If you’ve been researching kitchen upgrades, you’ve probably come across the name Quooker more than once.
But what is a Quooker tap, exactly, and is it actually worth the investment?
It’s a fair question, because from the outside it just looks like a slightly unusual kitchen tap. Once you understand what’s happening underneath your worktop, though, it starts to make a lot more sense.
This guide breaks down:
- Exactly what a Quooker tap is
- How it works
- Why so many of our customers here in Cannock end up choosing one when they redesign their kitchen.
What is a Quooker tap and how does it work?
A Quooker tap gives you instant boiling water straight from the tap. No kettle, no pan on the hob, no waiting around.
Some models also filter your cold drinking water, so you get better tasting water without buying bottles.
The concept was developed by Dutch engineer Henri Peteri back in the 1970s, and it has been refined steadily ever since. Underneath your worktop sits a small, well insulated tank. This keeps a reservoir of water at boiling point, ready to draw off the moment you need it. There’s no long wait for the kettle to reach temperature. And no energy wasted reheating a full kettle just to make one cup of tea.
There are now several tap designs to choose from, in a handful of finishes. So whatever the style of your kitchen there’s a Quooker that will sit naturally within it.
The running costs and efficiency
One of the most common questions we get asked is whether a Quooker tap is expensive to run.
It isn’t.
The high vacuum insulation around the tank means it holds its temperature with minimal energy loss. And keeping that water on standby typically costs a matter of pence per day.
For larger households, the COMBI tank goes a step further. Rather than just holding a small reservoir of boiling water, it supplies your kitchen’s hot water too. It sits in a compact unit beneath the worktop. This removes the need to run a separate hot water pipe all the way from your main boiler to the kitchen sink. So it draws only as much hot water as you actually need, which helps keep energy use down.
Safety built into every tap
Boiling water on tap sounds like it should come with a catch, and understandably, safety is usually the next question people ask.
Quooker has designed the tap with this firmly in mind. Every tap has a childproof handle, so the boiling function can’t be triggered accidentally. The outer casing stays cool to the touch even while boiling water is being drawn. And the water itself comes out as a fine spray rather than a solid jet, giving you time to react if you need to.
The boiling water control is also kept completely separate from the standard hot and cold settings. So, there’s no risk of confusing the two while you’re at the sink.
Tap designs and finishes to choose from
Quooker isn’t a one size fits all product. There’s a range of tap designs available. From sleek single lever styles to more traditional looking options. Each available in a choice of finishes including chrome, stainless steel and black.
Whether your kitchen is contemporary or classic, there’s a design that fits without looking like an add-on.
What you can use a Quooker tap for
Once it’s installed, most people find they use it for far more than just making a cup of tea. Popular uses include:
- Making tea, coffee and hot chocolate instantly
- Cooking vegetables, rice and pasta without waiting for a pan to boil
- Blanching vegetables
- Filling hot water bottles
- Sterilising dummies and baby bottles
- Cleaning pots and pans
Once you have boiling water on demand, you’ll likely find yourself reaching for the tap in ways you hadn’t expected.
Single tap or COMBI - which one do you need
If you only need boiling water on demand, a standard Quooker tank is likely all you need. But if you’re planning your kitchen from scratch, or you’d like the tap to handle your everyday hot water too, the COMBI tank is worth serious consideration. It’s a bigger decision, and it’s exactly the kind of thing worth talking through with someone who fits these taps regularl. That way you can choose the right setup for how your household actually uses hot water.
Single tap or COMBI - which one do you need
Reading about instant boiling water is one thing. Standing at a tap and drawing off a cup of boiling water in seconds is another entirely. It’s a small thing that changes a daily habit, and it’s much easier to appreciate in person than on a page.
At our Cannock showroom, we have Quooker taps on display and one of them is a working tap you can try for yourself. Then you can ask any questions you have about installation, running costs or which design would suit your kitchen best.
We’re open Monday to Friday 9:30am–5:00pm and Saturday 10:00am–4:00pm at Octagon House, 236–238 Walsall Road, Bridgtown, Cannock, WS11 0JL.
Visit our showroom or call us on 01543 570468, we’re always happy to talk taps.