Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Darn! I wanted to be the first to review this product, but, like me, a few of you had the courage (and good sense!) to beat me to the punch and make your purchase without the benefit of reading a review beforehand! Good for you! I guess I should have submitted mine as soon as I first used this gem, but I wanted to be sure that I did not post a kneejerk critique and instead post as accurate a review as possible. Regardless, having now used it every day for a month, I am even more proud of my purchase and certain of its outstanding performance. I can now honestly attest to the Chefman’s superiority in design and ergonomics to any of its competitors on Amazon. There are several features that set it aside its competitors. Here are a few: 1. Like its better competitors, the Chefman has variable temperature settings, which are ideal for brewing different teas and coffees that are best steeped at just the right temperature. But unlike its major competition, the Chefman boasts temperature settings that are in 10-degree increments (mine is in Fahrenheit…not sure if I can change that to Celsius or not since I have no desire to do so) and begin at 120 degrees, with a setting at every 10 degrees, giving you up to 10 temperature settings. The leading competitor has 5 temperature settings. 2. The temperature is displayed on a very visible, readable LED on the base of the unit, instead of in the handle. This makes more sense to me and allows the handle to be used simply as a handle. The pot itself is VERY ergonomic and well-balanced and pouring is a breeze. The base is just the right size and the pot orients very easily and securely onto the base. The base has simple, straightforward programming buttons, making programming the temperature a breeze. 3. The unit will hold 1.7L (a smidge over 7 cups) of liquid at the desired temperature for a full hour instead of just 30 minutes—a significant improvement over its major name-brand competitor. 4. The lid is well designed and built and opens with an ergonomic button at the top of the handle right where your thumb rests naturally. Although the lid has a nice, positive “snap” when you close it, sealing securely, it opens easily with a light press of the button and stays opened just as securely until you close it manually. 5. The unit is glass so you can watch the bubbles…which I like. It also has a very attractive blue light that gives it a warm, welcoming look in my early morning kitchen as it is warming up. The beeps are audible but subtle, pleasant and intuitive. It does not need to beep loudly 26 times to alert you that it has completed whatever cycle you have selected. 6. I have large hands and I am able to insert a soapy dishrag into the spout and clean it whenever necessary. Since I use it primarily for heating water for my French Press, I don’t have to clean it often. But from what I can tell, should I decide to use it for tea, I should have no trouble cleaning the pot. 7. Speaking of tea, the infuser included with the pot is of ample size and has very fine perforations to prevent particulate from infiltrating. It fits perfectly into its designated spot and, like everything else on this product, it snaps into place easily and securely when being used, yet is very easy to remove. 8. The spout itself pours a smooth, consistent stream of liquid that is easily controlled due to the excellent balance of the pot. 9. The unit has a “boil-dry” sensor and to date I have not had to see if it works. 10. The price is about 60% of the cost of the leading competitor, yet it is superior in design. Although I have several items made by this competitor and do not doubt the quality of its teapot, I believe that for the aforementioned reasons, on top of this significant savings, this is a MUCH better buy. I love my Chefman Teapot! If you are shopping for something like this, this is the berries. One minor point that I have to make in full disclosure: I am right handed and naturally pour my filtered water out of a pitcher into the teapot with my right hand, with the teapot opened with the handle to my far left and the lid opened upward from right to left. This works just fine, but unfortunately, when I do this, the very subtle measurement markings are on the back side of the teapot (the designer must have been left-handed!). So, I guess that I could choose to either turn the pot with the measurements toward me and then awkwardly pour cold water OVER the opened lid, or pour with my left hand (no biggy I suppose). When I first started using the Chefman, I paid very strict attention to the water level to avoid any accidents, but now, due to this design curiosity, while pouring with my preferred right hand, I simply gauge the level of the water and approximate the max level, since I cannot see the markings. I am usually very close, and given the fact that the MAX mark is a good inch-and-a-half from the top of the pot, missing by a hair is not a problem. As a workaround, I have thought of using a Sharpie to mark the teapot on the correct side. I have also tried pouring with my left hand, which I can do but don’t prefer. If I were on the Chefman’s design team, I would very simply, easily and inexpensively duplicate the markings on both sides of the pot, thus making it ambidextrous. My one and only complaint/suggestion. Other than that, perfecto!