Quooker vs Qettle vs Kettle

[maddogwoman20]

Hi everyone. I went to a kitchen showroom yesterday and was basically told absolutely everyone has a Quooker nowadays and I would be mad not to get one. I have considered these several times in the past but could never justify the cost, however the sales lady made me feel I was seriously missing out. My research suggests they are

1. obviously way more expensive to buy than a kettle and standard tap
2. no cheaper to run (max 1p per day)
3. take up space under the sink
4. require maintenance
5. only have 2 years warranty which doesn't show a great deal of confidence in their product

For me I feel there is too much to go wrong. I have been gradually going lower tech over the last 7 years after various smart technology (lighting etc) has failed and/or moves on too quickly etc. I have no problem waiting 3 minutes for the kettle to boil to make tea or pour over the pasta and I am fairly convinced I would probably burn myself using the tap. I have also heard the tea tastes terrible. I imagine it would with anything other than the true 100 degree ones, but I have heard it even tastes awful with the Qettles and Quookers? I would like to hear your experiences. I understand the Qettle requires six monthly filter changes at over £32 a go and cleaning of the tank. So, assuming the Quooker requires no such maintenance this is around an additional £80 per year so the saving is eradicated over time. Has anyone had a Quooker for more than 2 years? Have you had to do any maintenance or repairs? Does anyone also have the food insinkerators? Are they any good? Thanks so much.

Love my Pronteau and wouldn’t go back! I’m a coffee drinker tho, I don’t drink tea

HurdyGurdy we have hard water, a Quooker and have opted for the scale filter. It’s a bit of a pain as you need to change the cartridge every year or so (and it takes extra space under the sink) but I think without it the Quooker would go wrong/get blocked up more, and I guess you might get scummier tea.

Your water softener will bypass the kitchen tap (or should anyway) so you’ll still get hard water there - if you want a quooker consider the scale filter.

We have a Qettle now and had a Qooker in our last house and love them both. Qettle is a quarter of the price and I find it exactly the same as the Qooker but it’s slightly more splattery when the water runs. It’s not a problem at all (not enough splatter to touch me and burn) so well worth it. It’s true 100C water. We nearly didn’t get it fitted as didn’t feel the need to have one and I thought they wouldn’t make a difference to my life, but last minute decided to go for it and I couldn’t be without one now. It is just so convenient and my worktops are appliance free and no noise from a kettle. I was sick of limescale build up in our old kettle.

we also have a water softener and the boiling water tap is hard water (better for drinking).

Thanks so much everyone for your messages. The point about it being economical / cost saving - I just don't think it will be even on a day to day running basis. If I go out for the day, or go out for a coffee I am still incurring running costs of the Quooker to keep the tank warm. Not so with a kettle. I only pay for what I get. I tend now to only fill the kettle to what I need. And add in the cost of purchase and any maintenance and it really can't possibly be marketed as anything other than a time saving gimmick as far as I can see. And I am not that impatient that I can't wait a few minutes for it to boil - I really don't understand how society has reached that point that we can't even wait a few minutes for anything. I would be really interested in the sparkling water option as that would save me a fortune in San Pellegrino but that is another £1100 from what I can work out! That part I would probably recoup in three years but the whole thing would take 10 years plus. I am not in a hard water area but haven't heard many people say they have had them for 10 years with no problem. I know my tap and my kettle won't let me down so I am thinking I will stick to that unless I get offered one for free like many people seem to have done. And I think the fact they are offering them for free speaks for itself. I have not yet found a kitchen company offering for free though.
I have been super high tech with things in the past and they just haven't lasted so once bitten and all that. I now stick to basic. I am even considering not getting an integrated microwave this time but an old fashioned standalone type as they have got so expensive and I just don't use anything but the basic features.
On another note - anyone have a self vented hob? I want a straightforward ceramic hob ideally, not induction because of the radiation and because I just don't like them. All venting hobs are induction unfortunately. And it looks like I will have to satisfy building regs and apparently opening a window doesn't count as ventilation ?! It is getting ridiculous! Again they are silly money for something I don't even want.

Thanks I was so tempted by the Qettle for the price but was really put off by the six monthly filter changes (£32 a pop!) and maintenance. Over time that makes it as expensive as the Quooker and a whole lot more hassle surely?

