Our own long-term testing notes will replace this piece as they mature. Until then: a straight synthesis of what owners report across Home-Barista, Reddit, and the long-term reviews worth reading. No affiliate spin, and we sell this kettle, so read us skeptically too.
The short version
The EKG is the best-looking kettle in coffee, with pour control and temperature stability good enough that most owners stop thinking about water. It is a luxury purchase, not a value one, and its reliability record is imperfect. Most people who buy one would buy it again. Not all of them.
What owners consistently praise
Three things come up over and over. The pour: the spout produces a slow, precise stream that makes center starts and controlled blooms easy, which is most of what a gooseneck is for. The temperature control: to-the-degree setting with a hold mode that keeps water ready between brews, with drift measured around 3°C over three minutes in independent testing. And the design: it won a Red Dot award, and it's the single most common answer to "what's that kettle in your photo?"
Where it falls short
Owners flag three things. Flow rate favors precision over speed; if you want to move a lot of water quickly, a Hario Buono or similar pours faster. The price buys design as much as function; a Brewista Artisan delivers most of the same brewing capability for less, and its spout sits closer to the grounds. And the reliability record is mixed: Home-Barista's repair board carries recurring threads on temperature adjustment failures, buzzing bases, and blinking displays. Fellow's support generally resolves these, but a $165 kettle should not need the warranty as often as this one seems to.
Who it's for
Buy it if pour control matters to you and you want the kettle you'll enjoy owning: it earns its counter space every day. Skip it if you're optimizing dollars-to-brewing-performance; the money difference buys a lot of coffee.
Sources worth your time
Brew Coffee Home's long-term review · Home-Barista on pour control · Home-Barista repair threads