Cost of boiling a liter of water for tea, coffee etc

[Deleted User]

Autumnella wrote: »

I have no idea which would be cheaper... but you need to shop about for a cheaper tariff, then you won't need to worry about the cost of making a cup of tea. Those prices are expensive, with the savings you could make you could makehundreds of cups of tea!

You are dead right, the OPs tariff is very high at over 14p/kwh. Its most probably a prepayment meter tariff and the OP needs to get a credit meter asap if that is the case.
I m paying 8p /kwr so my cup of coffee is going to cost 40% less (approx) than the OPs

Pincher

DigForVictory wrote: »

Cheat...
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5471068

No more minutes waiting - seconds.
Then with brew in hand, read this? http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/you-switch-gas-electricity

I thought about it, but decided counter space is more important.

I do have an espresso/cappuccino machine taking up counter space. The next machine could have a hot water feature, and further justify its existence.

victor2

I did an experiment in 2012, comparing a new 2 KW electric kettle with a kettle on the gas hob.
I boiled 1 litre of cold tap water in each kettle.
Electric kettle used 0.108kWh and took 3min 20sec. Cost on my tariff at the time was 0.96p
Gas hob used 0.297kWh and took 6min 4sec. Cost was 0.98p.

So, nothing in it cost wise, but almost 3 minutes wasted using gas.
Yes, I had nothing better to do...;)

r2015

ETA
If I drank 10 hot drinks a day, I'd spend far more time in the loo than I would waiting for the kettle to boil!

Breakfast coffee, coffee break at 10, lunch tea, coffee break at 3 pm, tea at tea time and whisky at bed time.

I never said I drank them all, there are 2 of us in the house.

Also while waiting on the kettle to boil other tasks can be done.

Also because I am retired watching the kettle boil is exciting:rotfl::rotfl:

Demoavril

wowo...
Same so many ppl are surfering the electricity of boiling water.
Recently.. i have found a product which is saving energy.
IT's the instant heating kettle.
2200 w .. 1 min can have boiled water 360ml . 10 mins is 3.6 litter.
that is 0.22 electricity..
How do you think .. it's working when you need the boiled water.

CashStrapped

Demoavril wrote: »

wowo...
Same so many ppl are surfering the electricity of boiling water.
Recently.. i have found a product which is saving energy.
IT's the instant heating kettle.
2200 w .. 1 min can have boiled water 360ml . 10 mins is 3.6 litter.
that is 0.22 electricity..
How do you think .. it's working when you need the boiled water.

Can't tell is your post is ment to be ironic or not.....but...

.....sorry to burst your bubble. All electric kettles are pretty much 100% efficient. You may just have a very powerful kettle that boils water very fast.

Is it a standalone kettle? Or a built in appliance?

Regardless, it will be no more or less efficient than a £10 kettle from tesco.

The best thing, with any kettle to improve efficiency is to only boil what you need. Look out for kettles that can boil water for just 1 cup.

The only thing you are getting is more convenience as it boils faster.

[Deleted User]

Pincher wrote: »

The most cost efficient method is to heat only the water you need with a microwave. No need to heat up the kettle at all.

The typical efficiency of a magnetron is about 65%, if a kettle element is immersed all the heat is going into the water. Boiling water in a microwave is hazardous, if it becomes superheated you risk getting scalded.

PasturesNew

It's small fry to the wastage of pre-heating a whole oven to cook one pie or casserole for 1-2 hours!

It's not a cost I'd be bothered about ....

Cardew

victor2 wrote: »

I did an experiment in 2012, comparing a new 2 KW electric kettle with a kettle on the gas hob.
I boiled 1 litre of cold tap water in each kettle.
Electric kettle used 0.108kWh and took 3min 20sec. Cost on my tariff at the time was 0.96p
Gas hob used 0.297kWh and took 6min 4sec. Cost was 0.98p.

So, nothing in it cost wise, but almost 3 minutes wasted using gas.
Yes, I had nothing better to do...;)

To continue this immensely important discussion;) it is worth pointing out that using gas your house gained heat from the huge extra consumption of 0.189kWh - all for the same price.

Of course in summer you might have to use that energy for air conditioning.

WhoIsThat

Jaffa_cake wrote: »

Hi all.

I am trying to work out how much it costs me to heat a liter of cold water, to use for tea or coffee.

My electric cost per unit is 14.19 pence per kW
My gas cost is 3.07 pence per kW.

I would use a 2kW plastic electric jug kettle, with the immersed element directly in the water at the bottom, or a metal whistle kettle, that sits on one of the gas hob thingies.

The things that complicate, this seemingly simple calculation is.
1) thermal transfer from heat source to water
2) As the water is heating up, the loss of water temperature due to conduction to the cooler surrounding air.

ie, the metal kettle on the gas hob, would loose more water temperature, than say the plastic, electric kettle, as plastic is a better heat retainer than metal.

Get my jist ?

So, it seems on the surface of things, it is cheaper to use gas to get my water to boiling point, as the electric units are almost 5 times the cost of the gas units.

Any one care to have a go at some calculations ?

If you were to provide me the data, I'll put this through my mega computer for the right answer if you like

What I need is for you to time the 2 different methods you propose and let me know.

Also let me know the rating of the paricular gas ring you use.

Also double check the rating of the electric kettle. You say 2kW (2000W) but these are usually 2200W.


In the meantime, it is correct to say that kW for kW, electricity (on a single rate) is about 5 times that of gas. But the prices you are paying are about 50% more than they need to be! :eek:

Anyway, I'll look forward to receiving the data asked for, and then I'll drop them into my mega computer and try and calculate the answer for you ... if the strain does not blow it up.

Btw, just how much tea do you drink at one time? Why not just heat the amount of water you need, rather than a litre??? :huh:
That too would save you considerable expense.