Tea connoisseurs know that to get the most out of their teas, the different types of teas have to be steeped at different temperatures. Green tea for instance needs to be steeped at a lower temperature than black or the high water hot water will burn the leaves and destroy all the flavors. Also if you drink several times a day, then boiling water each time in the standard kettle can be a bit of a nuisance. What’s more, the average electric water kettle merely boils water, without any regard to the variety of temperatures needed for different types of beverages or hot meals. This is where the Zojirushi CV-DSC40 VE Hybrid Water Boiler and Warmer can be very handy.
The four liter capacity electric water boiler not only heats the water but keeps it at the desired temperature, all day if necessary, with its vacuum insulation technology. It is ideally suited to the needs of families or gatherings, where lots of hot water is needed for making tea, hot chocolates, oatmeal, noodles or instant coffee and even perhaps warming up a baby’s milk bottle. The list of hot water uses is endless.
Simply fill the water boiler and warmer, or the electric thermal pot as many people call it, with water, plug the unit in, select the desired temperature and you are done. The water will be heated to the desired temperature and maintained until you are ready to use it.
Design & Build
The Zojirushi CV-DSC40’s stainless steel finish, well laid out controls and sturdy looks make it an attractive device. It is built to the high standards we all have come to expect of Japanese products. The safety features like the unlock button and double action handle that opens the lid in a secure manner, ensures that there are no accidental spills or steam burns. The steam release valve guarantees the discharge of steam at a speed that prevents splashes on the cabinet above the unit.
The machine runs on an 850 watt water boiler, which is energy efficient compared to standard electric kettles which tend to use more than a 1000 watts. The interior also employs stainless steel but is hidden in anodized coating. The heating element is hidden and does not come in direct contact with water. Few parts, like the gasket and lid at the top are made of plastic but he whole unit is BPA-free. The wrap-around shape of the water level gauge not only gives the unit a very modern, sleek appearance, but makes it easy to note the level of the water inside. Additional safety features include a three foot, magnetic cord that detaches easily. If the boiler is accidentally knocked, the magnet cord disengages easily so there is no chance of causing the boiler to fall over.
When the Zojirushi Hybrid water boiler and warmer is turned on, it boils the water and then cools it to the desired temperature exactly. The unit comes with factory fitted, default setting which include 174° F for green teas, 195° F for white and oolong teas, and 208° F for black, pu-erh and black teas, coffee, or preparing instant hot meals. The digital cotrol panel displays the reservoir temperature at all times and allows you to change the settings temperature according to your needs.
A beeping sound alerts you when the desired temperature is reached and also when the level of the water has gone below the safe level. To boil the full reservoir of tap water requires only 7 to 15 minutes, depending on the temperature setting. A handy feature is the six to ten hour timer which allows you to heat the water and maintain the temperature so the water is ready when you wake up in the morning.
Cleaning is a breeze. The outside only requires a simple wipe down. Needless to say anything that deals in extreme temperatures is going to end up with mineral deposits. The best way to deal with them is to try to use filtered water which will delay the onset of any buildup. The non-stick coating also helps to keeps salt collection at bay. However, when a deep cleaning is required, Zojirushi markets its own cleaning powder especially targeted for cleaning the CV-DSC40. Just follow the simple instructions, or watch the video online.
Conclusion
The Zojirushi CV-DSC40 VE Hybrid Water Boiler and Warmer is a quality product with plenty of safety features that offers a lot of convenience. So if you use a lot of hot water, there is no better product available. It is well designed and looks good sitting on a kitchen counter. The tower type shape means it does not leave a very big foot print on the kitchen counter. It is however, a bit heavy on the pocket.
