Your tea kettle

[mcmoogly]

What kind of tea kettle do you all use? Just curious what people boil their water with. I'm looking for a good one and hoping for some ideas!

[Mary R]

When I really want to control the temperature of my water, I use a cheap Proctor Silex pot and a digital meat thermometer. The two work well together...the thermometer rests nicely in the spout when I'm heating water. And together the thermometer and kettle were only about $25. Not too bad.

When it comes to my daily tea habit, I've been using Adagio's new utiliTEA. I really like the variable temperature. It's not precise and it did take me a couple weeks to find the dial spots where I could get approx. 160ºF and 180ºF water...but now I have and it's allowed me to return to my usual absent-minded haze.

[Eastree]

I also have the same model Proctor Silex kettle. It works well. I just had to be patient, and stop assuming the first growling meant the water was boiling. I would recommend using a thermometer with it, just so you can know for sure. Really, my only complaint about the PS kettle is the shape of the spout. Especially when the kettle is closer to full, it's difficult to execute a slow, controlled pour without making a little bit of a mess. But for a faster pour, it's great for filling larger pots.

I'm getting my other kettle on Tuesday. It's also an electric kettle, but more of a hot plate with a kettle on top (not really a hot plate, but the base and the kettle are not attached, but require each other to work properly). It has a temperature adjustment, and it will have a very controlled pour. Wonderful for gong fu.

[Mocha Wheels]

i boil my water 1 cup (well actually 6oz.) at a time so it's just easier to put it in a microwavable measuring cup w/ a spout and microwave on high for 2 mins

[Wesli]

Hmm, how about the...


ZOJIRUSHI !

Rage

[Al]

At home I have a 4 liter Zojirushi, and I just bought a Utilitea to bring to the office.

[scruffmcgruff]

I have the same kettle Eastree is getting. I also have a Bodum mini-ibis, which is probably the fastest water boiler I've ever seen, and a variable temp. kettle (similar to the utiliTEA) from Upton. I bought the chinese kettle for the same reason as Eastree: it has a more controlled pour. Plus it looks so cool!

[Chip]

...for the most part, I have been using the Upton version of the UtiliTEA. I usually use it for larger volumes of water, which since I am doing multible infusions, it works great. It is variable temp, but I am surprised how little I use this feature. I usually just boil the water, and it stays hot enough for brewing several steeps.

I just received a handsome gift from Xine, the actual variable temp utiliTEA. It is nicer than the Upton version and I will be using this instead.

If I just want around 8-12 oz of boiled water, I have a Sunbeam Hotshot which is extremely fast...and cheap.

[mcmoogly]

I heard that when you boil water in the microwave it changes the molecular structure, is this true? And can anyone notice a difference in taste from traditional and microwaved water?

[Chip]

I heard that when you boil water in the microwave it changes the molecular structure, is this true? And can anyone notice a difference in taste from traditional and microwaved water?

I posted on a related topic a while ago. I do not know if microwaving can actually change the molecular structure of a water molecule, but what I do know is that unused microwave energy can remain in the boiling water for a short period.

This became evident to me when I started drinking tea and used a microwave. When I would place the tea into the microwaved water, the unused energy seemed to attack the leaves causing a fizzing action, which I thought was kind of cool. But this adversely affected the taste of the tea when this happened.

Also, water is a magnet for odors in a microwave.

[mcmoogly]

Also, water is a magnet for odors in a microwave.

I have noticed this too. I just ordered my a UtiliTEA so I'm excited for it to come so I can dump the microwave

[Mocha Wheels]

i boil my water 1 cup (well actually 6oz.) at a time so it's just easier to put it in a microwavable measuring cup w/ a spout and microwave on high for 2 mins

well i'm also in a wheel chair so i can't use the stove- too dang short.

[Space Samurai]

hmm, its starting to make sense

[Mocha Wheels]

what do you mean by that?

[Wesli]

ROFL

"Tensions are running high today, here on TeaChat."