yellowroom

Its a global problem - my parents' kettles barely last a year in the UK.

The difference is, they bought one from John Lewis about 6 or 7 years ago, and they give two years guarantee for electrical items, so they haven't actually had to pay for any since. Mum just takes back the broken one with the receipt, gets a new one and repeats a year later.

robin1234

I think ours is a Chefs Choice 677 or similar. We've had it for ten or more years. It was expensive, maybe $40 or more. I'm pretty sure we bought it in Canadian Tire or Walmart. It works fine, but it is not a very good pourer (i.e. it tends to drip down the spout unless you pour quickly.)

As for coffee, yes, American preference seems to have been integrated drip machines, such as Mr. Coffee, moving to Keurig nowadays. I've always used a vacuum jug, with a Melitta cone perched on top, filled manually from the electric kettle. I've never really seen the point of automatic drip machines. Tea - I buy leaf tea in England and transport it to the U.S. If I lived in MA, I'd be able to buy decent tea in the local grocery store, but not up here in rural NYS ....

Duncan Roberts

Weird, ours is a little over 13 years old and still going strong. 3 or 4 years ago I thought it was broken because it wouldn't turn on, but I left it for a day and it started working again. Don't they make the same kind any more but it's a Braun WK200, cost about $35. Made in Germany, maybe that's why it's lasted.

mrken30

If you buy one from Costco , I think you can just take it back if it fails.

SultanOfSwing

I've had the same stove-top kettle since I moved out here. Never had a single issue with it and never had the need to get an electric one. Boils water fast enough for my needs.

Blech. Coffee is pish, I wouldn't drink it if my life depended on it.

If someone's stuck drinking Lipton, it just means they're not inventive enough to find decent teabags, which are not hard to find.

Rete

You get a pass on this one. However, you need a good electric kettle to boil the water for instant mud.

To SOS: Never liked Lipton or Red Rose myself. I'm a Tetley tea person and much prefer their British Blend tea bags. Do enjoy a cup of Barry's when I use to have a bite to eat at the Irish Coffee Shops in my old neighborhood. Sorry but I'm not an Earl or Lady Grey fan. Like my tea strong and black, with 1/2 a teaspoon of sugar and just a touch of milk. Do own tea caddies and have several Ceylon varieties of loose tea for enjoyment when we have guests.

SultanOfSwing

I like the Tetley British Blend, too. If I really want to I can get other varieties in the British section of various stores around and about, but Tetley has done the job since I discovered it years ago.

lizzyq

Yorkshire Gold loose tea all the way for us - we get it delivered in 1kg bags from Amazon. I'll go for Earl Grey when I'm on my own later in the day. Elder Q boy even kept a teapot and tea in the common room at school

RoadWarriorFromLP

They replaced stove top percolators that made it easy to make bad coffee, since the time and temperature could vary quite a bit.

It's astonishing that you haven't yet been deported. The feds are obviously not paying attention to the traitors among us.

kimilseung

I assumed it was no point in auto drips, in contrast to just pouring water over the grounds.

SultanOfSwing

I'm a citizen now, so you're stuck with me

Nutek

I think that just makes you valid for a drone strike doesn't it?

SultanOfSwing

Meh, better than having to drink coffee, I suppose.

Nutmegger

Gets ready to duck and run for cover . . . but this cold drinks only consumer wonders why you can't just shove a Pyrex measuring jug full of water in the microwave and nuke it?

thinbrit

What year was this when $40 was expensive for a kettle?