Great Kettle for Adjustable Temp
When we got an AeroPress in July 2018, we realized we needed a convenient way to heat the water to a specific temperature, since you should not be using boiling water for your AeroPress. I reviewed a number of adjustable temp kettles before deciding on this one. Specifically, I was looking for one with an easy to set temp that also remembered the previous setpoint. This one fit the bill, and we bought it a week after we bought the AeroPress.For over a year and a half, this has been cranking out hot water for us. Typically it is used twice each morning for coffee for my wife and I, who usually get up and moving at different times, and in the winter I use it considerably for making tea throughout the day.Turns out, maintaining the previous setpoint wasn't all that useful after all (though it still is nice), since my wife and I have settled on different temps for making coffee in the Aeropress. What is useful is the quick temps. With one button, it cycles through preset temps of 140, 176, 185, 190, 205, and 208 °F (or equivalent °C if in °C mode), and we've ended up using this almost exclusively. I brew coffee with the 176 °F setting, my wife uses 185 °F. Since you have to add water after you use the AeroPress (or milk/etc), I usually brew the coffee, then set the pot back on the base and tap the preset temp button several times to the 208 °F to top off my mug with really hot water, as I like hot drinks. So we typically are pressing this button numerous times per day, and they've obviously used quality buttons since it shows no signs of wearing out. The temp can be adjusted in 1 °F increments from the preset using the + and - buttons (and again, it always turns back on to the last used temp, whether that is a pre-set or custom temp). Adjustable range is 140 °F to 212 °F.Temp accuracy: If I put my meat thermometer right at the temp sensor, the thermometer reads ~2 °F higher than the kettle. Not a big deal, and explains why a roiling boil happens at a displayed 210 °F and it never reaches 212 °F.Hold button: By default, the pot shuts off when it reaches the set temp. Pressing "hold" will have the pot maintain the set temp for an hour before turning off. You can press hold as soon as you turn the pot on and it will climb to your set temp and hold. Great for turning the pot on and taking a shower, and it will be at just the right temp when you get back to it.Cleaning: They say to use only a "special" cleaner that they sell...go figure. Nah, I put half a pot of vinegar, half a pot of water, turn to the 208 °F preset and "hold" for an hour. When I get back to it all the calcium buildup is gone. Rinse with water and refill for your next use.Rust: I've seen people mention rust. One time I thought I saw signs of rust, but cleaning with vinegar removed it and I haven't seen it since. Maybe it was iron in the water or maybe something was growing. Not sure.Calcium: As with all pots used to boil hard water, calcium will build up on the bottom. This starts flaking off after some time, and with the spout going to the bottom of the pot any calcium flakes that break off will come right out of the spout immediately on pouring. This could be an issue depending on your point of view. If you don't like this, get a pot with a top-pour spout and this won't happen. Cleaning more often or using distilled water are two ways you can fix this. The other way is to just not drink your coffee/tea to the very bottom of your cup, i.e. don't tilt your cup "up" past horizontal and leave just a tad in the bottom and you won't accidentally "drink" these calcium bits.Other: The pot can swivel 360° on the base, and since it has a temp sensor in the pot the power and temp signals are transmitted through the use of a pin and 4 concentric rings of metal on bottom the pot that contact 5 spring loaded pins in the base (the power pins are recesses and cannot be touched on accident, plus the base will not supply power if the pot is missing). I have noticed (only occasionally) that something, I assume minor corrosion, will occasionally throw off the temp reading or recognizing that a pot is attached. Usually this seems to happen if you put the pot at a different angle then normal. If this happens, the fix is easy. With the pot fully lowered on the base, just swing it back and forth a few times until the temp display stops changing when the pot is rotated. Again, I've only noticed this once or twice. Could have just been a piece of dust or something got on a contact.Summary: Great pot, accurate temps, handy pre-sets, holds last temp in memory, reliable and long lasting. Will definitely order again if we need a replacement or if we want a dedicated one for our RV rather than taking this one with us.