A low steam kettle...

April 2, 2010 3:58 AM

I want a new kettle. The problem is, I don't want it to produce much steam...

I want to put a kettle on my desk so that I'll drink more. The problem is that my study is only big enough for two desks, a couple of bookcases, and a cat bed, so I need a kettle that doesn't beltch out the huge ammounts of steam that my kitchen kettle does.

Can anyone help a UK tea addict...?

posted by twine42 to Home & Garden (9 answers total)

We have this one from Zojirushi, and it's awesome - quite low-steam, keeps the water hot at all times, very convenient push-button dispenser etc. If it looks too big for you, there are smaller versions, like this one.
posted by Salvor Hardin at 4:31 AM on April 2, 2010

I would suggest boiling water on your stove, and then getting a insulated pot for your study. They keep water hot for a remarkable amount of time (Mine stays hot all night if I leave it!), and don't produce steam.
posted by that girl at 4:51 AM on April 2, 2010

What about a Tefal Quick Cup? Hot water on demand - small footprint.
posted by mattr at 5:14 AM on April 2, 2010 [1 favorite]

Depends how much of a purist you are about your tea. Does it need to be made from off-the-boil fresh drawn water? I'm guessing a small travel kettle, filled with just slightly more water than you need and manually clicked off just as it hits a silent boil, will produce the least amount of steam.

(the idea of tea made with merely hot water is quite revolting to me ...)
posted by scruss at 5:18 AM on April 2, 2010

I have an older version of the smaller Zojirushi that Salvor Hardin posted. It isn't actually a kettle, it boils water and then keeps it hot but just below boiling so it only steams for a bit during it's boiling function, then nothing. I like it and use it a ton.
posted by ghharr at 6:25 AM on April 2, 2010

Actually, I have the 2.2 liter version of this one which you can set to different temperatures, which is useful since you want to steep some teas at less-than-boiling temperatures.
posted by ghharr at 6:28 AM on April 2, 2010

Response by poster: Cool, thanks guys! I'd not thought of any of these routes...
posted by twine42 at 8:42 AM on April 2, 2010

Careful with the Zojis, though, when I got my 4.0L it enabled me to just about double my daily tea consumption.
posted by rhizome at 10:57 AM on April 2, 2010

I bought this Philips water kettle a few months ago: "Choose 40, 60, 80 or 100°C to use fresh, hot water for any purpose you have in mind. (...) Keep Warm function allows you to maintain a certain temperature level of the water in your kettle." If you set it to 80°C, there won't be very much steam. Even at 100°C, the heat turns off quicker than my two previous electric kettles. The kettle is also quite compact, with a separate swiveling base.

Stuff.tv said in a review: "A kettle for the 21st century that saves energy and makes a better brew to boot. Ends unnecessary boiling. Ideal for caffetieres and green tea."

It also has positive user reviews at Alatest.
posted by iviken at 3:40 PM on April 2, 2010