I've had this kettle for 6 years and have used it almost daily. Still working as great as the day I purchased it and the temperature readings are accurate. Great investment.
I always fill a glass jug with water whenever I fill up my Bonavita and keep it nearby. It means you can refill your kettle for a long session, refreshing the water to stop it getting that overboiled water taste. It also lets you add a few splashes of water to it after it gets to 60 degrees to bring it down to 50 degrees for gyokuros. The plastic inside does nag at me enough that I do intend on replacing the Bonavita with a clay boiler and a thermometer because I've found water boiled in good quality clay oxygenates it and makes for a better brew. The Bonavita is a great workhorse that will fit the needs of 95% of tea and coffee drinkers in my opinion.
I use this kettle for Gyokuro and I find that the temperature display gives me the ability to choose whatever temp I want, I just have to pay attention and pick up the kettle! Thanks for the review!
As amazing as it is for gong fu, this kettle really does excel in the coffee department. As far as pour over coffee, where timing between pours and pour time is everything, the accuracy of the gooseneck and timers make this kettle so amazing for coffee.
Love this Kettle, using it for one year now. a little slow but, or someone else already said, it's not such a big issue, it helps to really enjoy your brewing session. also agree with the fact that if you need temperatures lower than 60 you can easily check the temperature when heating and stop it lifting up the Kettlefor a second or adding the required amount of cold water. also find its timer function_ very useful. Thank you for this review, agree with most of your comments.
I think this is the most in depth review I have seen of this kettle. I actually have this already but I still enjoyed watching this review. Also I did not know that timer thing until this video I dont mind it being one liter only because I always have a big tumbler of water whenever I brew
I've had my Bonavita 1L for about 3 weeks now and I like it for the temperature control and the hold function. For me, it heated 1L of water in 2:45 minutes which was 10 seconds slower than my Farberware 1.7L 1500w electric kettle and I'm fine with that. The things I don't like about it, and its really small stuff, is the short cord, the 3 legged base, and maybe a slow pour. The cord is short and as a result, there is only 2 places I can put it on the kitchen counter. If I put it on the counter were I want it, I have to use an extension cord. The base rests on 3 short rubber pads and as a result, the base does rock a little bit with pressure. 4 legs or pads would have been more stable. The slow pour is not really an issue but I'm used to pouring out water fast into my french press for tea with my Faberware. I haven't done any gong fu brewing yet but I can see were the slower pour would be quite nice. I do like the temperature control. Its pretty accurate with a 1 degree +/- swing in temperature. I've checked using other thermometers. I also like that there are some preset temperatures to choose from but that you can also manually set your own temperatures. Over all I like the unit and based on what I know now, I would buy it again.
I removed the rubber feet (which are easily detatchable and re-attachable) and replaced them with small sliding foam pads that are used to put on the legs of chairs to keep them from scuffing the floor. This made it easy to slide from the back to the counter to the front when in use, but it doesn't slide too easily which keeps it safe.
Ugh, the max preset temperature is 208F and it keeps stopping at 202F! It ticks a bunch and then decides it's done, and this is even after heating it multiple times in a row. Maybe it's because I have the cover on. I'll try taking the cover off and heating again. Edit: Apparently I did not take elevation into account. The maximum is 202F/94C at 6,000 feet above sea level, therefore it will not go above that.
Hey Don, love your review and the kettle. Using it for several months now. I recommend it. Time to heat up is really not a problem. Patience, tea is a ceremony.
Hi Don, I really enjoyed your review, thanks! Makes me glad I bought the Brewista instead of the Bonavita when I decided on a kettle last year. It's very similar to the Bonavita, but deals with most of your cons: no plastic inside, larger volume (1,2l), considerably quicker heating temps and it has a beep to indicate it reaching temperature. It also does not, however, go below 60°C and has a cord of similar length, but it features a standard plug so you can use a longer cable without having to use an extension cord or having to dismantle the base.
I thought I read that brewista has a plastic/rubber thingy where the thermometer interfaces to the inside of the pot? That‘s why I was unsure about purchase... someone in one of the amazon rewiews mentioned that... if not true, please let me know, because that opens another option for me then...
Hi Don, I have the 1.7L Bonavita kettle and purchased it Summer 2017 -- so I've had mine about the same amount of time you've had your Bonavita kettle. I use it every day. In fact, because of all the great features in the Bonavita, my Bodum kettle is feeling rather neglected and I only use the Bodum when I need to boil water in order to speed up cooking time when preparing meals. Bonavita has certainly done a fantastic job. One thing you did not talk about is the size of the pouring stream -- it is narrow enough to fill my travel mug without removing the top. I do share all the gripes you had. The lead length -- well, let's just say that size really does matter. In my own opinion, the plastic piece on the inside is completely unnecessary and they could have possibly found a way around that one. I always expect the handle on kettles to be imperfect/awkward so that is not a major griping point for me since nobody has seemed to solve that one anyway. The time it takes to go from 15 C to 100 C with 1.7 litres is even more disappointing -- but in my experience, I've learned to live with it since I believe my Bodum isn't much faster. I too wish they would make their kettle to heat to lower temperatures as well. I love all the features in the base and I love the fact that they included that extra cover -- I keep it on. I wish it were a little cheaper, but they've really produced a very fine product and even though I might complain about the odd feature, I agree that this kettle has blown all the other ones away. I certainly hope it lasts a long time, but if it ever breaks down, I would consider buying another one.
