Reddit reviews Bonavita 1.7-Liter Variable Temperature Digital Electric Kettle

This Bonavita kettle is really hard to beat. Not only does it have 6 assorted temperature presets, but you can also manually set it at any temp up to 212°F in 1° increments. It also has a hold feature that will hold your temp for up to an hour before it auto-shuts off.

I was a bit upset that my first one crapped out after only 4-5 months, but it was an open box deal, so who knows what might have happened to it before I got it. They did send me out a replacement pretty quick, no questions asked, so I can't complain too much.

Hario Skerton $31

Bonavita Variable Temp $50

American Weigh Scales LB3000 $25

Total: $106

You're not going to be able to get an electric burr grinder with your budget. The cheapest, generally acceptable, burr grinder is the Capresso Infinity and it's $100.

> I'm sure you're tired of noobs asking for help here, so thanks again :)

Not at all. I'm happy to see noobs asking, it means the community is growing.

>I'm sure at some point some of you were preparing tea just like me,

Yup, you bet your bottom dollar I was.

>what did you change since then?

1. Get an electric kettle! This is absolute best possible thing you can do to improve your tea; it doesn't matter how good your tea is if you don't brew it right. I have this one and I love it, make sure whichever one you get is actually accurate: http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B008YE3RNG
   
   
2. An infuser works but I would suggest switching to a teapot, preferably gaiwan. You don't need anything fancy. You can get gaiwans smaller than teacups or as big as a stockpot. Gaiwan brewing makes a huge difference in flavor, each cup tastes different.
   
   
3. Quality tea. Some places to start: https://www.reddit.com/r/tea/comments/48tr3d/if_you_could_go_back_in_time_when_starting_to/d0mx38l
   
   Order in small amounts, it will help keep both the tea and your palate 'fresh'. Plus vendor offerings change with the seasons.
   
   
4. Slow down and enjoy your tea, the process, the aesthetics, the aroma, the texture, etc. Go sit outside, drink your tea, and just listen to the sounds of the world, observe.
   
   >How do you weigh your tea? One way would be to prepare 1l cans instead of a cup, then I could use a regular kitchen scale and would not have to fiddle with the digital spoon.
   
   Personally? I don't, I eyeball it. In my itsy bitsy gaiwan I add enough dry tea leaves to cover the bottom.
   
   For your purposes though I would recommend getting some storage tins and some very small plastic baggies. You can sit down and weigh out a bunch of individual servings and bag them and store them in your tin; when you're craving tea all you have to do is grab one of the baggies, drop it in and you're good to go.
   
   >I could use a bigger tea infuser where the tea could unfold completely.
   
   You absolutely positively have to be doing this no matter what. Give the leaves space to breathe, no matter the brewing method.
   
   > I really want to step it up this year, and get something citrus-y and refreshing for the summer (any recommendations?) that's delicious cold.
   
   Send a private message to Liquid Proust Teas on Etsy (I linked to him in my other comment), super friendly guy, great prices, even better tea and he can do custom blends for you. He has some really interesting blends, like the Fake Mead which has powdered honey in it. (Paging /u/LiquidProustTeas).

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008YE3RNG?pc_redir=1412262025&robot_redir=1

Not quite preset temperatures, but control of the temperature. $29.99 with Amazon prime! Very easy to pour, well worth it, and I'm someone who switched to this from a Breville One Touch.

We have the Bonavita 1.7L electric kettle

Variable temp kettles are a definite requirement for the tea enthusiast.

This is the cheapest available option for a variable temp kettle that I know of that still stays under $75 (most are closer to $100).

If you want precision by a single degree, Bonavita has one as well as a gooseneck version that fall under your budget.

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-1-7-Liter-Variable-Temperature-Electric/dp/B008YE3RNG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1418624608&sr=8-3&keywords=bonavita+electric+kettle

It's a great kettle, especially if you're doing pour-overs (I have one).

If you don't do pour-overs or aren't thinking about getting into pour-overs, though, I'd save money and go for a non-gooseneck one. [This one] (http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-1-7-Liter-Variable-Temperature-Electric/dp/B008YE3RNG/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1414513925&sr=8-4&keywords=bonavita) is basically the same thing, just without the gooseneck, at less than half the price.

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-1-7-Liter-Variable-Temperature-Electric/dp/B008YE3RNG/

Not gooseneck, but otherwise the same.

I have the non gooseneck version of that kettle, it's 50 dollars. I don't think the gooseneck would be very important, except maybe for precision pouring like pour over coffee. I like it a lot and have had it for over a year. My only complaint is that it slows down a lot when it gets near your set temperature, so it could take longer than others to boil water.

This was my starter tea pot http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F3DCPPM/

and my second kettle http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008YE3RNG/

They are both great and I use them multiple times every day

There's [this fella] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008YE3RNG?cache=9c6ff808f45840133b58a31f84e937d9&pi=SY200_QL40&qid=1412477403&sr=8-2#ref=mp_s_a_1_2) for $35. The variable temp thing is super handy. You can set the temp to whatever you want and then have the option to hold it there for up to an hour. Though if you plan on getting into pour over the gooseneck version is borderline mandatory, and unfortunately significantly more expensive.

Thanks! So it would be this then right?

