Kettles

We have hard water

Not according to northerners you don't. Soft southern...

Fine, I just thought maybe there was a kettle with magic water softening properties.

Ok then, what's a good, standard, electric kettle?

Well, that's what will happen; either it precipitates out onto your kettle's inner surfaces, or it remains in the water and ends up in your drink.

In reality, the particles of calcium are too small to be noticeable - at least once you've reduced your existing build-up.

The only way to reduce the calcium in your water is to get a filter.

Your dentist may disagree - my father in-law (a dentist) wages a one-man war against fruit juice in all its forms. But then again, he has some pretty odd views on a lot of subjects.

The only way to reduce the calcium in your water is to get a filter.

Unless it's an distillation filter / osmotic filter / ion exchange filter, it's not going to take much out of the water.

We have hard water.

That's only a problem when you do a belly flop, though.

THIS is a newer version of one I have. Filters the water before boiling. Works pretty well too, and cheap.

I've got that Bosch one linked up above...
It's ace. 90 degrees is a good setting for coffee, 70-80 good if you like your herbal teas.
Have used vinegar to clean it - you don't really want to boil it; just leave it in to soak for a few hours.

http://coffeehit.co.uk/bonavita-1l-gooseneck-temperature-variable-kettle-eu-plug?gclid=CIzrl4Has8wCFQ0SGwodLUMOaQ#fo_c=1166&fo_k=193eff892592d5face888545b4582320&fo_s=gplauk

Bosch. This looks nice.

The stainless steel wire mesh things work up to a point, but nothing besides using filtered water or regular de-scaling will keep the calcium at bay.

Sure you can get a Britta kettle that filters the water in the top and then boils it once it's filtered through. However, it's about 1/3 larger than most kettles and also it takes time for the water to filter through, so valuable tea-drinking minutes are taken up tapping your foot and looking at your watch as the water slowly trickles through. Also you'll have to buy new filters which is something of a ballache as well as an extra expense.

This is a bit like the one I've seen: http://www.coopelectricalshop.co.uk/Breville-VKJ972-Brita-Filter-Jug-Kettle-in-Silver/id-BRE-KET-VKJ972-S?gclid=Cj0KEQjwjIy5BRClh8m_9Zu64d8BEiQAtZsQf6pn6LdJYH1IHNLZkIm00iknXGlJl5uLHLlCkV1I67kaAsLo8P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

has this been re-boiled yet?

Don't by a Dualit one. Leaked. Don't by a Magimix one - broke due to a ridiculously complicated opening mechanism that, at its heart, relied on a 2 mm thick bit of plastic - although at least lasted longer than the Dualit one. Cheapo Bosch is currently going well...

& the wire stuff - sort of works.

£4.49 at Argos and keep the receipt. I bought one as back-up about two years ago and the builders used it solidly for four months. Argos will change it when it breaks with a new receipt. If you want posher looking you need one with the fewest joints in the water container. Argos are very good with returns whatever you buy.

if you like buying kettles without seeing them first definitely Argos, you'll be in your element

Oh come on, lets not turn this into a pun-fest. Its no ones cup of tea..

It really boils my piss when a good, informative thread turns into a pun-run

I have this Bosch kettle also and it's ace. Have the matching toaster too.

I think some of the recommendations on this thread could kettle lead onto some decent brews being had!

£4.49 at Argos and keep the receipt.

Hah. I knew you'd know all about kettling, Savage.

ooh! feel the scald!

You told me once you like installing things. Son I am disappointed.

Those shit Argos ones, don't they take about 10 minutes to eventually boil?

they have a bloody good run up to it and stay at 'rolling' for quite a while before it clicks off