Bodum 5500-01USA Ibis Cordless Electric Water Kettle, Black

Price: $32.66
Manufacturer: Bodum


This lightweight and easy to use kettle will get 35 fluid ounces of water boiling in roughly 4 1/2 minutes. That's fast, much faster than the average range. If you don't like waiting around for the kettle to whistle, or you don't have access to a range yet want or need boiling water, Bodum has the appliance to help.

Information

• Amazon Sales Rank: #35980 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Color: Black
• Brand: Bodum
• Model: 5500-01USA
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 7.30" h x 8.70" w x 10.40" l, 1.70 pounds

• Holds 8-1/2 to 57-1/2 fluid ounces
• Made of polypropelene plastic with stainless-steel heating element
• Boils 35 fluid ounces in 4-1/2 minutes
• Power automatically shuts off when water boils
• Contains water level indicator; hinged safety lid

Product Reviews

Amazon.com Review
With its modern Scandinavian design, this large-capacity water kettle is attractive enough to pour water for tea in a conference room full of executives. And, with its affordable price, this kettle works equally well boiling water to dish up bulk ramen noodles for a group of college students.

Made of heavyweight polypropelene plastic, the Ibis holds a maximum of 57-1/2 fluid ounces of water (about 13 cups). It must be filled to a minimum of 8-1/2 fluid ounces--just enough to cover the heating element--to operate. A floating red water-level indicator on the outside of the Ibis rises as water is added and shows how many cups of liquid it is holding. The detachable kettle locks onto the base unit for heating and can then be removed for pouring or refilling. Also made of polypropelene, the base encases the stainless-steel heating element. The short 22-inch power cord stores beneath the base so the unit can be easily transported.

Flipping up the switch below the kettle's handle turns on the power and illuminates the indicator light on the kettle's top. The heating process is rapid and quiet: it takes only 4-1/2 minutes to boil 35 ounces of water and the sound is almost imperceptible. For safety purposes, the Ibis automatically shuts off after boiling and has a hinged safety lid to prevent boiling water from spilling and a frosted handle for a secure grip. --Cristina Vaamonde

These things work well, but not for long
I've got a box full of these that have been returned to our store because they burn out. The problem seems to come when the kettle is used multiple times without a cool down period. The switch internals melt down leaving you with a dead pot.

Flimsy product from usually reliable Bodum
Looking at water kettles and reading reviews I decided to ignore the cheapest (which seemed to be plastic-y and not long lasting) and go for a Bodum, as I have used their products in the past. I know $40 is still inexpensive for a water kettle in the US (I dont know why) but I expected more bang for my buck. The Bodum kettle is made of cheap plastic that actually is bendable when heated. The smell in the kettle is of burnt plastic and while it works very well (boils water fast/shuts off/has nice design) I cannot bring myself to drink water from this kettle - would you boil water in a plastic take-away container? That is what it seems like to me. I never expected such cheap quality possible in electric kettles since I have lived in Ireland where every household has one and there are never any as flimsy as this Bodum kettle.

Worked great while it lasted...
We've had this Bodum Ibis cordless water kettle for at least 2 years now, and have always been happy with it's performance until now.

Occasionally it wouldn't sit down on the base exactly, and recently it started shutting off before it was done boiling (though the switch didn't shut off, so I think it was a loose connection). But the worst was the other day when the plastic on the base where the prongs connect from the kettle just started to melt. I don't know how it happened, but it is now no longer usable due to the acrid stench of melting plastic when it is in use.

While this kettle worked, we loved it. I may look at other brands before replacing this one, but most likely I'll end up with another Bodum Ibis because it really did work great for those two years.

Hamilton Beach 40898 Cool Touch Tea Kettle

Price: $59.69
Manufacturer: Hamilton Beach


Hamilton Beach Brushed Stainless Finish Cool touch tea kettle - has 8 cup capacity, and cordless base for easy pouring & safe operation. Concealed heating element & thumb activated lid for easy filling. Automatic shut off when water boils. On - Off light & mineral deposit filter .

Information

• Amazon Sales Rank: #803 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Color: Stainless
• Brand: Hamilton Beach
• Model: 40898
• Format: Color

• Cool touch design
• Stainless Steel body
• full size 8 cup capacity
• Automatic shut- off
• Mineral deposit filter

Product Reviews

Metal liner, cool outside, good balance - best combo of features
Most importantly, my wife loves it, and she is a gadget-phobe. I just bought a second one for my mother.

We have been using it for two months now, and no problems so far.

After my usual exhaustive search, I selected this tea kettle because it had the best combination of features.

