 New tea snob in the making thanks to this excellent kettle |
| Review Date: November 24, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Hogun, Marietta, GA |
I am relatively new to the tea scene (my wife and I started drinking Teavana teas about a year ago) and as such I have been searching for a really good kettle. I wanted an electric kettle because of their ease of use as well as the extra features some of the nicer kettles offer. After an exhaustive search I decided upon the Breville SK500XL Ikon Stainless-Steel Electric Kettle based in no small part to the excellent reviews it has received on Amazon and other sites.
I went to a few stores to examine it in person and compare it to about ten other electric kettles that the different stores carried but nothing seemed to come close to the design and quality of the Breville. So after finally making my decision, it was simply a matter of time before I made my purchase. I am very glad I waited as within 2 weeks this new Breville kettle was released. While still substantially costlier than the SK500XL, the BKE820XL has a number of features and design improvements that made the extra cost more than worth it. These include:
- Multiple temperature settings (different teas require different temperature water for an optimally brew) with 20 minute hold
- Improved water level indicators now on both sides (the single water level indicator on the SK500XL is behind the handle which makes it hard to read)
I've only had my BKE820XL a few days (I purchased it from a local store) so I cannot speak to its long term reliability yet, if it is anything like the SK500XL, I don't expect to have any problems.
Oh yeah, and the tea I've made in the last few days is easily the best I've ever brewed! Yay!
UPDATE 1/2/2009: I've had the BKE820XL for over a month now and I still love it! The only thing I've found that I would critique is:
- After you are done boiling water for the day, you need to either dry out the lid by hand or leave the lid open for a few hours to let the water evaporate (from the lid where it collects). I am concerned that not doing this might lead to issues down the road.
Even with that, I am still overjoyed with my purchase (which I use at least 5 times a week) and highly recommend it to anyone in search of a quality electric kettle.
UPDATE 3/12/2009 - Nothing much to report except that my wife and I are continuing to use our kettle mutliple times a week and are extremely happy with it. It has a permanent place on our counter! :) |
Best tea and easy use
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| Review Date: March 14, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Papa H, Seattle, WA |
This is an incredibly elegant and precise, yet easy to use kettle. Even the sound to let you know when it's done is discreet and pleasant. Our household has a variety of schedules, and drinks a variety of teas as well as french press coffee. It's wonderful. Finally, jasmine green tea comes out at home as it should!
The manual holds only critical information, so it's brief - but read it well. I started to be dissatisfied about how the hold temp function works until re-reading the paragraph later.
I've only two minor criticisms. I wish that the minimum water that could be heated was 250 ml not 500 ml, but I get around it with an incredible insulated mug/carafe. More annoying is the cord length; if it was just a few inches longer to 2' it would be great. It's been difficult to find a place on the counter near an outlet that wouldn't steam the cupboards above or get knocked over. (And there's no room to stuff 3-6 feet of the correct type of 3-pronged appliance extension cord.)
So - very minor gripes. Even if it broke tomorrow, I'd order another immediately. |
A Kettle for all Occasions
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| Review Date: February 9, 2009 |
| Reviewer: R. Fernuik, Provo, Utah |
I love tea in variety, but have hated to monitor temperature for different kinds I brew. And sometimes, I forget I'm boiling water (I've melted a few traditional kettles to the electric burner). How lovely to have a kettle that I can just set for a particular type of tea, and just let it do the work. And with an automatic shutoff feature, I won't be melting any more kettles again. I debated on getting one that didn't have a variable temperature feature (just to make the expense more affordable), but decided to spring for this model. Such a worthy investment!
As for defects, I haven't personally experienced any. I use my kettle, on average, about four times a day. I boil water for tea, for oatmeal, for soaking dishes, for shaving, etc. In two months, I've had no problems.
If you're debating between this kettle and a cheaper model, I give you my recommendation for this kettle without reservation. |
Indeed a tea maker's delight.
