Ekol Apple Pi Review

Ekol Apple Pi Review

The Apple Pi, or Apple Pie (even EkolĀ can't decide which to call it). Is a purpose built stove for unconventional installations. People do fit them in houses, but most are fitted in out buildings, caravans, boats, yurts, huts etc, as a do it all stove: heating, cooking, drying, even lighting the room. These installations can be dangerous, and are not something to wonder into without at the very least, some research. I produced a video, which may be of use to you if you want to attempt an installation into a structure other than a house, and outside of the authority of building regulations:

The stove itself is lovely. They've brought a bigger brother to this stove too for larger spaces, called the Pumpkin Pie. They are both very customisable, made entirely from cast iron, efficient, multi-fuel with a simple grate and ash pan, and they both have 10 year warranties.

Ā 

Lighting the stove: 9/10

Easy as Pie.

Stoves that are made for unconventional buildings need to get this bit right, because draw on the chimneys that you fit won't always be perfect. This stove has a slightly lower efficiency than some, but don't let that put you off, this will be deliberate. Unless the stove can breathe freely enough you will get draw issues, and the easier the stove can breathe the harder it is to achieve high efficiency. This stove will be fitted in so many different situations it's a very hard thing to rate, but compared to most stoves this is an easy stove to get going even with a less than perfect chimney.

Ā 

Cleanness: 5/10

It's perfectly capable of running clean and clouding up. Again this really comes down to your fuel, surroundings and the draw on the chimney. It's more than capable of being considered a clean stove, but because of the huge range of situations this may be used, results will definitely vary. There is no escaping this, and the same is true of anything else, but again it does make it hard to predict. In the situation that I filmed my review, it is alway clean unless you find some wet wood šŸ˜¬.

Ā 

Controls & Controllability: 5/10

The main handle is shaped away from the stove to keep it cool, and it does stay cool enough to operate with a bare hand. Just be cautious about which part of the handle you touch as the top can get a bit hot. The oven handle (if you have the oven) is the same and no issue with it getting too hot. The main control is a slider at the bottom of the stove, it's easy to slide across and even after a long time in the outbuilding I filmed in, there was no issue with it being stiff to move etc. It also worked well, as you can watch. The control was good and the build is quirky, but sturdy and with a 10 year warranty to back you up, it feels like you can get away with most things. It's also (for stoves) not too heavy, so moving it if needs be is not too tricky either.

Ā 

Fuel economy & Burn time: 5/10

This stove isĀ tiny. The fuel economy is never going to be the issue, the larger problem is getting fuel in it. Thankfully Ekol make the grate easily removable, so when you are burning wood you can make fitting it in a bit easier. The Pumpkin is probably capable of long burn too, but the apple really is a diddy thing and would struggle to in for hours and hours on 1 load with most users.

Ā 

Who's it for:

These stoves aren't cheap, and for a lot of potential buyers they are almost gimmicky, even toy like. Even for the more serious users, there are cheaper and more practical appliances that do everything this does. But there isn't much out there that does everything and in such a neat, customisable and desirable package. It's just fun, and what's wrong with it being a bit of a toy. For most of us that's the point, the whole building, yurt or boat is a toy too, we're not living in it, it's there to be enjoyed. In theseĀ situations the Pi stoves suit perfectly, and more than that they become part of the reason we want to visit these holiday, weekend break or evening with friends destinations. They are a conversation piece, a draw for the eyes and of course the functional tool that makes whatever building it is in, feel like home.

Ā 

Ā 

Back to blog