@minipie Yes I noticed the first jet of water isn't boiling. The problem is if you put the cup under after it has started doesn't it splash and scald you?

I originally had a hot water tap, 96 degrees I think, it was a mini tap on the side that I had for 8 years. We replaced it with a Quooker 18 months ago. The Quooker is far superior. The mini tap left a hole in the worktop but we installed an Insinkerator waste disposal unit and the button fits into the mini tap hole.

The Quooker is the best thing, I can also turn on the cold water and activate the boiling water at the same time to produce an incredibly hot water stream to hand wash items with. I abhor water waste and running a hot water tap and watching drinkable water run down the drain whilst waiting for the hot water to come through is horrid. It is great for everything you would use a kettle for and we can't overfill a Quooker. It is incredibly quiet too when heating. I wouldn't be without a boiling water tap, the hand washing part is the game changer for me, ready to go boiling water.

The waste disposal unit I don't use for full loads of food but I do use it for tea bags, coffee "pucks" from the bean to cup coffee machine and all the food crap that you usually have to remove from the plug "basket" that protects the plug hole. So toaster crumbs from the crumb catcher, I also shake the toaster over the sink to empty it. Anything you strain in the sink like a tin of sweetcorn and I always seem to lose some corn into the sink. The main reason I wanted one was because I have a juicer and can clean all the pulp into the sink without having to scrape it into the bin first. I know, tiny violin but it just helps. All these things help us as a family.

@maddogwoman20 Hotspot is 100 degree boiling. I recommend the aftercare with this company, our plumber didn’t fit it correctly, they sent an engineer at no cost to us.

We have an insinkerator which cost about £450 six years ago - had to have one part replaced (free 10 year warranty) and have never replaced the filter! Wouldn't be without it (and for tea, you just have to run it a couple of seconds to get the water at boiling)

@maddogwoman20 you can turn it on, let it run for a second or two until the actual boiling water starts, turn it off, put the cup under and turn it back on again if you are worried about it splashing.

My Grandma would hand wash everything, even bedding, could not understand why anyone would need this new fandango washing machine, ridiculous. Times move, some people choose things others wouldn't. Like you saying no to an induction hob because of the radiation but I assume you eat food which are radioactive unless you avoid potatoes, carrot etc. I also have an induction hob, again another brilliant appliance, even used in the British Bake off tent

It does make me smile when you say £32 for a filter is a lot and then also say you go out for coffee. How much does the coffee cost you? For sparkling water I have a soda stream.

@AnythingForYou thanks for clarifying - I wasn't sure if each time I turned off the tap and on again it would come out cold again at first. I don't pay £32 for a cup of coffee and for me it is to do with the going out experience so not comparable. £32 is roughly the cost of a kettle last time I bought one and I certainly don't buy one of those every six months. If you have enough money then I am sure a Quooker is great, but for most of us it doesn't really make sense when we are budgeting for an entire kitchen or in my case an entire house. So yes I think £32 every six months when I have already spent a lot on a tap is exorbitant but mostly it is the hassle of it.

We have a quooker and a kettle. Started with the tap and although it's helpful to have instant boiling hot water, the ritual of boiling the kettle was missed. I use the quooker for cooking, kettle for coffee.

Honestly I'd say spend a bit more on a really nice quiet kettle, you're not missing anything.

Can you point me to where it says 100 degrees please. I cannot understand why they are not making more of that point on their website as if I don't see 100 degrees I move straight on. So far I have only come across a Franke, Qettle and Quooker that advertise as being properly boiling to 100 degrees. Most say 'boiling' but technically they are not at 98 degrees.

Ha I did actually - got the Bosch one - dreadful kettle! Actually the mother in law bought it for me so that may have been why I dislike it. Scaled awfully and tea just never tasted as good for some reason even though I always chose the 100 degree setting. Plus it was heavy. Went back to basics again with my next kettle!

@maddogwoman20 if you delve a bit you can find reference, google ‘is hotspot titanium tap 100degree’. I do agree it’s not clear and a bit rubbish and not great if people like you are dismissing as it’s not clearly referenced.

