Waiting for The Kettle to Boil

shandawgg on 22/05/2018 - 11:20

Does anybody fully wait until the kettle is boiled for their tea/coffee?

I flicked the kettle on and prepared my coffee (3 teaspoons of coffee and half a teaspoon of sugar) and waited for the kettle to boil. Just before it finished (maybe 5 seconds tops) I took the kettle off and poured into my cup.

A colleague walks by and said my coffee will be warm and I have to wait until it 'clicks' until i can take it off.

IMO, it is the same temperature when I take it off compared to when it 'clicks'. Does anybody else wait right to the end or do they take it off early like me.

P.S, my colleague also pours her milk in before the hot water, I cannot take her seriously now.

Any thoughts Ozbargainers?

Poll Options expired

  • 214
    I wait until it clicks
  • 157
    I take it off just before it clicks
  • 7
    Who makes their own coffee these days? I buy from a cafe
  • 317
    I have better things to do than waste my time on this poll (but ill vote anyway)
General Discussion

Comments

  • nocure on 22/05/2018 - 11:22
    +87

    Slow at work today?

    • Scrooge McDuck on 22/05/2018 - 12:50
      +38

      We tackle all the most serious issues plaguing the First World right here on OzBargain.

    • shandawgg on 22/05/2018 - 14:33
      +2

      very slow day!

      • abuch47 on 22/05/2018 - 17:48

        I would never have instant coffee, but Ill take the kettle off early depending on the type of tea. Most of the time I let it boil and just wait a little while for it too cool. I also barely ever overfill the kettle because I hate waiting. I will boil water in the kettle for any stovetop cooking or rice cooker or coffee machine becasuse the kettle is quicker.

    • Zedsdeadbabyzedsdead on 22/05/2018 - 22:57
      +13

      OP's next post. 'Do you enjoy watching paint dry?'

      • 2024 on 23/05/2018 - 10:49
        +10

        Who has time for that when I'm already so busy watching the grass grow??

      • ccrap on 23/05/2018 - 14:12
        +18

        Lol. The next post is:

        Waiting for the pee to finish

        Does anybody flush before they finish their pee?

        I flush while the last few drops of wee are still coming out (5 drops tops)…… blah blah

        <insert poll for the lolz>

        • porkupine888 on 24/05/2018 - 12:16

          the real question is whether you get "showered" up from the flush so you feel like you entered a carwash bruv - applicable to both whom have forest pubics and or anotherwise shaven haven

        • [Deactivated] on 24/05/2018 - 19:35

          @porkupine888: or u pee when u shower to save water

    • itsTricky83 on 23/05/2018 - 17:28
      +3

      This has given me justification for all the little questions I think up of each day. In fact, I have now created a shortcut to 'NEW Post - General Discussion' on my phone's homescreen, just in case I forget the silly question by the time I get a chance to post it. Best to be prepared! P.S: I wait until it clicks; infact, I sometimes hold down that button for an extra good ol' boil!

      • itsTricky83 on 23/05/2018 - 17:30
        +2

        And to add to that, I have now realised that these types of questions are better suited to the 'Everything Else' sub-forum…. I'll make another homescreen shortcut!

    • [Deactivated] on 23/05/2018 - 19:23

      Must be working at Westpac.

      • xoom on 24/05/2018 - 13:02

        Can't be. They would be too busy trying to impress with their high yielding investment.

  • altomic on 22/05/2018 - 11:27
    +5

    maybe make a post on ozbargain (with a poll)

  • [Deactivated] on 22/05/2018 - 11:34
    +21

    Poll(y): put the the kettle on?

  • cuteseal on 22/05/2018 - 11:38
    +10

    I keep the button held down so it boils for extra long… like those people who ask for their coffees Extra Hot.

    Just kidding. :D

    • Scrooge McDuck on 22/05/2018 - 13:01
      +23

      I cover the heating element with just enough water to keep it submerged. That gives the quickest boil, the lowest power bill and, most importantly, saves the environment, polar bears and coral reefs!

      • [Deactivated] on 22/05/2018 - 18:15

        But is that enough water for a man-sized cuppa?

        • Scrooge McDuck on 22/05/2018 - 23:43

          Probably, it's enough for my oats — 250 mL.

