Great Performance in a Small Package
Pros:
Quick to boil, small size (less countertop space to take up).
Cons:
No cordless pouring.
The Bottom Line:
It's a buy. Quick and easy for a low price.
|
|
Overall Rating:
|
 |
|
Author's Review
[Note: this model is also sold under the brand "Proctor Silex" as you can see on the photo with the same model number.]
I bought this electric water kettle because it was the cheapest model with the smallest capacity (1 liter which is about an ounce more than a quart) on Amazon. Considering all factors, it packs a lot of punch for the cost.
The product is quick and easy to use. Simply flip open the lid (which stays attached to the unit so there's nothing to misplace) and pour in your desired amount of water up to one liter. On the side, there are small but clearly marked measurements of "min" (about 10 oz), ".5L" (half liter or about 16 oz), "4 cups" (about 20 oz), "6 cups" (about 30 oz), and "max 1L" (about 33 oz). Then you snap the lid shut and flip the switch up to turn on. The blue plastic switch itself is lighted to indicate that it's on. The model will still work if you don't shut the lid entirely but not completely shutting it will disable the automatic shutoff when it reaches a boil.
I usually prepare about 16 ounces of water and it takes shockingly fast to reach a boil. By the time I've ground the coffee, poured it into a french press, it's almost done! I'd say no longer than two minutes and is faster than a stovetop kettle.
Pouring is smooth and splash free perhaps because of a built-in plastic mesh screen attached to the spout. The only downside to the pouring is that you are tethered to the outlet by an approximately two-foot long cord. Thus, it is misleading that they are calling this "cordless" (see the product title above). Paying more for an electric kettle usually gets you a base that the kettle sits on and that the electric cord attaches enabling you to simply lift the kettle off the base for pouring and for portability (say, to take to your breakfast table). With this product, though, you can unplug the cord from either the outlet or the kettle itself (maybe that's why they're calling it "cordless?") and transport the unit but that would be a minor inconvenience.
Overall, this is a terrific little workhorse. It gets the job done quickly and easily and looks very utilitarian to boot.
