Photo: Zojirushi
What We Like
- Efficient hybrid vacuum-electric keep-warm system
- Quick temp mode for warming the water without reaching boiling point
- Energy-saving timer function
- Non-stick, easy-to-clean stainless-steel interior
- Micro-computerized control system
What We Don’t Like
- No memory function to store settings
Bottom Line
An efficient vacuum-electric hybrid hot water dispenser that is recommended for everyday home use.
Introduction
Hot water dispensers are very convenient because they give you hot water on demand. Due to this, they are increasingly gaining in popularity and can be found in most homes.
That said, these appliances incorporate the use of different technologies to heat and retain the water’s high temperature. In this case, Zojirushi’s CV-DCC40XT has an innovative hybrid system, and this article gives an in-depth review of how it works.
Zojirushi CV-DCC40XT Review
Photo: Zojirushi
Efficiency: Keeps Water Hot Using Very Little Power
One of the greatest advantages of using Zojirushi’s CV-DCC40XT is that it has an efficient hybrid vacuum-electric keep-warm system. This system utilizes vacuum insulation technology, which is made possible by a double stainless-steel wall like the one found in travel mugs.
The vacuum between these walls minimizes heat loss and therefore, this technology keeps water hot for longer using very little electricity.
That said, you get 4 keep-warm temperature settings, in which you can set the dispenser to maintain the water temperature at 160ºF, 175ºF, 195ºF, and 208ºF. In addition to this, you can adjust the setting to vacuum and this is where the hybrid system kicks in.
This setting turns off the heater after the water has boiled, then uses the vacuum thermal insulation technology to keep the water warm.
Eventually, the water will cool down but this will take some time. After boiling, it will be at about 190ºF in 2 hours, 178ºF in 4 hours, and 167ºF in 6 hours.
Therefore, the 4 settings plus vacuum insulation ensure you get the convenience of hot water at the touch of a button. All these settings are done on a micro-computerized temperature control system, which also has a quick temp mode for fast warming.
In regular boil mode, to get the water to 195ºF requires about 2 hours while at 175ºF, you need about 4.5 hours. To get it to 160ºF requires about 7 hours and these times are for when the 4-liter container is full and at room temperature (73ºF).
However, in quick temp mode, these times are reduced to 26, 23, and 65 minutes respectively, which helps to save on time.
On top of that, this mode reduces energy usage because it powers the heater for a shorter time and it reduces steaming because the water is heated to the pre-programmed temperature without reaching a boil.
It is important to note that you cannot set the temperature to 208ºF or vacuum insulation when quick temp mode is activated. This mode only works with the three temperature settings mentioned above.
Other than that, you get an energy-saving timer function that can be timed to boil your water 6 to 10 hours from the time you set. This turns off electricity to the heater until boiling begins and you can set it before you sleep so that you get hot water ready as you wake up in the morning.
You can use this function in either keep-warm or quick-temp mode but you have to set it after selecting the respective mode.
More features include a café drip dispensing mode that dispenses 60% less water as compared to the normal setting, which makes it suitable for brewing café drip coffee, and an automatic shut-off function that cuts off power to the heater to prevent damages.
This function is activated if the dispenser is plugged in while empty, if the water level is below the refill line, if the upper lid is left open or if hot water is poured in. The digital display will show “HH” to indicate that this function has been activated.
Note: In quick-temp mode and with the energy-saving timer function, the settings will be canceled and reset if there is a power outage or if the power cord is unplugged. Therefore, you must reset it again.
However, in keep-warm mode, the settings default to 195ºF and this will start re-boiling the water as soon as the power is back on.
Appearance: Shiny Exterior
The exterior of the CV-DCC40XT is largely composed of clear-coated stainless-steel, which gives it a very shiny appearance. Additionally, the top and bottom sections are clear coated black plastic parts, which give it an overall shiny, premium look.
Part of this exterior includes a panorama window water level gauge that allows you to monitor the water level inside at a glance.
