Hamilton Beach 40870 Stainless Steel 10-Cup Electric Kettle

CUSTOMER REVIEW



So after spending a little over a week searching for a suitable kettle I have definitely found the perfect match. I recently received a 6 cup teapot and wanted to keep it in my room along with an electric kettle to replace going into the kitchen and brewing cup after cup of tea.



My criteria

- Stainless steel with as little plastic contact as possible.

- Hidden heating element.

- Simple functions, the less bells and whistles the less to break

- Good spout

- Inexpensively priced.



What I like about this kettle:

- It met all my criteria.

- After brewing and discarding 4 kettle fulls there is no discernible aftertaste.

- No plastic contact inside, there is a plastic water level but it isn't in direct contact with the largest body of water in the kettle. Also, the tube for the boiling shut off is made from stainless as well, not plastic which is really nice.

- Is real metal not just plasticy coated metal imitator I saw on a few of the models.

- The inside bottom is a stainless plate with the heating element underneath making clean up easy.

- The outside bottom is plastic and gets warm not burning hot so it can be placed onto a surface.

- Slides onto the base easily.

- Auto shutoff works well.



What worries me: I say worries because it isn't a problem right now but may be a few months down the line.

- The lid opens with a button which if it breaks could potentially be a problem, not to fill the kettle as the spout provides adequate room to fill it with, but to clean it.

- After two brews i took the little filter out. I am using it only to heat water and only with filtered water so to me it seems unnecessary.

- The switch at the bottom, it doesn't seem flimsy per say but it does seem to be a little loose, its not a push button so I worry it may give out.



Duh, or common sense things that people seem to have an issue with:

- It gets hot. Yes. It's supposed to. Since the body is stainless steel, which is a good conductor of heat, it will be hot. The handle provides ample room to grab though.

- It will be heavy if completely full. Yes, water in larger amounts does get heavy. The kettle itself isn't much heaver than a standard coffee carafe so it should not add much to the overall weight.

- It can be a bit loud. Its boiling water, the kettle doesn't have any sound or heat insulation so yes you will be able to hear it. Honestly for me its not really a bother. The kettle sits on its own table next to my desk and I find it kind of soothing. Plus if I am heating water for green tea or white tea I can listen in and shut it off before it comes full boil.

- Along those lines, if you leave water in it for some time yes the water will cool. It is not a warmer nor is it a thermos that will keep it to the same temperature all day.



Overall:

I am very satisfied with this product. I have already recommended it to several people and it has been serving me well. Its not a fancy appliance so it does its job and doesn't require a tremendous effort on my part which was exactly what I was looking for.