I finally decided I wanted a better water heater for tea than my only-boils-water electric kettle, and it seems that the Zojirushi are pretty much the best hot water heaters around.
From surfing their website, it seems that the two best options are either their new vacuum model:
http://www.zojirushi.com/ourproducts/el ... v_dsc.html
or the older minicom model:
http://www.zojirushi.com/ourproducts/el ... d_wbc.html
I really like the vacuum feature of the CV, as it should (theoretically) require much less reboiling and electricity, and it seems to be the only one they offer with this feature.
However, the second model is the only one which offers the 140 F temperature option, which the website is necessary for brewing some green teas.
I'm slowly learning more about tea, and recently ordered some top-grade gunpowder and dragonwell tea, and also drink jasmine dragon pearl and white tea (silver needle) often.
My question is this: how useful would the 140 F temperature setting for me, and which Zojirushi should I get?
Although the Zojirushi website claims that high quality green tea needs 140 F, pretty much everyone else, including the site I got the teas from, recommends 175-185F, which is a temperature all the Zojirushis offer...
Is 140 ever used for brewing tea? If so, which types? What is it good for if not (i.e. is there any good reason to get the older model or will I be okay with the newer one?) Does anyone have either of these heaters? Can the 'cold water' trick be used effectively with the CV model, or is it enough of a pain and the 140 F setting useful enough to get the older one?
Anything else I should know or consider?
Thanks for you time and your help!
Zithras
Jan 29th, '08, 23:34
Posts: 5151
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I got a zoji about six months ago because of comments by ABx and Fukamushi Dynasty about how great they are. I have been very happy with mine because I now spend a lot less time standing at the kettle waiting for it to heat again.
I was also concerned about the 140° F temperature, but opted for the 3 liter model, CD-LCC30, which has 175°, 195°, and 208°. I have noticed that water temp drops 20° or so when I put it into a cold cup, so I haven't had trouble getting the 160° to 165° I often use for Chinese greens. In my experience Japanese Gyokuro is the only tea where vendors recommend temperatures of 140° and you would have to have a well preheated pot so your 140° didn't drop quite a bit. I still use a thermometer when I feel temperature is an issue, but most of the time I am pretty comfortable without one because of the Zoji's readout.
So, basically I am happy I got the one with the three higher temps. Zoji is a Japanese company and their 140° product may be aimed at a market of Japanese Gyokuro drinkers.
I was also concerned about the 140° F temperature, but opted for the 3 liter model, CD-LCC30, which has 175°, 195°, and 208°. I have noticed that water temp drops 20° or so when I put it into a cold cup, so I haven't had trouble getting the 160° to 165° I often use for Chinese greens. In my experience Japanese Gyokuro is the only tea where vendors recommend temperatures of 140° and you would have to have a well preheated pot so your 140° didn't drop quite a bit. I still use a thermometer when I feel temperature is an issue, but most of the time I am pretty comfortable without one because of the Zoji's readout.
So, basically I am happy I got the one with the three higher temps. Zoji is a Japanese company and their 140° product may be aimed at a market of Japanese Gyokuro drinkers.
Jan 29th, '08, 23:35
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scruffmcgruff
The 140º setting will be helpful in two main situations (that I can think of):
1. Gyokuro. This tea doesn't like to go over much more than 140, and once you get into the 150-160 range it's pretty much toast.
2. Glass brewing. This is a very simple and convenient way to brew tea. Basically, you throw some leaves in a regular tall glass, usually Chinese green tea or some sort of oolong, and add ~140º water. Wait a bit, drink (with the leaves still in the glass) at your leisure, and add more water to the leaves when you run out of liquid. This works because the water is not hot enough to oversteep the leaves over any reasonable period of time. When the leaves finally give out, just add more leaf and more water, and keep on truckin'.
As I don't have a consistent source of 140º water, glass brewing is not very convenient for me to do on a regular basis. If I had a Zoji though, I would probably use this method more often.
1. Gyokuro. This tea doesn't like to go over much more than 140, and once you get into the 150-160 range it's pretty much toast.
2. Glass brewing. This is a very simple and convenient way to brew tea. Basically, you throw some leaves in a regular tall glass, usually Chinese green tea or some sort of oolong, and add ~140º water. Wait a bit, drink (with the leaves still in the glass) at your leisure, and add more water to the leaves when you run out of liquid. This works because the water is not hot enough to oversteep the leaves over any reasonable period of time. When the leaves finally give out, just add more leaf and more water, and keep on truckin'.
