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Some kitchen gadgets earn their place on the counter by doing one job better than anything else. The Fellow Stagg EKG is one of them. It is an electric pour-over kettle with a slim gooseneck spout, a dial and a small color screen, and Fellow says it is used by champion baristas and home brewers alike.
Who makes it
Fellow is a San Francisco company that designs tools for brewing coffee and tea. It started in 2013 with the idea of bringing the cafe experience home without clunky equipment. After eight months of prototypes, its first product, the Duo Coffee Steeper, combined pour-over and French press in one brewer, and a Kickstarter campaign raised enough backing to make it real.
In 2014 Fellow created the Stagg Pour-Over Kettle, a stovetop gooseneck. Two years later it launched the electric Stagg EKG, which the company says has become the standard for electric pour-over kettles, used by champion baristas and home brewers. The current version is the Stagg EKG Pro.
What it is
The Stagg EKG is a 0.9 liter (30 ounce) electric kettle built for pour-over coffee. Its 1200 watt heating system brings water up to temperature quickly, and you can set the exact temperature you want anywhere from 104 to 212 degrees Fahrenheit (40 to 100 degrees Celsius), in half-degree Fahrenheit steps. Once it gets there, it holds that temperature while you pour.
The kettle body is 304 stainless steel. The standard handle and lid pull are plastic, with optional wooden versions in walnut or maple. With its base it weighs about 1,400 grams, and it measures about 11.1 inches long, 6.8 inches wide and 7.7 inches tall. It sits on an electric base and is not safe on a stovetop.
Why it is cool
The spout is the whole point. Pour-over coffee rewards a slow, steady stream that soaks the grounds evenly, and the Stagg's precision gooseneck is shaped for exactly that kind of controlled flow. Fellow pairs it with a handle designed to stay comfortable from the first pour to the last, so your wrist is not fighting the kettle while you work.
Temperature control is the second reason people love it. Different coffees and teas taste best at different temperatures, and the Stagg lets you dial in the number rather than guessing after a boil. The high resolution color screen shows the target and current temperature as it heats, and the base hides a surprising set of extras:
- Scheduling, so hot water is ready at a set time
- Guide Mode, with preset temperatures for different coffee methods and tea types
- A built-in brew stopwatch for timing pours and steeps
- An altitude setting to stop boil-overs at high elevation
- Adjustable hold for 15, 30, 45 or 60 minutes
- A pre-boil option that boils first, then cools to your set temperature
- Fahrenheit or Celsius, an analog or digital clock, and English, French or Spanish menus
Firmware updates arrive over Wi-Fi through Fellow's EKG Updater app. The app is optional, and Fellow notes it does not control the kettle remotely.
And then there is the look. The Stagg is as much a design object as an appliance, with a matte finish and a long, thin spout. It comes in a range of colors, from matte black and matte white to softer tones paired with walnut or maple accents.
Pro or Pro Studio Edition
The Pro Studio Edition keeps the same performance and swaps in premium materials: a reflective glass base and refined metal touch points. It is the one to pick if the kettle is going to be the centerpiece of your counter. Otherwise, the standard Pro does the same job.
Who should buy it
Buy the Stagg EKG if you make pour-over coffee or care about brewing tea at the right temperature, and you want a kettle that looks good left out. Fellow covers it with a 2 year standard warranty, with the option to extend. Keep in mind that it is made for water only. Fellow warns that heating milk or other liquids in it will void the warranty.
If you mostly need a lot of hot water fast for a family or for cooking, a larger kettle with a wide spout will suit you better. The Stagg is for people who enjoy the ritual of a careful pour.
Stagg EKG at Fellow
Fellow Stagg EKG Pro electric kettle
Fellow Stagg EKG Pro Studio Edition
Building out a coffee setup? Our best pour-over coffee gear guide covers grinders, drippers and scales, and the Chemex Classic Coffeemaker is a beautiful brewer to pour into. Prefer something faster? See the AeroPress Original, or our look at the Alessi 9093 kettle for another design classic. Browse more in our buying guides.