I have an equivalent kettle, the Gourmia GPK720 digital base gooseneck kettle. It is very much like the Bonavita in terms of temperature control and function as it is also designed for pour over coffee. It doesn't have the timer but it does have a discreet low audible beep when it reaches temperature. It has a little different shape with the top being a tapered conical shape rather than the dome shape of the Bonavita. The Gourmia is also a 1 liter kettle, but you can put in a little more without problem. I like it at the 1 liter point though as the balance and pour control are perfect. I also have a 1.7 liter Epica temperature control kettle and I have to say that if your goal is control of the pour you don't want to go over 1 liter. The bigger the kettle, usually taller, and when full much more difficult to control the pour and to handle comfortably for a controlled pour. The Gourmia has no plastic at all inside the kettle. I love the gooseneck of the kettle for its pouring, but it can also be a little annoying as it sticks out enough where if you are not watching you hit things with it (no problem if you have a clear counter) and I would suspect the easiest part to damage (I have no intention of testing that!). Overall, I love using the gooseneck, when brewing in a small 100 to 140 ml gaiwan or yixing teapot just because of the comfort and control.
Just to let you know, i have the same model, i love it ... But for the time, i just did a little test: - 40C to 95C, it took ~4+ minutes - 35C to 95C, it took ~5+ minutes > cold water
HEY! I have one of those! one of the best kettles ever. temp control, timer, stainless steal, hold feature. take don's word for it and my own too. this is the premier kettle for tea for me
Been using the 1.7 L version for about a year now and it has worked great for me. I did also notice the short cord length, and sometimes I have had to use an extension cord. Apart from that, it's a solid kettle.
Great review! Ive been using this kettle for about 9 months now and I love it but there are some features that could be upgraded( to make it the perfect kettle). Don, you hit on them all which was great. The biggest for me is having to go click that button : ) every time I drop the kettle back onto its base, in order to hold the temperature in place. I never realized that I could use the base as a timer so thanks for that.
I love the kettle. The reason I initially chose it because it made no sounds so as not to disturb my family when I have late night tea sessions. I'm glad you addressed the temperature change in the spout - many might not realize that. Regarding your gripes: 1. Short cord. I never thought about this though I have my sessions close to an outlet so it never came up. Any other location I did would require an extension cord no matter how long of a cord came with the kettle. 2. Handle. That surprised me in your review but then I realized that when I grab the handle I keep my pinky finger outside. Thanks for the review and the great video as always.
You lit up my lights when you mentioned single malt and aged white. I'm watching this with a ruby GABA vodka tonic with orange bitters and lemon garnish. I've been experimenting with single malts on the side since jade star 1. The sensei in white tea slaps my hand every time I pick the scotch up. Perhaps we all need to hear what we need to hear. Awesome kettle might get one. Great review. I'm also quite happy with my Breville glass 1 L. I wish it could brew 100ml min. That way I'd get full boil every time. For temperature, I follow the shrimp, crab, fish eye trick I learned from you. works like a charm.
I don't think that the long initial brew time would bother me that much honestly. 6 minutes really isn't that much time out of my life. If it didn't have the hold function, so had to slow-heat every time I wanted a new brew, that would drive me completely bananas, but since it's only once per kettle, I don't think it would bug me.
I have a couple of kettles, this being one. I find this is much better for coffee for some of the reasons you mentioned (short power cord, capacity, speed to heat, pouring speed, noise). I ended up going with a different 1.7L kettle for gongfu, and a carafe to keep the water hot. This is PERFECT for pourovers!
Yet again, a great review. Very thorough. Thank you! You should compare the Bonavita to the Brewista Smart Brew kettle. They are very similar. But the Brewista has a slightly larger capacity (1.2 liters), heats up considerably faster, and has a time on function so set it up before you go to bed and you will have hot water right on time for breakfast.
4:55 I have the same kettle that I got on Amazon around May 2019 for $50. (Though Amazon doesn't seem to have any in stock at the moment.) Not sure if it was just on sale or something, but $80 - $100 sounds a little high for this.
Go get a fellow stagg kettle. These are just perfect. All negative aspects (Timer, plastik, etc) are better with this one. Except the size (max. 0.9l) and the Price (about 160€) are downsizes. I can highly recommended it!
If you are a coffee and tea enthusiast like me, a kettle like this would be perfect. However, opt for the Brewista or the Stagg. They heat much faster than the Bonavita. Also, try pairing a Sencha with an entry-level Islay whisky. It intensifies the sea spray/ sea air flavor of it. :)
Does anyone know about a kettle where you can put it back and it still keeps the same temperature you originally requested? So essentially you can set temperature once for the whole session.
After watching your previous kettle review video I visited a kitchen ware shop and ended up buying the Bonavita, I thought it ticked the most boxes. It has been very good and I enjoy using it, the spout really suits small gaiwans. Good looking too. I didn't know about the timer function, should have read the manual!
Great review, for Gong fu brewing, what are some best kettle you have used in terms of easy to use, not imparting metallic taste, no plastic element, speed to heat, have hold function ?
