The Convenience of Hot Water

[Thirsty Daruma]

I'm curious to see how people keep their tea water ready...or unready. Mostly because I lack a fancy enough electric kettle to do so, I brew about 2 cups of hot water every time I want a new serving of tea, but I've been looking at these Zojirushi electric kettles that can maintain a batch of water at a certain temperature for instant tea bliss. Does this somehow spoil the water or make it undesirable for tea making, or is it just a really fantastic convenience?

[Grubby]

i would see it as waste of power

[Mary R]

Actually, the Zojis are pretty efficient. Their product literature mentions something about how boiling the same amount with an electric kettle uses more energy. I'll make a note to look for that.

[Geekgirl]

I love my zoji. If you are drinking tea throughout the day, it is much more efficient than reboiling every time you wish to make another cup. And it has a sleep function so you can boil once in the morning, then before you leave the house, put it to sleep for x hours. It will start itself back up at timer's end and you will have hot for the evening again.

Less water waste too, since you aren't pouring out the extra water in between each boil.

I really can't taste a difference from zoji to kettle.

[Cinnamon Kitty]

I love my zoji. If you are drinking tea throughout the day, it is much more efficient than reboiling every time you wish to make another cup. And it has a sleep function so you can boil once in the morning, then before you leave the house, put it to sleep for x hours. It will start itself back up at timer's end and you will have hot for the evening again.

Less water waste too, since you aren't pouring out the extra water in between each boil.

I really can't taste a difference from zoji to kettle.

Seconded. I love the timer function. I set it in the evening to be ready when I get up in the morning and then set it again to be ready when I am home from work. I just keep the water at 195* in the evening when I am home so it is either ready or close to being ready whenever I want tea.

[Dr. Eel]

i wish i had a zoji, but im satisfied with my utilitea. i generally fill it up maybe half or 1/3 full and boil it. i let it cool if need be, and by the time i've warmed the teaware and made tea, i need to refill the kettle anyways. the utilitea is quick, which i like.

[Sydney]

I've been tempted by zoji-like offerings at a local asian market, but am sticking with my cheap plastic kettle for now.

It has 2 settings, and one is off.

[neowolf]

You people have me highly tempted by Zojis. Right now the fanciest thing I have water wise is my trinitea, which is great for hands off brewing a sizeable amount. (Say to bring in my thermos to work.) But perhaps a bit overboard when I just want a quiet cup for myself.

[auggy]

Zojirushi! I love mine. I set the timer at night for the morning and after my morning tea I set it again for when I get home. I'm now spoiled. The times I go to my parents' and make tea, I dislike waiting for the water to boil and then cool to the right temp. As for water quality, I do rinse and refill my zoji every night (but then I typically go through most of the 4L in there every day anyway).

[Salsero]

Zoji here

[Michael_C]

Zojirushi here. Honestly, it might seem expensive, but how many kitchen appliances do you use for hours every day? How much does a good food processor cost? Once you get that water heater in the kitchen, it will stay in use CONSTANTLY. Look at it like that, and it's extremely inexpensive.

[kymidwife]

OK you Zoji people are sorely tempting me... which models can you recommend? I am lusting after the one with the non-electric thermal heating to keep energy usage down. There's loads on ebay... new, not refurbs... and I am feeling tempted.

Sarah

[Salsero]

OK you Zoji people are sorely tempting me... which models can you recommend? I am lusting after the one with the non-electric thermal heating to keep energy usage down. There's loads on ebay... new, not refurbs... and I am feeling tempted.

I use the 3 liter CD-LCC30. I think they are all quite thermal and efficient power consumers. The only bad thing is that they take 15 or 20 minutes to get from cold water to hot.

[Smells_Familiar]

I heat water in a non-electric kettle.

Hey Salsero, I know that you've been sorta moving away from traditional gongfu cha methods. Do you use the Zoji for your Salfu cha or do you use a kettle?

[greenisgood]

i have a stove kettle too. i originally thought of getting a zoj but then was somewhat turned away with the thought of gong fu'ing with it using a small yixing... still not sure though.