The boiling water tap hit the market back in 1992, when a Dutch engineer launched his first version in the Netherlands through his company, Quooker (pronounced “cooker”).
The taps took a while to catch on in England, where proper tea-making borders on religion and opinions differed on whether the water produced by the taps was quite hot enough for tea.
Boiling water taps are good enough for the world’s most celebrated cook: The renowned Danish chef René Redzepi has a Quooker faucet in the kitchen of his Copenhagen home, shown here.
Why would I want a boiling water tap?
It will save you time in the kitchen, since you only need to press a button or twist a tap to immediately fill a cup of close-to-boiling water for your cuppa tea or hot chocolate.
The InSinkErator Indulge Modern Instant Hot Water Dispenser streams water at a near-boiling temperature of 200°F.
Is a boiling water tap dangerous in a kitchen?
You might worry about someone being scalded, especially if you have young children around. The Quooker, for example, has a childproof handle that has to be pushed in before it will turn; the spout is insulated so it doesn’t get too hot to the touch.
The Quooker Modern Chrome Boiling Water Tap is available in the US via Amazon for $2,030 and comes with a tank.
Does a boiling water tap need special plumbing or wiring?
Since you’re installing it in a sink, you already have hot and cold water lines in place.
Hot water dispensers are also available in smaller profiles, not full faucets, like the InSinkErator Involve H-Wave Instant Hot Water Dispenser ($382.44 on Amazon), which has a thermostat that lets you adjust the watertemperature from 160°F to 210°F.
No, it can go under your regular sink—as long as you have enough room there for the tank (tank size varies depending on the capacity; some are sold separately from the faucet). Otherwise, you could install the tap on a small bar sink, if your kitchen has one—assuming the tank will fit underneath.
Does a boiling water tap have to be installed in its own sink?
The Omni 4-in-1 Instant Boiling Hot Tap by Swiss company Franke was rated Best Instant Boiling Water Tap 2017 by an English appliance review site and is available via Amazon in the UK starting at £999 ($1,311).
What makes a better cup of tea: a kettle or a boiling water tap?
It’s hard to find consensus in the UK, where the perfect cup of tea is a fraught topic.
Among the UK user comments on boiling water taps are complaints that the water isn t as hot as it is from the kettle so your drinks don t taste right and something s missing from the ceremony of making...
...a cup of tea But others in the sceptered isle insist Plenty hot enough for tea and wouldn t be without it In general American tea drinkers are probably less finicky and most will take quickly to the new gizmo
Also on offer: the Omni Contemporary 4-in-1 Boiling Water Tap in striking black.
How much do boiling water taps cost?
Prices in the US have dropped considerably since the first taps became available.
That depends on how much you value convenience, saving time, and the ability to impress your friends and relatives.
Is a boiling water tap worth the money?