I recently bought the Brewista Artisan. It's the prettiest kettle I've ever seen. Functions and options are great, almost perfect. The overall quality is good, although it doesn't quite justify the high price tag. I guess you also pay for the design and the fancy touch buttons. The pour is perfect for me. Similar to the Bonavita, but slower and the spout is smaller so it's suitable even for my tiny 60 ml clay pots. Some may be put off by the volume which is only 600 ml (but you can fill it up to 800 ml without a problem). I have two minor issues: 1. I'm not a big fan of this type of snap-on lid (like the Bonavita). 2. The base makes an audible buzzing noise when switched off.
+Roughbladez try to seek out all glass interior or steel and avoid the plastic ones in my opinion. Thermos flasks are fine for brewing out and about as long as you cannot taste plastic in water.
OH, now I want this kettle! I have a Breville and am not pleased with accuracy. Also, pour quality...ick. This will be my next tea-related purchase. Thanks so much!
This is my tea kettle :) I love it. I've been using it for over two years and never knew it had that timer function :D . . . same complaints, but all in all, I did a lot of research before purchasing it and it's a lot of bang for your buck
The Oxo brew 1L variable temperature kettle, which is very similar to the Bonavita, goes down to 40C, so you can brew gyukoro with it, and it costs about the same.
Catherine Smyth In one of the Amazon questions about the Brewista, someone said it has a silicon ring on the inside that touches the water. Is that true? Thanks!
refreshingAnd I have just looked at this and can confirm it has a soft rubber-like ring around the temperature probe. I didn't know of nor see this prior to your comment. Thank you
Joseph Trudeau In equal comparison to the numbers he gave about how long the kettles take to heat, how long does the 1.7L take? If you take the time to measure you'll be the nicest! lol
I got this kettle a couple years ago for my pour over coffee but recently I've started using it for my tea and I have to say that I love if for both. I have the same gripes about it that you do but most of them are minor with the exception of that short power cord that is a major issue for me I have to use a lead cord or it would be useless for me.
Soon we will be pairing aged white teas with vapourised craft cannabis flowers, extracts and aged hashes....that what I do with my Mei leaf teas :) the two complement each other in taste and effect, medicinally and recreationally.
Hey Don ! Do you know if it is still available in the EU ? Trying to find a supplier for the old and new models, it's getting very frustrating now. I watched your video about Staff Ekg but reviews are not very promising and price is a bit too much. Happy New Year to you and Celine, cheers 😊
Don't you think it's better to use glass than stainless steel for health? I ordered the trendglas kettle instead of opting for bona vita or stag ... they are convenient though for temperature setting!
I have the same problem with the power chord lenth I want to make a coffee/tea bar on wheels so that I can move it around the kitchen but the chord is so shot that it can't reach any of the outlets. And it says not to use a extension chord!
Quick question! I am very close to buying one of these but I’m worried about it being too loud. Is it relatively quiet or loud like many other kettles? Thanks!
Wow, the plastic inside is a killer, and having to press hold each time. I'm skeptical of stainless steel instead of glass, much less plastic. Just wish there was a way to have temperature regulation and holding for my glass kettle :) I can do it the traditional way and skip all that though for the trade offs. I wonder if the Fellow Stag is better than this one as far as stainless steel thermoregulating kettles go?
I think this is my biggest issue with this style of brewing. I love everything besides the fact that i have to drag an electric kettle around with me everywhere if i want to drink my tea in comfort. I can handle and even like the tray set, but electrics almost ruin the vibe for me. Also, i'd rather not have to move my kettle about every time i want to drink tea.
If you're drinking Tie Guan Yin and your gaiwan is not packed, you're not using enough leaves! Though I have to admit that I never had a gaiwan so packed as the one in this video... I'll need to up my game at my next gongfu session! 😀
I actually use the Vektra more than the others despite its awful pour but this is mostly because I taste a lot of teas and it is so useful to have a large capacity of thermally insulated water. If I was to choose one for tea sessions a couple of times a day it would probably be the EKG. There is no perfect kettle that I have tried though.
@@MeiLeaf Thanks! I also have the EKG and love it, luckily I'm not doing many sessions each day so 0.9L is ok for me. would like it to pour a bit faster though in some occasions! Agree that there is no perfect one. Maybe time for a meileaf kettle ;)?
Hi, I’m a new subscriber and I was wondering if you could review popular store green teabags, such as PG tips, Tetley, twinnings etc... that would be really helpful thank you!
@Mei Leaf I have difficulties with finding this kettle in Europe. In particular, I am looking for their 1.0l version. If you know about any store that sells it, I'd appreciate if you let me know. Thanks in advance!
The plastic handle protruding inside is a showstopper for me. Undesirable compounds from the heated plastic will inevitably contaminate the steam and the water. Massive design flaw IMO.
Seriously Mei Leaf, what is the point of reviewing a product that is not available to buy in the UK? I get you have worldwide custom, but, I can't get hold of the product here in little old England, ya know, where you're actually based?
pretty solid content, but I felt like you stretched out some pretty basic things that if you made more concise, the video could've been 10 minutes with greater progression in your explanation
This kettle was pretty much ticking all my boxes, but then fails on the plastic inside - just poor design, not acceptable for such a premium price product. I'll keep boiling my water in a stainless steel pot.
