Bonavita Interurban, Matte Black, 1.0L, Variable Temperature Kettle. Photo by Howard Bryman.
Overall Rating: 7.5
Pros:
The Interurban is a successor to Bonavita’s pioneering, long-popular BV382510V kettle. The solid build of the Interurban inspires confidence, and its streamlined appearance cuts a bold yet charming profile on the kitchen counter.
Cons:
The built-in timer presents usability issues, the spout is not “drip-free,” and the kettle brings water to brewing temperature relatively slowly compared to competing kettles.
Price: $129.99
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Reviewer’s Take:
In the earliest days of pourover’s trendy presence on modern specialty coffee bars, the original Bonavita digital gooseneck kettle was a ubiquitous tool in the hands of professional baristas. Building upon this legacy in the face of mounting competition from other kettles, the Interurban represents Bonavita’s evolved approach to the format.
What remains unchanged from the older model is its 1,000-watt heater, which brought 600ml of cold tap water up to 205°F rather sluggishly, anywhere from 40 seconds to 2 minutes slower than other kettles with similar or more powerful heaters. Another vestigial design element we noticed is the flat, level spout opening may, depending on how you pour, allow a tiny but distracting dribble down the gooseneck. Using other kettles with more contoured mouths, we couldn’t create a similar dribble no matter how hard we tried.
The design and placement of the digital display, also apparently carried over from the original model, is a bit compromised here because it is more deeply set into the new base’s thicker materials, making it a bit less easy to read. This may diminish for some the convenience of one of the Interurban’s attractive newer features: the built-in timer. And, as helpful as that timer should be, it also automatically cancels when the kettle is returned to the base, discouraging you from putting it back either for tidiness, to check the current temperature or for a heat bump during the bloom phase of the pour.
At $129.99, and with the older model still available for considerably less, these peccadilloes prevent the Interurban from being a slam dunk success, although its improvements over its predecessor are obvious and bold. The Interurban’s beefy metal base and decisively clicking buttons are brawnier by far than those on any other base we’ve seen, and its sleek matte black, matte white and gloss graphite finish options are all worthy of the most stylish of specialty coffee settings.
It’s about as accurate in its temperature readings as other kettles we tested, never off by more than a couple degrees, and although the handle is not designed for even weight distribution, its pronounced finger notch assists with comfort and control. Overall, the Interurban gets the job done, looks quite smart doing it, and seems built to continue doing so for a long time to come.
Key Specifications:
Capacity: 1.0 Liter
Wattage: 1000W
Dimensions: 8.5″ x 11″ x 9.5″
MSRP: $129.99
Manufacturer Website: www.bonavitaworld.com
