Water kettles - What's what!

A watched kettle never boils

Want to know what's going on with kettles and get some information about which one to choose? Let us try and cut to the chase and give you an outline, which might help you choose your coffee making compadre.

How ever you're planning to heat up your water we at Espresso Gear have got a few different kettles to choose from. Is there a difference between these and making your daily cuppa with your 10€ white plastic kettle? We like to think so, not just in appearance!

Most pour over kettles have a long spout for pouring water, called a gooseneck (no explanation needed if you look at a regular goose or perhaps a swan). What these gracefully elegant spouts do is slow down the water flow so that you, dear coffee maker, can pour that water slowly and with expert control ensuring those eager little coffee grounds are turned into sweet, sweet nectar!

Pros of using a gooseneck:

• There's very little splashing, making it not only safer as you'll not get boiling water on your hands but also less messy.
• You'll be able to ensure you get every coffee ground with the hot water as you control the flow.
• Stopping and starting pouring is so easy, again, you're the boss!

An even pouring can make a big difference to the result. Go ahead and try! 

Another little useful nugget, as well as the speed you pour, is the temperature, you want to be heating the water to 94-96°c, depending on your preference. If your kettle of choice doesn't have an inbuilt thermometer then you might want to invest in a bit of kit to control that variable.

If you're thinking of taking your brewing show on the road, into the hills, or on a beach, then perhaps an electric kettle isn't the deal for you, but that doesn't stop you from getting yourself a kettle. If you can't imagine getting out and about but want to fix your coffee with some electric assistance, we've got something for you too. Here are some options to consider:

The electric water kettle; by far the most popular type of kettle in this range is the Fellow EKG. It looks great, you can control the temperature by the twist of the knob and there's a hidden wormy game in there. Who doesn't like a bonus feature? You can also keep your water warm to a chosen temperature for up to an hour.

The price of the EKGs are on the increase though which gives room for other electric kettles to muscle in, from the ever creative Timemore with their sliding panel to set the temperature and Brewista Smart Kettles, with a more classic design. Both very different designs but with great accuracy and you can hold the temperature for an hour too.

It all depends on what design you prefer and how you like the feel of the handle, we're not all supposed to like the same design or products anyway. That's why we try to stock different brands for you.

The stovetop water kettle is usually the cheaper alternative and consumes less electricity. Again, they come mostly with goosenecks for control of your water but you'll probably find it will take longer to warm up the water compared to the electric kettles, but who says we're in a rush?

Beware, some kettles, like the Youth kettles from Timemore aren't recommended for stove stops. You'll have to heat up your water and pour it over. The simple fact there is that the handles are made of wood and can burn easily. 

If you're looking for a quick immersion or to brew a cup of tea, which might not require a super controlled approach then perhaps the Clyde from Fellow will be your kind of kettle. Robust, quirky and warns you the water is boiling by a two tone whistle.

The Corvo EKG kettle, again from Fellow, is also a good option if you're looking for a faster pour and a quick heat up. You'll see the difference in the spouts on the image below. The gooseneck of the Fellow Stagg on the right is much thinner than that of the Corvo on the left, which gives you more hot water, faster! 

In the end, it all depends on how and where you want to brew your coffee and what your budget is. If you can, go try a kettle in your hand at your local cafe or coffee shop. Feel free to let us know your findings! 
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