I just found a kettle called „Doctor Hetzner“ on Amazon in Germany, no plastic inside, looks ok, has the temp control on the handle, and beeps once when temp reached. Holds temp for 1 hour. Stainless steel. Costs 55€, so a bit cheaper as well. I ordered it today, now that Bonavita definitely failed in plastic snd time to boil. According to the reviews, Hetzner boils in 3 min... so let‘s see if that holds up when it arrives. Thank you Don for the clear and honest review! If there were no alternatives, the bonavita and brewista might have been my kettle, but Dr. Hetzner just came back in stock and before I try compromise kettles at higher price, I‘m going to test the theoretically tick all boxes model first. No plastic is important to me... you never know.
Got the Hetzner and been testing on weekend: 4 min boil (1liter), holds temp well, precise temps, variable to the deg, solid build, no plastic inside (yay!). Problems: cord is again short, the hold doesn’t resume after you pour, so you need to keep clicking to your desired temp. I think the Oxo and Stag (both from US) have resume automatic, but also very pricey. All in all, great kettle: excellent pouring.
I found the Doctor Hetzner kettle on amazon.it too (I'm from Italy), I used it for three days and it seems amazing but today I noticed that the gooseneck is glued and not wielded!! The water had a strange smell and I noticed glue inside that if i stick my nail in it piece of glue comes off!! WTF!? It's just mine or yours are tha same too? I'm returning it.
Andrea Cuiuli 😲 I‘ll check tomorrow after my biz trip. I have been using it for months now and never had this issue (am very happy with it, actually), but I‘ll post once I checked. Thanks for flagging.
No offense, but your remark on the lenght of the cable is a bit... stupid. Most of us leave the kettle in the kitchen and a long cable is just a nightmare to manage. You never know where to put it, it lays freely everywhere, ... If you really need a longer cable, just use an extension cord.
I plan to leave my old kettle in the kitchen for cooking and stuff, and have my tea kettle on the tea caddy (sideboard on wheels, all tea collections & teaware inside, coming soon!) - that way I have a mobile tea setup I can take with me all over the house/garden. Wish I had a tea pavilion, with garden, ponds, and bridges, but oh well, a mobile tea kettle is a good start... :)
Yeah my #1 annoyance is the short cable. I needed to actually tape my surge protector to the table (I move the kettle around a lot) because the cord can't even reach the floor from my table!
I've had this kettle for 6 years and have used it almost daily. Still working as great as the day I purchased it and the temperature readings are accurate. Great investment.
Oliv Trees thanks this comment has sold me!
How is the maintenance? Is it easy to clean, and how often do you have to clean it?
Love this kettle, best widely available kettle on the market. I highly recommend the 1.7L though, and that version has zero plastic.
zero plastic?
Does is still work 2 years later?
@@jstjohn83 Would be nice to know, I am looking to buy one
@@Jg-hg5ch I bought it anyway and have used it daily. I love it
@@jstjohn83 does the 1.7L really have no plastic?
I've had this kettle for a 1.5 years now and I love it! It's on amazon for $62 (I'm in America), so it a great deal!
I always fill a glass jug with water whenever I fill up my Bonavita and keep it nearby. It means you can refill your kettle for a long session, refreshing the water to stop it getting that overboiled water taste. It also lets you add a few splashes of water to it after it gets to 60 degrees to bring it down to 50 degrees for gyokuros. The plastic inside does nag at me enough that I do intend on replacing the Bonavita with a clay boiler and a thermometer because I've found water boiled in good quality clay oxygenates it and makes for a better brew. The Bonavita is a great workhorse that will fit the needs of 95% of tea and coffee drinkers in my opinion.
Ayyy, a fellow Dr. Greger appreciator!
I use this kettle for Gyokuro and I find that the temperature display gives me the ability to choose whatever temp I want, I just have to pay attention and pick up the kettle!
Thanks for the review!
That is really good to know! Thank you.
As amazing as it is for gong fu, this kettle really does excel in the coffee department. As far as pour over coffee, where timing between pours and pour time is everything, the accuracy of the gooseneck and timers make this kettle so amazing for coffee.
Love this Kettle, using it for one year now. a little slow but, or someone else already said, it's not such a big issue, it helps to really enjoy your brewing session. also agree with the fact that if you need temperatures lower than 60 you can easily check the temperature when heating and stop it lifting up the Kettlefor a second or adding the required amount of cold water. also find its timer function_ very useful. Thank you for this review, agree with most of your comments.
I think this is the most in depth review I have seen of this kettle. I actually have this already but I still enjoyed watching this review. Also I did not know that timer thing until this video
I dont mind it being one liter only because I always have a big tumbler of water whenever I brew
And a 1.7 L would be pretty heavy I'd think.
I've had my Bonavita 1L for about 3 weeks now and I like it for the temperature control and the hold function. For me, it heated 1L of water in 2:45 minutes which was 10 seconds slower than my Farberware 1.7L 1500w electric kettle and I'm fine with that. The things I don't like about it, and its really small stuff, is the short cord, the 3 legged base, and maybe a slow pour. The cord is short and as a result, there is only 2 places I can put it on the kitchen counter. If I put it on the counter were I want it, I have to use an extension cord. The base rests on 3 short rubber pads and as a result, the base does rock a little bit with pressure. 4 legs or pads would have been more stable. The slow pour is not really an issue but I'm used to pouring out water fast into my french press for tea with my Faberware. I haven't done any gong fu brewing yet but I can see were the slower pour would be quite nice. I do like the temperature control. Its pretty accurate with a 1 degree +/- swing in temperature. I've checked using other thermometers. I also like that there are some preset temperatures to choose from but that you can also manually set your own temperatures. Over all I like the unit and based on what I know now, I would buy it again.