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| Review Date: January 19, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Anime Domo, Canada |
Those who enjoy all types of tea (and not just the red and black "orange pekoes" normally popular outside Asia) quickly learn that different types of tea require different brewing temperatures. In the old days, there was little choice but to bring water to a full boil and then let it cool (and this was a very good practice for safety reasons in the days when water quality was suspect), but boiling water inevitably changes its taste, generally for the worse, and of course the more delicate the flavour the worse the effect. One Chinese tea ceremony includes careful instructions for boiling water in just the right way, up to the point of "Fish Eyes" but not to the point of "Old Man water", to control for such damage to the taste. In more distracting circumstances than found in formal ceremonies, enthusiasts such as myself have been known to employ Instant Read cooking thermometers in the place of such demanding and intuitive practices.... This kettle is made for those who for whatever reason want to bring high tech (or at least 'mid tech') to the problem. And what's more, this kettle allows one to reach the precise ideal temperature range without actually first boiling the water- testing with my Instant Read confirms this- I love it! And this answers a question I always had about whether skipping the boiling point would yield better taste- I've happily proven to myself thus far that it does in the case of Japanese Sencha and High Mountain Taiwanese oolongs, both personal favorite varieties. This kettle will as advertised also hold the desired temperature for about 20 minutes- very good for some Asian tea practices but water held too long is very similar to over-boiled water, so be careful. Asians, meaning the Japanese and the people who clone their products, have high tech systems, similar in appearance to rice cookers, that do a similar task for tea water but perhaps because they are more enclosed seem to me to be harder on the taste from the start, and because they will hold the temperatures for hours and hours, end up by affecting the taste of the water in a drastic way.
Electric tea kettles are much more common in the English speaking, tea drinking countries outside the USA, and that may be why the price for this one as seen on Amazon is over fourty percent higher than in my native Canada [not the normal state of affairs, believe me]. But, if you want a speciallized, variable temperature tea kettle, there is nothing on the market to compare with this one. The Aussies already ruled in the tea kettle world, through Breville- now they must be declared Emperor! Oy oy oy! |
Very Nice!
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| Review Date: April 10, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Adam Wineinger, Missouri |
| I was a little hesitant to spend so much on hot water, but my wife was always going through such a routine to get just the right temp for her green tea and the fact that our old hotpot was so ugly we decided to purchase the Breville. It absolutely does not disappoint. It will heat water to 5 different temps based on what you are using it for - anywhere from green tea to press coffee to boiling. It will also hold the temp for you. This is an elegant, beautiful, well thought out machine. Definitely worth the money. |
twin design of ikon diecast blender
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| Review Date: January 9, 2009 |
| Reviewer: B. Amin, Bolingbrook, IL United States |
I have ikon blender and 4 slice toaster from Breville.And this tea kettle compliments beautifully to those 2 kitchen appliances.
What a brilliant designs from Breville.!!As if they were made for each other . Since I'm left handed,I like that blue light windows on both sides so that I can see the level.Another good feature:5 Pre set temperature buttons at the base.
BRAVO BREVILLE!!!! |
Best electric kettle I've ever had!
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| Review Date: April 15, 2010 |
| Reviewer: L. Dexter, Corvallis, OR USA |
I grew up in the UK where electric kettles are a dime a dozen, unlike here in the US. Compared to many kettles, this is incredibly expensive and almost doesn't seem worth the price, but it is.
The individual settings for each kind of tea (white, green, black, oolong) and a button for french press coffee make early morning drinks a snap. There is a hold function that will keep your water warm at a constant temperature for 20 minutes, which is perfect for those days you're rushing out the door. There is a mini water filter in the spout which cleans your water well if you don't use filtered (which you should since the calcium build up from tap water isn't good for the kettle). The button mechanism for the lid is super smooth to the point of feeling very expensive. Also, unlike many kettles, there is a pleasant beep when the boiling cycle is complete. On all of our old kettles, I had to listen for the click to tell me the water was done, and it would end up cooling too quickly or scalding my tea leaves. This kettle really has it all.
I do recommend dumping the extra water out in the evening and letting it dry with the top open. The lid has a tendency to condense if its not properly dried out. I haven't seen a problem from this, but I am worried the kettle might start to smell. Also, it outputs a lot of steam (obviously). Don't place it under any cabinets while you boil water or you'll end up with mold.
I absolutely love this kettle, and I'm so glad I bought it at Amazon. The price is much cheaper than you'll find elsewhere, and the free shipping is awesome. Definitely consider this Breville! |
Great tea kettle. Variable temperature is no gimmick.
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| Review Date: May 15, 2010 |
| Reviewer: D. Yasuda, Idaho, USA |
I bought this Breville BKD820XL Variable Temperature tea kettle to replace the Breville model that looks like it, but without the variable temp feature. I drink both coffee and tea and was amazed the difference it makes when you use the suggested temperatures for various teas. You'll taste a completely different, and better, flavor profile on green and white teas. As for coffee, I use a French press and the lower temp setting also makes a positive impact on flavor.
The unit is very handsome and easy to clean. I learned from my last stainless steel Breville, that you need to clean any spots off before heating it up or it will create a light stain.
So is this worth the extra money for the variable temp function? It really depends on your personal needs. If you need a kettle to get water to 212 degrees, then I would look at a lower priced kettle. If you enjoy a variety of teas, then I found it's worth the extra cash.
In summary, this is a great product that is easy to use, looks great on the counter, heats water fast and has the variable temp function.
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Works perfectly and is attactive.
