I bought this probably 2 years now and it quickly became my trusty teapot for every cup of tea brewed. The outer cast iron is beautiful, and the interior is easy to clean. I can fill with enough water for just a cup, or fill it to capacity for several cups worth when I'm sharing tea with others. Sometimes I throw a teabag into the pot, or put looseleaf tea into the removable cage. Other times I use it just for boiling the water. It functions great as a stovetop kettle, the cast iron stands up to the heat. If you leave it boiling for too long, grab the handle with a cloth, as it will eventually heat too hot to touch, though I usually get to it before it gets too hot to grab. As long as you set it on a trivet or hot pad, it transitions seamlessly to a beautiful serving pot.I am very used to cooking with and cleaning cast iron, so rust has not been an issue for me. I usually don't even bother wiping the exterior dry. The only discoloration I ever see is along the rim under the lid, and I can wipe it off with a finger. I almost always rinse it clean with cool water only, swirling it around the interior and pouring it out the spout, occasionally wiping the interior with a soapless sponge and brush for the spout, then left upside down to air dry.This teapot gets CONSTANT use in my kitchen, and it holds up like a champ. Absolutely love it. Would buy again!