I removed the rubber feet (which are easily detatchable and re-attachable) and replaced them with small sliding foam pads that are used to put on the legs of chairs to keep them from scuffing the floor. This made it easy to slide from the back to the counter to the front when in use, but it doesn't slide too easily which keeps it safe.
Ugh, the max preset temperature is 208F and it keeps stopping at 202F! It ticks a bunch and then decides it's done, and this is even after heating it multiple times in a row. Maybe it's because I have the cover on. I'll try taking the cover off and heating again.
Edit: Apparently I did not take elevation into account. The maximum is 202F/94C at 6,000 feet above sea level, therefore it will not go above that.
Hey Don, love your review and the kettle. Using it for several months now. I recommend it. Time to heat up is really not a problem. Patience, tea is a ceremony.
Hi Don, I really enjoyed your review, thanks! Makes me glad I bought the Brewista instead of the Bonavita when I decided on a kettle last year. It's very similar to the Bonavita, but deals with most of your cons: no plastic inside, larger volume (1,2l), considerably quicker heating temps and it has a beep to indicate it reaching temperature. It also does not, however, go below 60°C and has a cord of similar length, but it features a standard plug so you can use a longer cable without having to use an extension cord or having to dismantle the base.
I thought I read that brewista has a plastic/rubber thingy where the thermometer interfaces to the inside of the pot? That‘s why I was unsure about purchase... someone in one of the amazon rewiews mentioned that... if not true, please let me know, because that opens another option for me then...
The Brewista does have a rubber seal that contacts the water.
Hi Don, I have the 1.7L Bonavita kettle and purchased it Summer 2017 -- so I've had mine about the same amount of time you've had your Bonavita kettle. I use it every day. In fact, because of all the great features in the Bonavita, my Bodum kettle is feeling rather neglected and I only use the Bodum when I need to boil water in order to speed up cooking time when preparing meals. Bonavita has certainly done a fantastic job.
One thing you did not talk about is the size of the pouring stream -- it is narrow enough to fill my travel mug without removing the top.
I do share all the gripes you had. The lead length -- well, let's just say that size really does matter.
In my own opinion, the plastic piece on the inside is completely unnecessary and they could have possibly found a way around that one.
I always expect the handle on kettles to be imperfect/awkward so that is not a major griping point for me since nobody has seemed to solve that one anyway.
The time it takes to go from 15 C to 100 C with 1.7 litres is even more disappointing -- but in my experience, I've learned to live with it since I believe my Bodum isn't much faster.
I too wish they would make their kettle to heat to lower temperatures as well.
I love all the features in the base and I love the fact that they included that extra cover -- I keep it on.
I wish it were a little cheaper, but they've really produced a very fine product and even though I might complain about the odd feature, I agree that this kettle has blown all the other ones away.
I certainly hope it lasts a long time, but if it ever breaks down, I would consider buying another one.
I have an equivalent kettle, the Gourmia GPK720 digital base gooseneck kettle. It is very much like the Bonavita in terms of temperature control and function as it is also designed for pour over coffee. It doesn't have the timer but it does have a discreet low audible beep when it reaches temperature. It has a little different shape with the top being a tapered conical shape rather than the dome shape of the Bonavita. The Gourmia is also a 1 liter kettle, but you can put in a little more without problem. I like it at the 1 liter point though as the balance and pour control are perfect. I also have a 1.7 liter Epica temperature control kettle and I have to say that if your goal is control of the pour you don't want to go over 1 liter. The bigger the kettle, usually taller, and when full much more difficult to control the pour and to handle comfortably for a controlled pour. The Gourmia has no plastic at all inside the kettle. I love the gooseneck of the kettle for its pouring, but it can also be a little annoying as it sticks out enough where if you are not watching you hit things with it (no problem if you have a clear counter) and I would suspect the easiest part to damage (I have no intention of testing that!).
Overall, I love using the gooseneck, when brewing in a small 100 to 140 ml gaiwan or yixing teapot just because of the comfort and control.
Just to let you know, i have the same model, i love it ...
But for the time, i just did a little test:
- 40C to 95C, it took ~4+ minutes
- 35C to 95C, it took ~5+ minutes > cold water
HEY! I have one of those! one of the best kettles ever. temp control, timer, stainless steal, hold feature. take don's word for it and my own too. this is the premier kettle for tea for me
whiskey and tea?!? I like to see a video of that.
And invite us to that next session!
Been using the 1.7 L version for about a year now and it has worked great for me.
I did also notice the short cord length, and sometimes I have had to use an extension cord.
Apart from that, it's a solid kettle.
creek does it still work well for you?
Great review!
Ive been using this kettle for about 9 months now and I love it but there are some features that could be upgraded( to make it the perfect kettle).
Don, you hit on them all which was great. The biggest for me is having to go click that button : ) every time I drop the kettle back onto its base, in order to hold the temperature in place.
