Capresso H2O Pro Programmable Cordless 56-Ounce Water Kettle with Variable Temperature Control Review

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(More customer reviews)After seeing warnings against another variable temperature kettle (branded by a major tea vendor) that's totally hit-or-miss by 20 degrees, I was cautiously hopeful that Capresso's H2O Pro would avoid that problem.
When this kettle arrived, I decided to play the skeptic and put to test it. Would it really hit 140F on the dot? Just a little above/below? A lot?
After a short brew time, *two* other thermometers (one analog, one digital) agreed with the kettle: 140.0F on the dot!
This is one excellently designed variable-temperature kettle! This kettle has now brought about more casual tea drinking. No more do I have to watch a stove or electric kettle like a hawk and stop it at the right temperature!
Temperatures are programmable in 10F increments from 110F (warm on the wrist) to 212F (boiling). I like to make tea with 140F (a bit over scalding) as I use plenty of Japanese green tea that is temperature-sensitive. And I love how it can also be programmed to keep the same temperature continuously (or not, as you please).
I only have 2 snags with this kettle:
- At the temperatures I like, increments in 5, 2 or 1 degree make better sense than 10 degree increments.
- When taking the kettle off its base, it resets its temperature defaults to 212 (boiling). I'd prefer that it automatically kept my preferences while I'm pouring the occasional cup throughout the day. But that's just me. Turning it to the preferred temp again is just a few thumb-wiggles away (which makes the 10-degree increments a balance of convenience).
Since no other variable-temp kettle I can find on the market is better than this one, these are just would-likes and don't detract from what I feel is a kettle at the head of its market.
5 Stars.

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Attractively housed in stainless steel with a polished chrome finish, this electric hot-water kettle makes a striking presence on any kitchen counter or buffet. Use it to quickly bring 16 to 56 ounces of water to a rolling boil for making anything from tea, instant coffee, and hot cocoa to oatmeal, instant soup, noodles, and more. The kettle lifts off its 360-degree swivel base for easy filling at the sink or for graceful serving without the hassle of a power cord; it can also be returned to its power source from any direction--great for right- and left-handed users. Integrated into its generous stay-cool handle, the unit provides an illuminated digital display and simple push-button controls for choosing from a variety of programmable settings, including 11 temperature-control settings (from 110 to 212 degrees F), various keep-warm settings (from 110 to 190 degrees F), and extended boil settings (from 3 to 20 seconds). For safety, the kettle shuts itself off automatically once the water has reached a boil (or after the elapsed extended boil time) or if water needs to be added, which prevents it from boiling dry. Other highlights include a water-level window with min/max markings, a simple lid with push-button release, a micro-filter spout that keeps particles out of the cup, and cord storage when not in use. The cordless electric kettle measures 9 by 6 by 9-1/2 inches.

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Zojirushi CD-LCC40 Micom 4.0-Liter Electric Dispensing Pot Review

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(More customer reviews)I switched from coffee to tea a few months ago, purchased this unit and am completely happy with it ... I can't recommend it highly enough. It's well made, ergonomic, well thought out, and a joy to use. The Japanese think of everything. A Japanese friend of mine told me that homes in Japan almost always have one of these units, or one like it. Now that I drink only tea, I can understand why.
The three temperature settings (well, four if you count boiling) are perfect. 208 is good for herbal teas, tissanes, and also the increasingly popular (and wonderful) Rooibos. That's also a good temperature for ramen, oatmeal, etc. 195 is good for black tea and also oolong, and 175 is good for green tea or white tea. Now, you can make gourmet tea properly with no muss and no fuss. Just get yourself some gourmet loose tea, herbal tea, or Rooibos, (all available from Garrett, Adagio, or Teavana), and a convenient brewer, like "IngenuiTea" from Adagio (Teavana also makes a good one that might be slightly better in quality), and you will be good-to-go! Your taste buds will thank you and so will your body. (The health benefits of green tea and oolong are well-known, and also Rooibos has 30-50 times the antioxidants of green tea, and no caffeine). My blood pressure has dropped 20 points with less caffeine (compared to caffeine in coffee, black tea = 20-25%, oolong = 10-15%, green = 5-10%, white = 1%, rooibos and herbal = 0%).
Buy a Zojirushi! You won't be disappointed.


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This one-touch, electric pot has a computerized temperature control system that brings water to a boil so you have hot water for making tea, instant soups, cocoa and more. Its compact design takes up little counter space so it's ideal for smaller kitchens or your pantry shelf. The side window gives a quick glance at the water level while the large, digital LCD panel lets you check the water temperature which operates at 175 to 208 degrees. To keep your water crystal clear, the pot has a Dechlorinate and Descale button to reduce chlorine and musty odors. Comes with an auto shutoff for added safety and a 3-ft. power cord.Zojirushi Window Micom Electric Dispensing Pot Videos

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Oster BVST-TM23 2-1/2-Quart Iced-Tea Maker, Black Review

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(More customer reviews)I was looking for an ice tea maker with a glass pitcher. Liked the way this one looked. Bought one, worked fine for a few days, then it wouldn't turn on any more. The on button would fail to 'click' and light up, as it had before. Nothing. Thinking maybe I had gotten a lemon, decided to try a replacement since as I mentioned in the title, I really liked it, when it WORKED.
Got the second one, very quickly. I've had it for a few days now. Made about 4 or 5 batches of tea with it. I went to make another one just now and...nothing. It won't turn on just like the first one. I don't know for sure, but I suspect it may have something to do with the automatic shutoff feature. I've tried unplugging and replugging it, but it made no difference, with either one. There is nothing in the instructions to address this. I'm going to call the help center, to see if there's ANYTHING I could be doing different, seeing how it's two of these now that have done this, but at this point, it looks like I'll be requesting a return label for this one as well and sending it back along with the first one I got, only for a refund this time, which is too bad, as I really wanted this to work.
If this can be corrected in any way after I speak with the service department, as to possibly make it work, then I may change my review, but for now, I can only give it the one star for breaking so quickly and failing to function.