PRO:
- All metal: stainless steel liner and no exposed heating element to accumulate scale buildup. The lid is plastic but it doesn't come into contact with the water. I really didn't like the idea of boiling water in contact with plastic.
- Cool touch exterior for safety and also it insulates the water inside, keeping it hotter after the kettle shuts off upon boiling.
- Nice balance for the handle - I find the electric kettles with the handle on the top to be much more difficult to lift and pour. This one has the handle on the side - much better.
- Wide mouth top is easy to fill and clean. The lid pivots in the middle - too hard to describe so I added a clip from the user manual. Easy to remove lid to clean, though as others mentioned it does get in the way a bit when you're filling the kettle.
- As with many other kettles, it is cordless -- the kettle lifts easily off and on from the corded base, and you can hide any extra power cord inside the base.

CON (none of these matter to me or my wife):
- No water level indication, but then if there were you would probably have connections that could leak over time and potentially plastic parts in contact with water.
- Water temperature is not adjustable.

The only choice!
One of the best features about this kettle is that the all metal interior is seamless! No metal stamped or welded together unlike other stainless steel kettles out there. Guarantees me of no leaking and no grooves to corrode or collect junk. The other great feature is that the entire lid can be removed leaving you the ability to insert your whole hand in to clean the interior. There are no sharp edges either! The flip open lid allows easy filling. I've been searching and researching for a long time, and this was the best $40 spent! My old stove top kettle is out in the recycling bin!

Simple But Functional (And Durable)
I've had the Hamilton Beach Cool Touch Tea Kettle for two years and I've had no problems with it. I love it for the following features:

Pros
----
- Stainless Steel
The most important reason I got this kettle is that its interior is made of stainless steel, not plastic. Boiling water in plastic just doesn't sit well with me what with the talk about the health hazards from harmful chemicals (e.g. BPA, DEHA) in plastic leaching into food and drinks.

- Seamless Metal
Inside and out, I simply can't find a a metal seam - the kettle is a one-piece stainless steel construction and have absolutely no joints where pieces of stainless steel are welded together. There is, therefore, no need to worry about the water being contaminated by lead from solder.

- Quick Boil
It boils 40 oz of water, the maximum capacity, in 4 minutes. (I actually timed it. Boil times will of course vary depending on altitude and the initial temperature of the water.)

- "Cool" Touch
When boiling water in the kettle, the exterior of the kettle is warm, not hot, so you don't risk getting burned.

- Wide Opening
The wide opening makes it easy to fill it with water and to clean.

- Easy Plug In and Plug Out
To "plug in" the kettle to the power supply, simply sit the kettle on the base unit. Similarly, simply lift the kettle to "unplug" it. It's a one-handed operation, and there's no cords or plugs to mess with.

- Spring-Loaded Lid
The spring-loaded lid flips open with the press of a button on the handle. The lid can also be easily detached by pressing a button on it to release a catch.

- Auto Shutoff
When the water starts to boil, the power button pops up, the green LED indicator turns off, and the kettle automatically shuts off. There is also an audible "click" as the power button pops up.

- Looks
The kettle looks attractive with its simple curves and brushed stainless steel finish.

As for Cons, there's just one for me:

Con
---
- Hard-To-See "Max" Water Fill Mark
The interior has a "Max" mark to indicate the maximum water level but it's not easy to see it. Work-around: The lid is hinged in the middle, so when it is flipped open, the bottom half of extends below the rim of the kettle. It so happens that the bottom of the lid lines up with the "Max" mark, so you can use the lid as a marker for gauging when the water level reaches the mark.

Conclusion
----------
The Hamilton Beach Cool Touch Tea Kettle is attractive, easy to use, and boils water quickly. I don't think you can go wrong with this one.

Krups Electric Kettles

Price: $49.99
Manufacturer: Krups


The Krups Electric Kettle holds up to 54 ounces of water. The stainless steel concealed heating elements and powerful 1750 watts boils water quickly and safely. The trigger activated covered spout protects against accidental spilling It has a integral lime scale filter for the purest results. It is a cordless kettle with 360 degree rotational base which allows the kettle to be placed back on its base from any angle. The twin water level indicators ensures water level can be seen at all times and has an auto shut off for added safety. Cool touch handle and body, illuminated on switch, it comes with a 1 year warranty.

