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(More customer reviews)Who spends money on fancy water heaters? People who like to have fine control over the brewing of their tea. Also, probably some folks who like to have unusual gadgets so they can rub it in the faces of those who are less awesome, but for the sake of this review let's pretend you're not one of those people.
This particular Zojirushi holds enough water for 2-3 people to drink throughout the day. It boils the water first -- this takes about 15-20 minutes -- and then allows it to cool to one of four "keep warm" temperatures. The "keep warm" presets of 208, 195, 175, and 140 are perfect for most kinds of tea, cup o' noodles, baby bottles, and various kinds of water torture on intrusive guests.
The magnetic break-away cord is a fantastic feature that demonstrates Zojirushi's attention to detail. When your mother decides to rearrange your kitchen without warning, you can rest assured that the Zojirushi will be safe from electrical mishaps. Don't ask how I know this.
Other safety features include an automatic shut-down when it runs out of water, a dispenser that will not dispense until you "unlock" it by pressing a button, and a "steam-save" design that limits the amount of steam being vomited into your kitchen. This last feature is especially nice for those of us with wall cabinets extending over the counter. I like to steam my food on the stove, not while it's in storage, thanks.
This device is so simple to use that even my husband can do it. That said, due to the charming Engrish in the instruction book, at first I was under the impression that the timer existed to shut down the machine. I realized later that either my math skills were terrible, or in reality the timer was designed to start it up. Ignore the fact that I ended that sentence with a preposition. The point still stands. The good news is that having a timed start-up is more useful to me than a timed shut-down, so for once I was glad to discover further evidence that I am an idiot.
I had one concern prior to purchase. Would teapots fit under the dispenser? I am pleased to report that they can, despite the best efforts of the Zojirushi photographers to make it look like the spout is designed to work with cups alone. If you have an epic teapot that serves 300, you might have a problem getting it up under there. But a normal pot? Rock on.
This little device is now my favorite appliance next to the washing machine. Because as much as I love tea, I like clean underwear better.
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Note: Confused about which Zojirushi water heater to purchase? Check the comparison chart! Amazon links to this chart in the product description, but the average person manages to miss it. It's like a ninja, but with fewer pointy edges.
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Edit: It's now been over a year since I got my Zojirushi, and I am pleased to report that it still works like it's new. I have cleaned it twice with Zojirushi's cleaner -- sold in packets here on Amazon -- despite it never really looking like it needed cleaning at all. I did it simply because the company recommended it. I'm a follower like that. The Zojirushi has survived a move, three extreme power surges, and a switch to mineral-heavy tap water. I'm starting to wish Zojirushi had made my own body. I mean, think of the time I could save if I only had to be cleaned up twice a year! And I didn't survive the move in nearly as good a condition. Tsk. At least I'm not old enough for power surges yet.
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Zojirushi CD-WBC40 Micom 4-Liter Electric Water Boiler and Warmer, Champagne GoldPerfect for serving hot beverages to a crowd, this electric water boiler and warmer provides up to 135 ounces of hot water for instant coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and more. The unit features a micro-computerized temperature-control system and four keep-warm temperature settings that include 140, 175, 195, and 208 degrees F. Simple one-touch controls supply a reboil button, which reboils water to 212 degrees F; a dispense button; an unlock button that must be pressed before pressing the dispense button; and temperature- and timer-setting buttons. The unit's energy-saving timer function--from 6 to 10 hours--automatically turns on the boiler at a later time to save electricity, and its LCD display shows the actual water temperature at all times, as well as the temperature and timer settings. The dispenser also comes with a cafe-drip dispensing mode, which decreases the amount of water dispensed to 60 percent of the normal setting, making it suitable for brewing cafe drip coffee. Even more, its steam-save function automatically lowers the power just before boiling to reduce the amount of steam emitted from the steam vent. Other thoughtful details include automatic safety shut-off, a wide window water-level gauge that shows how much water remains in the unit, and an interchangeable melody or beep indicator to alert the completion of the boiling process or a low water level. A removable 3-foot power cord, swivel base, carry handle, and easy-to-clean nonstick interior provide added convenience. The 700-watt water boiler and warmer measures 11-3/16 by 8-3/16 by 13-1/2 inches.
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