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Coffee drinkers have their automatic brewers, why shouldn't tea drinkers? Ideal for family gatherings or summer picnics, this versatile machine brews up 2-1/2 quarts of iced tea quickly and easily. Simply pour water into the water reservoir and add the desired amount of tea to the removable brew basket--five to seven bags of tea or 2 to 3 tablespoons of loose tea work well when brewing a full pitcher; sugar, lemon, and other flavorings can also be added to the brew basket for customized results. Then fill the pitcher with ice cubes to the ice-level marking and insert into the machine, close the top lid, and push the "on" button. The water heats up and steeps the tea in the brew basket, then hot tea drips down into the pitcher of ice. At the end of the brewing cycle, the machine shuts off automatically for safety and peace of mind. Other highlights include a power indicator light, a water window in the reservoir for accurate filling, an adjustable brew strength, and a permanent filter for use with loose tea. The pitcher provides a lid, a generous handle, and a nondrip pouring spout for graceful serving, and the pitcher, pitcher lid, and brew basket clean up easily by hand or in the dishwasher. The iced-tea maker measures 11 by 10 by 13-1/2 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

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Zojirushi CD-WBC40 Micom 4-Liter Electric Water Boiler and Warmer, Champagne Gold Review

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(More customer reviews)Who spends money on fancy water heaters? People who like to have fine control over the brewing of their tea. Also, probably some folks who like to have unusual gadgets so they can rub it in the faces of those who are less awesome, but for the sake of this review let's pretend you're not one of those people.
This particular Zojirushi holds enough water for 2-3 people to drink throughout the day. It boils the water first -- this takes about 15-20 minutes -- and then allows it to cool to one of four "keep warm" temperatures. The "keep warm" presets of 208, 195, 175, and 140 are perfect for most kinds of tea, cup o' noodles, baby bottles, and various kinds of water torture on intrusive guests.
The magnetic break-away cord is a fantastic feature that demonstrates Zojirushi's attention to detail. When your mother decides to rearrange your kitchen without warning, you can rest assured that the Zojirushi will be safe from electrical mishaps. Don't ask how I know this.
Other safety features include an automatic shut-down when it runs out of water, a dispenser that will not dispense until you "unlock" it by pressing a button, and a "steam-save" design that limits the amount of steam being vomited into your kitchen. This last feature is especially nice for those of us with wall cabinets extending over the counter. I like to steam my food on the stove, not while it's in storage, thanks.
This device is so simple to use that even my husband can do it. That said, due to the charming Engrish in the instruction book, at first I was under the impression that the timer existed to shut down the machine. I realized later that either my math skills were terrible, or in reality the timer was designed to start it up. Ignore the fact that I ended that sentence with a preposition. The point still stands. The good news is that having a timed start-up is more useful to me than a timed shut-down, so for once I was glad to discover further evidence that I am an idiot.
I had one concern prior to purchase. Would teapots fit under the dispenser? I am pleased to report that they can, despite the best efforts of the Zojirushi photographers to make it look like the spout is designed to work with cups alone. If you have an epic teapot that serves 300, you might have a problem getting it up under there. But a normal pot? Rock on.
This little device is now my favorite appliance next to the washing machine. Because as much as I love tea, I like clean underwear better.
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Note: Confused about which Zojirushi water heater to purchase? Check the comparison chart! Amazon links to this chart in the product description, but the average person manages to miss it. It's like a ninja, but with fewer pointy edges.
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Edit: It's now been over a year since I got my Zojirushi, and I am pleased to report that it still works like it's new. I have cleaned it twice with Zojirushi's cleaner -- sold in packets here on Amazon -- despite it never really looking like it needed cleaning at all. I did it simply because the company recommended it. I'm a follower like that. The Zojirushi has survived a move, three extreme power surges, and a switch to mineral-heavy tap water. I'm starting to wish Zojirushi had made my own body. I mean, think of the time I could save if I only had to be cleaned up twice a year! And I didn't survive the move in nearly as good a condition. Tsk. At least I'm not old enough for power surges yet.

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Perfect for serving hot beverages to a crowd, this electric water boiler and warmer provides up to 135 ounces of hot water for instant coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and more. The unit features a micro-computerized temperature-control system and four keep-warm temperature settings that include 140, 175, 195, and 208 degrees F. Simple one-touch controls supply a reboil button, which reboils water to 212 degrees F; a dispense button; an unlock button that must be pressed before pressing the dispense button; and temperature- and timer-setting buttons. The unit's energy-saving timer function--from 6 to 10 hours--automatically turns on the boiler at a later time to save electricity, and its LCD display shows the actual water temperature at all times, as well as the temperature and timer settings. The dispenser also comes with a cafe-drip dispensing mode, which decreases the amount of water dispensed to 60 percent of the normal setting, making it suitable for brewing cafe drip coffee. Even more, its steam-save function automatically lowers the power just before boiling to reduce the amount of steam emitted from the steam vent. Other thoughtful details include automatic safety shut-off, a wide window water-level gauge that shows how much water remains in the unit, and an interchangeable melody or beep indicator to alert the completion of the boiling process or a low water level. A removable 3-foot power cord, swivel base, carry handle, and easy-to-clean nonstick interior provide added convenience. The 700-watt water boiler and warmer measures 11-3/16 by 8-3/16 by 13-1/2 inches.

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