Thermopot or electric kettle

Types of thermopots

There are two types of thermopots that are used for serving groups of people, instant water boiler type and bulk.

An instant water boiler is very convenient to use: while it's working, you don't have to add any more water to it as it is connected to the central water supply. The main downside of an instant water boiler is that it has to be constantly connected to a power source to keep its contents warm.

Types of thermopots

An instant water boiler thermopot can boil from 50 - 150 liters of water per hour. This amount is enough for a large cafeteria, restaurant, or cafe with a large amount of movement. These types of thermopots are installed in the kitchen. They are attached to a wall next to the water supply. Today you can even find large models of instant boilers that are connected not only to the water supply, but also to the sewers.

Bulk thermopots do not require constant use of electricity. Such devices are ideal for medium establishments in which you do not need a constant supply of boiling water. The smallest volume of a bulk thermopot is 5 liters. However, such a device is suitable only for yourself and your family; for serving many people at once, it is recommended to choose models that have a volume of 7 liters or more. So, for a cafe with 30 seats, it is recommended to purchase a large one with a volume of at least 25 liters.

Varieties of pouring devices - geyser thermopots are designed for making of large-leaf tea and coffee. The principle of operation of a geyser thermopot is simple: in its lower part there is a heating element that heats water to a temperature of 85 degrees Celsius, but does not boil it. Steam from the water rises through a tube and brews whatever you put in the upper part.

Pros and cons of thermopots

Among the main advantages of thermopots are:

• the ability to have hot drinking water;
• being able to store a large volume of hot water in the thermopot;
• being able to easily get water from a thermopot (the device does not need to be lifted and tilted to pour hot water).

Some of the main disadvantages of thermopots are:

• the large dimensions of the thermopot take up a lot of space in the kitchen;
• water is brought to a boil for a relatively long time;
• there is always a small amount of risk, since the thermopot is constantly connected to a power supply;
• more expensive than an electric kettle.

Therefore, thermopots are not suitable for everyone. In some cases, it is better to use a simple electric kettle.

How to choose a thermopot

There are many parameters that affect the convenience and durability of using thermopots of various designs: dimensions, power consumption, volume, material, etc. Let's take a closer look at each feature and its functionality.

Thermopot power consumption

Depending on the power of the thermopot and its area of application, a device with a volume of 3-7 liters consumes from 600 to 3000 W per hour. An electric kettle with a volume of 1.5-2 liters uses approximately 2100 watts per hour. This is the reason why many cafes and restaurants use thermopots as water heating equipment: the most common models have an electricity consumption rate of 600 to 800 W / h. This amount of energy is enough to heat water to boiling point in 15-30 minutes. While keeping water boiling after it already started to boil, the device consumes from 13 to 70 W / h.

How to choose the right thermopot

There are two principles of operation of a thermopot:

• automatically turning on when the water inside cools down;
• being able to maintain a set temperature for 5-8 hours.

Budget thermopots, as a rule, turn back on when the water inside reaches 60-80 degrees Celsius. Modern versions allow you to set your own settings and set the temperature range at your own discretion.

There are several modes designed to perform certain functionality:

• 700 - suitable for making baby formula;
• 800 - for brewing exotic teas;
• 900 - for making green tea;
• 980 - making coffee or strong tea.

The water heating element in the thermopot can be:

• open spiral type;
• closed spiral type;
• disk type.

In the first two cases, heating water in a thermopot comes from a spiral, which either comes into direct contact with water, or is hidden inside of the frame of the device. The most reliable of all options is the second one, since the heating element is reliably protected from the formation of layers of limescale in the interior of the thermopot.

How to choose a thermopot

The design of the thermopot provides for the presence of a heating element - a tube style electric heater.

Operational volume of a thermopot

Thermopot models can differ in their capacities - the internal volume is determined by the size of the device: from 2.5 to 7 liters. For home use, a device with a volume of up to 4 liters is suitable, but for a semi-industrial scale, it is better to choose larger models.

Purchasing a model with a large volume has another major advantage: large quantities of water cool down slower, thereby cutting down on electricity consumption. When choosing a suitable thermopot, pay attention to the minimum liquid level at which the device will operate: in some devices this figure is 200-500 ml, in others - 1-1.5 liters. Pay special attention to the scale: the water level indicators on it should be visible and easy to understand.

