Fellow Stagg EKG Review
Pros: Exceptional pouring control, temperature holding, continuous temperature settings, built-in timer
Cons: Slower to heat, expensive, narrow functionality
Manufacturer: Fellow
Our Verdict
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 This Product
Fellow Stagg EKG | |||||
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| Awards |  |  | |  | |
| Price | $159 List $159.00 at Amazon | $80 List | $70 List | $130 List $129.99 at Amazon | $29 List $28.27 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Exceptional pouring control, temperature holding, continuous temperature settings, built-in timer | Precise temperature settings, easy pouring, temperature holding, intuitive interface | Quick to boil, good variety of preset functions, easy to fill | Well-insulated, option for bottle warmer/sanitizer, no contact with plastic | Simple design, minimal footprint, inexpensive |
| Cons | Slower to heat, expensive, narrow functionality | Lacks an audible boil notification, not the fastest | Large base, display screen is hard to read | Must hold down power button to turn on, difficult for pour-over brewing | No adjustability, no temperature holding, not the easiest to fill |
| Bottom Line | This elegant kettle more than satisfies the temperature and pouring requirements of high-end coffee and tea drinkers | A multipurpose kettle that excels at controlled pouring and offers several helpful customization and ease of use features | This kettle offer a quick and predictable pour and a variety of presets making it a good choice for those in hurry | A standard spout kettle with adjustable brew temperatures and a timeless design that will look good on any countertop | A basic but effective kettle that is competitively priced and nice-looking to boot |
| Rating Categories | Fellow Stagg EKG | Bonavita BV382518V | Hamilton Beach Prof... | Zwilling Enfinigy C... | AmazonBasics Stainl... |
| Pour Over Ability (30%) | |||||
| Boil Speed (30%) | |||||
| Pour Speed (20%) | |||||
| Added Conveniences (10%) | |||||
| Filling (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Fellow Stagg EKG | Bonavita BV382518V | Hamilton Beach Prof... | Zwilling Enfinigy C... | AmazonBasics Stainl... |
| Temperature Range | Temperature select: 104ºF - 212ºF | Temperature select: 140ºF - 212ºF Presets: 140ºF, 176ºF, 185ºF, 190ºF, 205ºF, 208ºF |
Presets: 160ºF, 175ºF, 180ºF, 190ºF, 200ºF, 212ºF | Presets: 104ºF, 140ºF, 160ºF, 175ºF, 194ºF, 212ºF | N/A |
| Temperature Holding? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Auto Shutoff? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Interior Material | Stainless steel | Stainless | Stainless steel, plastic water window | Stainless steel | Stainless steel, plastic water window |
| Lid Attached or Separate? | Separate | Separate | Attached | Attached | Attached |
| Type of Spout | Gooseneck | Gooseneck | Normal | Normal | Normal |
| Minimum Capacity | 333mL | 0.75L | 0.5L | 0.5L | 0.5L |
| Maximum Capacity | 0.9L | 1.7L | 1.7L | 1.5L | 1.7L |
| Water Level Indicator? | Only a max line inside | Min and max level line inside kettle | Yes, window inline with handle | Markings on inside for every 2 cups and 0.5L, 1L and 1.5L | Yes, window on the side |
| Contact with Plastic? | None detected | Plastic is only hit by steam and is BPA-free | Yes, plastic window, plastic around filter and handle | None detected | Yes, plastic window, spout filter, and underside of lid |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Fellow Stagg EKG is a unique kettle in that it is a built-to-purpose pour-over coffee machine. A narrow gooseneck stem and angled handle promote precision pouring, and continuous heat settings help you dial in the perfect water temperature for extraction. There's even a built-in stopwatch to time the process. You can even upgrade to the EKG+ if you want to add a Bluetooth-enabled app to your routine. If this isn't enough control for you, this model is also Bluetooth enabled, so you can manage these variables on your phone.
Performance Comparison
Pour-Over Ability
If there's anything the Stagg EKG was built for, it's this. If you're the kind of person that loves to experiment with your pour to try to lock in the full potential of each new single-origin bean from your specialty coffee subscription, stop reading now and purchase the Stagg. This kettle provides impeccably well-balanced control, allowing you to pour incredibly slowly if you so desire. The narrow-diameter spout has a fluted tip that pours in a perfectly even stream, helping to refine the circular pouring technique required for quality extraction. The pour rate is almost mind-bogglingly slow, and the ergonomic handle gives your thumb the perfect place to rest and aid in even more control. From newbies to dedicated baristas, anyone can learn to dial in the perfect cup with this beauty.
Boil Time
To test this, we put four cups of 57°F water in each kettle and set it to 201°F — the average boiling temperature at our altitude. The Stagg actually doesn't quite fit a full 32 ounces, though, so it was just shy — 0.9L (its max capacity) is about 30.4 ounces. From there, we started the kettle at the same time as a stopwatch. At 6 minutes, 38 seconds, the Stagg is on the slower side to achieve a boil. Interestingly, the kettle reached ~199° F in 5 minutes, 30 seconds but took its time pushing past that. This may be a measure to ensure that the water is not over-heated to the point of boiling over and through the vent holes on the lid.
Pour Speed
The slow pour rate of the Stagg can be frustrating if all you want to do is fill a giant mug for an easy cup of tea. If you tip it too far in an attempt to pour faster, water ends up leaking out of the lid. We started removing the lid entirely when in a hurry and just pouring sideways out of the top, bypassing the gooseneck spout — but this isn't very classy or ideal. That said, if you primarily make coffees, we think this bit of nuisance is a fair trade-off for all the benefits this kettle provides.
Added Conveniences
- Temperature selection: 104º - 212ºF (Bluetooth enabled on the + model)
- Temperature holding: Yes
- Automatic shutoff: Yes
- Inside material: Stainless steel
- Lid attached or separate: Separate
- Type of spout: Gooseneck
- Max/Min capacity: 0.9L/333mL
- Water level indicator: "Max" line marked internally
- Other: Wooden-handled versions available as an upgrade, has a timer, very easy to switch between Fahrenheit and Celsius
Filling
It doesn't get much easier than a fully removable lid that exposes a nice wide opening. Just watch out that you don't bang the gooseneck spout on a counter or the sink; they are delicate and can snap off with enough force.
Value
By our definition, value is created when a product stretches the consumer's dollars. For example, a value product is either less expensive than equivalent products or the same price as other products in its class but of a higher quality. The Stagg EKG is relatively expensive, especially when considering it has a very specific function. That said, if this model fits your needs, it's certainly worth the money spent.
Conclusion
The Fellow Stagg EKG is an elegant kettle that is unique in the class. The sole function of this machine is to make the best cup of coffee or tea possible. While its boil time didn't impress us, its functionality warrants the accolades we have heaped on this superb pour-over kettle.
— Penney Garrett, Michelle Powell and Austin Palmer
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