        • [Deactivated] on 23/05/2018 - 08:03

          @Scrooge McDuck: Do you still add egg whites in your oats?

        • Scrooge McDuck on 23/05/2018 - 11:02
          +1

          @Batboy:

          I don't recall doing or mentioning that.

          I add skim milk powder and peanut butter for protein, fat, sweetness, creaminess, chewiness and crunch.

        • WhyAmICommenting on 23/05/2018 - 15:59
          +1

          @Scrooge McDuck: Can you please provide a breakdown of which of those attributes relate to the skim milk and which relate to the peanut butter?

          In guessing the last two are exclusive to peanut butter.

        • Scrooge McDuck on 23/05/2018 - 16:23
          +9

          @spillmill:

          Protein Fat Sweetness Creaminess Chewiness Crunch
          Both Peanut Butter Skim Milk Powder Peanut Butter Skim Milk Powder Peanut Butter
        • WhyAmICommenting on 23/05/2018 - 16:48

          @Scrooge McDuck: Expectations exceeded. Cheers!

          Interesting on the skim milk powder chewiness 🤔

        • [Deactivated] on 23/05/2018 - 21:23

          @Scrooge McDuck: My bad. I assumed the recipe was from you. He uses all of the above ingredients + add an egg and sometime some shredded coconut on top. It sort of taste custardy and is packed full of protein. keeps him going till lunch.

          -Ness

    • lgacb08 on 23/05/2018 - 11:27
      +3

      I boiled my water in my pressure cooker and use the steam to make coffee

      • shandawgg on 24/05/2018 - 09:00
        +1

        I need your time wasting talents!

    • porkupine888 on 24/05/2018 - 12:17

      how truly does one make a coffee extra hot at the cafe? should we nuke em whilst we make em or perhaps just blast the cup so the clients can't even hold it….

    • kehuehue on 24/05/2018 - 14:52
      +1

      if you open the cover, you wont need to keep the button down

      atleast in the kmart glass kettle i got.

  • geek001 on 22/05/2018 - 11:45
    +14

    Scientically, you do not need to wait for the kettle "click". Water is boiled when it starts bubbling violently and steam comes out. Leaving it boiling will not increase the temperature of the boiling water in your kettle any further.

    P.S. Pouring in your milk before hot water keeps your tea/coffee warmer. :) If you are having a slow day, perhaps this video will entertain you.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCuaWqhVvIc

    • Quantumcat on 22/05/2018 - 11:49
      +4

      For coffee or tea that stays hotter longer you need to put boiling water in your cup, put the kettle back on to boil, swirl the water around the cup for 20 seconds or so, pour it out, then make the coffee/tea as normal. To preheat the cup.

      • Scrooge McDuck on 22/05/2018 - 13:09
        +6

        You could also invert the mug and rest it atop the toaster while you wait for the kettle to boil.

        Or roast it in the oven at 350 for a favoured colleague.

    • Scrooge McDuck on 22/05/2018 - 13:12
      +5

      Scientically, you do not need to wait for the kettle "click". Water is boiled when it starts bubbling violently and steam comes out. Leaving it boiling will not increase the temperature of the boiling water in your kettle any further.

      Local boiling around the heating element is less heated than the whole mass of water boiling.

      Gotta be scientic!!

      • aoeueoa on 23/05/2018 - 10:46

        Yea what Scrooge said. I've actually measured this with a quality thermometer. It may appear like its boiling in those final few seconds before it shuts off, but the thermometer only reads 99/99.5. When it hits 100 it stays there for a few seconds and then turns off. About 5 seconds before boil mine will read about 98

        • tunzafun001 on 24/05/2018 - 15:09

          I challenge you to drink that straight down at 99.5 or 98 or 88 or 78 or 68…

          Hot water systems are maxed at 55 I believe. A HOT shower is in the 40's. For reference.

          This is actually a thing that I hate. The person who insists on boiling 1 litre of water, for a 250ml cup. Then lets it sit for 3 mins before drinking.

          Do we need to boil a kettle?..I don't recon. If anyone knows of a kettle that stops at say 80 (or how I can tweak the thermostat), take my money (not the selectable tea types as my partner will insist it is set to max).

        • Imitation on 24/05/2018 - 23:02

          @tunzafun001:

          Xiaomi MiJia Kettle?

