WhatStove?

Review of Esse 505 stove

Esse 505 T(all)

Phil 12 years ago

The T (tall) version isn't available as cheaply as you can find the standard one, and that makes it a fairly pricey beast. But it is a fantastic stove. No problems at all, easy to light & control. The only minor quibble is that the inside is quite small so you have to be a bit selective about what size log you put in.

There is rumoured to be a woodburning kit for this, but the supplier we used was unable to find one. I think that conversion involves removing the riddle plate and that would increase depth, but not width (which is the dimension it's a bit tight in)

The big glass door seems to pump out heat, and the 5 kW is more than enough for our fairly big kitchen.

Overall rating:

5 flames

Build Quality 5 flames (avg 5)
Quality of finish 5 flames (avg 5)
Value for money 4 flames (avg 4.5)
Ease of use 5 flames (avg 5)
Ease of lighting 5 flames (avg 4.5)
Firebox size 3 flames (avg 4)
How well does the airwash work 5 flames (avg 4.5)
Controllability 5 flames (avg 5)
Handle operation 5 flames (avg 4.5)
How likely are you to buy it again? 5 flames (avg 4.5)
What is your overall satisfaction? 5 flames (avg 5)