018 [1 favorite]

This is my teapot, only mine is blue. It pretty much ticks all your boxes. Zero Japan makes a number of teapots of varying sizes and prices, so perhaps there is one in your budget.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 11:17 AM on April 4, 2018 [1 favorite]

Perhaps you might like this style?

i have this exact teapot and it is, uh. i love her ok but she is bad. endless drips no matter how carefully you pour. lid flies off when pouring unless you are holding it down, causing hot tea to pour all over your cup holding hand.

they are small and tubby and cute though so if you get one you will be constantly annoyed by their flaws but forgiving of them in the end.
posted by poffin boffin at 11:27 AM on April 4, 2018 [1 favorite]

Maybe a MeFi'er can proxy a Beehouse Teapot to you, which is <$30 here, but £70+ on amazon.uk. I don't know the dribble factor on them, though.
posted by rhizome at 11:31 AM on April 4, 2018 [1 favorite]

all the ones being linked have that thumb push lid opener that's made of metal, doesn't the metal get unbearably hot? do mefites have cast iron thumbs now, am i the only weak flesh human left.
posted by poffin boffin at 11:34 AM on April 4, 2018

Response by poster: I'm not too worried about the metal lid opener, because I should only be using that before adding hot water and tea, and then some time after I've already poured into cups, when I'm cleaning the pot and infuser, and it will have cooled.
posted by taz at 11:46 AM on April 4, 2018

doesn't the metal get unbearably hot?

taz is right... I touch the metal lid opener only before and well after boiling water time, when the pot is at room temperature. It hasn't ever been an issue for me.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 2:13 PM on April 4, 2018

I love my Kinto 450 ml brim teapot, which I bought for £25 at the Tate Modern, where they use the teapots in their cafe and also sell them online. It meets all of your criteria. It's available from amazon, but the Tate have by far the best price. Shipping to Europe is steep, at £12, but could you wait until you have a London visit planned?
posted by kelper at 1:05 AM on April 5, 2018 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: After a couple of days of reading a ton of reviews and searching around everywhere, I found the ForLife teapot in the size and color I wanted for a little less on eBay, and went ahead and splurged. The next closest was a rather nice glass teapot for about half the price, but I could tell I would be replacing that one in the next 1-5 years when it broke. All the similar ones were too close in price to make much difference (or even more expensive), or had dealbreaker aspects. I was definitely encouraged by positive experiences with it reported here, so thanks for the ideas and the input, everyone!
posted by taz at 1:38 PM on April 5, 2018

Response by poster: Result: I received this today (530ml version), and my first thought was that I had made a mistake, because it looks tiny. But it makes enough for two of our medium mugs ... barely. If I could change one thing, it would be to make it 600 or 700 ml.

But it works wonderfully. The pot is nice and stable, very comfortable and easy in the hand, and I love the well-made infuser insert with it's tiny little holes (no escaped tea debris!), great no-flappy-flippy-slidey lid, and, SO IMPORTANTLY, that it does not dribble. It's a sturdy, cheerful little fellow, and while the price was hard to swallow, the tea tastes delicious ... and it's the first teapot I've had that doesn't bug me in some way that actually makes me less inclined to make tea. I've had kind of a lot of tea today
posted by taz at 2:45 PM on April 12, 2018 [1 favorite]