I never realized that I could use the base as a timer so thanks for that.
I love the kettle. The reason I initially chose it because it made no sounds so as not to disturb my family when I have late night tea sessions. I'm glad you addressed the temperature change in the spout - many might not realize that. Regarding your gripes:
1. Short cord. I never thought about this though I have my sessions close to an outlet so it never came up. Any other location I did would require an extension cord no matter how long of a cord came with the kettle.
2. Handle. That surprised me in your review but then I realized that when I grab the handle I keep my pinky finger outside.
Thanks for the review and the great video as always.
Great!!! I just bought the 1.7 L version a couples of weeks ago and I love it.
Javier Mauricio García Montes does the 1.7 liter version make a beep when brewing is complete
I've had this kettle for 3 years and I love it! Thanks for the review......
Mo Mapes so it still works well 3 years later?
Try to put your thumb through the hole and wrap your fingers around the handle. Total control and no pinching:)
Don't own one,but that makes perfect sense!
Forest coming out of that gaiwan
You lit up my lights when you mentioned single malt and aged white. I'm watching this with a ruby GABA vodka tonic with orange bitters and lemon garnish. I've been experimenting with single malts on the side since jade star 1. The sensei in white tea slaps my hand every time I pick the scotch up. Perhaps we all need to hear what we need to hear.
Awesome kettle might get one. Great review. I'm also quite happy with my Breville glass 1 L. I wish it could brew 100ml min. That way I'd get full boil every time. For temperature, I follow the shrimp, crab, fish eye trick I learned from you. works like a charm.
I don't think that the long initial brew time would bother me that much honestly. 6 minutes really isn't that much time out of my life. If it didn't have the hold function, so had to slow-heat every time I wanted a new brew, that would drive me completely bananas, but since it's only once per kettle, I don't think it would bug me.
I have a couple of kettles, this being one. I find this is much better for coffee for some of the reasons you mentioned (short power cord, capacity, speed to heat, pouring speed, noise). I ended up going with a different 1.7L kettle for gongfu, and a carafe to keep the water hot. This is PERFECT for pourovers!
Hi, I wonder if you use filtered water? And what kind of filter, like a BRITA filter.
An episode about water quality would be good.
the best water is distilled water
The best water is usually good mineral water or local spring water if you can get it. Distilled water tends to be acidic at room temperature.
Yet again, a great review. Very thorough. Thank you!
You should compare the Bonavita to the Brewista Smart Brew kettle. They are very similar. But the Brewista has a slightly larger capacity (1.2 liters), heats up considerably faster, and has a time on function so set it up before you go to bed and you will have hot water right on time for breakfast.
4:55 I have the same kettle that I got on Amazon around May 2019 for $50. (Though Amazon doesn't seem to have any in stock at the moment.) Not sure if it was just on sale or something, but $80 - $100 sounds a little high for this.
What is the best way to descale these kettles? Thank you
Thanks again, great info Supreme Tea Head!
I agree this is the best kettle.
Very good review. The pour is beautiful. Definitely needs a longer cord. What tea were you drinking. Thanks
Go get a fellow stagg kettle. These are just perfect. All negative aspects (Timer, plastik, etc) are better with this one. Except the size (max. 0.9l) and the Price (about 160€) are downsizes. I can highly recommended it!
If you are a coffee and tea enthusiast like me, a kettle like this would be perfect. However, opt for the Brewista or the Stagg. They heat much faster than the Bonavita.
Also, try pairing a Sencha with an entry-level Islay whisky. It intensifies the sea spray/ sea air flavor of it. :)
Does anyone know about a kettle where you can put it back and it still keeps the same temperature you originally requested? So essentially you can set temperature once for the whole session.
After watching your previous kettle review video I visited a kitchen ware shop and ended up buying the Bonavita, I thought it ticked the most boxes. It has been very good and I enjoy using it, the spout really suits small gaiwans. Good looking too. I didn't know about the timer function, should have read the manual!
Great review, for Gong fu brewing, what are some best kettle you have used in terms of easy to use, not imparting metallic taste, no plastic element, speed to heat, have hold function ?
I have this kettle and love It! Great review!
I would love to see a review of the brewista artisan and how it compares
I recently bought the Brewista Artisan. It's the prettiest kettle I've ever seen. Functions and options are great, almost perfect. The overall quality is good, although it doesn't quite justify the high price tag. I guess you also pay for the design and the fancy touch buttons. The pour is perfect for me. Similar to the Bonavita, but slower and the spout is smaller so it's suitable even for my tiny 60 ml clay pots. Some may be put off by the volume which is only 600 ml (but you can fill it up to 800 ml without a problem). I have two minor issues: 1. I'm not a big fan of this type of snap-on lid (like the Bonavita). 2. The base makes an audible buzzing noise when switched off.
May buy one tomorrow......great review!!! Thanks.
Hey Don! Any reccomendation for thermos flasks, or will any do? Also, are thermos flasks suitable for gong fu at all?
+Roughbladez try to seek out all glass interior or steel and avoid the plastic ones in my opinion. Thermos flasks are fine for brewing out and about as long as you cannot taste plastic in water.
Love to see the notes on the whisky/ aged white tea session
OH, now I want this kettle! I have a Breville and am not pleased with accuracy. Also, pour quality...ick. This will be my next tea-related purchase. Thanks so much!
