[mikestew]

U. K. 240v vs. 120v in the U. S., twice the voltage == twice the amperage (EDIT: oops, wattage, for the same amps) == half the time to boiling. I will note that doubling the voltage will still not make it "instant". For that I think you need liquid oxygen[0].

[0] https://improbable.com/2018/10/26/a-look-back-at-george-gobl...

[softbuilder]

Twice the voltage == half the amperage for the same wattage. Are UK kettles higher wattage?

[bombcar]

US circuits are about 15 amps; UK ones similar - but twice the volts.

So a US kettle is about 1500 watts, a UK one 3000.

You can get commercial water boilers in the US if you need.

[rootusrootus]

or just use an insta-hot tap which is infinitely faster than an electric kettle. or a plain old kettle on an induction cooktop which will also be faster than a single purpose electric kettle.

[mrwh]

Actually yes, around double the wattage. It's one of the things English people notice when they move to the US (true!).

[gib444]

3000 glorious watts

[throwaway27448]

You can also simply keep water near boiling.

[ak217]

All the time? That's very inefficient, especially when running your boiler outside heating season and without a vacuum flask.

The actual solution is to boil small quantities of water. I can boil one cup in 90 seconds or so, even with the 120v handicap.

[mbirth]

Or boil a larger quantity and fill it into a thermos. Perfectly fine for instant coffee throughout the day. (And without the coffee stains in the thermos.)

[throwaway27448]

Sure, but efficiency wasn't the goal here. Anyway I use hot water enough (~6-10 times daily) that I don't mind spending extra for it