Information

• Amazon Sales Rank: #14087 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Color: Black
• Brand: Krups
• Model: FLF2-J4
• Dimensions: 2.70 pounds

• Powerful 1750 watt concealed stainless steel element for fast, efficient heating.
• Stainless steel locking safety lid with covered spout to protect against accidental spilling.
• Cordless 360 degree swivel base, cool touch handle on body
• Visible water level on both sides for left and right handed use
• Illuminated on switch for added convenience

Product Reviews

Just like a typical British kettle - excellent!
As a Brit living in America I spent years boiling the water for my tea on the stove top, as none of the (very few) electric kettles available in the shops looked any good - certainly not up to the standard of a typical British kettle that could be purchased for a fraction of the price back home. Finally I decided to look online and see if I could find a decent kettle there and, after doing extensive research, I settled on this Krups kettle as being the best model available in the US for a decent price. The best thing about it is that it has 1750 watts of power (more than any other kettle I found available in the US), which means that it compensates somewhat for the lower voltage in the US and actually boils almost as quickly as a British kettle. The minimum amount of water you're supposed to boil at one time is 2 cups, and this boils in just under two minutes. However, since I am usually just making just one cup of tea at a time, I often boil just one cup of water and this takes 1 min 8 secs and doesn't seem to harm the kettle, as the base is fully covered by the water. I also save loads of time when cooking pasta now by boiling the water in the kettle first before pouring it into the pot and adding the pasta. This is also much more energy efficient. I have owned the kettle for about three months and have used it daily, and it has not caused me any problems at all. I would highly recommend this item - especially for all you tea drinkers out there fed up with more antiquated methods of boiling water!

top of the line
Great kettle - very happy with purchase. If you're considering this item, you won't be disappointed. It's very, very quiet and heats up very fast. No parts become too warm. This is a great looking appliance (yes, the white looks good - it's not the bright, cheap looking white). Solid quality.

Will Never Again Use Stovetop to Boil Water
An Electric Kettle is the only way to boil water. Stovetops (electric or gas) take much longer, create more heat, waste energy and require monitoring. The Krups FLF2-JI is by far the best product available and well worth the extra cost. There is no "coil." The solid but lighweight "pitcher" sits on a stand and is removed when the water is ready. There is no heat emanating from the pitcher surface. Simply pressing a button starts the water boiling. A green light goes on and then automatically shuts off with a "click" when the water has boiled. The design and balance could not be more ergonomic and user friendly. It is aesthetic and wlll enhance any kitchen.

Kalorik JK-19967 1500-Watt Cordless Jug Kettle, White

Price: $24.95
Manufacturer: Kalorik


The Kalorik Cordless Electric Kettle Boil water twice as fast as microwave oven, perfect for tea, coffee, hot chocolate or instant soup. Generous 1-3/4-quart capacity with an exterior water gauge for easy measuring. A powerful 1500 watt heating element for quick boiling. The revolutionary cordless design allows the kettle to be lifted from its base and a locking lead with a unique trigger button on the rubberized handle to ensure safety and easy fill. This Kalorik kettle is a true necessity for today’s kitchen. Features: 0-1/2 gallon capacity / rubberized handle pad / strix controller / locking lid with opening trigger button / stainless steel heating element.

Information

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2981 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Color: White
• Brand: Kalorik
• Model: JK-19967
• Released on: 2008-05-07
• Dimensions: 5.25" h x 8.60" w x 8.90" l, 7.00 pounds

• Cordless electric kettle with powerful 1500-watt heating element
• Boils up to 60 ounces of water twice as fast as a microwave oven
• Locking lid with opening trigger button; illuminated switch; easy-grip handle
• Water-level indicator; boil-dry protection and automatic cut-off for safety
• Measures 8-1/2 by 6 by 10 inches; 1-year limited warranty

Product Reviews

Equipped with a powerful 1500-watt heating element, this electric kettle can quickly bring up to 60 ounces of water to a rolling boil--twice as fast as a microwave oven. To use, simply fill the kettle at the sink using the water-level indicator on the side to gauge how much, return the kettle to its power base, plug it in, and flip the illuminated switch to "on". In a matter of minutes, hot water will be ready to use for anything from tea, hot cocoa, or instant coffee to instant soup or noodles. The kettle provides a comfortable handle with a rubberized pad to ensure a secure grip, a locking lid with an opening trigger button, a drip-free pouring spout, and a cordless design for graceful serving. It also includes a stainless-steel floor that keeps water away from the heating element, which means no build-up of mineral deposits. For safety, the unit's Strix controller provides boil-dry protection and automatic cut-off if it accidentally gets switched on without water. Great for in a kitchen, office, or dorm room, the electric kettle measures 8-1/2 by 6 by 10 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

Fast kettle
We've been using this kettle at work just fine. It's very light weight but has a tall receptacle that holds the kettle well so we're not concerned about tip over.

It boils incredibly fast & has a nice comfortable handle & easy to use lid release.

Make sure you follow the initial instructions to boil 3x letting cool each time, before the first use to remove any foul taste.

