Digital Kettles

[msommers]

A fellow at work and I were chatting about properly brewing green tea and he asked why I'm still using a thermometer. News to me, there are kettles that digitally control temperature! This is fucking sweet but just starting looking and wondering if anyone has one of these. Glass or stainless only.

[Amysicle]

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[Darell_n]

I have the Breville stainless kettle through Airmiles that has many tea settings. All useless, but they're there.

[msommers]

I decided on this one.

http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B008YE3RNG/ref=pe_386430_121528420_TE_dp_1

Stainless and had per degree options vs. presets which is just a personal thing. Will report back, have a thermometer to test it haha

[chongkee_]

Got this over the weekend and happy with it so far.
Works for different kinds of tea.

http://www.thebay.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/en/thebay/home/Kettles/perfectemp-cordless-electric-programmable-kettle-0016-9984017907--24

[rage2]

Originally posted by chongkee_
Got this over the weekend and happy with it so far.
Works for different kinds of tea.

http://www.thebay.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/en/thebay/home/Kettles/perfectemp-cordless-electric-programmable-kettle-0016-9984017907--24
That Cusinart one has rave reviews, fast and accurate on temps.

I had no idea that hardcore tea and coffee drinkers need exact temps until I researched it a few months ago lol. We just picked up a non digital kettle that boils super fast and looks pretty glowing blue and shit. It's nice being able to boil all the water you need in under 3 mins.

[ZeroGravity]

I have this at home... didn't get it at regular price though. I think was around 50 bucks when on sale. Only have preset temperature settings though.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/t-fal-thermovision-digital-kettle-1-5-l-0430284p.html#.VFeiKp1lA-U

[chongkee_]

Originally posted by rage2

That Cusinart one has rave reviews, fast and accurate on temps.

I had no idea that hardcore tea and coffee drinkers need exact temps until I researched it a few months ago lol. We just picked up a non digital kettle that boils super fast and looks pretty glowing blue and shit. It's nice being able to boil all the water you need in under 3 mins.

Came across the same thing. Read a bunch of reviews and this one seems to be on the top of the list for most of them. I was initially looking for a kettle that has a programmable timer so that I'll have hot water by the I wake up but couldn't find any.

[jwslam]

Originally posted by rage2
I had no idea that hardcore tea and coffee drinkers need exact temps until I researched it a few months ago lol. We just picked up a non digital kettle that boils super fast and looks pretty glowing blue and shit. It's nice being able to boil all the water you need in under 3 mins.
I spent 2k on an induction range :nut: :nut:

[Mitsu3000gt]

I have this thing and it is amazing:

http://www.breville.ca/the-tea-maker.html



Induction heating, keeps temperature constant throughout brewing process, and super easy to clean. If you want a flawless cup of tea every time, this is the way to go.

If you just want a kettle, get one without the element in the water - get an induction one, or one with the heating element below the stainless steel base.http://www.thegreenhead.com/imgs/breville-one-touch-tea-maker-8.jpg

[jwslam]

Originally posted by Mitsu3000gt
If you just want a kettle, get one without the element in the water - get an induction one, or one with the heating element below the stainless steel base
Why, may I ask?

[phreezee]

Originally posted by Mitsu3000gt
I have this thing and it is amazing:

http://www.breville.ca/the-tea-maker.html



Damn that looks awesome!:thumbsup:

[ZeroGravity]

All these glass kettle look so nice. That reminds me, someone here posted a picture of a kettle made with Schneider glass sold at London Drugs. Did that have temperature control?

[schocker]

Originally posted by Mitsu3000gt
I have this thing and it is amazing:

http://www.breville.ca/the-tea-maker.html

That is so nice but super expensive. I make loose leaf tea every day at work, but not generally at home so I have held off on that as I don't really want to keep it on my desk or something.

[The_Rural_Juror]

Originally posted by chongkee_


Came across the same thing. Read a bunch of reviews and this one seems to be on the top of the list for most of them. I was initially looking for a kettle that has a programmable timer so that I'll have hot water by the I wake up but couldn't find any.

http://www.firebox.com/product/6068/iKettle

[Mitsu3000gt]

Originally posted by jwslam

Why, may I ask?

They corrode over time and put nasty crap in your water. I believe some of this "metal leeching" is not so great for you either. The old kettle we had at work was like that and put flakes in everyone's tea. Definitely something I would avoid when it's so easy to do so.

