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List Price: $64.99
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2 1/2 Year Update (as of 3/2013): We've been using this kettle at least twice a day and it works and looks like new. The only maintenance we do is every six months heat up a one-to-one mix of water and vinegar to clean any build-up. Now, back to the original review...
There are lots of pluses... The double insulation keeps the outside less than dangerously hot. It also means the water will heat up a tiny bit faster and stays hot a lot longer than uninsulated kettles.
The water almost never touches plastic; an important consideration to some. The underside of the lid is plastic and so is the frame around the scale filter. Still, the contact is minimal. The tall, thin design means it take up less counter space than other models.
The surprising (to me anyway) "minus" is that when you take this pot off its base the switch stays in the on position. All the other cordless electric kettles I've used shut off when you lift them up. The result is that the only two ways to turn this off are to remember to flip the switch or count on the kettle to turn itself off when the remaining water boils or the pot runs dry. It's not a big deal but for the price Hamilton Beach could have included an interlock (like they do on other kettles they make).
BTW, I feel that honest, effective reviews take the place of first-hand experiences that are lacking in online shopping. I've always appreciated the help I've gotten from other reviewers and continue to return the favor as best as I can. If you thought this review was helpful please let me know by clicking on "Yes" button where it asks. If there was anything you thought was lacking or unclear leave a comment and I'll do what I can to fix it.
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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.
[Update June 9, 2011]
I'm really pleased with how durable this product is -I've been using this electric kettle for well over 4 years now, and I've had no problems with it. I hope to enjoy using it for many more years to come!
Honest reviews on Hamilton Beach 40898 Cool-Touch 8-Cup Cordless Electric Kettle
I bought this kettle a month or so ago. I agree with other reviewers that it's a well built appliance that boils quickly and doesn't impart any taste to the water (that I can detect). I chose it because of it's steel container, having read too much about chemicals leaching out of plastics. But it won't pour! The darned thing must have been designed by an industrial artist to look cool, and I bet they didn't build a prototype and check it out before launching into production. I've tried everything to get it to pour cleanly, but it always trickles water back down the outside of the canister and all over the counter or table top. I've tried removing the plastic filter, pouring quickly, slowly, etc, but nothing prevents a pool of hot water that has to be wiped up afterwards. It seems to be inherent in the shape of the lip. The only thing that minimizes(but doesn't prevent) the problem is to open the lid and pour extremely slowly. It's really a major irritation with an otherwise pleasing product.
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Hamilton Beach 40898 Cool-Touch 8-Cup Cordless Electric Kettle
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!