Thermopot material

The container for boiling water in a thermopot is made of glass or stainless steel. Glass varieties are more resistant to the appearance of unwanted odors, scratch less during operation, but are more fragile. Metal is a more durable material, but is prone to scratches

Ways to fill a thermopot with water

Water, in a thermopot, can be drawn out in different ways depending on the model.

You have 2 options:

• manually;
• automatically.

This factor is determined by the type of built-in pump: mechanical or electric. In the first case, in order to pour water, you will need to press a button several times, in the second - only once. Manual control allows you to use the equipment during a power outage, unlike with electric controls. In some types of thermopots, both types of pumps are included.

Safety features of a thermopot

A high-quality thermopot must be safe for the user, and therefore have a list of additional safety features:

• automatic shutdown of the thermopot when finished boiling;
• locking the thermopot when accidentally pressing the pump;
• thermal protection against overheating;
• not allowing you to pour water while it is still being boiled.

Thermopot exterior material

There are many thermopots on the market, the exterior of which is made out of:

• glass;
• plastics;
• metal;
• ceramics.

Each design has its pros and cons: plastic is resistant to deformation and heat, its cost is usually lower than others; thermopots in a metal case are highly durable, but they can heat up during operation and may be unsafe to touch. Models made of glass and ceramics are very attractive in appearance, but they are fragile and are often overpriced due to their aesthetic appearance.

Additional thermopot options

The presence of additional functions in a thermopot makes it easier to work with. Many options are aimed to be as simple as possible so that anybody can operate it on intuition, for you to not need to stare at the user manual for hours at a time to be able to figure out what every button does. However, when choosing a device, you must remember that the presence of additional features often affects the cost.

Thermopots can have the following features:

• backlit electronic display;
• timer;
• delayed start;
• self-cleaning mode;
• being able to rotate 360 degrees around its axis;
• multistage protection system;
• sound notification when it finishes operation.

All of them are improve convenience; however, they do not significantly affect the operation and service life.

Expert's advice

It is almost impossible to find a thermopot that meets all the requirements for functionality and budget. When choosing a device, more attention should be paid not to its advantages, but to its disadvantages.

Among these disadvantages may be:

• high consumption of electricity;
• inconvenient to use;
• poor water pouring (splashing);
• overheating of the exterior during operation.

Before buying one, be sure to ask for a demonstration of the thermopot. All safety systems must be in working order. The lid must be hermetically sealed. The thermopot must stand firmly on the stand and table and not wobble around.

How to take care of your thermopot

Instructions should always come with the thermopot. It contains all of the details you will need for care and operation of your device.

How you're supposed to take care of your thermopot depends on its construction:

• thermopots with an open heating element require regular cleaning with acidic agents, and not by mechanical action;
• thermopots with a filter require its replacement every three months.

It is a very bad idea to pour water directly from a tap into your thermopot. Instead, use a container to carefully pour water in. when pouring water from a tap, there is a chance that water will get into the electronic control unit, which will disable the thermopot.

Using unfiltered tap water in your thermopot will lead to the formation of limescale on all surfaces in contact with the water. Formation of limescale will negatively affect not only the taste of water, but also the performance of the heater. That is why the owners of multifunctional devices that combine the function of a kettle and a thermos, under such conditions, very quickly get the question of how to clean a thermopot from limescale.

How to take care of your thermopot

How do I clean a thermopot from limescale? You can remove limescale in a thermopot the same way you can remove limescale from an electric kettle. To do this, you can use a special anti-scale agent sold in stores, but it must be remembered that after treatment, you will need to rinse the device very thoroughly, since chemical residues can get into your drinking water and then get into the human body and have a very negative effect on it. Therefore, if you have vinegar, citric acid, or baking soda on hand, it is better to use it.

If you decide to use one of these products as a substance to clean your thermopot from limescale, then during treatment, it is necessary to strictly follow the instructions for use, otherwise the device can be damaged and stop working. In the event of such a situation, the best option would be to contact a tech support center, where the cause of the breakdown will be identified and, if possible, eliminated.