The element is not "protected" so we'd expect scale to build up, but that's easily cleaned.

Only gripe is that the filter seems to fall out when tipped upside down. Even so, can recommend this kettle as a low cost but perfectly functional kettle.

Not worth it
For about a year now, I have been using a Melitta kettle I got at a department store for $20. It is wonderful and gets used sometimes several times a day. I bought this kettle for my office; I assumed for the same price I could get a kettle of equal value. Instead, this kettle works well barely well enough to keep.

Probably the most disappointing thing is the large exposed coil, which looks very difficult to clean and requires that there be at least 1L in the pot for me to feel safe boiling water. It does shut off correctly after water boils, but it is difficult to see the light that is supposed to indicate that it is on, and the base design makes it somewhat awkward to use.

Low quality but does the job well
For the price I paid for this kettle, I'm very happy with it. When it arrived a piece of the handle had partly fallen off but nothing was broken so I was able to re-glue it back into place and its been fine since then. It resides in our guest room so only gets intermittent use but it has been working perfectly.

Krups 54-Ounce Electric Kettles

Price: $47.30
Manufacturer: Krups


The Krups FLF3 Stainless Steel Electric Kettle holds up to 54 ounces of water. The stainless steel concealed heating elements and powerful 1750 watts boils water quickly and safely. The trigger activated covered spout protects against accidental spilling It has a integral lime scale filter for the purest results. It is a cordless kettle with 360 degree rotational base which allows the kettle to be placed back on its base from any angle. The twin water level indicators ensures water level can be seen at all times and has an auto shut off for added safety. Cool touch handle and body, illuminated on switch, it comes with a 1 year warranty.

Information

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10018 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Color: Stainless Steel
• Brand: Krups
• Model: FLF3-1W
• Dimensions: 3.50 pounds

• Electric stainless-steel kettle quickly boils up to 54 ounces of water
• 1750-watt concealed stainless-steel heating element; illuminated "on" switch
• Automatic shut-off; trigger-activated covered spout; cool-touch exterior
• Cordless for easy serving; 360-degree swivel base; integral lime-scale filter
• Measures 6 by 8-1/2 by 9-1/4 inches; 1-year warranty

Product Reviews

Housed in premium-quality brushed stainless steel, this electric kettle quickly boils up to 54 ounces of water for tea, hot cocoa, instant soup, oatmeal, and more. Its powerful 1750-watt concealed stainless-steel element provides fast, efficient heating. And there's no need to worry about leaving the kettle on, it automatically shuts itself off as soon as the water boils. Offering cordless operation for graceful serving, its 360-degree swivel base allows the kettle to be placed back on its base from any angle. In addition, the unit's stainless-steel locking safety lid with a trigger-activated covered spout protects against accidental spilling. Other highlights include an illuminated "on" switch, visible water-level indicators on both sides, a cool-touch handle and body, and an integral lime-scale filter for the purest results. The electric kettle measures 6 by 8-1/2 by 9-1/4 inches and carries a one-year warranty.

Disappointed
I have used electric kettles for many years and they are the best way to boil water -- they are faster and more energy efficient than the stove-top kettle and you don't risk burning them when you forget that the kettle is on the stove. My old electric kettle died and I started looking for a new one.

An electric kettle is a simple device and could be made to last for many (i.e., at least greater than 10 years). Unfortunately, manufacturers are making things as cheaply as possible and charging premium prices. You will find as you read the reviews for most kettles that people complain about the quality of their construction and their correspondingly low life times.

An electric kettle should boil water quickly, should be easy to clean, should (in my opinion) be stainless steel throughout and should not have features that are obviously made to break. I don't mind if the kettle gets hot to the touch - I just use the handle to touch it just as I would a stove top kettle. This Krups kettle does boil water quickly and it is fairly easy to clean (and does get hot). This said it still has flaws.

1) The inside top inch(or so) of the kettle is made with plastic. The lid is also plastic and must be aligned just right before it will properly fit. Why couldn't the lid be stainless steel and just fit on in any direction as with most stove-top kettles?
2) The lid also has a plastic mechanism for opening the plastic spout cover. This mechanism is annoying and is made in such a way that it will break in a few years leaving a spout that stays shut.
3) The water level indicators are made of plastic and run the length of the kettle on both sides (as you can see in the picture). Water levels are somewhat of a convenience if you don't want to open the lid and look in, but they are a weak spot in kettle design being a likely place for a leak to occur. Other water level indicators trap water and create a good environment for mold to grow. The Krups design does not have that problem.
4) The base of the kettle is cheaply made. It is the standard Chinese 360 degree design. If you read reviews of kettles with this design you know that they fail after a few years. Pending failure shows itself when you have to rotate the kettle to get it to have an electric connection. Slowly the places that work are harder to find and finally it just stops working. That's what happened to my old kettle. This should not happen. The mechanism is very simple and should be able to last forever. I checked with Krups and they want almost forty dollars for a new base if the one you have stops working (it's part number 620029, if you're looking for it).

My ideal kettle would be made of stainless steel, would have a hidden element, would be easy to clean, would have no water level indicator and would have a well built base and electrical connections that are not designed to fail in a few years. Anyone know of such a kettle in the US? (there are many like this in the UK). In the meantime I suggest that we all complain to the manufacturers and demand more for our money. If enough of us write to their customer "service" departments maybe they will pay attention. I would pay a lot of money for a well built kettle, but that's not what we are getting.

At almost $70 I think this kettle is overpriced and not sufficiently well-built to justify the price. I'll keep searching....

Excellent kettle
I always used a stove-top kettle, but I kept hearing how much people love these little electric kettles. So after shopping around a bit I settled on this one because of its appearance and mostly metal construction. The metal construction was a must for me, as I dislike the taste of plastic in my water. The stainless steel finish goes well with the rest of my kitchen, and it really is one of the more attractive kettles when you see it in person compared to others.

I'm definitely glad I bought it, it works wonderfully. As advertised, it boils water very quickly. It is fairly quiet when it boils, and shuts itself off (very much unlike my former stove-top kettle!). It holds plenty of water for a large pot of tea or coffee. I like the construction of the lid, which stays put when heating / pouring, but is easily removed with a slight turn.

Not sure what all this fuss is about regarding burning oneself on the pot. It is a metal kettle that boils water, you should expect it to be hot! Maybe I'm just used to a stove-top kettle, but if you hold it by the handle like a normal person you won't be in any danger of hurting yourself.

Krups Stainless-Steel Electric Kettle
Pros:
It looks good and it works as advertised
Cons:
It's very loud.
It takes a long time to turn off after the water's already boiling.
The outside gets scalding hot when the water boils (just like boiling water in a metal pan).
The filter in the spout keeps falling out when emptying the kettle for refilling.

Electric Kettle, Cordless

Price: $49.99
Manufacturer: Edgecraft Corporation


Boil 1.75-quart water for tea, coffee, hot chocolate or instant soup. Exterior water gauge for easy measuring. 1500 watt heating element beneath the stainless floor of the unit. Cordless design allows the kettle to be lifted from its base for convenient filling and serving. Features an automatic shut-off, double boil-dry safety shut-off and lid-lock.

Information

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7036 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Brand: EdgeCraft
• Model: 6770000
• Dimensions: 3.50 pounds

• Stainless steel interior and exterior
• Concealed heating element is not in contact with water
• Faster than a microwave: 1500 watts of power
• Shuts off automatically when water boils
• 1 3/4 quart capacity

Product Reviews

Works as advertised!!!
First electric tea kettle bought. Even though I have it only for a month now, I find this one to be extremely efficient and convenient... I was concerned about the metal sides getting hot, but the handle always stays cool and should not be a problem for 'responsible' adults to handle.

Best Little Cordless Kettle in Iowa
This cordless electric kettle is wonderful! I use it to boil water for oatmeal, tea, sleep remedy of 1 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar and 1 tbsp honey combined in a cup of boiling water. Works great. It is so nice to have the auto shut off and the water stay hot for a long time. If you've ever noticed, every time you boil water in the microwave, it doesn't stay hot for long. With this cordless kettle, you can't go wrong - the water stays hot for a long time and you don't have to hear that annoying beeping sound every 1.5 minutes after it shuts off. Additionally, this cordless kettle does not emit radiation like microwaves do - so, it's healthier for you.

Fast Hot Water
Heats the water very quickly. Auto shut off when boiling. On/Off switch. Kettle lifts up from the base and has no attached cord. Sleek design and well-balanced when pouring.

Bodum 5410-03USA Mini Ibis Electric Water Kettle, White

Price: $36.94
Manufacturer: Bodum


This handy electric kettle from Bodum is designed to have a permanent place at the kitchen counter using a minimum of space. Made of a heat-reinforced polypropylene plastic and a stainless steel heating element, it is an indispensable and practical everyday tool for cooking - and certainly when a fast boil is needed. The Bodum water kettle will automatically cut off power after the water boils a short while. No more dry boils!

Information

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3092 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Color: White
• Brand: Bodum
• Model: 5410-03USAA
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 5.90" h x 6.10" w x 8.20" l, 1.30 pounds

• Holds 7 to 27 fluid ounces
• Polypropelene plastic with copper-sheathed, nickel-plated heating element
• Boils 27 fluid ounces in 4 minutes
• Power automatically cuts out when water boils
• Locking lid, frosted handle for safety

Product Reviews

Amazon.com Review
The miniature Ibis is sized to boil water for one. Its modern Scandinavian design makes it an attractive office companion for boiling water to make tea or coffee. And, with its reasonable price, this kettle travels well to college to make instant noodles in a dorm room. Made of heavyweight polypropelene plastic with a copper-sheathed, nickel-plated heating element, the Mini Ibis holds a maximum of 27 fluid ounces of water (about 3-1/2-cups). It must be filled to a minimum of 7 fluid ounces--just enough to cover the heating element--to operate. Plugging the unit in and flipping up the switch below the kettle's handle turns on the power. The heating process is rapid and quiet: it takes only 4 minutes to boil 27 ounces of water and the sound is almost imperceptible. For safety purposes, the Ibis automatically shuts off after boiling and has a locking lid to prevent spilling and a frosted handle for a secure grip. --Cristina Vaamonde

Great kettle. great price
I've had this kettle for about 1 & 1/2 years without having any electrical or scale build-up problems. I use it 1 to 4 times per day, it boils water faster than the microwave and takes very little counter space, stores easily in cupboard. I use filtered water from my refrigerator dispenser, not tap water. My mom, who can't stand counter clutter either (she constantly tries to give away her microwave and other small appliances to family/friends when they visit) liked it so much that I got her one and hers is going strong after one year of constant use.

I do agree that the lid leaks steam near the handle (usually only a problem when you fill to max line) and you need to watch where you grip, occasionally I've also had issues with a little bit of water leakage from the base. I always make sure the lid is locked in place before turning it on, and it always shuts off at boil, no problems with the lid lock either. My mom's has worked the same. I probably wouldn't let anyone younger than a teenager use it on their own, but you could say that for most appliances.

I guess with any electrical appliance there are lemons out there, but you also have to factor in personal usage habits and possibly bad or inadequate home wiring. For example I've had problems with electrical appliance/equipment burnouts in older poorly wired apartments that cleared up when I moved to a newer, correctly wired home.

I recommend this product if you want a well-priced, compact electric water kettle that wears well and is also easy to take along if you travel.

A sweet, little kettle for the price
The Bodum 5410-03USA Mini Ibis Electric Water Kettle does everything it is supposed to do and quickly. I keep a gallon container of spring water under my desk and no longer make frequent trips to the kitchen to boil water in the microwave. My only complaint is that the steam leaks from underneath the cover, which is very close to the handle. The first time I used the kettle, I burned my hand, but grip the handle a little lower now.

Otherwise, the design is good, spare, and the cord is adequately long (though I wish they'd develop a cordless version). I see no problem with the cover. I suppose, as another reviewer mentioned, that one could let it fall into the carafe, but it is easy enough to avoid doing so; it *does* have a locking mechanism, after all.

White Mini Electric Kettle
I'd used these kinds of kettles when traveling abroad. Usually hotel rooms in the U.K. and Asia have these instead of coffee pots. The water boils very quickly and the entire unit is cool to the touch. This one is the perfect size for a couple or where space is limited. It also comes in a larger model. Water boils very quickly. No need to fire-up the stove or microwave.

Tayama Electric Cordless 1.2 Liter Stainless Steel Kettle

Price: $29.99
Manufacturer: Huarun Appliance Inc


Tayama BM-101 Cordless Stainless Steel Kettle 1.2 Liters. Rating: 120V 1200W 60Hz. Convenient and easy to use. Perfect for personal home use

Information

• Amazon Sales Rank: #24478 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Size: 1.2 Liter
• Brand: TAYAMA
• Model: BM-101
• Dimensions: 8.00" h x 8.00" w x 8.00" l,

• Model No.: BM-101
• Capacity: 1.2-L
• Width: 18-in.
• Height: 16-in.
• Length: 22-in.

Product Reviews

Get This One!
Having never heard of the Tayama Brand before I was hesitant to buy this one. I felt buying it from Amazon was safe. After four weeks of daily use I can say at this time...it's just fine! It looks very nice, heats quickly the way you want it to and the price was certainly right.

Chef's Choice M677SSG Cordless Electric Kettle-Stainless Steel Gray

Price: $54.99
Manufacturer: Chef's Choice


Boil water more quickly than a microwave for tea, coffee, hot chocolate or instant soup. Generous 1.75-quart capacity with an exterior water gauge for easy measuring. The powerful 1500 watt heating element is hidden beneath the stainless floor of the unit, so it's never in contact with water, eliminating build-up of mineral deposits on it and allowing for easy clean-up. The revolutionary cordless design allows the kettle to be lifted from its base for convenient filling and serving. Handsomely constructed of high-quality brushed stainless steel, the kettle ensures years of service. The automatic shut-off, double boil-dry safety shut-off and lid-lock features guarantee safe use UL listed. One year warranty.

Information

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3735 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Color: stainless-gray
• Brand: Chef's Choice
• Model: 6770004
• Dimensions: 8.62" h x 8.12" w x 9.62" l, 3.70 pounds

• Large capacity 1.7L kettle has a concealed heating element so there's no water build up of mineral deposits.
• Cordless kettle has 1500 watts of power which boils water faster than a stove or microwave.
• Automatic shut off; boil dry safe shut-off protection.
• Convenient water level gauge, push button lid opening and illuminated on/ off switch.
• High quality brushed stainless steel and cool touch bottom.

Product Reviews

Come back Russell Hobbs, all is forgiven....
I grew up in Europe with electric kettles so I think I know what to expect. I had to return the M677, as it took too long to turn off. I called their customer service and they said it should take an average of 12 seconds to turn off. The average for mine to click off was 1 minute and 15 seconds (timed only after coming to a vigorous boil with steam escaping). It didn't matter if it was full or not. Only once did it click off in less than one minute. Once I came downstairs and it was still boiling away, I was not sure for how long it was boiling so I decided to return it.

Giving them the benefit of the doubt (their customer service was good - a real human picked up in a few seconds), I replaced it with a model M678 which is a little larger, and its average click off time is 35 seconds. It still feels like it's too slow to click off and most of the time I flick it up manually, but at least I feel I can trust it to turn off if I leave the room. (My old dead Russell Hobbs would have switched off in 15 seconds, but I can't seem to find them anymore in the US at least.) On the other hand, the exra boiling time does mean the water if very hot; I would often bring the Russell Hobbs to a second boil so it would be hotter!

The M678 is a bit wobbly on its base, and wobbles a bit when its boiling, but the M677 was stable. All in all, the kettles look good but feels cheaply made with inconsistent quality control. But after scouring all the other reviews, it seems like these models were the best of the bunch.

At least I could count on Amazon to take back a defective product without any hassle. I'm glad I bought from them and not another vendor now (Amazon even reimbursed the shipping, which I didn't expect).

Works great for making a thermos of green tea
We have had this thing for most of a year now, and have used it every day to make a big pot of green tea. Here are some tips on doing that.

We bought a 2.2 liter pump thermos. Yes, this kettle is 1.7 liter, but wait. Every day we throw in 5 bags of green tea and a little less than a cup of cold water. Careful how you rip off the string so you don't open up the bags; we find that holding the staple between finger and thumb while pulling the string keeps the bag intact. We somewhat overfill this kettle (no sign of a problem ever) with water to the middle of the circle you'll see on the inside, bring that to a boil, and add it to the thermos.

With green tea you do *not* want to add boiling water, because it makes the tea bitter. But the bit of cold water you put in first brings the temperature down just enough, and adds enough volume that it fills the 2.2L container. That's one day of tea for the two of us -- imagine the antioxidants! Note that the tea darkens throughout the day, so that by the end it is more like oolong tea.

We have done this 200-300 times now, and all is well. This is hugely more convenient, and faster, than either heating water in a microwave or heating water on the stove. And it doesn't heat up the house like the stove does. We try to avoid ingesting foods/liquids heated in plastic, so stainless steel was a must for us even though it added a lot to the price.

Sounds like some other folks have had reliability problems -- it may be that heating full loads is the best case for kettles like this, since there's no chance of the element being exposed and overheating.

-- An update --

This thing is still going after several years. The only problem is that the button which opens the lid doesn't always work. It's no big deal -- I can just pull the lid up with my hand -- but of course it would be better if it just worked! :^)

Well Used
I received my Chef's Choice M677SSG Cordless Electric Kettle-Stainless Steel Gray as a gift and have used it for almost two years at minimum daily and up to four times a day without any malfunctions (no boils overs except the first time I overfilled it and no lid problems at all).

I appreciate the automatic turnoff when the water is finished heating (no more forgetting the kettle on the stove). I clean it weekly with vinegar due to hard water, but otherwise the kettle requires no maintenance. About once a month, I clean the outside steel surface carefully with steel wool and voila, it looks like new. Features include a clear water level meter located on the kettle to ensure appropriate fill level; a mesh on the pour spout to filter mineral deposits; and the power cord attached to the base unit upon which the kettle sits instead of on the kettle.

