[frankus]

I'm semi-seriously considering installing a few 240V outlets in my kitchen when I redo it and smuggling in a European kettle (any recommendations on a nice temperature-controlled one? I use and like this 120V now: https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV382510V-Variable-Temperatu...)

The US secretly has 240V power almost everywhere, but we use center-tapped transformers upstream of the service connection that provide two 120V legs (180 degrees out of phase). So lighting and appliances all get 120V (typically 15A), with the exception of high-power items like cooktops, ovens, and these machines we have for drying our laundry indoors.

[Karrot_Kream]

My partner and I use hot water bottles extensively (we both grew up in immigrant households that used them). We have a hot water boiler that we schedule to run in the early hours of the morning before any of us are up to use cheaper energy and have the water ready for us. We use the boiler for hot water bottles, for brewing tea, for brewing coffee (well I'm picky with coffee so I reheat the water to exact temp on an old-fashioned stove kettle), for boiling noodles or pasta, for cleaning caked on grime, etc etc.

I'd suggest that over redoing your outlet, though you will have to periodically descale your water boiler, because of sheer utility and portability (you can move and you'll still be able to just plug it into a standard 1-phase 120V outlet.)

[maccard]

What you want is an instant water tap like a quooker.