Fellow
Fellow Stagg EKG: the one you buy because you want it, not because you need it
Superb pour control, one-degree precision and a build that feels like an appliance rather than a gadget. Also roughly double the price of something that works nearly as well.
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What you are paying for
Precision to the degree, a beautifully weighted gooseneck that gives genuinely fine pour control, a counterweighted handle, and a build quality that is obvious the moment you pick it up. It also looks good enough that people leave it on the counter, which is part of the pitch.
Does it make better tea
Marginally, and only in specific circumstances. If you brew gongfu-style into a 100 ml gaiwan, aiming a precise stream at the leaf, the pour control is a real advantage. If you drop water onto a basket infuser in a mug, it is not.
The honest comparison
Against a good mid-range variable kettle, you are paying roughly double for build, precision and appearance. That can be a completely reasonable purchase — just make it with your eyes open rather than believing the tea requires it.
The verdict
Genuinely excellent and genuinely optional. Buy it as a nice object that happens to be a very good kettle, not as a prerequisite for good tea.
Best for the gongfu brewer, or anyone who already knows they want it.
What works
- Best pour control available
- One-degree precision and a reliable hold
- Build quality that justifies counter space
What doesn't
- Roughly twice the price of a kettle that does the job
- Small capacity
- The tea difference over a good mid-range kettle is marginal