Battle of the Gooseneck Kettles - Brewista Artisan vs Fellow Stagg EKG vs Bonavita
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ก.ค. 2024
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Which variable temperature gooseneck kettle is best for Gong Fu brewing? There are a number of factors to consider and here are my geeky thoughts.
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VIDEOS
Stagg EKG Review: • FELLOW STAGG EKG REVIE...
Bonavita Gooseneck Kettle Review: • Bonavita Gooseneck Var...
Vektra Kettle Review: • Gamechanger! Reviewing...
Other Kettle Reviews: • Reviewing Kettles for Tea
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I've had my bonavita for about 6 years now, mostly daily use, and it's still going strong.
I love the practical advice like the viewing angle on temperature. great job at explaining
Thanks for the review, your detailed parameters are clear and important. Allows me to target “deal breakers” for me. I use a Stagg Corvo currently and like it very much. I like the Corvo brew spout, but have the same feeling as you for the visibility of the display. I use the Stagg several times a day and I’ve not had issues 2yrs running now.
Awesome review!
great review, just picked up the BREWISTA
After Don's first review on Fellow stagg where he mentioned the "Corvo" version I searched and bought this version in Finland. It is absolutely perfect for not having goose necks. The price is decidedly high, 170€ if I remember correctly
I used to have Bonavita kettle and when it broke, I bought Fellow EKG, so here are my thoughts on this.
Regarding the spitting of hot water, I think this is because you are overfilling the kettle. There is a line and if you cross it, it may spit, there is a warning about this in the manual. This one is really on you, don't count it as negative point for the kettle. It is also not designed to have water on the base, so damaging it by getting it wet is entirely on you as well. Honestly, I never got any water on the base, I don't even know how you managed it.
The display on Fellow is quite nice. It is designed to face you, the brewer, not the person in front of you. It is also not distracting. The Bonavita I had used to have very "loud", "in your face" display, I always felt like it is screaming the temperature at me the whole time. I prefer the more gentle Fellow display. It could have wider viewing angle, but it is not a problem for me.
The hold function is very nice, although it is a 50-50 for me. On one hand, I like when it is automated during normal session, but at the end, when I use enough water to go below the MIN line, I am affraid to put the kettle on its base. If you put the EKG down with little or no water, it can kill itself. The Bonavita was always safe, which was very nice.
Pouring speed is a negative, though. I use kettle for both tea and coffee, and I prefered the Bonavita spout. But this is not a big issue, it is just annoying.
One thing I never see mentioned in kettle reviews is what method they use to hold temperature. Bonavita used to make loud clicking noises as the electronics went from 0% to 100% and back several times. This eventually killed the kettle because electronics generally don't like repeated power cycles. Fellow kettle seems to do it linearly, which is MUCH more gentle towards the electronics, and it is also a lot quieter. How is the Brewista doing it?
Biggest positive on Fellow EKG for me is how the timer works. I like to be accurate, and starting the timer before I pick it up and still starting at 0 is awesome. And you only need one hand for that.
One note at the end, I have noticed, the lid gets loose when the water heats up, and tightens when it cools down. My guess is this is because the metal expands with temperature. I never turn the kettle upside down or make fast movements with it, so it is not a problem for me.
Overall I am very happy with my Fellow EKG, the small problems it has are negligable.
They both look beautiful!
I saw your Bonavita review a few years ago and bought one and loved it. Unfortunately it broke after only about 2 years so I was forced to replace it. I'm not sure if it was poor quality control that caused it to break, but I managed to get both of them at only around $59 roughly one third the price of its competitors, and so well worth it and my choice currently. But thank you for your thorough geek-wonderful review. Very helpful.
Been pretty happy with my Brewista. Had it for some time now, maybe 2.5yrs. Only real gripe is sometimes when I refill it from a bottle on my desk, if I pour in too fast (especially if angled from the handle side) it squirts out of the spout and drenches my keyboard! Just got to angle the flow away from the spout and go a bit slower but apart from that I'm happy with it.
Never really been bothered by the slowness to boil, my tea drinking isn't like Don's and at a much more mindful pace, so a few minutes to follow my breath is always welcome. The ability to silence the beeps is a godsend. The previous version, which I also owned, didn't allow that and it drove me nuts!
There is also the non gooseneck variant of the stagg, and I really quite like it. Proper speedy pour but still precise. I never really fill it up too full, because it could splash, so it holds up pretty well, but I think the 0.9L is just the only real bad thing. During a session I always have a bottle of water nearby to fill it up, and the hold function is great for that. But the capacity may also be the reason why it broke for you. If it would be more, it probably wouldn't be splashing all over the electronics because overfilling, so yea. But your points are all very valid, especially for this price. It's still the only kettle I would buy again
I totally agree with you
Can you send a link to the non gooseneck variant
The Stagg has a version that’s meant for tea 🍵. No skinny pour over spout. I love it. My only complaint is the overbook splashing which I only noticed in its later years of using. Also agree 100% that the stagg holds too little water. With Chinese tea I’m refilling so often and it takes you away from focusing on the tea.
