I recently purchased a Bonavita 1-Liter Variable Temperature Digital Electric Gooseneck Kettle
I’m really glad I did – this thing is great!
First of all, it heats up really fast. The longest part of making pour-over coffee (for me) is waiting for the water to get hot enough to boil (212 degrees), then waiting about 2 minutes for it to cool down to the ideal brewing temperature (about 198 degrees). I don’t have a thermometer that I use to check the water temperature like a true coffee snob, so this is my impromptu work-around.
I usually set the Bonavita to brew to 200 degrees (although I could hit 198 exactly if I wanted to), which gives me just enough time to grind my beans and clean out my Capresso Infinity Burr Grinder (leaving grounds in the grinder is a huge no-no). By the time I’m ready to brew, my water is ready. You can even set the Bonavita to “hold” at a certain temperature for up to an hour, although I haven’t used or needed this feature yet. I do see how it could be helpful, though.
It also has a plastic bottom, so you can put the kettle right on the counter even when it’s hot. Doesn’t sound like a big deal, but it’s nice not to have to worry about this accidentally marring my countertop.
A gooseneck kettle is the only way to do manual pour-over coffee, and the Bonavita Variable Temp Electric Kettle offers superb control during the pour. I also have a Bonavita stovetop kettle that was given to me and works great, but the electric kettle is slightly heavier and in my opinion just “feels” better when pouring.
I would definitely recommend this kettle to anyone who enjoys making manual pour-over coffee at home, no matter what your preferred brew method. I happen to like the Chemex myself, but this would great for a V-60, Beehouse, or even an Aeropress as well.