Upton or Chef's Choice Electric Pot

I can't see the difference between the 'Pro' and 'Express', other than the price.

Dave S.

mike, i'm interested in the 500-watt difference between this and some others. you've been around the block a few times; do you notice a significantly slower boiling time with the pino? or is the wattage not really that significant in this regard?

Kidding -- corax: your news client or server posted a few extra copies of the article. :)

It's a 1000W kettle, but since I can set & forget, as Mike noted, this doesn't tend to bother me too much. In fact, I love it, despite its quirks.

I also gave one as a gift to a friend who likes green tea but rarely drinks it because it's kind of a hassle. He also loves it, despite its quirks, and it entirely replaced the 1500W Braun he'd been using before.

(I am tempted to get one for the office, too, but I just got some computer gear, so not for a little while, still. *grin*)

There was a discussion of these kettles in this group a little while back. A few people (including me) posted impressions after getting them.

Good luck! N.

mike, i'm interested in the 500-watt difference between this and some others. you've been around the block a few times; do you notice a significantly slower boiling time with the pino? or is the wattage not really that significant in this regard?

mike, i'm interested in the 500-watt difference between this and some others. you've been around the block a few times; do you notice a significantly slower boiling time with the pino? or is the wattage not really that significant in this regard?

The biggest difference between the Pro and the Express is where the electronics is mounted, on the Pro it is on the base which has the advantage of maintaining the settings longer. Since the electronics is on the pot on the Express model it will turn itself off after a few minutes of being off the base. HOWEVER they both have a base, it is just not shown on the picture.

I have several Kettles including high watt models but I have never experienced a "noticeable" inconvenience on waiting for the first boil, after the first it maintains the set temp until empty. When I timed it for my review, it took 7 minutes to bring 1.5L to a full rolling boil.

I own a Zoji, and a Kamjove. The Zoji looks nicer but is limited to 3 preset temps, the Kamjove pours really nice but is limited to a single near boiling temp. This Kettle does have it small detractors but it is still one of my favs.

Mike

Do you ever find yourself leaving the kettle off the base long enough for this to matter?

/Lew

I'm a fan of this one, as far as electric kettles go:

I think they're mostly made in China but for the (110V) Taiwan market. The old ones with the Bakelite base are (IMO) more durable than the newer style Kamjoves, but they cost more (a little overpriced, really, for what they are). I kind of like the "army surplus" look. If there's a Ten Ren near you, you can try to bargain a little on the price.

I have a similar (but different) one like this at work, but with a plastic base.

Also like the Kamjove TP-680, which is usually around $30, but I think it's not as easy to find anymore. It's 800W and heats quickly. The V-80 is supposed to be pretty good too - I think the lower-powered V-series ones are slow and some don't fit that well in the hand.

At home, I'm switching to a simple glass kettle on a Waring conventional (non-induction) hot plate.

Only when I am refilling it, then you just have to turn it on again, hit one button, big whoop.....

I second this recommendation. It's available on Amazon

with some very good reviews.

I've had one for several months and use it every day. Excellent.

I just received a Pino Express and have used it a few times. I find that it overshoots the desired temperature. So much so that it takes a long time to shut off after reaching a boil. Anyone else run into this?

Alan

I have the Pro (separate base), not the Express. Mine stops heating the instant the set point is reached, but the temperature continues to rise 2-3 degrees. It then cools to a few degrees below the set point, then kicks back in, rinse, repeat.

If yours is overshooting the boiling temperature, you should definitely take it to the nearest physics or chemistry research lab. There might be a Noble prize for you (or the designers of the teapot).

Square Peg snipped-for-privacy@Round.Hole wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

I'm looking for an electric kettle that has no plastic parts that would come in contact with the water. Do either of these Pino models fit that bill?

Thanks, Dee

The inside of the Pro is stainless steel, I believe.

It does have a plastic lid which might possibly touch a molecule or two of water.

The base is plastic and it gets hot, so any water spilled on it might evaporate and carry some of the evil plastic spirits through the air and land in the tea or (horrors) on you.

I don't think most of the metal Chinese electric kettles have plastic coming into contact with the water, though for the ones with a heating element inside, I'm assuming that there's some sort of gasket where the heating element enters, and I'm not sure what that's made of. Induction kettles shouldn't have any plastic coming into contact with the water if you don't have a problem with induction.

There are some glass ones, but usually they have a metal bottom and in that case there needs to be some sort of silicone seal. Someone complained about the taste of theirs, but mine is fine.

You could consider a hot plate and glass or metal kettle. No auto shut-off, but it's low tech and pretty reliable.

If you're not the person who started this thread, and haven't read it yet, maybe have a look here:

Will Yardley wrote in news:slrn4jbnmnjc00100.7h1.&-@mitch.veggiechinese.net:

Very helpful post, thanks. I currently use a stovetop kettle, but have been researching electric kettles for possible purchase. There is a large Asian market about 20 mins away. I will check there to see what they have.

Dee

Square Peg wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

Great, thanks.

I'm not really concerned about the lid or the base being plastic. I'm trying to avoid plastic inside the kettle where it would be submerged in the heating water and thus possibly affect the taste of the water and subsequently the tea.

Dee