Kettle that will give you a cuppa in just three seconds

 

Last updated at 22:58pm on 8th June 2007 Comments

When you nip into the kitchen to make a cup of tea during a TV ad break, it can be touch and go whether you will be back on the sofa by the time your programme starts again.

Research suggests that a kettle filled with cold water will take two minutes 47 seconds to reach bubbling point.

Now scientists have come up with a solution to the dilemma by designing a kettle which they say can produce a cup of hot water in only three seconds.

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Green machine: The Quick Cup could help users cut their power bills

 

Users fill the Tefal Quick Cup kettle from the tap in the normal way. The clever bit comes when they press a red button.

The device sucks up a pre-set amount of water – 220ml, which is enough to fill a mug. This is drawn through a spiral heating element and emerges, piping hot, from the spout.

If 220ml is too much, users can press the button again to kill the flow. If more is needed, they keep their finger on the button until the device has produced enough.

The Tefal kettle is more than just a super-fast water heater for it also incorporates a water filter, which is designed to clean up the tap water it uses, reducing chlorine.

Users can press a second, black button to get a glass of room-temperature, filtered water.

The makers say the kettle will help families cut their energy use. For those of us who are inclined to heat a full kettle of water and then only use some of it, producing one cup of water in three seconds is infinitely more efficient – and cheaper.

Tefal claims the device offers energy savings of up to 65 per cent compared with the normal kettle.

Currently, more than 230million cups of tea and coffee are drunk in Briton every day. A company spokesman said: "If people heated only the water they needed, rather than full kettles, the country would save enough energy to power the entire nation’s street lighting.

"We believe Quick Cup is one small step which could have a significant impact if widely taken up."

At £59.99, the Quick Cup is not cheap, but Tefal claims the energy saving offered amounts to around £30 a year.

There are some other drawbacks. While the water the device produces is very hot, it is not quite at boiling point. Consequently, tea lovers may find it doesn’t draw as much flavour from a tea bag.

Similarly, the water might not be quite hot enough to work with all types of dried soup, hot chocolate or a Pot Noodle.

The company warns that it would not be hot enough to produce the sterile water needed to reconstitute dried baby milk.

Initially, the Quick Cup will be available only from Currys, where it will go on to the shelves from July 1.

I want one! :dance:

I want one! :dance:

 

Maybe Jenjie will get you one for Christmas if you're good.:rolleyes:

I want one...

Maybe Jenjie will get you one for Christmas if you're good.:rolleyes:

HAH no chance :dozey:

Nah.

HAH no chance :dozey:

 

..........of you being good?:rolleyes:

I want one too!!

 

(I think owning one would suit me to a tea:lol: )

I want one too!!

 

(I think owning one would suit me to a tea:lol: )

 

Leaf it out, will you?:rolleyes: