Chef'sChoice 688 SmartKettle Cordless 1-3/4-Quart Electric Kettle

Price: $99.99
Manufacturer: Edgecraft


Chef's Choice SmartKettle is the world's most advanced electric kettle. It quickly heats water to either boiling or a selected temperature known to be ideal for preparing any of your sensitive teas such as green and white teas. The SmartKettle heats water faster than a microwave or stove top and uses less than half the energy compared to an electric stove top. Advanced electronics and a microcomputer heats to your selected temperature within 1 degree Fahrenheit, where it is held in the Keep Warm mode until you are ready to pour. Features stainless steel construction, concealed heating element and a 360 degree swivel cordless design.

Information

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11548 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Brand: EdgeCraft
• Model: 6880001
• Dimensions: 10.50" h x 7.25" w x 9.50" l, 3.52 pounds

• 1-3/4-quart electric kettle quickly boils water or heats it to a specific temperature
• 1500 watts of power; concealed heating element; LED temperature indicator
• Keep-warm mode; 360-degree swivel power base; stainless-steel housing
• Cool-touch bottom; triple-action boil-dry protection and automatic shut-off for safety
• Measures approximately 9-1/2 by 7-1/5 by 10-1/2 inches; 1-year limited warranty

Product Reviews

Quickly heat up to 1-3/4 quarts of water with this advanced electric kettle. The unit can be used to either boil water or heat it to the ideal and precise temperature desired with an accuracy of 2 degrees F--perfect for preparing temperature-sensitive teas like white, green, oolong, and herbal. In addition to tea, the kettle comes in handy when making instant coffee, hot chocolate, hot cereal, instant soup, and more. With 1500 watts of power, it heats water faster than a microwave or stovetop and uses 50-percent less energy than with an electric stovetop. Advanced electronics and a smart microcomputer detect the boiling point and shut the kettle off automatically once water reaches a boil, so there's no need to worry about water boiling away. Even more, its "keep warm" mode maintains the desired temperature until it's time to pour. The kettle lifts off its 360-degree swivel power base for cordless serving and can be set back down on the power base in any direction. For added convenience, it provides a concealed heating element, an LED temperature indicator, a beeper alert, a cool-touch bottom, and a comfortable stay-cool handle, as well as triple-action boil-dry protection and automatic shut-off for safety. Attractively housed in durable stainless steel, the electric water kettle measures approximately 9-1/2 by 7-1/5 by 10-1/2 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

Works great for many different kinds of tea.
So far, I am very pleased with my SmartKettle. It heats fast, it is pretty accurate, and it doesn't leave a funny taste in the water. With the fully adjustable temperature it works great for any kind of tea. It pours easily without spillage, and the top opens wide for easy cleaning.

There are a few things that keep me from giving it a perfect score though:

- There is no physical power off switch. There is a button to start/stop heating, but no physical switch to turn off the unit. You have to unplug it if you don't want to keep the BRIGHT display on 24/7. Not a big deal, but a power switch on the unit wouldn't have cost much and would have made it a bit more convenient.

- There is no way to adjust the volume of the alarm beeps. It can be a bit loud when brewing a cup at 5am.

- The minimum water level for safe brewing is supposed to be 16oz, I've found that you need to fill it closer to 32oz or the unit gives a low water level error and won't turn on. Again, not a big deal, just something to note.

Even with these minor quirks, it is still the best adjustable-temperature electric kettle that I have used.

I really wanted to like this but . . . .
I really wanted to like this kettle: visually appealing, heavy, sturdy, and a brand that I've been pleased with in the past. Unfortunately, the thing was a nightmare to use: constant error messages telling me that the pot was too full or not full enough, when it was just below the maximum fill line, and more error messages when I would try to adjust the temperature. I also thought the pot would maintain a constant temperature throughout the day, but it shuts off after 20 minutes or so. That's actually a safety feature, not a defect, but if you want something that will keep the water warm for several hours, you should look for another kettle. One final point: this is a heavy kettle, so you might want to think twice before you get it for someone who is frail or has arthritis.

Flawed
Chef'sChoice 688 SmartKettle Cordless 1-3/4-Quart Electric Kettle

This is a well made cutting edge electric kettle with one major flaw. It takes a minimum of a quart of water to work. That means if you want to brew a humble tea bag in a 12 ounce cup you must heat three times the water that you need. According to Chef's Choice, there is no way to adjust this feature. Too bad.