Definitely one of my most useful and appreciated appliances.

Chef's Choice 685 International Deluxe Cordless Electric Teakettle

Price: $79.99
Manufacturer: Chef's Choice


Includes Edgecraft 685 Cordless Electric Tea Kettle.

Information

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4630 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Brand: Chef's Choice
• Model: 685
• Dimensions: 8.00" h x 8.40" w x 9.40" l, 3.25 pounds

• Electric kettle boils up to 1-1/3 quarts water faster than microwave
• Cordless: swivels and lifts off power base for convenient pouring
• Made of 18/10 stainless steel polished to mirror-finish
• Automatic shutoff when water boils or kettle runs dry
• Rubber feet on base resist slipping; stay-cool handle; cord-wrap

Product Reviews

Amazon.com Review
For tea, instant coffee, or hot chocolate, this cordless, 1,500-watt electric kettle brings 1-1/3 quarts of water to a boil faster than a microwave. The kettle is made of stainless steel polished to a mirror finish. To provide 360-degree access, the kettle fits onto the power base in any position and swivels for easy liftoff. The heating element in the base never touches water, so there will be no mineral buildup on it. The roomy handle stays cool, the cord wraps on the base's underside, and rubber feet on the base resist slipping. For safety, the kettle shuts off automatically when water boils or if the kettle runs dry. The kettle stands 8 inches high on its power base and carries a one-year warranty against defects. --Fred Brack

Excellent design
I had one of these for almost six years and used it on a daily basis (not just for making tea, but also for boiling water quickly for other uses, i.e. food preparation). It always looked great and was a pleasure to use, but one day it stopped working. So I went online and looked at all of the kettles currently available. I thought about trying a different brand, but all of the other stainless steel kettles (I wasn't interested in plastic) had something I didn't like about them -- an awkwardly placed handle, an exposed element, etc. In the Chef's Choice kettle the element is hidden, so the interior of the kettle is easy to clean (it pretty much doesn't have to be cleaned at all, since only water is ever put in the kettle), and if the element gets covered in scale, I don't know about it (Chef's Choice does recommend occasionally "decalcifying" the kettle by boiling some white vinegar in it -- I never did this with my first kettle and I wonder if this eventually led to it malfunctioning?). The handle doesn't extend over the opening of the kettle, so it is easy to fill, and the spout is truly dripless. And of course the cord is attached to the base, not the kettle itself, so there is no need to plug and unplug it when carrying the kettle to sink or table or stove or wherever. So I'm on my second Chef's Choice kettle and very happy with it so far. I'm the kind of person who doesn't go in for a lot of kitchen gadgets, and I don't like using electric/electronic items when a manual or mechanical one will do, but I definitely recommend an electric kettle because it is energy-saving, fast, and won't boil dry (if you forget about it) or annoy you with a whistle (when you're busy doing something else).

UPDATE: (June 2008) My second one of these has just stopped working. I still love the design of this kettle, and maybe 5-6 years is not a bad lifespan, but . . . I think I might give the Breville kettle a try this time. Will report back!

outstanding
An electric kettle seemingly wouldn't wear out, but that is exactly what happened to our previous one after only one year of use. This one has already beaten that. Additionally, it holds the water at a boil for a bit of time, rather than shutting off as soon as the boil is reached. This means that the water stays hotter in the kettle.

This is my favorite kitchen appliance
Like another reviewer here, this is my second Chef's Choice electric teakettle. My first one, purchased at Williams-Sonoma in the mid-1990s, suddenly stopped working after my neighbors borrowed it (hummm...). As do all items purchased there, it had a lifetime warrenty, so I took it back and was given the brand of electric tea kettle they were selling at the time. I did _not_ like it, especially the placement of the handle, and promptly returned it. This was 2003 and Amazon was now carrying the brand so I ordered it here after being unable to find an electric tea kettle with a comfortably placed handle or adequate capacity in any local stores.

I use mine a minimum of twice, more commonly three times a day and am very, very happy with it. As mentioned in other reviews, having the actual heating elements under a solid bottom of stainless steel definitely prolongs the life of the appliance--the heating elements do not get caked with minerals. The best part for me, however, is the placement of the handle which makes pouring the boiled water both safe and easy for someone with hand and elbow problems--it has superior ergonomics.

I have high mineral content well water. Since I pour the boiled water into a thermal caraf (when not into a tea pot), I often use almost all the boiled water the Chef's Choice holds, which results in an accumulation of minerals on the stainless steel interior bottom. As a natural way of removing the sediment, I occasionally boil potato pealings in it then let it sit (with the pealings) over night. This is a trick I learned from someone who works in agriculture for the World Food Program. It works great.