A good electric kettle with temperature control
March 10, 2011 2:26 AM Subscribe
I'm looking for an electric kettle that will heat water to variable temperatures -- boiling for my wife's black tea, 80c or lower for my green tea. I'm in the UK. Any recommendations?
Some Amazon searching has identified models by Russell Hobbs, Philips, Eco3, and Bosch, but each of those models has at least one review that gives me pause. So, I'm hoping somebody can either identify an alternative, or give me some reassuring first-hand accounts of one of those models.
Some Amazon searching has identified models by Russell Hobbs, Philips, Eco3, and Bosch, but each of those models has at least one review that gives me pause. So, I'm hoping somebody can either identify an alternative, or give me some reassuring first-hand accounts of one of those models.
I saw another model recently by either Kitchenaid or Cuisineart - whichever it was, it had settings for various kinds of tea, eg oolong, green, etc.
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:42 AM on March 10, 2011
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:42 AM on March 10, 2011
We have the Cuisinart CPK-17 1.7l PerfecTemp stainless steel. We use it heavily, 4-5x per day, and are generally very happy with it. It's crazy fast. I do wish it had an off switch -- the kettle automatically tries to return the water to the set temperature when you return the pitcher to the base, and if the pitcher is empty it will quickly boil dry and start angrily bleeping and flashing. To avoid this you have to press START when returning the pitcher, which is so counterintuitive to me that I almost always forget.
posted by apparently at 3:57 AM on March 10, 2011
posted by apparently at 3:57 AM on March 10, 2011
Yes, the Cuisinart CPK-17 is a model with multiple settings for different kinds of tea, French press, and boil.
posted by apparently at 4:00 AM on March 10, 2011
posted by apparently at 4:00 AM on March 10, 2011
I have had the Philips kettle I assume you wanted to link to for a couple of years. The temperature control is quite blunt, with no step between 80C and 100C — I'd prefer about 95C for black tea. Otherwise good kettle, easy to use and clean, and comes with a built-in cable winder for less messes.
posted by stereo at 4:05 AM on March 10, 2011
posted by stereo at 4:05 AM on March 10, 2011
We have the breville jmstephan has. It's been great for us, though the reviews on amazon.uk are mixed. It also has a toaster that is equally nifty.
posted by kjs4 at 4:46 AM on March 10, 2011
posted by kjs4 at 4:46 AM on March 10, 2011
I have an older Brevile with temperature too. The one my parents have dies frequently (something about the contacts). The one I have at my own home is still going strong after years.
posted by jlunar at 7:41 AM on March 10, 2011
posted by jlunar at 7:41 AM on March 10, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks, everybody!
kjs4, I can't seem to find the Breville BKE820XL on the UK Amazon site-- just the US one. Do you have a link for Amazon.uk? Is it sold here under a different name or model number?
posted by yankeefog at 8:09 AM on March 10, 2011
kjs4, I can't seem to find the Breville BKE820XL on the UK Amazon site-- just the US one. Do you have a link for Amazon.uk? Is it sold here under a different name or model number?
posted by yankeefog at 8:09 AM on March 10, 2011
Hmn... maybe this one? This one looks really different from the one I have and the BKE820XL model.
posted by jlunar at 8:29 AM on March 10, 2011
posted by jlunar at 8:29 AM on March 10, 2011
There are a couple at Adagio Teas, and the company also sells really excellent tea! Both kettles are <70 USD, and they ship internationally.
posted by misformargaret at 6:03 PM on March 11, 2011
posted by misformargaret at 6:03 PM on March 11, 2011
Response by poster: I ended up going for the Russell Hobbs Therma Select", mainly because it hide a wider range of possible temperatures than the others-- it lets you heat water to 60 C, whereas the others only go as low as 85C.
It arrived yesterday and thus far I'm very happy with it. It's noisier than I'd like, but it boils quickly and is comfortable to pour, and the temperature gauge seems to work very well.
Thanks again, all.
posted by yankeefog at 7:57 AM on March 16, 2011
It arrived yesterday and thus far I'm very happy with it. It's noisier than I'd like, but it boils quickly and is comfortable to pour, and the temperature gauge seems to work very well.
Thanks again, all.
posted by yankeefog at 7:57 AM on March 16, 2011
Response by poster: "Hide a wider range" should obviously be "had a wider range." The caffeine has clearly addled my brain.
posted by yankeefog at 10:08 AM on March 16, 2011
posted by yankeefog at 10:08 AM on March 16, 2011
Response by poster: UPDATE: In case anybody stumbles across this thread, I just wanted to report that, after three months, I'm very happy with the Russell Hobbs Therma Select and would definitely recommend it.
posted by yankeefog at 7:22 AM on June 28, 2011
posted by yankeefog at 7:22 AM on June 28, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by jmstephan at 3:29 AM on March 10, 2011