Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I spent hours researching every electric kettle available (and looking at them in person, in stores) before settling on this one. I've owned it for about 6 months now, and it's been great. The concealed heating element and the simple one-piece plastic jug design make it very easy to clean (not that I've needed to) and leak resistant (I assume, from a design perspective, since mine has no leaks yet). The only way it could leak is if the grommet sealing the metal bottom piece to the plastic jug developed a leak, whereas most of the stainless steel kettles being sold have several parts, many seams, and thus many places a leak could develop. There is some mild browning of the plastic inside the jug, I suppose a reaction to the high heat. This same thing happened with my roommate's older plastic electric kettle, so it's to be expected. People complain about plastic vs. stainless steel, I settled on plastic for one primary reason: it is a better insulator, so not only will it keep the water hotter for longer, it will be safer to handle in general (ie. it won't burn you or a child if it is accidentally picked up by its sides while it contains hot water). People complain about plastic "leeching chemicals" into the water, I haven't noticed any difference in taste, personally, and I doubt stainless steel would be much "safer" than plastic in this respect. The switch works great, and mine has never spilled water or over-boiled it (as long as it contains the minimum recommended amount of water). The spout and handle shapes make it easy to pour, and the locking top makes it pretty tough to spill. Definitely recommended, I'm buying another one for my parents right now.
PS - While researching electric kettles, I frequently saw complaints of how kettles designed for use in the USA don't heat water as fast as those in the UK. This is for a very simple reason: UK uses 240 volt power, USA uses 120 volts. Most electrical receptacles are rated for 15 amps (though the kitchen are often has at least two 20-amp circuits, per NEC recommendations). Watts = volts * amps, which means that UK kettles can get up to 240 volts * 15 amps = 3600 watts, while USA kettles can get up to 120 volts * 15 amps = 1800 watts. Manufacturers might sometimes avoid approaching this limit, perhaps due to safety or liability issues? Just note that this 1750 watt Tfal kettle is very close to the typical USA receptacle wattage rating. It's just about as high as you'll be able to get in the USA...most other USA electric kettles only go up to 1500 watts.
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T-Fal Vitesses 1.7L (7-Cup) Electric KettleWith 1750 watts of electric power, this high-speed kettle brings 1 cup of cold water to a rolling boil in one minute. Fill the kettle to its 7-cup capacity, and achieve a full boil in five minutes. The kettle comes in handy for making instant coffee, tea, hot chocolate, instant soups, and more. To ensure the water doesn't boil away, the unit shuts off automatically once the water reaches a full boil. For added convenience, the kettle lifts off its corded power base for cordless pouring, can be set on the power base in any direction, and turns on or off with a simple push of a button on the handle. In addition, the unit comes with two exterior water-level indicators that offer perfect visibility for left- and right-handed users, and its removable and washable anti-scale filter extends the life of the kettle and ensures scale-free beverages. Other highlights include a stainless-steel concealed heating element, multi-level temperature controls--from boiling to immediate sipping, a locking lid with a large pour spout, cord wrap underneath, and an exterior of hard, gleaming plastic that wipes clean easily. The kettle measures approximately 8 by 11 by 8 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.
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