[01RedDX]

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[jwslam]

Originally posted by Mitsu3000gt
They corrode over time and put nasty crap in your water. I believe some of this "metal leeching" is not so great for you either. The old kettle we had at work was like that and put flakes in everyone's tea. Definitely something I would avoid when it's so easy to do so.
I'm pretty sure the white flakes are from hard stuff in the water...


Flakes are caused by calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate precipitates. When hard water is frozen or boiled, the carbonates in the water come out of solution, appearing as whitish flakes and attaching to containers. This calcium is the same as that in dairy products and is harmless.
Soft water does not have any calcium or magnesium carbonate deposits, but the use of soft water is not recommended.
http://www.ci.south-bend.in.us/it-normal-have-white-flakes-ice-cubes-or-hot-water

[Mitsu3000gt]

Originally posted by jwslam

I'm pretty sure the white flakes are from hard stuff in the water...


http://www.ci.south-bend.in.us/it-normal-have-white-flakes-ice-cubes-or-hot-water

The build up on our work kettle was mostly green and some other weird colors. No way it was solely Calcium.

I've also read some things regarding the questionable materials found in some made in China kettles heating elements. Even if all you have is Calcium build up, why deal with ever having to clean it? It's better to have the heating element out of the water, or to have an induction kettle, in pretty well any situation I can think of. If nothing else it's much easier to clean.

[msommers]

If you don't care about temperature control and just want a good kettle, I bought a $20 one from Superstore that is 1.7L, glass and has the heating element below the bottom to keep it out of the water. Boils pretty quick too.

[wintonyk]

Originally posted by chongkee_
Got this over the weekend and happy with it so far.
Works for different kinds of tea.

http://www.thebay.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/en/thebay/home/Kettles/perfectemp-cordless-electric-programmable-kettle-0016-9984017907--24

I have got this and love it. Someone gave it to me as a gift and I thought I would never use anything but boil. Man was I ever wrong. It also has a stay warm feature where it will keep the temp within about 10 degrees F of your desired temp. Once below will automatically kick back on.

[chongkee_]

Originally posted by The_Rural_Juror


http://www.firebox.com/product/6068/iKettle

Looks good but will require a transformer.

[Mitsu3000gt]

Future shop has the Breville One Touch tea maker on for $179 for Black Friday if anyone was on the fence. It's a $40 savings, not the $120 savings they claim, but thats a decent price.

[Zorac]

Any recommendations for one that would brew just a single cup? The breville and cusineart are nice, but don't look like they would do just a single cup?

[Mitsu3000gt]

Originally posted by Zorac
Any recommendations for one that would brew just a single cup? The breville and cusineart are nice, but don't look like they would do just a single cup?

How big of a cup? Minimum recommended brew volume on the Breville is 500ml, which is pretty much every decent size mug, maybe a touch more. If you just like a tiny bit of tea at a time, it may not be the best option.

[Zorac]

Just your standard corporate giveaway mug. Always seems to be a stack of them in the cupboard from different suppliers. not sure on the size, but I bet they are closer to 300ml

[Mitsu3000gt]

Originally posted by Zorac
Just your standard corporate giveaway mug. Always seems to be a stack of them in the cupboard from different suppliers. not sure on the size, but I bet they are closer to 300ml

Yeah work mugs would be a bit much, but if you're at work, just make more and then a bunch of people can have some haha.

Cuisinart makes a similar thing and it's much smaller, perhaps the minimum brew on that one would be less.

[suntan]

Bought one for the wife a few months ago, it's used daily. I can finally make proper green tea with it. It truly makes a difference.

[Mitsu3000gt]

Originally posted by suntan
Bought one for the wife a few months ago, it's used daily. I can finally make proper green tea with it. It truly makes a difference.

I noticed this as well. If you're a "drop a bag of tea in boiling water and leave it" kind of guy, this won't be much value to you. If you don't like taste of bitter tea, and value a flawless brew every single time, this can't be beat. So easy to clean too, there's only 3 parts. My loose leaf tea was way better when I started making it in this thing.

[e92csl87]

We got a glass electric one from walmart and it's been working awesome. I couldn't find the product on their online site to include the link, but I suggest checking out a local walmart to see if they carry them.

[msommers]

Just wanted to bump this. Have been making various types of coffees in the french press and noticing that water temp definitely plays a role in taste. Just a preference but I've found 92-93 degrees to be the sweet spot. Most coffee I find too bitter and I think too hot of temp ends up partially burning the beans.

Also thinking of splurging and trying some baller coffee beans from Jamaica:

http://www.cafesvolcanik.com/en/

[suntan]

You are correct. 195F - 205F is the recommended range according to the Specialty Coffee Association of America.