I think Don mentioned that version wasn’t available in the UK for some reason. I have the Stagg one also and have been using it for years. I like it a lot, but would prefer it to have a larger capacity.
The Stagg is great but I have never liked the skinny spout. The only version available several years ago when I bought it was the skinny spout version. I just checked and there's a different one now with a large spout. Wish that was available years ago.
thanks for the in depth review; I really appreciate people going into detailed comparisons. I own an EKG, but drink coffee more than tea; and even when I'm heating only 120 mL for espresso, there is often sputtering out the top. I wonder if you also sometimes have an issue where it seems like the EKG takes a really long time for the last 2 or 3 degrees. I often brew at like 97 or 98 when I want to brew at 100 just because I'm sick of waiting for it to reach boil. I also agree the slow pour rate of the EKG is infuriating. One thing I'm happy with the EKG about is that I can brew only 120mL and wonder if I get something like the brewista; I can heat only 120mL of water or if I need to add more to get it to work. the only thing I dislike about your review is that you didn't just use the same amount of water in the speed test.
Fellow Corvo for GongFu Tea, no gooseneck, it is perfect! 😉
I've currently owned 3 Brewista kettles. I would say that I am overall pretty happy with the ones I have had (smart pour version 1 and 2). However, I feel like the electronics gets a little glitchy over time. One thing I would say is that I actually always put the perforations of the lid towards me, because they can spill water if you try to pour aggressively, I have never burned myself that way.
One thing about the lid, you are going to splash a little with you try to remove it fast, so that might be a little annoying with super hot water.
Here's what I like about the Stagg when it comes to the pour: the fact that I can't control the pour is a feature for me. I want to reduce the number of variables in producing a good outcome. I get that you are an expert pourer, so control is what you want. For me, that's just another thing I might screw up. I think this is a function of what pour over coffee drinkers need than tea drinkers.
Great video. It would be awesome to hear some comments on the material used to make these kettles.
I bought this kettle specifically for the detachable power connector, the US kettle does not have a removable power cable. I did not see any mention of i on the amazon page, but was hopeful anyway. The cable on the US model I have is very short. I will most likely be returning this kettle.
Fun fact, for those that find the STAGG pours just a bit too slow, If you look inside there is a little metal piece with holes covering the hole at the bottom of the spout, which further restricts flow. With a mallet and a flat sharp chisel or screwdriver it can be removed easily. It now pours SMOOTHER and just a bit Faster.
Thank you Don for this review and the comparison with the EKG; I must say that the 'problems' you encounter with the EKG, don't bother me at all (except for the slow pour and the maximum amount of water). I really like the function of the hold-botten; I never had a problem with the splattering of water with the lid; I find the control functions very easy to use and don't have a problem with looking at the display for the correct temperature (maybe also because I rely on the hold-function). To me the display of the Brewista looks a bit cluttered and the time it takes to come to the right temperature is really slow. I have the EKG now two or three years and it has never failed me so far. But then again I don't brew as much as you do :) All in all I think for me the EKG is still the only right kettle for me at this time.
I have the Fellow EKG Corvo (no gooseneck) and I love it. The hold function is actually my favorite feature - it means I can forget about the kettle and always have water at the right temperature at my disposal!
I have had the Bonavita for about two years. I only paid $59 on Amazon, but now its at $99. I still love it, but we will see how long it holds up with almost daily use. I bought an extension cord for it, because I like to brew on the porch, and also at my living room coffee table while we watch movies. The only thing I don't like about it is that the timer doesn't operate if the kettle is on the base, which is annoying when working with limited space.
had the stagg for 6 months then i had the same problem that the electronics would randomly glitch out... that in combination with the low capacity made me buy the brewister.
had it for 2 years and its almost perfekt for gong fu, good capacity (you can over fill it a bit and its still fine) and perfekt pour.
I've been well pleased with my Bonavita. I've used the heck out of it since 2020.
I have tried all of them but my favorite right now for tea is the Oxo brew gooseneck kettle
Bro I’m so with you. I lucked into buying it as my first kettle ever and now trying other peoples kettles it is clearly the best one out there and like no one really knows about it. An absolute winner for gong fu cha. I will only be using them from now on.
I am using a Tchibo gooseneck kettle for around four years now, it is around 75 USD and it has all the functions one needs. The base is glass and I would argue that it is nicer than the two above.
I have an old variable temperature kettle from Walmart that has lested me for six years now. I also have the Bonavita glass kettle which I think is much better than the traditional Bonavita.
I'd love to see what Don thinks about the glass Bonavita.
Another Huge downfall of the Brewista is that if you let it get to the minimum line or slightly below, and then re-boil the water, boiling water will agressively shoot out the gooseneck itself. This may be more prominent in Colorado where im from since water boils at 205 farenheit here rather than 212. So I have to be very sure to never let it get below the minimum line. Also I have the same exact brewista kettle, but must be a newer version because mine doesn't have a detachable chord!Jealous!
Other than that the brewista is my favorite kettle so far, but nobody has quite nailed it.