As I don't have a consistent source of 140º water, glass brewing is not very convenient for me to do on a regular basis. If I had a Zoji though, I would probably use this method more often.
So, basically, the consensus seems to be that unless I'm mostly drinking gyokuro, I should be okay with the newer model right?
(I just ordered some gyokuro, just to taste it, but can always let the water cool in a cup for a minute before I put in the leaves, or throw some cold water into the pot... - in any case, I doubt I'll be drinking it often).
On another related note, any suggestions on a good infuser? (I've been looking at the larger SwissGold one...)
Thanks again for the posts!
Zithras
(I just ordered some gyokuro, just to taste it, but can always let the water cool in a cup for a minute before I put in the leaves, or throw some cold water into the pot... - in any case, I doubt I'll be drinking it often).
On another related note, any suggestions on a good infuser? (I've been looking at the larger SwissGold one...)
Thanks again for the posts!
Zithras
Jan 31st, '08, 08:48
Posts: 5151
Joined: Dec 20th, '06, 23:33
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Location: Gainesville, Florida
I love infuser baskets since I make only one cup most of the time. I try to find a basket that is as close as I can get to the same width as my cup so the leaves are as little confined as possible. The specific ones that I use are made by Finum and by Teeli, but I think there are several brands that are more or less the same. The SwissGold looks a little narrow, but that may just be an illusion.
Jan 31st, '08, 16:09
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tenuki
Love my Zoji, had it for 2 years now, no sign of problems, and man, so convenient!
Unless you are super worried about electrical usage, the normal zoji uses about the equivalent of a light bulb's electricity, which in the US means ~$35 a year.
Unless you are super worried about electrical usage, the normal zoji uses about the equivalent of a light bulb's electricity, which in the US means ~$35 a year.
Do something different, something different will happen. ( Gong Fu Garden )
Jan 31st, '08, 16:32
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ABx
Ah, Tenuki beat me to it. The regular Zoji doesn't use much electricity at all. I saw somewhere (the Zoji website?) that the accumulated usage throughout the day is something like 500 watts for the standard model.
I have the plain 3 liter model and am quite happy with it. I pretty much always leave it at 208 because, as Salsero pointed out, pouring the water into the brewing vessel drops the temp pretty dramatically. This means that for green teas I simply pour the water and then add the leaves without any pre-heating. For teas that need higher temps I just pre-heat the brewing vessel and then pour water over the leaves.
I have to admit, though, that the Minicom's feature to pour more slowly would be nice, as some teas do better when the water is poured more slowly, but there are other ways to achieve the same results.
Fuka has the vacuum model and notes that it can take a while for the water to cool to the desired temp after boiling. I only let mine (standard model without the vacuum) get down as much as can be refilled with the Brita, and it only takes about 5 mins for the water to be fully ready, which means I never have to wait for water. The vacuum model may be better for someone that doesn't have to refill the pot more than once a day, though, so you might consider how much you'll be using it.
When it comes down to it they're all great. Just get the one with the features that suit your needs the most. They all have different advantages, and I would be reluctant to deem any one of them superior in any general sense.
Lastly, as far as getting water at 140, you can always do so by adding some room temp water (say, from a Brita) to the pot. The LCD display will show the current temp, so you can pour water in slowly until it shows the desired temp.
I have the plain 3 liter model and am quite happy with it. I pretty much always leave it at 208 because, as Salsero pointed out, pouring the water into the brewing vessel drops the temp pretty dramatically. This means that for green teas I simply pour the water and then add the leaves without any pre-heating. For teas that need higher temps I just pre-heat the brewing vessel and then pour water over the leaves.
I have to admit, though, that the Minicom's feature to pour more slowly would be nice, as some teas do better when the water is poured more slowly, but there are other ways to achieve the same results.
Fuka has the vacuum model and notes that it can take a while for the water to cool to the desired temp after boiling. I only let mine (standard model without the vacuum) get down as much as can be refilled with the Brita, and it only takes about 5 mins for the water to be fully ready, which means I never have to wait for water. The vacuum model may be better for someone that doesn't have to refill the pot more than once a day, though, so you might consider how much you'll be using it.
When it comes down to it they're all great. Just get the one with the features that suit your needs the most. They all have different advantages, and I would be reluctant to deem any one of them superior in any general sense.
Lastly, as far as getting water at 140, you can always do so by adding some room temp water (say, from a Brita) to the pot. The LCD display will show the current temp, so you can pour water in slowly until it shows the desired temp.