Braun WK200W Aqua Express Electric Water Kettle - White

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Product Description
Large 54 Ounce Capacity / Heats water with AC power / Carry Jug to table Water level indicator on both sides Easy filling through large spout Lime scale filter for fresh taste Cool-to-touch lid Color - White

Amazon.com Review
Featuring an ergonomic handle and smooth lines, Braun's 1,500-watt electric water kettle handily sits on a separate heating element. When water boils--one cup takes only 70 seconds--it's a relief to pick up the kettle and pour without worrying about the plug dragging behind. Once the kettle is removed from the base, it automatically turns off for safety. This good-sized kettle heats up to six cups of water, making it ideal for small meetings at the office or to quickly heat up water (and water only, please) at home. It has an anti-calcification filter to help keep the water tasting clear and clean. --Dana Van Nest

Customer Reviews:   Read 418 more reviews...

Love my water kettle!   September 7, 2008
Alexandra Higgins (Palo Alto, CA United States)
This is an amazing water kettle for the lazy!
- fast, fast, fast
- no accidental burns (plastic housing)
- no accidental fires (auto off feature)
- reliable (1 year so far, no problems)
- easy to use
- versatile (I'll occasionally use it to water the plants, its that easy to refill)

This totally fits Alton Brown's recommendations for a water kettle in Alton Brown's Gear For Your Kitchen. Friends and parents have decided to buy it for themselves to replace their old hot systems.


The best way to heat water   September 5, 2008
J. M. SMILEY (Chicago area)
Braun WK200W Aqua Express Electric Water Kettle - White
This thing runs like a vette. I am shocked at how fast I can boil water. Never use a gas stove again. If there were anything I could change, I would give it the ability to set temperature. Green tea taste bitter if the water is too hot. I'll just have to turn off unit sooner. The instructions could also be more informative. 5 Stars. WOW.


Works great!   September 3, 2008
Mike
I bought this about 2-3 weeks ago, and it has worked without problems. Does what it's supposed to.


Excellent!   August 27, 2008
Leo A. Polyak (Cleveland, Ohio)
I've purchased this product in the past and always was very happy with it. Highly recommend it to all!


Heats rapidly, feels solid, worth the price   August 26, 2008
John L Murphy (Los Angeles)
This does heat up rapidly, as most reviewers concur. It holds up to seven cups, and even at full capacity boils up faster than earlier machines I used took to heat less than half this amount of water. You can fill it with the lid shut as well as open, a thoughtful feature. The lid can also be locked, of course. It's a bit heavy when there's more than a couple of cups worth of water in it, but it's solid and feels durable.

I like the separation of the base from the water container. There's less exposure to contact points that can get wet than some other models. The cord certainly is short, no more than a few inches even if uncoiled from its wraparound base, but this keeps in many kitchens I suppose the risky apparatus from tipping near the sink, as has happened with my previous electric kettles, which wound up getting in countertop puddles inevitably, hastening those machines' demise.

I was about to purchase a similar, and far cheaper one, but this Braun, made in the Czech Republic, has European workmanship combined with clever touches-- for instance, there's a reinforced hand protecting layer where your fingers will come into contact with the plastic container. The rest of the surface, outside of your hand's reach, will get quite warm, more so than other kettles, so be forewarned. The power involved in the boiling means this is a device for serious cooks, not only tea-drinkers. My kitchen-savvy wife can use this for heating up lots of water fast to expedite cooking demands, and I can employ it for my less-intensive cup of tea preparation.

So, as with many such items in a well-stocked kitchen, this may be at the higher side of the price range, but after having worn out two less expensive electric kettles, I predict this one will live up to its reputation and outlive its predecessors, with care and cleaning. There's an anti-calcification filter that detaches (it can come off if you're fumbling around the spout, so be careful) and this added feature can prolong the life of the machine, as well as periodically boiling the minerals out of it.

The double-sided see-through level indicator shows the planning involved in a higher-quality appliance. The dark blue shade's a bit too artsy, blocking faraway view of how many cups are inside bubbling away, but this may be for shielding purposes, who knows? The water level turns out darker, but not as easily contrasted with the area where there's no liquid. Seems to me some sort of brightly floating spirit level bubble would have been preferable to minimize squints.

The base is wide enough to discourage tipping, while the plug's brevity may cause you to rearrange space for it on a counter away from a faucet's hazard. A safety factor, and you can always put it on an extension cord, although it's a one-way triple grounded plug. Its large capacity and solid feel should convince many to invest the few extra dollars in it. Since many buyers will be using it at least once daily, it's worth finding the better crafted product.