> Why doesn't it know when it's so consistent every time? Because rice isn't consistent. This is most apparent with certain varieties - a cup of imported Basm

> Why doesn't it know when it's so consistent every time? Because rice isn't consistent. This is most apparent with certain varieties - a cup of imported Basmati "Royal" brand will take longer and require more water than the same amount of "Three Elephants" Jasmine rice from Thailand. Even the same varieties produced by different brands/countries will turn out differently in terms of time required. This relates to differences in climate, storage, processing, and other factors.