• NeatNit@discuss.tchncs.de
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    19 days ago

    Kettle is much more convenient. Microwave is overkill, while a kettle is both a simpler machine and turns itself off when the water boils with no guesswork. It’s ergonomically designed for pouring into a cup.

    The speed argument is irrelevant, they’re both quick enough.

    • nova_ad_vitum@lemmy.ca
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      19 days ago

      A microwave cannot be more efficient than an electric kettle with an immersion heating element (rare these days) anyways .

    • thatgirlwasfire@lemmy.world
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      19 days ago

      Most Americans own a microwave, but don’t own a kettle. So going to the store and buying a kettle is a little less convenient.

      • prime_number_314159@lemmy.world
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        19 days ago

        American kettles are significantly worse than British kettles. They run at lower voltage and lower amperage, so they take much longer to boil water.

        Given the choice between using a multipurpose microwave to do one more thing, and buying a separate appliance that is no faster, choosing to use the device you already own is entirely appropriate.

        • Serinus@lemmy.world
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          18 days ago

          If you drink tea or coffee, even irregularly, a kettle is worth having.

          And a pour over is better than Keurig crap. I’d recommend using paper filters as well. Most of the time I just rinse the pour over when finished.

          Generally I grind 2-3 servings of beans at a time and store the rest in a glass container in the fridge.

          In the end, the effort is pretty comparable to a Keurig machine, but better quality, more flexibility, and you don’t have to deal with/buy pods or a machine.

        • Cethin@lemmy.zip
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          19 days ago

          They are still the best option for heating water. At best, a microwave could match its performance if it is nearly perfectly efficient and dumping all it’s energy only into the water, which is what a kettle does. They have the same potential power draw, so they can put the same energy in as each other. A kettle’s design is perfect for heating water though.

          Unless you have an inductive stove top, an electric kettle is going to be the best option, even in the US. It’s the most efficient at putting energy into the water and, since all these options have the same power draw, it is consequently the fastest (again, assuming no inductive stove top which can draw more power).

        • Fosheze@lemmy.world
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          19 days ago

          WHAT?! That’s way better than a microwave then! I was getting so tired of buying new microwaves every time I wanted a cup of tea. Thank you.

      • PM_Your_Nudes_Please@lemmy.world
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        19 days ago

        There’s also the whole “kettles in America take longer to heat up, because America only has 120v electrical outlets while the UK has 240v, and therefore gets twice as much power for the same amperage” thing. That being said, I’m in America and I love my kettle. You just expect it to take 5-7 minutes to heat up, instead of 2-3. If I only want a single cup of something, then yeah I’ll use the microwave. But if I’m going to be making more than one cup, the kettle is my go-to.

      • NeatNit@discuss.tchncs.de
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        19 days ago

        No judgement from me towards anyone who uses a microwave like this. But that’s not a good argument. If you want to get pedantic, the one-time inconvenience of going to the store will be made up for by the hundreds of small conveniences of using it later.

        In general I don’t think it’s fair to think about the inconvenience of buying a thing. Even online reviews, which often complain about shipping times which has nothing to do with the product, don’t really complain about the inconvenience of having to buy or order something. It’s not relevant.

    • oatscoop@midwest.social
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      19 days ago

      The microwave is more efficient because you can do all the steps at once. Put teabag in mug, cover with water, microwave, leave and let steep. And if you forget about your tea it’s already in the microwave – just push the “add 30 seconds” button.

      I keep my Splenda and non-dairy creamer next to the microwave for added convenience.