My best friend bought me this electric water boiler/tea kettle for my bridal shower. The outside of the kettle says “Krups AquaControl filter” so, at first, I assumed that was the name of the product and it was just meant to filter water, which seemed kind of silly. Why would I want hot, filtered water? But it became very clear what the purpose of my Krups AquaControl type 859 was shortly after that initial confusion.

I originally used it because I didn’t have a coffee pot and my regular tea kettle was a nuisance to use and clean. We lived in a tiny basement apartment and counterspace and stovetop space were commodities. Still, this kettle earned its spot. I’d use this baby to boil some water for the instant coffee my husband and I would drink in the morning. I could clearly see how much liquid I needed, it quickly boiled, was easy to pour, and required no cleanup. I’d take the lid off and dump the water when I was done so it could air dry and, voila, I was done. At night, after work, I’d use it again for a cup of tea with which to unwind.

That was six years ago. This kettle is still going strong and I really haven’t had any problems with it. For a couple of months last year the auto-shutoff wasn’t working but it’s been fine ever since. I think the switch just needed to be cleaned.

My Krups electric kettle holds 10 cups of water (marked off at 3, 6, and 10 and otherwise noted by dots). The cup markings are noted on the side of the kettle on a clear strip that shows the elevation of the water. The water boiler automatically shuts off after it boils or if there’s too little water in the kettle. There’s a stainless steel coil inside the hard plastic kettle that heats up when the kettle is placed over the base. The kettle has a hole on the bottom that slides over the plug-like piece that sticks out of the base, which has an electrical wire (120 V, 60 Hz, 1500 W) that plugs into a standard outlet. The kettle can be removed from the base by simply lifting it. It’s relatively lightweight and easy to clean. There’s a cap on the kettle that can be removed with a press of a button so that it can be filled/emptied. A switch on the handle turns it on/off and a red light below the switch makes you aware of its setting.

I use this kettle everyday, several times a day. I often just leave water in it from the morning and restart it throughout the day for a cup of herbal tea or Postum (a noncaffeinated coffee substitute). Since I don’t drink coffee anymore, my husband uses this kettle to boil water for his one cup of instant coffee. We’ve used this kettle for parties and are able to bring it to the dining room table without any issues. The bottom does get hot but if you leave it in its base or stick a potholder under it, it’s fine for serving. The handle doesn’t get hot at all, the sides don’t get very hot, and the spout is narrow so not a lot of steam escapes. Even a child could use this kettle.

It boils quickly. I usually only fill it halfway and it takes about two minutes. I’ve never timed how long it takes for a full kettle, but I’d guess it’s under five minutes.

Though the outside of the thick plastic kettle does get warm (too warm for me to readily allow my toddler to touch it, though not so warm that she’d scream), it doesn’t scold. In fact, I’ve gotten pretty good at gauging when the water is almost boiled by the temperature of the kettle. So I’ll put my hand against it and be able to stop the kettle if I’m really anxious for the water. This comes in handy in the morning when my husband makes his mad-10-minute dash out of the house.

Over time, there has been some buildup inside the kettle. I guess it’s salt deposits or limescale. Since the top pops off and the mouth below the cap is wide, I can stick my hand inside and wipe it off. I’ve also tried boiling a water/white vinegar mixture a couple of times and that worked well.

I believe this kettle comes in white and black. Mine is black and looks nice in my kitchen. I’m not sure how much it retails for since I received mine as a gift. I love this kettle and don’t know what I’d do without it.


Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): gift

Write a Review