Thermometer for tea?

I just use a variable temp kettle since you can turn it on and walk away. With a thermometer you’d have to stand there and check it until it reaches your desired temperature. It could certainly work though.

I prefer the meat thermometers with the long metal cord attached to the probe so that you can make sure that the electronic portion of the thermometer doesn’t accidentally become immersed in hot water.

Here is the one I am using right now:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eddingtons-Digital-Timer-Meat-Thermometer/dp/B005IPJPBM/ref=sr_1_12?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1420820512&sr=1-12&keywords=digital+thermometer

I found a bunch of ones suggested on other forums, only avaliable via amazon, unfortunately amazon rarely ships anything to australia ( that same thermometer is $30 from an ebay store here, lol )

anyway, i ended up buying this one http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/171666112078 , it’s the cheapest one with fast postage, still interesting in what everyone else uses, i have tried using a cheap digital LCD thermometer, but i think they cap out at some range… have also tried using the temp probe on my multimeter, strangely showed 80c on freshly boiled water… possible the container i used cooled it 20c, but i find that strange, since i pre-heated it, and the multimeter is a fairly decent one, maybe it has a limit also.

I just use a cheap analog meat thermometer. These days though, I’m able to pretty reliably estimate the temperature by how loud the tea kettle whistles and adjust it by pouring water back and forth between cups. The thermometer is for precision because I like to experiment with water temperature and other brewing variables.

I was using a candy thermometer before I bought my variable temp kettle. The kettle was one of the best purchases I ever made.

I use a little analog one like the second listing. It reads fast, can be easily calibrated, and fits through the whistle vent on my kettle perfectly.

I would definitely go with a variable temperature electric kettle for general use. It is easy and generally precise. If you will use it every day it is worth the price anyway.