When hubby tore apart my old electric tea kettle because the on switch ceased to function for the last time, I began the search for a replacement. I had no idea that the search would take me down a path of such complexity. I learned far more about the art and science of boiling water than I ever thought necessary. I learned about tea requiring multiple temperatures at which to steep, coffee temperature requirements, containers that could handle larger volumes of water, metal vs plastic parts, rusting, measurement indicators, spout shapes and angles causing drip, speed of flow, lid angles for ease of filling, UIs for the kettles and/or their bases, etc. I just wanted to boil water without drinking rust and not have the switch break every year. Yes, I use my kettle upwards of 5 times a day. Many reviews and YouTube videos later, I came to the conclusion that there is no perfect electric kettle for all uses. The more complex the kettle, the higher the price tag, and the more possible failure points it has. The simplest kettles were often made out of the cheapest materials and less reliable. While I was reluctant to spend $20 on another kettle that I would throw away in a year (the disposable nature of everything nowadays irks me), I did not feel the need to spend over $100 on a container TO BOIL WATER. This Krups kettle seemed like a happy medium, and it has, so far, proven to be a good buy. And I am enjoying the fancy features. Pros: Cool to the touch. Large container. Cord for base is longer than you think it is (look under!!). Sleek look. Easy to wipe down if water streaks down the side. Metal filter is part of the kettle, no need to remove pieces. Love that I can one touch boil or boil and hold the temperature for half an hour. Selecting temperature has proven to be useful. Boils quickly. I boil a full pot of water in the same time it takes to boil a small amount of water in my 3 qt pot on the stove. I pour the boiled water into the now hot pot and pasta can go in immediately, so it speeds up cooking dramatically. The spout is pretty good. Still drips down the side occasionally, but not a lot. The thermometer on the side is… satisfying, as my kids would say. Cons: you press it once to wake it up. Then press a second time to actually start heating. This drives hubby a little batty because he feels like maybe he isn’t pressing the button correctly. I don’t have a problem with it. The lid does emit a strange plasticky smell on the outside. I’ve had it for several weeks now and still get an occasional whiff. It has definitely decreased, however. In addition, if you smell inside the pot if you lift the lid, the inside does NOT have the smell. The water is just fine. Since the container is rather large, even Gigi might have trouble pouring from it without a single drip. But it does well enough, and certainly better than my old kettle. The button to open the lid occasionally fails to open, but I think I just need to figure out the exact pressure to apply. Longevity remains to be seen. Given that a $20-30 kettle lasts about a year to 18 months, I’m hoping I can get at least 3 years out of this one. If not, you will be hearing from me…