This is my tea kettle :) I love it. I've been using it for over two years and never knew it had that timer function :D . . . same complaints, but all in all, I did a lot of research before purchasing it and it's a lot of bang for your buck
The Oxo brew 1L variable temperature kettle, which is very similar to the Bonavita, goes down to 40C, so you can brew gyukoro with it, and it costs about the same.
Love the review! What kind of camera do you guys use? :)
Lid tabs ... I love this one
The review starts at 4:30
I have this kettle! I personally love it
Some relevant facts about my Brewista Smart Pour:
No plastic on the inside
Volume = 1.2L
Bleeps on reaching temperature
Catherine Smyth In one of the Amazon questions about the Brewista, someone said it has a silicon ring on the inside that touches the water. Is that true? Thanks!
refreshingAnd I have just looked at this and can confirm it has a soft rubber-like ring around the temperature probe. I didn't know of nor see this prior to your comment. Thank you
Thank you for checking. I'll have to find out if the Bonavita has this, too. It isn't technically plastic and seems easy to overlook...
Sillicone is harmless, though. If that's what the ring is made of I wouldn't worry about it.
I have heard that Pu erh is good for curing hangovers overs. 😁
Thank you. What do you think of the Bonavita Cosmopolitan?
I have the 1.7L it is awesome. It is 1500 watts but slows as temp approaches. Would not change anything about it.
Joseph Trudeau In equal comparison to the numbers he gave about how long the kettles take to heat, how long does the 1.7L take? If you take the time to measure you'll be the nicest! lol
1.7L bonavita 20°c to 99°c 1L 4 min 37 sec. Same temps with 1.7L 6 min 56 sec
Thanks!
No problem, it never felt that long, but I start water before I decide what I am drinking
I got this kettle a couple years ago for my pour over coffee but recently I've started using it for my tea and I have to say that I love if for both. I have the same gripes about it that you do but most of them are minor with the exception of that short power cord that is a major issue for me I have to use a lead cord or it would be useless for me.
Soon we will be pairing aged white teas with vapourised craft cannabis flowers, extracts and aged hashes....that what I do with my Mei leaf teas :) the two complement each other in taste and effect, medicinally and recreationally.
Hey Don ! Do you know if it is still available in the EU ? Trying to find a supplier for the old and new models, it's getting very frustrating now. I watched your video about Staff Ekg but reviews are not very promising and price is a bit too much.
Happy New Year to you and Celine, cheers 😊
MYN WONT STOP BOILING once it hits boil it wont turn off unless i unplug it, ive tried all the settings and nothing works
Don't you think it's better to use glass than stainless steel for health? I ordered the trendglas kettle instead of opting for bona vita or stag ... they are convenient though for temperature setting!
I have the same problem with the power chord lenth I want to make a coffee/tea bar on wheels so that I can move it around the kitchen but the chord is so shot that it can't reach any of the outlets. And it says not to use a extension chord!
Can be found in US $55-65 all day long on different sites. Unusual that we get stuff that much cheaper.
Quick question! I am very close to buying one of these but I’m worried about it being too loud. Is it relatively quiet or loud like many other kettles? Thanks!
Wow, the plastic inside is a killer, and having to press hold each time. I'm skeptical of stainless steel instead of glass, much less plastic. Just wish there was a way to have temperature regulation and holding for my glass kettle :) I can do it the traditional way and skip all that though for the trade offs. I wonder if the Fellow Stag is better than this one as far as stainless steel thermoregulating kettles go?
Hey Don, I'm having second thoughts about the hold function. Won't it decrease the oxygen content of the water after some time?
Don, aged white and whisky. Wow. That’s a heavy hitter! And I thought I was crazy about doing many hours of jade star in one session.
How to delete a temp preset on my bonovista goose neck kettle.
I think this is my biggest issue with this style of brewing. I love everything besides the fact that i have to drag an electric kettle around with me everywhere if i want to drink my tea in comfort. I can handle and even like the tray set, but electrics almost ruin the vibe for me. Also, i'd rather not have to move my kettle about every time i want to drink tea.
Try a thermos lol
would you make a reveiw on the zojirushi kettle?
Good to make mate too!
I just add cold water but great review lol!!
Would it be possible to do a video on why microwaving water isn't ideal?
Andrew Roberts I think the main issue is that it isn’t very precise
You heat up a lot of foods in your microwave and I imagine some of those smells would affect the taste of the water
Damn, this gaiwan is PACKED! As I like 😉
If you're drinking Tie Guan Yin and your gaiwan is not packed, you're not using enough leaves! Though I have to admit that I never had a gaiwan so packed as the one in this video... I'll need to up my game at my next gongfu session! 😀
Does this work differently for coffee?
i think accuracy is the most important factor
By the way, try Taiwanese Kavalan whisky. Very good stuff.
What kettle would you suggest just for instant coffee? I am too lazy for the pour over/ground coffee method.
If you just need to boil the water, get a kettle without the variable temperature feature. Boil only kettles are far less expensive.
Really don't know why they had to extend the plastic from the handle to the inside of the kettle. Really dumb imo in an otherwise nice looking kettle.
Your effort is much appreciated! Nice review. Get better haha.
I love it!
I got some of those and really like it.
