Looking for a pourover Kettle and heard about the new Bonavita kettle. Anyone used one and how it compares to a Hario Buono? Looking like it is about half the cost. How well does it pour and control? Quality of build? any other thoughts would be appreciated.

Hey, Kevin, I received the electric version for christmas. I can't speak directly for the non-electric version, but I believe the design is the same and I would hope that the build quality is equivalent. I also have not used the hario so I cannot compare. I can tell you though that I have been very happy with the bonavita electric. It heats up 1 liter of water in 5 minutes, 8 ounces in about a minute and a half. The build quality seems typical of stainless steel kettles and pitchers and the like. The plastic base on the electric version seems typical of low end appliances, fine for the job but far from our commercial gear. How fancy can you get with plastic... I have faith that the internals are more robust than the base, after all the base is really just an electrical plug. In that regard I cannot speak for the longevity of the electric base (seems like it would last but you can never tell with these plastic components) but the kettle itself feels very solid and it is quite attractive. I never did like the beehive shaped hario. The handle on the electric is fine, but the regular version looks even better and more serious. The pour is very nice and I have heard that it is even better than the hario http://coffeegeek.com/forums/coffee/machines/553650 according to boldjava (2/3 down the page).

EDIT: The bonavita kettles have a slightly lower capacity than the hario so if you go with the electric and that is your main source of hot water 1 liter will disappear very quickly with a cone preheat/filter wash and 12 ounce pour. You could probably just barely get two cups out of it if you ration your filter washing. With quick heat-up times though, I think it would be easy to top-off and reheat while serving the first cup and grinding for the second.

The pour is very nice and I have heard that it is even better than the hario http://coffeegeek.com/forums/coffee/machines/553650 according to boldjava (2/3 down the page).

EDIT: The bonavita kettles have a slightly lower capacity than the hario so if you go with the electric and that is your main source of hot water 1 liter will disappear very quickly with a cone preheat/filter wash and 12 ounce pour. You could probably just barely get two cups out of it if you ration your filter washing.

I have used the Bonavita and find its pour superior to the Hario. The pouring spout is a bit more pointed and you can literally pour, one drop at a time, with the Bonavita. The Bonavita's handle is awkward for me since I have rather large hands. (See the CG link that Jonny provided for pictures).

I found the capacity on the electric modeled Bonavita slightly less (~32 oz) than the Paiko. Granted, I fill the Hario and Paiko to the brim (40 oz) and monitor them. A very slight drawback with the Bonavita is that the pouring spout extends into the reservoir of the kettle, leaving a 1/4 oz or so of the water behind.

I also like the pour of the Paiko better than the Hario so my Hario is in the closet. (Link to homeloo.com: http://goo.gl/Syr4d). The Bonavita I worked with is on wheels/wings, being shipped around among 10 guys who took a chance on winning it.

Excellent: Paiko, Bonavita. Still worthy: Hario. I do think the price of the Hario will drop now that Bonavita is on the scene and available via retailers.

Thank you both for your replies. I am still figuring this forum thing out, and somehow didn't get a notification of your replies...so being impatient I ordered the non-electric version http://goo.gl/i6P1N, but now am feeling like I should change to the electric.

I saw the Paiko kettles online, but only on some site from Hong Kong I think. Wasn't going to take the chance of ordering overseas.

Will update with a review when the Bonavita arrives.

So just called Venia and changed my order to the electric version http://goo.gl/N3oh5.

Boldjava, while on the phone I asked what their thoughts were about the Hario Kettle coming down in price, and they said it was certainly possible, but would likely take time. Said the volume that are imported to the US are relatively low compared to other coffee items, so for the importer to recoup the costs of importing, the price will likely remain high. Also said something about the exchange rates, but I didn't follow.

You will enjoy the Bonavita.

I ordered the Paiko from Hong Kong and it arrived 10 days later.

B|Java

I tried the Bonavita electric pouring kettle, I was one of the 10 guys that Bold|Java mentioned, but sadly I did not win the lottery so it's moved on from my hands. I recommend the kettle, and I recommended it as an appropriate gift idea for me among my family members, but alas, I did not get it as a gift either. I didn't find the handle uncomfortable and though the kettle is small (1 liter), it's a good weight when pouring and I doubt you'd want to use a much bigger kettle of this design for a slow pour-over. one thing to note is that the one liter mark can be hard to see and it's below a overflow hole which will drain hot water out the base if you inadvertently tip the kettle back to far so that the high water mark is above the hole.

I'm back to using my re-purposed, thrifted olive oil can which works pretty well in conjunction with an electric kettle and holds around 800 ml.

I'm back to using my re-purposed, thrifted olive oil can which works pretty well in conjunction with an electric kettle and holds around 800 ml

...

Bring that bad boy to Portland. We will have you walk around with it until a vendor takes pity on you and gifts you with a bright shiny Hario or Bonavita <grin>.

jonny wrote: The bonavita kettles have a slightly lower capacity than the hario so if you go with the electric and that is your main source of hot water 1 liter will disappear very quickly with a cone preheat/filter wash and 12 ounce pour.

I use the Hario at home paired with a 1.5 liter Oster kettle (http://www.amazon.com/Oster-2-Liter-Ele...B0012S1V2A) with a "keep warm" function. What I like about this set up is that at the max volume, I get enough water for two 12+ ounce cups of pour over, with enough extra hot water to do a generous filter rinse, which also brings the cups and cones to temperature. While the Oster kettle isn't as cool as having an electric kettle that can regulate water temperature very precisely, it does let me take the water off boil before the water gets overheated, and the secondary "warming" setting helps maintain the desired water temperature until I am ready for it.

Having two separate kettles—one to cook the water and one to pour the water—is super sweet when there are guests. After dinner, it's fine to serve shorter cups of coffee when there are more people. However, in the morning, I like to be able to serve generous cups without sacrificing temperature regulation. Having two kettles works well for that.

Glad to hear there's finally a more cost-effective solution than the Hario. It's a handsome kettle. Works as advertised. However, there's not much to it, which is part of the reason I never put a flame on it. It shouldn't cost $50 for something that lightweight and relatively simple to produce.

I love my little Bonavita electric kettle. I get great control from the tip - as good as I need it to be. Unlike my Aroma AWK kettle, the Bonavita will not cut on without water inside the kettle.

The Aroma's flip lever has been bumped more than once by accident and the long term effect on the metal from heating without water is not good.

The Bonavita kettle's lever will not remain in the "on" position without the weight of the water to overcome the spring loaded tension of the control lever.