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| Review Date: November 18, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Karen, Boulder, CO |
I looked long and hard for a decent kettle as my husband and I drink 3 to 4 cups of tea a day. Here were my requirements:
1) No plastic because of the leaching of chemicals. This kettle has a little plastic but is the best I could find. The glass kettle that is highly rated has a big silicon like seal which people said made the water taste funny.
2) A decent area to fill the kettle. You can fill it either by opening the lid which has a nice mechanism that slowly raises the lid when you push the button. Some kettles have small spouts which require you to aim.
3) A water level indicator. This has a water level indicator on two sides for use by right or left handed people.
4) A separate stand that you lift the kettle off of so you don't have to hassle with a cord. I also wanted to be able to replace the kettle on the stand in any direction. Some makes require you to place the pot in a specific orientation.
5) Adequate protection so I wouldn't be burned. The stainless gets hot, but around the handle there is more than enough protection that it hasn't been an issue.
5) Elegant design. This kettle is well made, with little extra touches from a nice subtle tone when the water is boiled, to lighted buttons, to the lid mechanism. The extra temperature controls to optimize flavor for different types of tea are a bonus although I haven't tried them. There is a hold button if you want to keep water hot. Yes it's more expensive, but this thing sits on my kitchen counter and I use it a lot, so I was willing to spend the extra money.
Overall we have been very happy with this kettle and I looked at pretty much everything on the market. Can't say anything about reliability as we have had it only a month. |
Nifty kettle
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| Review Date: March 29, 2009 |
| Reviewer: B. J. Rosen, Westford, MA |
After melting yet another teapot on my stove top I decided to get an electric kettle. This one has a real quality feel to it. It heats the water much faster than a stove top kettle and it's insulated so the water will stay at temperature for a long time even if you don't use the Hold Temperature feature. It automatically shuts itself off after the water reaches temperature so there is no danger of it burning itself out which was my primary reason for buying it. Frankly it's cheaper brother, which cost half as much, probably does just as good a job. I opted for this one because the automatic lid opener operated so smoothly on this one, it was a little rougher on the cheap one, and I like gadgets and this one lots of buttons. So if you are a gadget freak who isn't particularly price sensitive get this one, if you are more interested in value for your money then get it's cheaper brother.
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Perfect.
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| Review Date: April 4, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Yankees251, Newtown, CT |
| Perfect and then some, super quick, heats a full pot in 7 minutes, heats 2 cups in about 4. A little pricey but so far it's well worth it. |
Perfect tea No boiling water for this tea lover.
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| Review Date: April 7, 2009 |
| Reviewer: G. R. Baxter, PALM DESERT, CA United States |
| This kettle is wonderful for all types of hot water uses from soups to teas. It is especially nice for teas since it comes with a chart and buttons to press in order to make that perfect cup or pot of tea from green to black teas and in between. I loved it so much that I even purchased a second one for my grandson, who also loves it. No more boiling water or forgetting to remove it from the stove. It is safe, easy to take in a suitcase and worth every cent. |
A must have for tea lovers
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| Review Date: May 24, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Comdet, |
At first glance, this looks like an overpriced item, since you can get a good electric kettle for a lot less. But, this has a feature that the others lack - the ability to bring the water up to a specific temperature.
If that feature has you puzzled as of its value, then you're best off looking at a lower priced kettle. But, if you're a tea drinker, you know that certain teas must be brewed at certain temperatures for best results. For example, a green tea needs water at 175 degrees to really bring out the flavor. Hotter water will not brew a good cup of green tea. With the Breville, all you need to do is push a button, and a couple of minutes later you have 175 degree water. Need 212 degree for a black tea? Just as easy to do.
The unit is very well built. High quality materials that give the appearance of it being able to last a good long time. I was unfamiliar with Breville until I started looked at this kettle, and found that they make a whole line of kitchen appliances. Not cheap, but all appear to be excellent quality and well designed.
Easy to care for - just clean it out every so often with vinegar to remove scale. Snap to use - has easy to see buttons, each labeled with a different temperature. Just push the one you want, and you're done. Takes about 5 min to bring a full pot to a full boil. To get one cup to 175 takes about 90 seconds. Auto shut-off, and has a keep warm feature that will hold the temp for 20 min.
I was about to purchase a Zojirushi water boiler/warmer, but fortunately came across this product instead. The Zo is clearly a good unit as well - I have their bread maker and one of their rice cookers, and both are very high quality machines. The Zo water heater (and similar ones from Panasonic) are good if you want to keep a large amount of water at a certain temp all day. I, on the other hand, wanted to have 175 degree water for one cup, then perhaps 195 degree for a different tea, etc. The Zo is not designed to do that easily. The Breville lets you have a different temperature within a couple of minutes of pushing the corresponding button.
