If you’ve been on my Instagram account lately, I bet you already know that we’ve recently had a Quooker tap installed in our kitchen. And given the current circumstances of #stayinghome it could not have arrived at a better time for us. With all four of us (five with our lovely nanny) at home all day, that poor tap is working overtime between water jug refills, home-cooked meals and coffees on repeat. We are seriously putting it through it’s paces!
A Dutch invention and family run company, this amazing household technology has been around since the 70’s, so most of the ‘Dutchies’ I know (there’s a lot of them) were very familiar with the brand, but it was honestly all new to me when I was first introduced to the concept a few months ago. So yes, it appears I had been living under a rock. I’m pretty thrilled to have emerged from said rock, because it’s no exaggeration to say that our new Quooker tap has revolutionised our kitchen.
Not only is this tap all business and convenience, it has a gorgeously minimalist design aesthetic that’s taken our black kitchen up a notch or two. We opted for the Fusion in Matte black but there is something in the range for every style of kitchen. You can see the collection here.
So, what does this beauty deliver? 100 ̊C boiling, regular room temperature, chilled still and chilled sparkling water – all filtered. Oh, and then there’s also the regular hot water option from your water-heater, if you have a separate one.
Having lived in the UAE for 15 years now, I’ve had no choice but to get accustomed to the unsightly water-coolers that are a household essential here (desalinated tap water isn’t ideal for drinking). I’ve always wanted to get rid of it, particularly since – surprise, surprise – none of the kitchens here are designed with a space for them in mind. The only easy alternative though would be switching to single use water bottles. Whilst that has been very tempting time and again, my conscience and my fridge space simply wouldn’t allow it. Our cooler was squeezed into a small space between the fridge and the door as the only place where it was hidden from sight when entering the room. I’m very happy to report the space is now empty! (see the last image for proof)
Aside of the obvious benefits and convenience of having fresh, filtered water that is ideal for drinking (with your face right under the tap like my kids), cooking, washing fruit and vegetables and making the best tasting tea & coffee, there are definitely some other, less obvious thrills that accompany the Quooker.
Sustainability & saving the planet
The hardware that runs the system is more energy efficient than repeatedly boiling the kettle and it definitely reduces your water consumption at the tap as boiling water is dispensed immediately at 100 ̊C rather than having water run while it heats up. Similarly, the chilled water requires no waiting time either so you literally use just what you need. Also, we no longer have a need for the four, 5 gallon plastic water bottles we used weekly, so we’ve reduced our plastic use considerably.
Safety
I have to admit that initially, the thought of boiling water straight from the tap had me concerned about safety with kids. I have since learned that it is a very safe choice. Quookers are designed with a number of important safety features, including a childproof handle and an aerated spray on the boiling water function, rather than a solid jet flow, which prevents the risk of serious burns or scalding. Trust me, I’ve tried it. And perhaps most importantly: a Quooker can’t fall over, unlike a kettle or a pan filled with boiling water.
Time and space saving
Everything from cooking meals that start with a boiling pot, to making coffee or just getting a glass of sparkling water all require no waiting time at all. I only wish I had this tap back when I was sterilizing or heating baby bottles at stupid-o-clock in the night.
I’ve also freed up some counter and floor space with the disappearance of the kettle and the water cooler. The tanks and filters take up less space than I’d thought too, so there’s still usable space under our sink – I even managed to keep one of the internal drawers.
It can move with you
Even when you are renting, Quooker will gladly reinstall your old mixer tap in the home before you leave and will also reinstall your Quooker tap at your new house.
It’s worth mentioning that the main filter needs to be changed annually and the gas canister for the sparkling water feature needs to be changed as and when required, but for most homes, normal use should give you about a year.
If you are interested in purchasing a Quooker, you can contact them here and be sure to mention House of Hawkes for a special discount ; )
Lastly, if you would like to see some images and videos on the installation process and the tap in use, please refer to the ‘Quooker’ story highlight on my Instagram profile.
Many thanks to Quooker who gifted this amazing product. I had no idea how quickly we would all come to depend on it.
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