What variable temp kettle do you use and how long have you had it?

I looked back at a lot of threads, but found that most of the posts didn’t specify how long the appliances had been in use, and that seems to be a key trend on the reviews on amazon. Things like, it was great for six months, then…

Here’s one – http://steepster.com/TeaRawcs/posts/219532#comments

I have a Zo bread maker and love it.

LooseTman, the lack of different temperature settings is what’s keeping me on the fence about the Zojirushi. But I so love the concept of it for gongfu sessions.

“LooseTman, the lack of different temperature settings is what’s keeping me on the fence about the Zojirushi.”

Agreed. Last I e-mailed Zo, they didn’t have any plans for a new variable temp model.

I understand the gooseneck of the Bonavita provides a very controlled pour that’s helpful for gongfu sessions.

However, with the Zo, one could have 3 or 4 liters of the appropriate temp. water, which would certainly be convenient for gongfu sessions.

Does anyone have any additonal thougts abouts Bonavita vs. Zojirushi for both Western & Gongfu brewing? Thanks!

Any of you owning a Zojirushi? If so, is it worth it? I’m really thinking of getting one for Gongfu sessions.

http://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-CD-WBC40-4-Liter-Electric-Champagne/dp/B00114Z464/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1399516282&sr=8-4&keywords=zojirushi+water+boiler

TheTeaFairy,
Have you seen these Steepster reviews?
- http://steepster.com/teaware/zojirushi/28510-champagne-gold-3-liter-water-boiler-and-warmer
- http://steepster.com/teaware/zojirushi/39783-ve-r-hybrid-water-boiler-and-warmer-cv-dsc40-4-liters

Thanks looseTman, very informative. Despite the great reviews, I have decided not to buy one. I think it’d just be plain silly to end up with a third variable temp boiler!

This week end, I have installed an extension cord that reaches my coffee table in the living room. So I can now bring one of my variable kettle with me in the living room for my Gongfu sessions! Portability problem solved :-)

Now if I could just find a good thermos with a good pour for the bedroom…lol, you know you’re addicted when…?

Perhaps the following info may be of interest:
- http://www.consumersearch.com/travel-mugs/zojirushi-stainless-steel-mug
- http://www.consumersearch.com/travel-mugs
- http://www.zojirushi.com/user/scripts/user/prod_category.php?prod_category_id=5
- http://steepster.com/teaware?Thermos=on

I’ve read many good reports about Breville quality and customer service.

In your Breville One-Touch review you said:
“I probably won’t brew a lot of Oolongs in this (or Yellow) because I prefer using the gaiwan and short steeps. For that matter, I probably won’t brew pu-erh in this for the same reason. But, since the majority of tea that I drink is black, green and white, this will get plenty of use as a tea maker, and for the other teas, it will get use as a kettle.”

What is your favorite kettle for use with a gaiwan or yixing?

I use the breville as my kettle at all times. For most blacks and greens, I brew the tea right in the tea maker.

For chais and other strongly flavored teas, I usually use a ceramic teapot for the brewing process, but I use the breville as a kettle for those. The reason for this is because I find that I need to run a brew cycle with some baking soda after I’ve brewed a really strongly flavored tea because a simple rinse isn’t going to eliminate the residual flavors in the kettle. It’s easy enough to run a baking soda brew cycle to clean the machine, but it does take time, so it’s just easier to go ahead and brew in a separate teapot most of the time. I still run a baking soda cleansing cycle at least once a week to keep the unit clean.

My Oolongs, Yellows, and Pu-erhs are brewed in gaiwans, but, I use the Breville as my kettle to heat the water. I love it.

For white teas I use a separate tea pot. The reason for this is because I generally use a little more leaf for white tea and I find that the tea leaves make better contact with the hot water in a tea pot than they do in the basket of the breville.

LiberTEAS,
Thanks for your detailed reply!

Non-stick interior answers from Amazon:
“The inner container of the water boiler is stainless steel with nonstick coating, the inner lid is stainless steel, and both are BPA-free. Some gaskets and the outer lid that may come into contact with water are silicone or plastic, and also do not contain BPA.”
Gioella answered on September 19, 2013
http://www.amazon.com/inside-heater-stainless-steal/forum/Fx2JA3PQDV1IRCL/Tx2CTL6AGX9ACG6/1/ref=cm_cd_ql_tlc_al?_encoding=UTF8&asin=B000MAFJRM

“The inside is steel, but the steel is coated with a nonstick material. The nonstick coating is Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a substance which is better known by it’s brand name, “Teflon.”
MerryGRound answered on March 12, 2014
http://www.amazon.com/Is-the-inside-stainless-steel/forum/FxH4460GCLALX2/Tx2MPUDD6WRLXBN/1/ref=cm_cd_ql_tlc_al?_encoding=UTF8&asin=B00114Z464

“From Zojirushi:
Is there BPA in my Zojirushi water boiler?
All Zojirushi products are BPA-free. The inner container of the water boiler is stainless steel with nonstick coating, the inner lid is stainless steel, and both are BPA-free. Some gaskets and the outer lid that may come into contact with water are silicone or plastic, and also do not contain BPA.”
I.Smarius answered on November 15, 2013

http://www.amazon.com/BPA-free/forum/Fx35H797G5929CS/Tx1PNCL5PARVYHT/1/ref=cm_cd_ql_tlc_al?_encoding=UTF8&asin=B0011528S0

I believe the Bodum has gone out of production. We have one, but it was an enormouse hassle buying it. Husband had first ordered it for me for Christmas from a Danish site, but it was sold out then and they said he would be informed when it came back. Nothing happened because they stopped selling it in Denmark, so six months later (when it became urgent because the button on the old kettle snapped clean off) we ended up ordering it from a British site, delivered to Husband’s parents and then they could send it on to us. Only Husband’s father had to pay for it too, because they would only accept British cards, so we had to pay him back as well. And then it was shipped to their address. From a warehouse in Denmark! headdesk

All this hassle has falsely led Husband to believe that it was the only such thing on the market and he lives in fear of it breaking. (Mind you, it may well have been the only such thing on the Danish market back then)

Oh, and I forgot to say, we’ve had it about 2 years now and it still works fine. The only problem it has is that the lid has gone a bit dented, so you can’t pour too hard anymore or it’ll spill.

“My only wish is that it made some kind of sound when reaching temp.”
At least it has an LED display for the water temperature.

From page 3 of this thread:
teaenvy said about 12 hours ago
“I dont mind the gooseneck look but its a slower pour. Apprearance aside pour speed might be an issue in temperature control.”

Dinosara,
Have you noticed any temp issues due to the gooseneck spout?
Thanks!

No, and I think it’s not an issue. The metal spout is just as hot as the rest of the metal pot (a fact that it will remind you of if you touch it). It’s really not that slow. I mostly use it for gongfu where a controlled pour is optimal anyway, but even when I’m filling a 16oz pot the pouring speed doesn’t bother me.

Thanks, that’s good to know especially since you’ve owned a Bonavita Gooseneck for more than a year.

Dinosara,
It would be helpful if you could share your Bonavita experience here: http://steepster.com/teaware/bonavita/39130-1-liter-variable-temperature-digital-electric-gooseneck-kettle
Thanks!