Journal
The Everhot vs Aga question has raised its head more and more in recent months. On one hand we have clients who grew up with an Aga and would never switch to using what they see as a new upstart. On the other we have new country house owners willing to be a little more adventurous and try something more modern.
At Guild Anderson we understand how bewildering this subject can be and how quickly technology moves. With many years of experience working with clients to help them sort through the multi-dimensional puzzle of manufacturer, function, features and new tech, we thought we’d put some of our thiughts down in writing.
How Popular are Everhots and Agas?
Over the past 10 years, Guild Anderson has seen customer choice divided fairly evenly between Aga, Everhot and electric appliances. Although historically in the countryside brand loyalty to Aga has been strong, Everhot has led the way by offering an environmentally-friendly heat storage electric range cooker. This, and Aga’s recent purchase by an Americam private equity firm, has started to give Everhot the upper hand.
The more recent cost of living crisis and rising fuel bills has only thrown fuel on Everhot’s fire as consumers seek more for ways to cut running costs and have a more responsible impact on the environment. As a result we now see both Aga and Everhot competing to offer electric appliances that are both beautiful to look at and efficient to run.
Aga
For nearly 100 years Aga has been an integral appliance in most farmhouse kitchens throughout Britain. Adored by many, they are an icon of country living. Made in Britain, Aga is immensely proud of its heritage. However, with more modern ways of living and indeed cooking; Aga has now had to evolve. Many of their cookers now feature induction hobs, which provide a more responsive and energy efficient way to cook.
Aga are now committed to creating more environmentally efficient models with a new generation running solely on electricity; however they still offer a choice of propane gas, natural gas and oil, although we think country house owners should think carefully before commiting to fossil fuel burning options.
More recently, the brand new 13-amp Aga R3 Series has been designed with a host of innovative features including an iconic AGA hotplate and a state-of-the-art three-zone induction hob as well as a conventional fan oven, allowing for more flexibility. The AGA R3 Series 110 Electric with Induction Hob from £9,095. Offering 16 enamel colours there is bound to be a model and colour to suit most kitchens.
One area of concern is the quality of the Aga casting, which has become lighter and arguably less robust in recent years. We have had several Aga service engineers state that they felt the quality had reduced as financiers have forced the business to focus on cost savings at the behest of quality.
Everhot
Everhot vs Aga is not a question many country house owners would even dare ask until recently, but the British company has been around for longer than most people think. Everhot may not have been around as long as Aga, but with a history spanning 40 years; they were created at a time of innovation and new beginnings. British made, the company was born out of a desire to make an existing cast iron stove more efficient. Everhot developed a range cooker in the 1970s that could not only run solely from electricity, the first Everhot actually ran off a water turbine, and also a standard 13amp plug. Everhot is quite literally a real British engineering success story but has only really seen real exposure in the country house market in Wiltshire, Dorset and the South West in the last 10 years or so.
In terms of running cost they can be less expensive to run than Aga. With an Everhot you can control each oven and hot plate independently with the added benefit of being able to switch your Everhot to ‘ECO’ to lower the power consumption either overnight when you go to bed, or when you go on holiday.
With a full width grill in the top oven and square hot plates allowing for more surface area to cook on; there are numerous features that make Everhot a far more efficient model than many of its rivals.
Because the hotplate has an electric element underneath; you could leave the lid up all day and the temperature will remain constant. The square shapes of both the hotplate and induction hob also comfortably allows for 3 pans on each. With Aga it’s two pans at a push. The square lids are also more practical, allowing more space to air sheets on.
Nick Anderson, Guild Anderson’s owner and designer, is a fan of the Everhot 120i; as it lends itself to a modern family lifestyle. In addition to the classic cast iron hot and simmer plates, the 120i incorporates a fantastic three zone induction hob, perfect for hot summer days or to augment the overall cooking area. The Everhot 120i is priced from £9,530 inc VAT.
Offering 18 colour options, Everhot will instantly take on the starring role in your kitchen. Everhot is a modern day design classic; truly suited to modern family life; allowing that old country farmhouse look for a 21st century contemporary home. Unlike Aga there is also no servicing required. As all models are electric there is no external flu required, allowing it to be placed anywhere in the room.
Aga and Everhot now compete for pole position in the cast iron range cooking category. One is built on environmental, sustainable modern family values; while the other is having to adapt and change their strategy to meet this contemporary way of life.
Everhot vs Aga? Decisions Decisions
So, Everhot vs Aga? Which is it to be?
In our view, the Everhot is currently the outright winner for quality, flexibity and features. But, on the premise that competition sharpens the mind, it is entirely possible that Aga will use its brand and experience to compete and bring its product up to date, perhaps even surpassing the gains made by Everhot. We’ll have to wait and see.
If you are interested in discussing the Everhot vs Aga dilemma, please get in touch design@guildanderson.co.uk or call us on 01747 820449
Update: January 2024
A recent spat between the two companies (January 2024) adds fuel to the fire of this topic (if you’ll pardon the pun). Published in The Sunday Times, the argument in which Everhot came out on top, centred around Aga’s claimto be the best eco choice between both companies. To cut a long story short, the Advertising Standards Asscociation (ASA) looked into the claim, and by using the hotplates for both appliances as their guide, adjudicated that on full power the Aga ER7 costs 18p per hour to run while the Everhot 110i would cost 6.6p to run. Their conclusion therefore was that Everhot model was more efficient.