Oh Don, will you please make the perfect electric tea kettle? You're one of the very few with the vision, connections, brand strength, and finances to make it happen.
i have the bonavita and im a fan of the handle. depending on orientation, it will read wrong, but twisting the kettle on the base is able to correct it, so i think it's a physical issue with the metal (maybe deterioration?) over time, not the electronics. it had a power problem but i was able to inspect the electronics inside to find that one of the wires was squished, so it's worth checking once that nothing is off with the assembly. no problems after moving the wire out of the way.
if i were to guess, the brewista's handle is better suited for a fuller volume. i like the bonavita handle for smaller amounts of water (
Hello Don. From the video about insulated kettle, I recall you talked about how you'd like to design your own insulated kettle. Is it still on your mind? :)
Hi, Don. Would you ever do a video on chaozhou clay kettles or tetsubin?
When are the 2023 spring picked teas going to be available?
My first EKG turned into an actively erupting volcano well before the temperature display indicated that the water was boiling, and my second one just leaks water from the ingeniously designed bowl shaped lid.
Do you live somewhere over sea level? Here in Colorado my water boils at 205 farenheit rather than 212. I recommend setting the kettle to around a couple degrees below what water boils at in your location
I had a bonavita but sadly it only lasted 6 months before it started reporting the temperature wrong by about 5°C
The variable pour on the Brewista, though good, shows that there are air gaps. So perhaps another reason it takes longer to boil.
Hi Don, I have a very practical question: Do you descale the kettles with white vinegar and rinse it a bunch afterwards or did you find a better alternative? Thanks! (so glad we have additional videos this week!!)
Since he said he had an water urn I assume that is because he filters the water pre use to lower the amount of minerals. That way the minerals doesn't impact the taste of the tea and he doesn't have to deal with descaling the kettles.
Could we get a video on the zhuni ancestral lamp pot, specifically for oolongs?
Have you tried the oxo gooseneck kettle? I've been using it for a few years now and it's fantastic. Super simple, super reliable. It does hold temperature for 30 minutes if you don't click it off though, but I think their execution of that feature is much better than fellow's.
Why no Polivar gooseneck kettle?
Hope Don reviews this cheap Stagg look-alike, the Fabuletta Electric Kettle found in amazon U.S.! Beats all three kettles in everything accept Temperature. Only goes to 206 degrees but is six degrees off on other temp. settings and does hold temperature. No plastic inside all stainless steal on including temp. sensor at inside bottom of the kettle, that others have a silicon sleeve. Biggest selling point is price $63. I've had it for three months and so far it's good.
I bought my Bonavita 4+ years ago for $49. I use it daily and no problemo.
Hi Don. You should sponsor a tea brewing contraption that has a water reservoir. Each time you select to gong fu brew it takes from the reservoir similar to a kurig, accept heats up exactly how large a glass one plans on consuming weather it being a small Gond fu Prorceline or large with various milliliter settings that then pours the correct amount of hot water into one’s gong fu contraption. Maybe even make a rotating base where the coffe cup would be in a kurig machine, so the water heats all the tea around the perimeter of the gong fu contraption. That would hopefully take less time to heat up vs constantly heating up larger amounts of water for longer periods of time in the kettle brewing stlye.
Make it affordable to the common gentleman/ gentlelady and you’ll be the Henry Ford for gong fu style tea heads hahah
the Fellow a very fine coffee kettle but in my view the pour is too slow for tea
Amen
It's a shame that the manufacturers don't sell kettle cozies.
I have a fellow stagg ekg,no problems so far,but the pour speed is indeed dreadful!
You just can’t get those precious leaves to tumble and swirl around in the teapot!!
You should of reviewed the stagg ekg pro
Hey Don how is the brewista doing is it any better than the stagg/fellows I’m currently in the market for a new teapot and was wondering. I’m leaning more towards the brewista but I’m still up in the air trying to decide. Does the newer version of fellows bells and whistles better than the brewista or is it a total flop? If your looking for my name it’s Jeremy.
I have not tried the latest version of the Fellow Stagg but in my view the Brewista is better for the resaons stated in this video. If you are in the US then check out the OXO kettle too.
Not a fan of the skinny pour over coffee spout. Would love a kettle with temperature control, hold and a old school style fat goose neck. Unfortunately the fat style goose neck seems to be totally relegated to stove top kettles now.
RIP to Stone Milk which got forgotten during this session, brewing for 5 mins straight ahah
Why don't you just turn the base 180°? I always face the display in my direction
Hario?😊
Let's petition for Don to make his own kettle!
Next time do a round up of all the Chinese knockoffs - my Miroco has been going strong 3 years 😂
Hmm, they all seem to have some rather annoying faults. If only the brewista was better insulated, it would be great!
Yike !! $315 in 🇨🇦 “from“ Amazon (*USA 3rd party seller)
For me, both kettles are not suitable for brewing tea.
The neck of these kettles are too long and narrow.
Especially for brewing Cantonese oolong, which is necessary to brew in less time, I definitely need a kettle with short and big neck.
The fellow stagg is just to slow of a pour, it is ridiculous
None of those kettles are convincing. I use a Riviera & Bar, it is perfect !
stagg EKG is ugly
my nigga got that cheeky kabbalah bracelet on ;) if you know you know