    • shandawgg on 22/05/2018 - 14:34

      I like this answer!!

    • JIMB0 on 22/05/2018 - 17:43
      +6

      If you lived on a high enough mountain the kettle would never click off. It would just keep boiling until all the water was turned to steam.

    • Hahuh on 22/05/2018 - 18:10

      Yep. Depending on the tea, I either let it boil through or take the kettle off the base before it "clicks"

      I call the bagged variety instant. I usually use a double boiler to steep my tea leaves. Takes around 20-30 minutes. Good for when I have company.

    • Munki on 23/05/2018 - 10:13
      +1

      Pouring milk before the hot water? That's god damn sacrilege!

    • mekktor on 23/05/2018 - 17:43
      +1

      All the video really shows is that the cup that started with more hot water ended up hotter. There no surprise there. It would have turned out like that even if the milk was added at the same time for both cups.

  • Quantumcat on 22/05/2018 - 11:47
    +15

    Three teaspoons??? If I drink instant coffee I usually tap a little off a single teaspoon.

    This also reminds me of when I was like 8 and made mum breakfast in bed for the first time ever and I thought coffee was like got chocolate, the more you put in the better it tasted. Mum took a sip and was probably gagging inwardly but pretended it was lovely. I didn't find out I put too much in until like 5 years later when I started drinking coffee myself, and she told me.

    • Scrooge McDuck on 22/05/2018 - 13:18
      +10

      Three teaspoons??? If I drink instant coffee I usually tap a little off a single teaspoon.

      You must work in the private sector. Others get paid while they poop.

      I thought coffee was like [hot] chocolate, the more you put in the better it tasted.

      Surely you mean Milo. I don't bother with the mug anymore — I just add milk directly to the tin.

      • edwardcr on 22/05/2018 - 13:44
        +1

        Horlicks is even better - I just eat it out of the jar - straight, no milk.

        • Scrooge McDuck on 22/05/2018 - 14:15
          +1

          I like malt too, but it's bloody expensive!

          Do you know where to buy it economically?

        • abuch47 on 22/05/2018 - 17:56
          +1

          @Scrooge McDuck: riteprice(SA) used to have it regularly maybe NQR clearance(VIC)

        • Scrooge McDuck on 23/05/2018 - 11:03

          @abuch47:

          Thanks, but I'm currently in Sydney. :)

        • haverford on 23/05/2018 - 11:11

          @Scrooge McDuck: Should be able to buy at any brew shop if your are after just malt

        • Scrooge McDuck on 23/05/2018 - 11:14

          @haverford:

          Is that the same — does it taste good mixed with milk?

        • haverford on 23/05/2018 - 17:02
          +1

          @Scrooge McDuck:
          I've never had Horlicks before, but did a quick google on people comparing it and apparently it is a stronger malt flavour than Horlicks. In brewing the dry malt dissolves fine in hot water, but you may struggle in cold milk? Warm milk may be fine? Probably don't start with the kilo purchase if it's just for drinking.

    • cuteseal on 22/05/2018 - 13:29
      +8

      Next poll: how many teaspoons of instant coffee do you use?
      - 1
      - 2
      - 3
      - Teaspoons? I use tablespoons, thank you very much!

      • porkupine888 on 24/05/2018 - 12:20

        you can't quantify it mate… you don't have a teaspoon to use…

        it seems unimelb maths department PHD have done research on missing teaspoons . physical reference available IN unimelb but online - https://www.bmj.com/content/331/7531/1498 is closest i can find…

        • diazepam on 04/06/2018 - 14:33

          can you provide reference to the physical reference in unimelb? I'll go read it

    • shandawgg on 22/05/2018 - 15:15
      +4

      if it was International Roast, i dont blame your mum for gagging

  • Kiminoth on 22/05/2018 - 11:52
    +27

    Your colleague is right in the milk part. Wrong in the click part. But right in the click part with the milk. Confusing? I'll explain.

    Temperature between just before it clicks and when it clicks is negligible. The water is boiling, i.e. 100c. The proportion of boiling water changes slightly, but overall it's negligible. However, if you're going to pour the water straight on the coffee, I would take it off well before the click, or let the water rest to at least below 96c.

