Disappointed - Bonavita variable temp kettle

[TampIt]

So I just decided to look in my replacement kettle which arrived and was started using in August.
It's rusted as bad as the last one already. Single cup of pour over a day brewed from that kettle.

At this point, between me and my colleague that's 4 out of 5 kettles (haven't verified the one at work)
I'd be recommending anyone against these kettles, very disappointed.

If I were stocking these kettles I'd be asking myself if I want to continue doing so.

I think I'll point the Rockingham (WA) based coffee roaster I bought it from and Bombora who arranged the replacement to this thread.

It's hardly the isolated incident that we've been told, people just aren't complaining.

Hi Rustla et al

Interesting that most of the rust probs are from Perth. Just shows how corrosive Perth tap water is!

The $5 or so kettle here* has no issues, however it has always been fed a diet of filtered rainwater...

TampIt
* Rockingham, W.A.: no relationship to "the roaster down the road" after they trashed a repair job of mine...

[rustla]

Hope you have better luck with your replacements rustla.

So I just decided to look in my replacement kettle which arrived and was started using in August.
It's rusted as bad as the last one already. Single cup of pour over a day brewed from that kettle.

At this point, between me and my colleague that's 4 out of 5 kettles (haven't verified the one at work)
I'd be recommending anyone against these kettles, very disappointed.

If I were stocking these kettles I'd be asking myself if I want to continue doing so.

I think I'll point the Rockingham (WA) based coffee roaster I bought it from and Bombora who arranged the replacement to this thread.

It's hardly the isolated incident that we've been told, people just aren't complaining.

[walrus84]

Hope you have better luck with your replacements rustla. My two both had different date codes (can't remember what they were now) and both went the way of the rust. I have to say I always found the replacement process wasy (I never dealt directly with Bombora, but assume the retailer did), so at least we have the support of a decent distributor.

I agree that you should be able to keep water in a kettle. That said, when I had the second Bonavita I made the effort to dry it out after each use in the hope that it would prevent any issues.

[rustla]

So I contacted a certain coffee roaster in Perth where I bought the kettles from.
They called me and had me get in touch with Bombora, the Australian distributor.

Quick couple of photos and I've got 2 replacement kettles being sent out today.

I noticed that both kettles, purchased 5 months apart, have the same date code (1305)

Wondering now if it's just a bad batch.

[rustla]

I just leave water in mine because it is a kettle.

I just imagined that was what kettles do, contain water.

I never would have thought to empty a kettle and dry it. Do people do that?

No big deal, I just take the hit and remember it for next time. Live and learn.

RC

Same here.

[Ravenscroft]

I just leave water in mine because it is a kettle.

I just imagined that was what kettles do, contain water.

I never would have thought to empty a kettle and dry it. Do people do that?

No big deal, I just take the hit and remember it for next time. Live and learn.

RC

[timdimdom]

I've had my bonavita for a year now and despite empting and drying it after every use, i'm already starting to see what looks like the beginnings of rust on the edges of the heating plate. a little disappointed considering how much it was!

Just out of curiosity, with the rust free claim for the buono, do you guys leave water in there between uses or is the unused water tipped out and kettle left to dry after every use?

[Dimal]

Oh wow. I hadn't thought of that. Thanks! The Buono's not susceptible to rust?

Not a sign of anything after many, many brews (and I doubt there ever will be); plus, the Buono is a delight to use...

Mal.

[rustla]

Have found that using an inexpensive portable Induction Cooktop in conjunction with the Hario Buono, works a treat. Just set the cooktop to hold the temperature at ~90C and you're ready to go when it suits you...

Mal.

Oh wow. I hadn't thought of that. Thanks! The Buono's not susceptible to rust?

[Dimal]

Such a shame, the gooseneck is crucial for pouring but having the kettle able to keep perfect temp for an hour while I get ready for work or while I'm getting caught up in work is nothing short of a miracle!

Have found that using an inexpensive portable Induction Cooktop in conjunction with the Hario Buono, works a treat. Just set the cooktop to hold the temperature at ~90C and you're ready to go when it suits you...

Mal.

[rustla]

As for the kettle, I've moved to the Hario Buono. I miss having the temp control feature, but the kettle pours nicely and is thus far rust free! Unfortunately, it seems you need to make a choice as to whether the gooseneck spout or the temp control is the most important feature for your use...

Such a shame, the gooseneck is crucial for pouring but having the kettle able to keep perfect temp for an hour while I get ready for work or while I'm getting caught up in work is nothing short of a miracle!

[walrus84]

Just adding to this, a colleague and I have 3 of these kettles between us.

We bought them at different times, each within 12 months old and all of them have rust forming in the bottom.

Given our success rate of 100% it would take a lot for us to buy that brand again.

Unsure what to replace it with, there's not much else with the same features within even the same ballpark price.

Call me old fashioned but cost effective shouldn't mean prone to rust while still under warranty.

Interesting to hear your experience rustla. Along with the two defective units I have had there's 5 faulty units, plus two others who have noticed rust after reading this, mentioned in this thread alone, which is intriguing given the supplier's defect rate of 5 in 2000 stated above. I can only think there must be more out there.

I'm with you - I won't be trying another Bonavita product. I Have a set of their scales which I purchased before the kettle. I'm happy with the scales, but will stick to other brands for the rest of my gear.

As for the kettle, I've moved to the Hario Buono. I miss having the temp control feature, but the kettle pours nicely and is thus far rust free! Unfortunately, it seems you need to make a choice as to whether the gooseneck spout or the temp control is the most important feature for your use...

[rustla]

Just adding to this, a colleague and I have 3 of these kettles between us.

We bought them at different times, each within 12 months old and all of them have rust forming in the bottom.

Given our success rate of 100% it would take a lot for us to buy that brand again.

Unsure what to replace it with, there's not much else with the same features within even the same ballpark price.

Call me old fashioned but cost effective shouldn't mean prone to rust while still under warranty.

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Banjo, I'm interested in your theory as to why, if super-normal profits truly exist so prevalently in Australian merchandising, there isn't a massive influx of capital to this sector? What is the barrier to entry? To the extent that exclusive dealerships/licenses inflate our prices, that is the choice of the upstream firm deciding to segment their world market and charge each bit what they reckon it can bear.

[Banjo.au]

Yeah Chris, I could have put a smiley on that comment, but sticks are useful for stirring as well as poking hornets' nests.

I suspect there are too many vested interests for blanket adoption of highly quality overseas standards to occur any time soon, not least of which are the extraordinary costs able to be charged by some labs for testing in the name of safety. Where volumes are low and margins are tight and we just have to have it, we may have to take it but we don't have to like it.

Also I don't think punters should be expected not to pipe up when they see examples of egregious markups like this, which we don't have to take. Javaphile's input also speaks volumes.

We should all applaud and support those who manage to import and sell goods in Australia at reasonable prices and who also provide great service, like Bombora and Andy and Joe Behm. I'm sure there are plenty of others.