Americans: invent machine to boil water
Also Americans: use that machine to boil water
Rest of the world: 😱
The cavity magnetron was invented in England by a man who was clearly a tea drinker. The Americans successfully commercialised the device some years later, no doubt by a coffee drinker.
If you guys had more volts in the household electrics you too could use an electric kettle like we do in the UK.
You mean the electric kettles that you can find at literally any fucking Walmart ever.
The standard US household voltage is infact higher than the UK 230V 50hz at 240V 60Hz with outlets output differing depending on what devices it’s intended for. Outlets intended for low volt devices are 110-120V 60Hz using NEMA 1-15P & 5-15R, Outlets intended for high volt devices are 220-240V 60Hz using a NEMA 6-15P & 6-50P connections.
Today, virtually all American homes and businesses have access to 120 and 240 V at 60 Hz. Both voltages are available on the three wires (two “hot” legs of opposite phase and one “neutral” leg).
I do not have easy access to an outlet intended for a high voltage device to plug an electric kettle into. Your point doesn’t seem relevant. That is, unless you’re suggesting we pull a frige or stove out from the wall every time we want to brew a cup of tea.