    If you want a better tasting instant coffee, while the kettle is boiling, put milk in with the coffee and dissolve it slightly. This will reduce the effect the boiling water will have on the coffee, because if you pour the water from the freshly boiled kettle, it will be 100c, and burn the coffee, causing it to have a stronger bitter flavour.

    Source: I coffee

    • shandawgg on 22/05/2018 - 15:17

      Wow, different perspective.

      I will try the milk first part.

    • MessyG on 22/05/2018 - 16:10
      +4

      +1

      Boiling water + coffee = burnt coffee.

    • cktftw on 22/05/2018 - 17:35
      +9

      Not true about burning the coffee. Instant coffee is just dehydrated, so adding boiling water only rehydrates and melts it. Different if using ground coffee beans though, that will burn the coffee.

      • abuch47 on 22/05/2018 - 17:58
        +5

        exactly instant always taste like shit no matter what you try

        • Kiminoth on 22/05/2018 - 18:14
          +6

          Thankfully, shit can be a relative term. Like, that comment was shit. However, I'm sure it could be shitter.

          I enjoy my fresh coffee, however, if I don't have anything around, instant is a fine substitute. What tastes shit to you, might not taste shit to others.

        • Hahuh on 22/05/2018 - 18:16
          -2

          Yep its utter ass. Watered down, vacuum dried mess of a process.

      • Kiminoth on 22/05/2018 - 18:02

        Interestingly enough, you may be right! There seem to be many discussions regarding the matter of not being able to 'burn' instant coffee on the net, stating the point you just made. However, there also seems to be a lot of anecdotal comments of pre-water first drinkers who came out and said the flavour of 'milk first' made their coffee taste a lot better.

        So if I was OP, I would definitely give it a go either way and see if it made a difference.

        Years ago I used to be a water-first drinker, and my parents (who love their instant) showed me milk first, and I definitely noticed a difference. Although now I'm a little more of a coffee snob and have a french press sitting at my desk at work which uses fresh grounds, which definitely shouldn't have boiling water, as you mentioned.

        • tazmaniak on 24/05/2018 - 07:18

          Defo milk in first with instant.
          I didn't believe it at first as I was brought up differently, but it's superior.

  • buckster on 22/05/2018 - 11:53
    +2

    But you're meant to put the milk in first when you're making instant, you didn't know that?

    Some of us prefer to make our coffee with 100°C water not just 98°C

  • SupeNintendoChalmers on 22/05/2018 - 11:55
    +3

    3 teaspoons of coffee?

    You must be bouncing off the walls?!

    • Kiminoth on 22/05/2018 - 12:00
      +2

      I thought it was normal to have at least 1 tablespoon of coffee for an instant, which would probably be around 2-3 teaspoons. I barely feel a tickle after it, it just prepares me for the mid-morning brew.

    • shandawgg on 22/05/2018 - 15:18

      No, some of the other people here have 3 coffees a day with extra shots in each.

    • [Deactivated] on 22/05/2018 - 20:35

      3 teaspoons of instant would probably have less caffeine than a small espresso coffee.

  • DarthAntz on 22/05/2018 - 12:04
    +3

    Your life is full of drama. Im jealous.

    Does everyone here leave the tea bag in?

    • coxjon on 22/05/2018 - 12:49

      Only if I can't be bothered dripping it over to the bin :)

    • shandawgg on 22/05/2018 - 15:19

      Wahhhh, no. Tea bag out after half a minute.

      • randombrick on 22/05/2018 - 17:08
        +6

        Half a minute? Really? That's just tainted hot water then.

        Don't drink coffee. With tea - let kettle click , give it minute to cool and then pour into cup. 3 minutes with the tea bag in. Pull bag out ensuring it scrapes the cup sides (to prevent dripping). Splash of milk(hot if available) in.

        • shandawgg on 22/05/2018 - 17:43

          Great process!

        • Dadidalol on 23/05/2018 - 21:41

          1+3 minutes!?!! Not sure where you live but in Melbourne your tea will definitely be cold in 4 minutes. Then you gotta microwave it

    • foxmulder on 22/05/2018 - 17:48

      Someone suggests that I shouldn't leave tea bag in the cup but rather you rip it open and let it in without the bag. Can use coffee plunger or let it drop by itself in the bottom.