No so good:
- Speed
- 50º missing for Gyokuro and such
@mei leaf what is your favorite kettle till today?
I actually use the Vektra more than the others despite its awful pour but this is mostly because I taste a lot of teas and it is so useful to have a large capacity of thermally insulated water. If I was to choose one for tea sessions a couple of times a day it would probably be the EKG. There is no perfect kettle that I have tried though.
@@MeiLeaf Thanks! I also have the EKG and love it, luckily I'm not doing many sessions each day so 0.9L is ok for me. would like it to pour a bit faster though in some occasions! Agree that there is no perfect one. Maybe time for a meileaf kettle ;)?
Hi, I’m a new subscriber and I was wondering if you could review popular store green teabags, such as PG tips, Tetley, twinnings etc... that would be really helpful thank you!
„Stay away from those tea bags, keep drinking the good stuff, and spread the word, BECAUSE: nobody deserves bad tea! 🤓😋🍃🍵“
Tea bags = floor sweepings of tea factories, to summarise previous episodes :)
I would call those metal parts flat springs.
@Mei Leaf I have difficulties with finding this kettle in Europe. In particular, I am looking for their 1.0l version. If you know about any store that sells it, I'd appreciate if you let me know. Thanks in advance!
I bought it last week from Tchibo Germany's online store
@@mirja77 thank you, I will check it out ;)
The plastic handle protruding inside is a showstopper for me. Undesirable compounds from the heated plastic will inevitably contaminate the steam and the water. Massive design flaw IMO.
What's the display container you use to hold the tea before you put the tea in the gaiwan and how do I get one?
We call it a porcelain tea scoop: meileaf.com/teaware/white-porcelain-tea-scoop/
Mei Leaf thank you so much Don
Mei Leaf now I'm about to start my first gonfu session ever! By myself and the help of your videos I should be fine!
Plot twist : the handle is in the shape of a B. For Bonavita
Aged white teas??? Jade Star III on the horizon?
BTW, sorry about the hangover.
Seriously Mei Leaf, what is the point of reviewing a product that is not available to buy in the UK? I get you have worldwide custom, but, I can't get hold of the product here in little old England, ya know, where you're actually based?
It was available in UK when we reviewed and a quick look online shows it available. For example: www.happydonkey.co.uk/drip-coffee-kettle.html
Such a shame it's not available in 2400w...
pretty solid content, but I felt like you stretched out some pretty basic things that if you made more concise, the video could've been 10 minutes with greater progression in your explanation
i hate short cords!! lol
29 minutes its tooooo longgggggg.
This kettle was pretty much ticking all my boxes, but then fails on the plastic inside - just poor design, not acceptable for such a premium price product. I'll keep boiling my water in a stainless steel pot.
I just found a kettle called „Doctor Hetzner“ on Amazon in Germany, no plastic inside, looks ok, has the temp control on the handle, and beeps once when temp reached. Holds temp for 1 hour. Stainless steel. Costs 55€, so a bit cheaper as well. I ordered it today, now that Bonavita definitely failed in plastic snd time to boil. According to the reviews, Hetzner boils in 3 min... so let‘s see if that holds up when it arrives. Thank you Don for the clear and honest review! If there were no alternatives, the bonavita and brewista might have been my kettle, but Dr. Hetzner just came back in stock and before I try compromise kettles at higher price, I‘m going to test the theoretically tick all boxes model first. No plastic is important to me... you never know.
That one looks pretty good! Also on Amazon UK for £50, Dr. Hetzner should send one to Don for a review :)
Got the Hetzner and been testing on weekend: 4 min boil (1liter), holds temp well, precise temps, variable to the deg, solid build, no plastic inside (yay!). Problems: cord is again short, the hold doesn’t resume after you pour, so you need to keep clicking to your desired temp. I think the Oxo and Stag (both from US) have resume automatic, but also very pricey. All in all, great kettle: excellent pouring.
I found the Doctor Hetzner kettle on amazon.it too (I'm from Italy), I used it for three days and it seems amazing but today I noticed that the gooseneck is glued and not wielded!! The water had a strange smell and I noticed glue inside that if i stick my nail in it piece of glue comes off!! WTF!? It's just mine or yours are tha same too? I'm returning it.
Andrea Cuiuli 😲 I‘ll check tomorrow after my biz trip. I have been using it for months now and never had this issue (am very happy with it, actually), but I‘ll post once I checked. Thanks for flagging.
Brewista > Bonavita
$
Only have the price of the Bonavita here!
No offense, but your remark on the lenght of the cable is a bit... stupid. Most of us leave the kettle in the kitchen and a long cable is just a nightmare to manage. You never know where to put it, it lays freely everywhere, ... If you really need a longer cable, just use an extension cord.
I think most gong fu brewers have the kettle on the table ... I have 2 at the same time next to my teatable
I plan to leave my old kettle in the kitchen for cooking and stuff, and have my tea kettle on the tea caddy (sideboard on wheels, all tea collections & teaware inside, coming soon!) - that way I have a mobile tea setup I can take with me all over the house/garden. Wish I had a tea pavilion, with garden, ponds, and bridges, but oh well, a mobile tea kettle is a good start... :)
Yeah my #1 annoyance is the short cable. I needed to actually tape my surge protector to the table (I move the kettle around a lot) because the cord can't even reach the floor from my table!