Wife and I wanted a cup (two cups, actually -- one for each of us) of tea this evening. I boiled some water in a plain old sauce pan and proceeded to say bad words as I spilled hot water on the counter as I was trying to pour it into the cups.

Decided to get a tea kettle. Just a plain, simple thing that you put water in, put it on the stove, and wait for it to whistle.

Checked online and found this one at Amazon, and also in stock at local Target and Walmart. Same kettle, under nine bucks at any of those places.





Just for the heck of it, wasted a few more minutes browsing. Amazing results! Paying for a brand like Cuisinart, Kitchen Aid, Le Creuset, can take the price well over a hundred bucks for similar stuff. WOW!

My wife is taking me out for a belated birthday dinner tomorrow. Target is on the way, we'll probably pop in and get the nine dollar kettle (less 5% because she has a Target credit card).

Electric kettles are generally faster, and can be used independently of the stove.

That's what all of the tea-drinking Brits/Scots/Aussies/etc. I know use now, instead of the old style of stovetop kettle like you've shown.

I use one at home too, to boil water to use with my pour-over coffee maker, and to make the occasional cup of caffeine-free tea when I want something warm in the evening.

Go with the electric. I've got a cheapo that I didn't pay much more than that for and it works great.

Besides, just think of all the gas fumes you're releasing into the environment with that stovetop model. Geez man, don't you care about the polar ice caps??? HOW DARE YOU!

+1 on electric kettle. Tiger (Japan) has decent products; not sure if you can find one made in Japan though. These are great when I stay in hotels in Japan.

For home, because I drink tea multiple times every day, I use a Zojirushi hot pot. Made in Japan models only though. A unit lasts about 10+ years for me (I use filtered water from the fridge). https://www.zojirushi.com/app/...ater-boilers-warmers

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:

Go with the electric. I've got a cheapo that I didn't pay much more than that for and it works great.

Besides, just think of all the gas fumes you're releasing into the environment with that stovetop model. Geez man, don't you care about the polar ice caps??? HOW DARE YOU!

It's electric either way. Electric stove -- really wish it were gas, and would prefer gas water heater and furnace, but there's no gas around here, everything's electric.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:

Electric kettles are generally faster, and can be used independently of the stove.

Yeah, but does it whistle?

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We would use it so rarely that the nine dollar el cheapo will probably be just fine.

Actually, the whole reason for the original post was to express amazement at the range of prices, nine bucks to well over a hundred, for the simple stove-top kettles.

Mine doesn't. It makes a loud click, and you can hear the boiling water bubbling against the interior, which are your audible indicators it's ready.

But I'm sure somebody out there offers one like that, for those who want the convenience of the electric kettle but the nostalgia of it whistling when it's ready.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:

Mine doesn't. It makes a loud click, and you can hear the boiling water bubbling against the interior, which are your audible indicators it's ready.

Joking about that. I usually remove my hearing aids when I get home, so whether it's a click or a whistle, I probably wouldn't hear it. Maybe flashing lights, and a siren?

We have an electric. No, it does not whistle, but turns off automatically once it's at a boil.
https://www.amazon.com/Bodum-B...e%2Caps%2C308&sr=8-4

Fairly cheap, but used several times daily without any problems for many years, Just have to clean out the hard water scaling with citric acid every now and then.

V-tail you area man after my own heart.... Have a Walmart special in the same style at the same price point.... Has served us well for several years... making hot water on a electric stove..... and it does whistle. .......................... drill sgt.

quote:

Originally posted by Nismo:
Just have to clean out the hard water scaling with citric acid every now and then.

That's true of any type of kettle.

It helps to use filtered water. I use the water filter in my fridge to fill mine, and mine displays minimal scaling buildup, despite daily use for 1-4 cups of coffee/tea for nearly 3 years.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
+1 on electric kettle. Tiger (Japan) has decent products; not sure if you can find one made in Japan though. These are great when I stay in hotels in Japan.

For home, because I drink tea multiple times every day, I use a Zojirushi hot pot. Made in Japan models only though. A unit lasts about 10+ years for me (I use filtered water from the fridge). https://www.zojirushi.com/app/...ater-boilers-warmers

I clicked on your link. The first (and only) model that I looked at is $264.95. Aaaargh! The nine dollar one from Amazon / Target / Walmart is looking better and better, even though instructions for the zojirushi unit are available in six languages, five of which I do not understand.

What I got was an electric kettle, 1.7L that can be set to 1 degree increments. My old one would do only 5 degree increments and where I am, water boils at 203 degrees. I would pose a link but that particular model is unavailable.

To reduce scaling, I used to use distilled water but then there was a shortage of distilled water. So I switched to ZeroWater filter which eliminates all total dissolved solids. They even give you a TDS meter. Instructions say to change filters at 006 ppm, I switch at 004. Cost is about 45 cents per gallon as opposed to buying distilled water which is $1.15 a gallon at least.

If you drink tea often, particularly different types other than just black tea - or better yet, loose leaf tea - Breville has a really nice tea maker with an automatic basket. Breville One Touch

They also have a more basic kettle without the basket that will still get you the different water temperature options.

I use this one. I am sure there are cheaper options, but this one is great. I make tea with it almost daily.

Tea Kettle - Target

+1 on the electric ones.

quote:

Originally posted by cyanide357:

If you drink tea often, particularly different types other than just black tea - or better yet, loose leaf tea - Breville has a really nice tea maker with an automatic basket. Breville One Touch

They also have a more basic kettle without the basket that will still get you the different water temperature options.

Three hundred dollars. Wow.

Lol. I didn’t check prices. But my perspective would be $250 over 10 years is about $25 / year amortization. For daily tea drinking with instant hot water at ideal temps (ie 160 degrees for gyokuro green tea or 208 degrees for earl grey), the cost of convenience is worth it. It’s not for everyone.

I just run a cup out of the keurig without a k-cup in place.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Krazeehorse,

We've had this ~$30 Fino 1.2 liter - 6 cup pour over for 6 years now. Use on our ceramic top electric stove. Love it. No whistles though but steam escaping from the ports in the cover alert you well enough.
A Finum brewing basket is employed for loose tea.
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EVPGTU/r