    • buckster on 23/05/2018 - 19:24

      At least until the missus complains

  • Succulent Synth on 22/05/2018 - 12:08
    +1

    90oC is a good temp for me

  • inherentchoice on 22/05/2018 - 12:12
    +4

    Don't drink tea or coffee.

    • Scrooge McDuck on 22/05/2018 - 13:23
      +16

      Is that an anecdote, a suggestion or a demand?

      • iDroid on 23/05/2018 - 10:35
        +2

        It sounds like ramblings of a crazy person to me.

        • Scrooge McDuck on 23/05/2018 - 11:05
          +3

          Or just someone who hasn't had their coffee.

  • roundnumbersonly on 22/05/2018 - 12:28
    +2

    My kettle does a boiling rage type thing 2 seconds before it's about to click. I'm too impatient and pour it probably around 15 seconds before it clicks.

    For milk, apparently you're meant to put the milk in before (and even mix it in with the coffee granules) then gradually add boiling water. Something about scalding the milk.

    • shandawgg on 22/05/2018 - 15:20

      hahaha yes our kettle has the boiling rage thing as well. Couldnt have described that process better.

  • JimmyF on 22/05/2018 - 13:00
    +1

    This really needed to be a question? Drink your coffee as you like it.

  • John Kimble on 22/05/2018 - 13:05
    +5

    I'm not a coffee snob/aficionado but I don't think it matters if you are drinking instant coffee.

    • [Deactivated] on 22/05/2018 - 14:15

      I'm an instant-coffee aficionado.

      It absolutely makes a difference. The warmer the water, the less crunchy. Ruins it.

  • manshrew on 22/05/2018 - 13:37
    +1

    It's either use a fully automatic coffee machine and don't have to worry about boiling water OR use a digital kettle so I can select the right temperature for my tea.

    • shandawgg on 22/05/2018 - 15:21
      +2

      Digital kettle? I am far behind the times.

      • manshrew on 22/05/2018 - 15:38

        I can choose a preset temperature for the kettle to heat the water to.

  • foxmulder on 22/05/2018 - 13:42
    +3

    Did you contact mnifacturer of the water kettle and what did they say? :)

    • idonotknowwhy on 22/05/2018 - 15:40

      Good idea, I'm going to email mine now.

  • Mummy2 on 22/05/2018 - 13:51
    +1

    Yes for tea (black tea), no for coffee.

    For black tea I always understood it was better if made with boiling water. So I wait for the kettle to boil, brew the teat and add milk last (when making in the cup/mug). Ideally I would make the tea in the teapot and add the milk first to the cup and then the tea as this prevents the tea from staining the cup (but still end up potentially with a stained tea pot) but generally can't be bothered with all that palaver and additional washing up just for one cup of tea.

    For coffee I have been told that boiling water burns the coffee so you don't want it at 100 degC - it is therefore best to stop the kettle when it the water is hot enough, better not to wait for it to get to boiling.

    • John Kimble on 22/05/2018 - 13:53

      Boiling water burns tea also. Hence the milk first.

    • shandawgg on 22/05/2018 - 15:22

      See, this has been my understanding as well although the other comments say otherwise.

    • garetz on 23/05/2018 - 19:29
      +2

      Actually its the other way around, to make coffee beans requires very high temps above 100 deg to cook, so you cannot burn coffee with boiling water, but tea leaves are dried and can be burned. You should use about 70 degrees water on light color teas, and about 90 degrees on dark teas. The time you steep the tea also varies depending on the type of tea.

  • [Deactivated] on 22/05/2018 - 14:14
    +3

    Where is the obvious option?

    Sigh loudly and hold the kettle handle, ready to lift off as soon as it clicks.

  • gushayden on 22/05/2018 - 14:39
    +1

    At work we have boiling hot water in a machine ready to go all day.
    I pour a half mug of milk and heat in the microwave for 30 sec, then stir in my coffee, and top up with boiling water.
    At home i use the same method but of course we have a kettle and if i am standing around waiting for it to boil i will just pour the water once it is bubbling - no need at all IMO to wait until the kettle clicks. If the water is bubbling then it has boiled.
    Some people just get hung up on what is "normal" or how they have been conditioned. Life can be lived in a number of ways, making coffee can be done in a number of ways - each to their own.

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