I’m Tim Barribeau with the reviews website, The Wirecutter. The Wirecutter is dedicated to bringing our readers best-in-class guides for a whole slew of different products – everything from camping gear to cameras to vacuum cleaners. It was founded by Brian 
Lam, who ran Gizmodo for half a decade and was an editor at Wired Magazine before that. The New York Times recently featured it as the first place columnist Sam Grobart goes to research technology purchases. While there’s a substantial home section for the site, we’ll be expanding it in the near future with a new, specialized site.
I’m in the midst of putting together a piece on the best currently available electric tea kettles – something I have a personal interest in as a long-time tea addict. Just so that everyone is clear, by “electric tea kettle,” I mean a kettle specifically designed to heat water to different temperatures for different types of teas. So what better place to come to than T Ching’s audience of tea experts. Specifically, I’d like your thoughts on to a handful of questions regarding what to look for (and look out for) in an electric tea kettle.
You may respond to my questions as a comment on this post, or you may send me an email ([email protected]) – whatever works! So here goes:
- Do you use a kettle? Electric or stove-top?
- If you use an electric kettle, does it have variable temperatures or is it a simple boiler?
- Are you happy with your kettle? What do you like (or dislike) about it? How long have you been using it?
- How do you feel about plastic kettles? Does boiling water in a plastic container bother you?
- What kettle would you recommend to a friend or family member who wants to get into tea drinking?
Love the idea of the kettle but looks a bit naff. I do love tea gizmos though they can become very addictive :)
Do you use a kettle? Electric or stove-top?
I use one of each. My electric kettle has a higher capacity than my stovetop so it depends on how much tea I want to make.
If you use an electric kettle, does it have variable temperatures or is it a simple boiler?
Simple boiler. Someone gave it to me when I moved out on my own for the first time.
Are you happy with your kettle? What do you like (or dislike) about it? How long have you been using it?
I like it because I’ve been using it for four years now (the electric one) and I feel like I know it–I can hazard a guess at water temperature based on the time it’s been going and the sounds it is making.
How do you feel about plastic kettles? Does boiling water in a plastic container bother you?
No. I’m not going to pretend that a) my body is otherwise carefully toxin-free or that b) my palate is refined enough to taste any difference.
What kettle would you recommend to a friend or family member who wants to get into tea drinking?
Probably a Hario Buono. It isn’t as convenient or cheap as an electric kettle but it is a joy to use.
In searching for the Hario Buono – I came upon a Bonavita variable temperature electric kettle. All stainless which is my requirement. NO plastic which is my requirement. I just ordered one. Sounds wonderful. Unfortunately the Hario appears to have a plastic component. It’s not the taste issue that concerns me. PLEASE do some investigation on issues surrounding plastic and hot water. This is very toxic. Even the FDA, a most conservative organization, voices concerns. Considering long term, frequent use, I hope you’ll check into this. Thanks for getting me looking myself.
This information will increase more and more people to know about all this electric tea kettle.Very Nice Post.it’s very nice blog and this is very useful for me thanks. I use to do electric tea kettle as its time saving.