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-1-7-Liter-Variable-Temperature-Electric/dp/B008YE3RNG

Walmart link: http://www.walmart.com/msharbor/ip/Bonavita-1-Liter-Variable-Temperature-Digital-Electric-Gooseneck-Kettle/39801200?&veh=mweb (hopefully this won't get deleted for you)

I have the 1.7 liter, non-gooseneck Bonavita kettle and really like it. The 1 liter kettle wouldn't work too great for me since I use a liter cup for my tea and drink at least 2 cups in a row. This kettle easily holds 2 liters and then some.

I don't know if the gooseneck does anything special, but if you are like me and make more than 16 ounces of tea at a time, I would recommend the larger kettle.

Hell, both kettles have a 60 minute "keep warm" timer, so having extra water in it isn't a problem even if you take your time with the first cup.

Walmart has it for $69 like the smaller one, but Amazon has it for $50.

another precisely-controlled bonavita kettle if you don't need a super precise pour (only $35):

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-1-7-Liter-Variable-Temperature-Electric/dp/B008YE3RNG/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1418167108&sr=1-2&keywords=bonavita+variable+temperature+kettle

If you can spring $80+ for one, I highly recommend the Bonavita Variable Temp Gooseneck kettle. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_8cjEub0ZA0Y9R

The timer feature is perfect for what I use it for. When the kettle isn't on the base, you can press the plus button and a count up timer will start.

If you don't need the gooseneck, this is the same one without it, for much cheaper. Bonavita 1.7-Liter Variable Temperature Digital Electric Kettle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008YE3RNG/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_zfjEub0XGWA48

Edit: I just realized you wanted a programmable timer to start the kettle in the morning. I don't think either of these can do that. Sorry!

I have the Bonavita 1.7 Liter that is mentioned below, and I wholeheartedly support it. I understand that the gooseneck design is pretty, but it is just not worth the price jump in my opinion. I've never had a problem controlling my pour and it has done everything I wanted when I was searching for an electric kettle. It's a wonderful bargain in my opinion! If you have any other questions, I'd be glad to help you!
Edit: It's also worth mentioning that the gooseneck is 1000 watts, while this one is 1500 watts. Not sure if that matters to you or not!

I have the BonaVita 1.7L Variable Temperature Kettle and it doesn't beep at all, it reaches temp and then stops, the current temperature is displayed and you can also hold it at that temperature with a button press. It doesn't make a classic kettle whistle, but it does have audible water boiling noises, which I think all electric kettle have.

$35, variable temp, great kettle.

http://amzn.com/B008YE3RNG

Props for not immediately supporting drinking all the coffee. It's tasty, but sleep is too.

Also, I would recommend a chemex and an electric kettle.

Bonavita variable temp electric kettle.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008YE3RNG?pc_redir=1406286178&robot_redir=1

So my scale should be OK, or should I take a small moment to look outside of the one place I shopped to find a better scale?

Also, on the Bonavita variable temp:

This is the one I purchased: http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-40996-Programmable-1-7-Liter/dp/B0083I7THI

So you are saying the small-sized neck of the Bonavita variable temp (assuming you mean the gooseneck [ http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YR0F40 ] and not the regular [ http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008YE3RNG ]) is preferable due to the controlled manner of the stream? I guess I want to be sure about changing my choice due to the over 100% difference in price, is all.

Thank you!

I use a BonaVita 1L variable temp. gooseneck but that's a bit out of your price range. If you're only brewing tea then this one will work just fine. If you do pour over coffee then you may want to save up a bit more and get the gooseneck.

I absolutely love mine. Well built, easy to use, and very well reviewed.

Hey thanks for the reply. Is the pouring experience the only main difference between the gooseneck and spout models? I just noticed the ratings on amazon are quite different from one model to the other. Also do you know the difference between the two gooseneck models, other than the color? The silver/black model looks nicer IMO, but it's not available. Did you have any issues with the plastic melting on either of the ones you owned?

Bonavita BV382510V Electric Kettle, Gooseneck Variable Temperature, 1.0L https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_y7U6ybCQ9G25Z

Bonavita 1.7-Liter Variable Temperature Digital Electric Kettle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008YE3RNG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_rjX6yb1QDDGVJ

You could also buy the non-gooseneck electric kettle and a stovetop gooseneck kettle for cheaper

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-1-7-Liter-Variable-Temperature-Electric/dp/B008YE3RNG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1408858182&sr=8-3&keywords=bonavita+electric+kettle

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV3825ST-1-Liter-Stovetop-Kettle/dp/B005YR0IBU/ref=pd_sbs_k_10?ie=UTF8&refRID=1PN1SM6HD90A92STTF8V

Just a guess, but but Bonavita brand electric kettles are well liked in this sub. Especially the Gooseneck var. temp. is popular.

I'm personally thinking about getting one.

EDIT: I see that heir non-goose neck ("mongoose"?) kettle is now half off on Amazon.

It's $35 here

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-1-7-Liter-Variable-Temperature-Electric/dp/B008YE3RNG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1407888102&sr=8-3&keywords=bonavita+electric+kettle

I want to get the Bonavita 1.7L kettle once I scrape a few pennies from under the couch. I hear a lot of great things about it. It's list price is $79.99 but it can be found for $44.99 on Amazon.

The regular is in stock @ $60: Bonavita Pouring Kettle

edit: sorry. I'm dumb. fixed.

side note: the 1.7L non-pouring Variable Temp is on sale @ $35. 58% off. I have it and like it. I haven't had any of the issues that the bad reviews mention. Plus, bonavita's support is typically pretty good.