Thursday, July 23, 2009

Adagio Teas 3 UtiliTEA Variable-Temperature 30-Ounce Electric Kettle

Adagio Teas 3 UtiliTEA Variable-Temperature 30-Ounce Electric Kettle

Price: $49.95
Manufacturer: Adagio Teas
Buy from amazon.com

Green tea lovers no longer have to struggle to achieve the optimal steeping temperature, while darker tea drinkers can still expect impeccably boiling water. With an innovative temperature control system, this versatile device can heat to your preference. At last, an all-inclusive kettle for heating water for the perfect pot of tea. This durable stainless steel kettle is a must-have for tea lovers of all kinds.

Information

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #1433 in Kitchen & Housewares
  • Size: 30-ounce
  • Color: Silver
  • Brand: Adagio Teas
  • Model: 3
  • Dimensions: 9.25" h x 6.75" w x 8.25" l, 2.75 pounds
  • Electric stainless-steel kettle with innovative temperature-control system
  • Perfect for heating water to the right temperature for green and black teas
  • Quickly heats up to 30 ounces of water; concealed heating element
  • Cordless carafe; water-level gauge; power indicator light; flip-top lid button
  • Measures approximately 8-1/5 by 6-4/5 by 9-1/5 inches

Product Reviews


Perfect for tea lovers, this electric kettle features an innovative temperature-control system for easily heating water to a specific temperature. Black teas brew nicely with water brought to a full boil, but green and white teas steep best at a slightly lower temperature. Using the clearly marked variable-temperature control knob, the electric kettle can be set to boil like a normal kettle or to a pre-boil temperature for lower-temperature teas--no need to add cool water to boiling water and no more guessing at when the kettle's about to boil. The unit quickly heats up to 30 ounces of water, and can maintain a consistent temperature without reaching the boiling point. When set to boil, the kettle provides hot water not only for black tea, but can also be used for making hot cocoa, instant noodles, or oatmeal. Other thoughtful details include a concealed heating element, a cordless carafe, a handy water-level gauge on the side, a power indicator light, and a flip-top lid button for convenient filling. Made in China and housed in durable stainless steel, the sleek-looking electric teakettle measures approximately 8-1/5 by 6-4/5 by 9-1/5 inches.


Finally!
This kettle fills a long-time need in the electric kettle marketplace -- one with a variable temperature control! For those who are real tea appreciators, you will appreciate finally having an electric kettle that allows you different temperature settings for your different kinds of tea.

Other great features are that it heats the water quickly, in under 5 minutes. It has an automatic shut-off when it reaches the set temperature. It will not boil dry (I haven't tested this feature, but the literature claims it to be true). It looks sleek and modern sitting on your countertop with its stainless steel and black stylings as compared to the white plastic electric kettles of yore. It also has the convenient design feature of the cord coiling into the base, so you only have to pull out as much as you need to reach your outlet.

I only gave it 4 stars instead of 5 for a couple of reasons. Most importantly, because it gets hot hot hot to the touch. Be careful, or you will burn yourself. Make sure to only touch the plastic parts, which isn't always so easy. Secondarily, because the temperature control knob and the on/off switch are made of flimsy plastic -- the rest of it is well made, but the second time I pushed the on/off switch it popped off! Luckily, it is easily re-attachable.

I am glad someone finally put one of these out on the market!

3 1/2 stars-- Does a great job, but missing bells and whistles.
The UtiliTEA is an excellent electric tea kettle-- it's comes in two parts, the base and the kettle. The base plugs in, the kettle rests on top of it. Fill it with (up to four cups) of water, fit the kettle on the base, set the dial to the desired temperature, flip the switch and moments later, you've got hot water when the switch pops back up. I've used mine endlessly since I've gotten it.

A few gripes though, the UtiliTEA's temperature gauge is color coded rather than providing any kind of numeric indication and the manual. It's easy to use, but if you needed precision (and I don't), you won't be able to get it. More irritating is no real audible indication that it's done-- the lever clicks, but there's no whistle, bell or anything else you'll notice in the other room. Good news is, it's really fast, even to bring water to a boil. A final thing I dislike-- there's no "off" switch on the base and they recommend pulling the power cord between uses. I'm not certain whether it's unsafe to leave it plugged in, but I keep pulling the plug after every use which is quite honestly annoying. Mind you, I'm a new homeowner, I'm a little paranoid about such things.

I realize my criticism is pretty harsh-- the UtiliTEA does its core competencies fantastically, and I've used this exclusively as my water heating solution, but while it's an excellent device, any potential buyer should be aware of its limitations.

Convenient, Simple Design
I am a tea drinker and I find this appliance to be very useful. I drink green, oolong and pu-erh tea pretty much every day. I keep this little guy on a book shelf in my room where it is at a perfect height for me lift it up and set it down.

The temperature control knob is designed as a general guideline, and I love that boiling water isn't its' sole function. I mean, I drink green and oolongs too, so to boil water and wait is misused energy. It shuts off after reaching the desired temperature. I tweak the knob personally, as it is just a guideline.

Yes, the knob and kettle switch are not made of steel. They are in fact plastic. So please, don't start wrestling with your tea kettle. I know it's fun to use and it looks like a spaceship, but no wrestling...

If you combine this with a Brita filter, you have two of the best investments for tea for the rest of you life. It is wise to use filtered water in this utilitea, otherwise you risk calcification and other mineral build up on the interior of the kettle. The buildup can diffuse into the water and changing the taste of whatever you brew.

Although the lid retains a plastic smell even after some months of use, it DOES NOT adulterate the water. If it did, I would have returned it instantly...

In conclusion, the ease of use, aesthetics, temperature control and reliability give this 5 stars. I'm someone who uses this everyday, I can say it significantly streamlined my life- tea is a large part of it!

I also recommend for the coffee drinkers using a French press.


No comments:

Post a Comment