Economic kettle

coffeehound

shinytop said:
My Nespresso machine makes my chosen tipple of a lungo+espresso in 90 seconds.  It's rated at 1260 watts so about 0.032 kWh.  Drinking coffee must be much greener than tea.     

One of my espresso machines has got a six- (6) litre boiler; I won't be calculating the cost for a morning cupper

hubb said:

I have always wondered why someone hasn’t invented a kettle that has a thermos flask reserve, keeping the water hotter for the next boil. In fact, we flask any extra water we boil ready for the next time.

There was such a thing once, though not sure it's still around.

QrizB said:

... and in practice, of course, a cheap automatic kettle (like mine) needs a flow of steam to trigger the switch so it will always heat for longer than is required. 

One thing I always do is switch off the kettle at the wall as it boils.  I figure it saves wear to the trip mechanism and element, as well as a smidge of lectric.  £5 Asda kettle still going strong after 11 years

hubb

The jury is still out for me but I suppose the electric switches off quicker than anyone running to a whistling kettle, however fast. 

[Deleted User]

Which magazine run tests on them, not all are equal (they include a "don't buy" category). Mine boils a mugs worth in 50 seconds and is prompt switching off. I have used many over the years that are terrible. For me it is minimum water (mug full) and prompt switch off.


Edit. Saying that though, new induction hob is insanely quicker on full whack but not sure what that takes in £££.

cannonballdaze

The most efficient kettle will be an insulated one that keeps the water left in the kettle warm.

Pixiekazza

As we are still wfh, I set my alarm to go off before my cheap rate electric goes off at 7am. I fill two 1l Thermos flasks full of boiling water from my kettle. Does two of us coffee for the morning. Or if I'm in a tea mood, I make a teapot full, the tea cosy keeps it warm for ages. In winter I have a stove top kettle which goes on top of the log burner, gets to just below boiling - perfect for coffee! It's not really about the kettle so much as the fuel cost.

[Deleted User]

Try boiling your kettle when the moon is overhead.

KennyScout

QrizB said:

... and in practice, of course, a cheap automatic kettle (like mine) needs a flow of steam to trigger the switch so it will always heat for longer than is required. If you can judge exactly when to turn it off manually, or have a kettle with a thermocouple that knows the temperature of the water, it will shut off earlier and save a fraction of a penny.

Nearly no kettle use a steam switch, it's not a safe solution, but a common misconception. Your switch nearly certainly is a kind of bimetallic switch where one metal contracts and breaks the circuit, this takes a little bit of time hence the 'overshoot', it's alo why you can't put your kettle straight back on after it's boiled (try it), even if there's no steam. 

ballisticbrian

OK, more brain storming, what about combining these two 12 volt pieces of equipment?



????

FreeBear

Amazon reviews suggest that the heating element takes around 10 minutes to get a cup of water up to 50°C - If you can wait that long for a tepid drink, go for it. But for a midnight drink, you'll be wasting your time with a solar panel.

Verdigris

At 30W you'll have died from thirst before your cuppa has boiled. And that's on a sunny day!