Make it work for you
KATE’S CHOICE: A BOILING-WATER TAP
Dispensing piping-hot water at the push of a button, these clever taps are fast becoming a kitchen essential
Kettle, your days are numbered! The competition? Taps that provide steaming-hot water in seconds. There’s no waiting around, no appliance cluttering up your worktop and, because it only ever boils exactly what you need, you’ll save energy, too.
Q What types are there?
You can buy standalone steaming-water taps designed to sit alongside your existing kitchen mixer or next to a second prep sink, but all-in-one designs are most people’s preferred option. These will deliver steaming, hot and cold water from one tap and, in some cases, filtered or even sparkling cold water, too.
Q Will I find a design to suit my kitchen?
These taps originally had a workmanlike look that reflected their commercial use, but recent designs have come on in leaps and bounds. There are lots of styles to choose from – Insinkerator’s contemporary three-in-one tap
(see below) comes in seven finishes. Opt for one that has an adjustable spout and plenty of clearance over the sink, so you can fill larger pans.
Q How easy are boilingwater taps to install?
All–in-one taps can be easily retrofitted, but if you are going for a stand-alone design, you might have to drill a second hole in your worktop. However, that said, you’ll need to find space in the cupboard beneath for a water tank, plus any filters or cylinders, meaning you may have to reconsider where your cleaning products live. Tanks generally range in size from 2-5ltr, but if you’re short on space, there are a few neat solutions. Franke’s Minerva three-in-one tap, for example, has a tank that’s designed to sit neatly behind a standard W150mm cabinet plinth.
Most steaming-water taps have a locking mechanism so you can’t leave them running. They’re inherently safer than a kettle BRIAN GREEN, PRODUCT PLANNER, INSINKERATOR