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[-] Durandal@lemmy.today 38 points 3 weeks ago

Some do, but because of the prevalence of automatic coffee machines and microwaves there isn't as much of a need outside specialty coffee drinkers.

The argument about speed and convenience doesn't work in the US because of the outlet voltage as well. The 110-120v outlets don't provide the same level of power to kettles so they can't heat up as quickly. If you have a microwave it's just as fast or faster.

[-] PlzGivHugs@sh.itjust.works 18 points 3 weeks ago

He addresses this some. 120v is still a lot faster than boiling water on the stove. Coffee makers are significant, but boiling water in a microwave is generally a bad idea, given the risk of superheating (not that people don't do it.)

[-] Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 26 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

I have never once (unintentionally) superheated water in a microwave, and I've been using them since about 1980 (and God knows we were idiots with them back then).

It just doesn't happen - there are too many imperfections in our containers, and too many minerals for it to happen much.

I've experimented many times, and the reality is you have to work at superheating water in a microwave.

For me, it's taken things like a brand new Pyrex measuring cup (glass), and filtered water. I can do it with other stuff, but I've had to boil/cool it multiple times, something that isn't really going to happen.

[-] mesamunefire@piefed.social 6 points 3 weeks ago

He goes into it in another video on the channel. Almost everyone I know uses a microwave for water.

[-] RBWells@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago

Huh. I have. Didn't know what it was, but heated the water, dropped in a spoon and it boiled over aggressively even though it didn't look like it was boiling.

We do use a kettle, this happened at work - the microwave there was a lot stronger than mine, and I couldn't get the water to look like it was boiling.

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[-] scarabic@lemmy.world 28 points 3 weeks ago
[-] SCmSTR 7 points 3 weeks ago

Yeah even with our slow, low wall-voltage, having a dedicated boiler is fucking nice. Takes up some counter space, but it's worth it.

Cocoa, tea, coffee, whatever - it's nice. And the vibe is nice.

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[-] just_another_person@lemmy.world 18 points 3 weeks ago
[-] GladiusB@lemmy.world 15 points 3 weeks ago

Does nobody just microwave water?

[-] Hawk@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 3 weeks ago

I'd rather not because of the obvious dangers

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[-] Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 15 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

120v vs 220v

Also tea, as in tea time. Americans don't have this custom, so it's not a big driver.

[-] MyTurtleSwimsUpsideDown@fedia.io 12 points 3 weeks ago

That’s a contributing factor on the comparative desirability of an electric kettle here vs there, but I think the more significant part boils down to familiarity and need. Most Americans just don’t drink tea/cocoa/instant-coffee regularly enough want a separate appliance for it. And if the boiling is for cooking, most folk would just boil the water in the pot they will be cooking in, and probably with the lid off because we are lazy like that; time and energy efficiency be damned.

[-] scarabic@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago

Yes the preference for coffee over tea is very strong and a lot of people do t drink either.

Another factor is the coffee maker use. Personally I think they’re pointlessly limited machines and they get nasty quick. But people love them for some reason.

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[-] TheAlbatross 14 points 3 weeks ago

We do? I've had one for over a decade

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[-] Deflated0ne@lemmy.world 14 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

I'm American and I use one. It's great.

Got into French press coffee a few years ago and bought one.

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[-] kmartburrito@lemmy.world 13 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

I use them all the time! Unfortunately though our power system uses 120v and not 240v so our kettles aren't as effective here. Still, MUCH more effective than boiling on the gas or electric stovetop/range.

Ironically it was after I spent time in Europe for work in the early 2000s that I picked up on this and bought one for my house. Now with my family of four, we use them regularly.

Edit - also Technology Connections (my favorite nerd out YouTube channel) did a video on this.

And I'm an absolute bonehead for missing that this is the same video as OP posted. Please forgive me for being excited as an American that uses kettles!

[-] DmMacniel@feddit.org 14 points 3 weeks ago

Uhm your link points to the same video by Alec as the OPs link. Just saying :)

[-] kmartburrito@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago

Ha, I totally missed that, thanks. I just got excited about the subject and didn't watch the video.

[-] DmMacniel@feddit.org 3 points 3 weeks ago

Remember Brown is just Orange with context. (Which strangely now has a new context)

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[-] NotASharkInAManSuit@lemmy.world 12 points 2 weeks ago

Why do people think we don’t use these? Almost everyone I know has one.

[-] Numenor@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago

No you don't, the justice department found no evidence of kettle use

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[-] neukenindekeuken@sh.itjust.works 11 points 3 weeks ago

I...what? I do, most of my friends do. They're amazing.

[-] Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 3 weeks ago

120V vs 240V.

One has much more power available to achieve the same in a different time.

For example: I can easily boil 0.5L to 100°C of water in about 2-3min.
And the kettle is rated for 2kW.

[-] neukenindekeuken@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 weeks ago

That's very true. With that said, I still find 110v kettles to be pretty fast for my needs. Especially if just making a single cup.

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[-] growsomethinggood@reddthat.com 10 points 3 weeks ago

The niche coffee scene in the US uses them, they are excellent for pour overs, French press, etc. But they are not widely popular since dedicated coffee machines are most commonly used.

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[-] kalkulat@lemmy.world 9 points 3 weeks ago

Three reasons I can think of.

  • Americans don't drink much tea. And soo...

  • Not many stores carry electric kettles.

  • Microwave tea.

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[-] Funky_Beak@lemmy.sdf.org 8 points 3 weeks ago

Australian looking bewildered with their kettle and microwave I like making a cup of tea while I reheat my lunch.

[-] not_woody_shaw@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago

Do Americans have multiple microwaves?

[-] mbfalzar@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 3 weeks ago

I'm an American, and yes, I have two.

One of them is a cheap $30 one we bought when we moved in and needed to heat meals from frozen because we didn't have pots and pans yet, and it's now in its box in the storage closet as a backup in case our good microwave breaks, but I do have two

[-] SaneMartigan@aussie.zone 5 points 3 weeks ago

I use an induction kettle on the induction stove top in Australia (240v).

Because nobody fucking told us about them! I just got one last year and it's been amazing!

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[-] KarlHungus42@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago

I think the better question is; why is there a weird stereotype in Europe that Americans don’t use these? We have one and just about everyone I know who regularly drinks tea does as well. It might not have been as prevalent a decade ago, but these are extremely common now.

[-] NatakuNox@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago

Now coffee drinkers than tea

[-] CuddlyCassowary@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago

I’ve used one for ages, it especially helps when boiling water on the stove. I heat it in the kettle first and then pour it in the stove pot. So much faster!

[-] Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 6 points 3 weeks ago

But one more thing to own, store, manage, for a little convenience.

I can boil 2 cups of water in the microwave in 5 minutes. Or 4. Takes about the same amount of time.

[-] not_woody_shaw@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago

Five fucking minutes OMFG. Just get a 240V outlet in the kitchen so you can plug in a proper kettle.

[-] scarabic@lemmy.world 5 points 3 weeks ago

You can’t. You can’t use European 240V kettles in the US because of phase differences (or something - an electrician told me so and declined the job to give me an outlet even though he accepted and performed other work for me).

No one to my knowledge has marketed a 240V kettle for the US market. It’s a business idea for anyone who wants to pick it up.

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[-] ABetterTomorrow@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 weeks ago

I do, buy metal not plastic.

[-] Zahille7@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago

Cause I'm not cooking noodles backwards

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this post was submitted on 07 Jul 2025
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