Nothing quite says ‘I’m British’ like the three little words: “Fancy a cuppa?” The answer is always yes, by the way.
But with energy costs rising and the news inflation is at a new 40-year-high of 9.1 per cent, even the trivial things are costing a lot more than they once did. A couple of years ago, I wouldn’t have thought twice about putting the kettle on.
Now, putting the kettle on comes with a nagging concern in the back of my mind. I now take care to only add almost exactly the amount of water I need to avoid any water wastage and to use the least amount of energy as possible.
Laica claims to have found the answer to this concern with its Dual Flo Electric Kettle . It is both a kettle and a one-cup hot water dispenser, so you only ever boil the exact amount of water you need, but can still boil 1.5L if you are making multiple drinks.
Using the kettle
Setting up the kettle is easy, it has three main parts, the kettle, the base and the drip tray. On top of the kettle is a dial where you can control how much water comes out of the dispenser, from 150ml to 250ml.
I gave the hot water dispenser a go first, so I placed a mug beneath the dispenser, which just pops out, on top of the drip tray. I have a reasonably big cup so I twizzled the dial to 250ml and boiled the kettle.
The kettle boiled in around 30 seconds, which felt incredibly quick compared to the old electric kettle I am used to. Towards the end of the boil, there is a little noise from the kettle, but nothing too drastic.
After a little trial and error I found that setting the dial to 250ml on any cup of tea gives enough water, and 150ml might be good for a smaller Americano.
Verdict on the Laica Dual Flo Kettle
The Laica Dual Flo Electric Kettle is eco-friendly, efficient and easy to use. I was most impressed by the fact that if you choose the one cup functionality, the rest of the water in the kettle stays cold, so you really only use the energy you need.
Designwise, it is not the most stylish kettle but neither is it garish by any stretch, it is inoffensive and will fit into any kitchen. It also feels sturdy and good quality.
For someone who works from home a lot, and is often the only person in the house, this kettle is going to be an absolute lifesaver for me. It means I can happily make cuppa after cuppa without the guilt of boiling excess water.
You can buy the Laica Dual Flo Electric Kettle on Amazon for £69.99.
