Customer Reviews

Zojirushi Micom 3.0-Liter Electric Airpot Water Boiler, White

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

We own one for over 6 years now. Love it. Only problem is that because it's mechanical (air pump), that eventually wears out. I think the seal in the pump need replacing. It used to to fill a cup with just one pump, but now takes 10 or more pumps.

Other than that, I love it. I am looking at purchasing a new one, the kind that uses electric pump.

I bought this as a college student tired of having to steal everyone else's hot water. Works great - just fill it, plug it in and forget it! It's virtually silent, and it's great for tea when you're writing essays all night long.

I bought the electric air pot to address a number of issues that needed attention: I wanted to minimize the use of the microwave as much as possible, and I wanted to replace a diet soda pop habit with more healthful drinks. I had an electric kettle, but it was plastic and could not keep water warm throughout the day. I used to have a regular kettle, but I have lupus with some cognitive issues, and that kind of forgetfulness just doesn't mix too well with stove top cooking. I trashed two regular kettles before I got that one through my head.

After getting this product, I am wondering what I ever did without it. I no longer worry about carcinogen exposure from heating water in plastic. The air pot has a nonstick interior, but all of the research I looked at indicated that if there is any risk from unscratched nonstick surfaces, it happens only at temperatures over 350 degrees. Water boils at 212 degrees. Additionally, the interior of the air pot is well-constructed, and there doesn't seem to be any way I could possibly scratch it unless I used a fork or steel wool on it.

It keeps the water a good temperature for most teas, for soups, for getting a head start on pasta or rice, and for making coffee with a french press. The water tastes much better than it tasted after boiling in my plastic kettle. I have added an appliance timer to turn on the airpot before I wake up in the morning so that I do not have to wait for my first caffeine of the day. Zojirushi makes more expensive models that take care of the timer aspect, but I didn't want to spend the extra money.

What I did spend was not too much more than I would have for a non-plastic electric kettle (which, if you look at the reviews, might very well turn out to have plastic parts that have contact with the heated water) that was safer than a regular electric kettle, that was more convenient than a regular electric kettle, and that is already saving me money. I don't drink diet soda anymore, and I don't waste old, cold coffee or tea. I can make what I need as I need it, because the hot water is always readily available.

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Love it even MORE now!

Months later, I am using the airpot every day. It works perfectly. In addition to using it to make coffee and tea, I use the hot water to get a head start on steel cut oatmeal, pasta, rice, soup (wait, that's not a head start - that's the whole thing), just as I was when I first bought it.

However, I have also started using it for non-food applications! I had no idea. Hot packs for sore muscles, in my mop bucket to clean the floor, the extra heat makes a huge difference.

Finally, I have not had any need for this information, but I was contacted by someone who read my review about finding replacement parts. According to Zojirushi's website:

"Replacement parts may be ordered from our online Zojirushi Store or from our Customer Service Department by calling 800-733-6270, M-F, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PST. Please have the model number ready when calling."

We love this pot, and keep hot water available 24 hours--nice to grab that lunchtime soup or late-night cup of camomile tea. It is easy to use (pour in water & plug in) and pour (push down on circle which depresses on top of lid). Great value! This was a surprise appliance in the best possible way--never expeccted to like it so much or use it so constantly on the kitchen counter--good looking too! Jill

I purchased this for my wife, who has allergy and asthma problems, and needs frequent access to hot drinks.

The Pot works very well. There almost no noticeable heat loss from the AirPot. And there is very little loss of water, so it is a very efficient system.

Had this for over a year- we use it not only for boiling water for tea, instant chocolate or soup, but dispenses boiling water for use in cooking- much hotter than tap water. Also, we have taken it to a remote site with electric but no running water to get hot water for food & hygeine. The magnetic plug falls off the machine easily when you move it but this seems to be a safety feature- otherwise a tightly attached cord might make a pot of 208 degree water tip over! Very well made & easy to use. Want to get another for the office.

It's big and nice, good for a three-person family. boiling is kinds slower than my expectation, about 20 minutes. The heat is not isolated well so you can feel the outer wall is always hot.

We purchased one and worked well (although how hard can it be to boil water). After a few years, my wife discovered plastic pieces of various sizes in the water. We have no idea how long the boiler had such pieces. We unplugged and I unscrewed the top and discovered a disintegrated gasket and plastic pieces that were broken. Various plastic shards were found within the top.

When we emailed Zojirushi, they recommended "cleaning". When I emphasized it was clean but instead the issue was broken pieces of plastic and tiny pieces of a disintegrated gasket, they said "order a new lid" ($40 with shipping).

I understand some products or product components need replacing over time, but strongly believe there should be a warning or "expiration date" or simply suggest consumers unscrew the metal plate and inspect the innards now and then.

Zojirushi replied "It doesn't mention specifically in the manual book. However, since the lid is made of P.P. and silicone rubber seal, this is ordinary wear and tear and therefore, the parts need to be changed overtime. Therefore, we sell the lid as replacement part so that customer wouldn't have to purchase the whole unit instead. http://tinyurl.com/68g3on"

So, the product does the job (boiling water) but does require inspection and possible replacement parts "overtime".

In short I found this airpot to provide nice hot water and be energy efficient too though I have only been testing it out for several days. As I say below, at 14.7 cents per kilowatt it uses $48.93/year. Now to be more verbose...

After completing the boil and having the water maintained at 208, I decided to check it out with a thermometer. I poured a cup and stuck the probe in, but my digital food thermometer only showed about 170F so I tried another one with similar results. Finally, I just made my self some coffee and it was nice and hot even after adding milk so so much for my thermometers. The only things I have to compare this to are my old airpot (5.5 quarts = 5.2 liters) and my 1500W electric kettle. Compared to my old airpot this one is amazing as my old one had the water barely hot. Compared to my kettle it obviously is not as hot since the kettle gives you freshly boiled water, though you can still add a bit of milk to the water from this airpot and enjoy a satisfying cup (for some reason I imagined 208F to be hotter with respect to how much milk you could add and still be left with a hot cup, but it still gives a satisfying hot cup).

After the initial boil, I remembered that I had a "P3 International P4400 Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor" (you can check it out on Amazon) which allows me to measure its electricity usage and on my unit I have entered the price of electricity as 14.7 cents per kilowatt. The longer it is connected the more accurate the reading is. Unfortunately I did not connect it before I began the boil but I hope to do so with my next main usage of the airpot - this Friday (UPDATE: boiling 3 liters of water cost 3 cents). In any case, I have had it connected for 5 days now and the pot has gone down from full to 1 liter of water left and the reading says it uses $48.93/year or $0.13/day (of course this is assuming you don't add any more water to reheat when it gets low, though at 3 cents a boil it shouldn't add much to the cost) . This is quite amazing. As a comparison, my last 5.5 quart "airpot" that kept water barely hot used $144/year. My 1500W kettle costs me a penny to boil about 3 cups. My second usage had the yearly cost at $54/year but I attribute this to not using as much water in it as I did in the first time I had used it and I figure that the more in it the more energy is needed to keep the water warm.

I would definitely recommend this airpot. I was looking specifically one that did not use electronics to pump out the water and this one fit the bill.

Tevila info: For those who understand what I am talking about - I dunked it on a Wednesday morning only until all surface areas of the airpot were covered before taking it out (i.e. did not wait for bubbles to stop). I left it out and open until Friday when I first used it and it worked fine.

I highly recommend this water pot. I had mine over 12 years and it is still going strong. One pump will give me a full cup of water. I only thing I have to replace is the rubber sealing ring around the inner lid (about $15 including s/h). Other than that, this product out performed my expectations in every way. I highly recommend it.