This window has markings that show the water level at 3.5, 3, 2.5, 2, 1.5, 1 and 0.5 liters, and it also has a refill level marking that shows you when its time to top up.
Ease of Use: Digital Controls
Even though it has multiple modes, functions, and features, Zojirushi’s CV-DCC40XT is very easy to use because it has a digital control panel. All settings are done via buttons while an easy-to-read LCD panel shows the adjustments in real-time.
On top of this, the control panel gives you a one-touch electric dispensing system, which is very simple to use. You can also change the information sound by long-pressing the unlock button for around 3 seconds during the boiling process or keep-warm mode.
Melody is the default information sound setting but you can change to beeping, which will notify you via 3 beeps that you have successfully set it to beeping mode.
You can also change it to silent and for this, you will get a long beep to indicate that it is in this mode. That said, the sound will return to the melody setting once you unplug the dispenser.
Another feature that makes the unit simple to use is its swivel base, which easily turns to any side for convenience when serving.
Cleaning and Maintenance: Very Easy to Clean
Cleaning this hot water dispenser is a breeze because it is fitted with a non-stick stainless-steel interior. This is very useful because hot water tends to leave semi-permanent marks on plastic and metal surfaces that can be difficult to clean.
That said, it is recommended to clean the interior using citric acid every 3 months. For this, you should use the CD-K03EJU cleaner in quick-temp mode.
You have to press the quick-temp button for more than 3 seconds until two lights blink on the control panel and a rotating square shows up on the display. Cleaning takes about 1.5 hours and once done, the two lights will stay on without blinking and the square will stop rotating.
Detailed cleaning instructions are indicated in the user manual for better guidance.
Aside from that, as explained above, the unit has a clear-coated stainless-steel exterior. Not only does this give a premium finish, but it also simplifies the cleaning process because the surface is easy to wipe.
Price: Mid-Range
With a price tag of less than $200, Zojirushi’s CV-DCC40XT sits in the middle of the price range and it is equipped with tons of features that make it worth the price.
The manufacturer does produce other hot water dispensers and the closest one that can be compared to this model is the Zojirushi CV-DCC50XT. Though more expensive, this model has a large 5-liter capacity but all other features are quite similar.
However, if you are looking for a more affordable option, you can buy the Zojirushi CD-WCC40, which has a 4-liter capacity. This model is very similar to the CV-DCC40XT in design but it lacks the vacuum keep-warm system.
Verdict
An energy-efficient and easy-to-use hot water dispenser that is recommended for home use.
With its hybrid vacuum-electric keep-warm system, Zojirushi’s CV-DCC40XT is very energy efficient. It utilizes a thermal vacuum insulation technology to keep your water warmer for longer using very little electricity because re-boiling will be after a long time.
Additionally, the unit is very easy to use because it has a digital control panel and a one-touch electric dispensing system. However, with a 4-liter capacity, the unit is the ideal choice for home use. Most commercial hot water dispensers need a capacity of 5 liters going upwards.
Specs
- Product Name: Zojirushi CV-DCC40XT
- Product Brand: Zojirushi
- Capacity: 135 oz. (4 liters)
- Power Consumption: 840W
- Operating Temperatures: 160°F, 175°F, 195°F, 208°F and vacuum
- Weight: 7 lbs.
- Dimensions: 8-3/4 x 11-1/8 x 13-7/8 inches
- Warranty: 1-year limited
Key Features
- Hybrid vacuum-electric keep-warm system.
- Quick temp mode for warming without boiling.
- Micro computerized temperature control system.
- Easy-to-read LCD panel.
- Timer function (6-10 hrs.).
- Café drip mode.
- Swivel base convenient serving.
- Non-stick stainless-steel interior.
- Clear coated stainless-steel exterior.
- Panorama window water level gauge.
- Stainless steel double insulation wall.
- Electric dispensing system.
- Interchangeable melody/beep signal.