If you love tea, or want to give a great gift to someone who is a tea lover, this is a must purchase. |
Electric Kettle
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| Review Date: May 28, 2009 |
| Reviewer: L. Herron, |
| I used the Amazon reviews to find this kettle, and opted to buy after a considerable amount of reading. I am elated by the way this product works. It is very nicely built and is quick and easy to use. It totally lives up to everything I read about it. For heating water to a variety of desired temperatures, I can't concieve of a better or easier way to do it. We have used it for about 1 month now with complete satisfaction. |
Am smitten with the Breville BKE820XL
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| Review Date: June 27, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Sunshine, Los Angeles, California USA |
I normally to not print a review of a product. I received the Breville
kettle as a gift and I could not be happier. I use it 2 and 3 times a day and I must say that my tea drinking (different types,green, oolong,white and black) have just been wonderful.
I read the concern that someone had on the drying out of the lid, but I just use a paper towel and leave the lid open for a while. It has not
been an issue. BUT, I can tell you that until you try this kettle with the different temperatures you do not know how good tea can really taste.
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Wonderful purchase
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| Review Date: October 19, 2009 |
| Reviewer: LMD, Georgia |
| I have wanted a good electric pot after breaking a previous glass one. This one is excellent since I like to brew many types of tea - the water temps can be a few degrees off but if you allow it to sit a couple of minutes on the Hold function it seems to be more accurate. My main complaint is that as soon as you remove the pot from the base the Hold function is cancelled - would like to be able to use a cup or two at a time and not have to reheat the whole thing. I researched many choices and this one gets my vote even though it is a bit pricey. |
Excellent...
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| Review Date: December 17, 2009 |
| Reviewer: M. Moreno, Seattle, WA |
This was not a cheap item nor an easy decision. I am a tea aficionado and like to sample different kind of teas that require brewing at specific and different temperatures. Several other electric kettles are available for a better price and can be found on Amazon. However, it seemed the most other options lacked specific settings or features. In this case, I wanted something that was simple, accurate, presentable (I'd like to keep it on the kitchen counter) and that would last for a long time. Ultimately, you get what you pay for and didn't want to make this decision by price only.
This kettle is beautiful, fast, accurate and very flexible. Operation is extremely simple: It has a button for each type of tea, which will heat the water to that specific temperature, and a start button. That's it. Select your tea type and press start... a subtle beep will alert you when the water has reached its temperature.
There is also a maintain button, which will maintain the temperature for 20 minutes after it has reached its temperature. Other than that, there are no complicated menus to navigate and options to explore. Simple, effective and still elegant.
Overall, I am very pleased and would buy one again, as expensive as it is. |
A Tea lovers Heaven!
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| Review Date: April 16, 2009 |
| Reviewer: C Nature, Ariziona |
This Breville Kettle is the best thing since sliced bread! I have been a Tea drinker for 10 years now, and I buy the teas that are pricy. Green Teas, Red Teas, Black Teas, and White. And trying to get your water at the right Temperature is a nightmare. And so you bring the water to a boil on the stove, and even with a great stove that has a high BTU burner it still takes a least 5 min. With this Kettle you can choose you temp for what ever tea you drinking. And this kettle comes to a boil in 1 1/2 minutes, I was blow away! And your Green, and Red teas settings are even faster. I would call this an Green Kettle, because you use so much less energy to have a cup of tea. And I have a least three a day, so that adds up in Gas use to make each cup.
If anything happens to this kettle, I would be back on Amazon and buy this Kettle in a heart beat!!!!
If your a Tea, or even a coffee snob... this is the kettle to buy. |
I love having a variable setting for my tea's
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| Review Date: February 25, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Cheryl A. Mcouat, Port Huron, MI |
| I love having a variable setting for the tea's I drink because I know I am getting the utmost experience for each type of tea I am drinking and the correct water temperature to have them taste their best. |
Perfect Kitchen Companion
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| Review Date: December 6, 2009 |
| Reviewer: L. Smallwoo, Nashville, Tn |
| I actually took this kettle to work and keep it in my cube since I don't use the coffee maker. My doubtful co-workers tested the temperatures and they were extremely accurate. Never had a problem with any of the settings. I have used this since July and forgot to empty the water once for a two week vacation. There wasn't any mold or anything when I came back (I dumped the water, added more, and ran a few boil settings just in case). Other than the weight of the water, it's not very heavy. The plug is awesome because it has the prongs and then the big 'thingy' that you're supposed to grab instead of the wire has a large hole in it. Makes it very easy to stick a finger in it and pull instead of the wire. The measurements are easy to read and this is ridiculously simple to use. I'm looking forward to many more years of hot water. :) |
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