@maddogwoman20 my original hot water tap was put in to my kitchen extension that we self funded due to scrimping for years, so we didn't just have the cost of a kitchen but a build too and then were forced to landscape the back garden after it was ruined by having all the building materials on it and I needed the garden so my children could play out. We lived with a small shitty kitchen for years.

The Quooker was bought when we saved a lot of money on petrol due to working at home in lockdown. DH parks now on the outskirts of the city and walks in saving £15 a day on parking, it is about choices.

I just meant the cost of the filter is what, less than 2 coffees out per month? I have to replace the water filter in my fridge every 6 months, just part of owning things. I live ina medium water area.

Best kitchen out there used by renovators as in professional house flippers, DIY kitchens, equal if not better quality than Howdens, Wren, Wickes and Magnet. Side by side comparisons done with all those companies, I think it was Nick Morris who bought the same kitchen from all the above and compared them.

I've had a Quooker for at least 15 years. I love it. It hasn't had any paid for maintenance in that time (though it's possible, but I think unlikely, that my late DH changed the filter once or twice). Last week it finally failed. I need a new tank, but my system is so old that my tap isn't compatible with the current tanks. The Quooker engineer spent 20 minutes on the phone to Head Office trying to locate an old style tank. Eventually they found some lurking in a back room somewhere and he's coming to fit it next week. Given that it would have been easy to say 'you need a new system', I think that's excellent service.

Edited to add - while I was waiting for the engineer to come off the phone I was thinking about how I could afford a new system. I don't have masses of spare cash and was seriously considering passing up on a holiday and getting a new Quooker instead, that's how much I like it.

It doesn’t splash you if you hold the mug close enough to the spout.

Also any splashes if I am careless, while a little ouchy, have never actually burned me. They say the water is aerated so doesn’t scald, I have no idea why that would work but it seems to.

Just here to mention that I live in a hard water area and only just changed the filter after about 16 months, it's been fine!

@AnythingForYou which kitchen company did you use for yours? I have been looking at KutchenHaus and some other local companies. They all seem to do Nobilia / same kitchens just design differently and have different worktops etc. I was hoping for real wood or mdf painted this time but everything still seems to be vinyl wrapped / laminate unless you pay a fortune for handmade.

PS Not sure where you are getting your coffees! I pay about £3-£4 per coffee so about 10 coffees out. And yes buying coffee out is a luxury. And yes totally about choices. I prefer platinum and diamonds to a luxury holiday in the sun for example but I think I am on my own on that!

@maddogwoman20 my kitchen is IKEA but 10 years old. Looks brand new. I did reseal the silicone between the worktop and upstands last year. We had their cabinets and doors but sourced everything else from other places. I am going to get it spray painted or wrapped by next year for a change.

The coffee comment was about the £32 filter every 6 months. Just over £5 a month so 2 coffees out. I also love the look of platinum and diamonds but have a Moissonnite instead, looks like a diamond, tests as a diamond, a fraction of the price.

We did our kitchen about 18 months ago and I went for the quooker. We live in a soft water area with nice water so no difference in my tea. Also don't need a filter.

I do like it, we cook lots of rice, potatoes and pasta, so it is quicker not boiling a kettle to get them going.

Our boiler did go a bit wonky as it was overfilling but was still in warranty and they had it fixed within a few days. The boiler heats up to 108 degrees the engineer said to get the water coming out almost boiling. Never burned myself.

Don't regret it at all, and wrapped into the cost of a kitchen you don't notice. Also, one less thing with wires on the counters which was my biggest thing!

My kitchen was from Sheen Kitchen Design. Poggenpohl. Bits of it were ex display so helped drive the total cost down. I used to have a nobilia and I really loved it, but i get your point about the cookie cutter look.

@Myfabby I have wanted Poggenpohl ever since I was about ten years old! Sadly I still cannot stretch to it or justify it really, but they are the absolute best! I think a lot of it is about what appliances, worktops, lighting and detailing you choose. I want to bespoke it with pocket door systems etc which always give kitchen designers the fear even now - I can't understand why these are still not offered as standard.

@maddogwoman20 our fitter said Qettle guidelines is to change the filter every 6 months but he advised it’s fine to leave until 12 months. It’s really not a big deal in cost or effort. Takes 5 minutes for me to do.