I like this product and I use it nearly every day - it goes well with a french press, and heating water to 200 deg F is its primary function. At other times I used it to help a large pot of water (for cooking pasta) come to a boil much sooner.
Things to note:
- The brushed exterior is convenient, it doesn't pick up smudges like a polished one would
- The 2qt capacity is great when boiling water for a larger pot
- It's fast. It gets water to a boil very quickly, especially if you don't fill the whole pot - 1qt will boil really quickly, not just in half the time of 2qts
- The indicator window gets steamed and is barely of use. OK, I see how much to not fill it (Max line)
- The switch appears flimsy but there's not much to stress it
- A subtle red light indicates the switch is on. Initially I used to leave the switch on after pouring out the water, but now I know what to look for. At this point I don't regret that it could have been brighter, because it stays subtle in the kitchen. In a multi-user kitchen you might want to mention that the ON indication is very low-key.
- When boiling, the kettle takes a bit more delay than I'd expect to switch off and indicate the water's boiling (with a quiet click). By that time the sound of bubbling alerts me
- I haven't detected any weird smell, I did two boils with fresh water before using it
- The spout is definitely designed for slow pouring. It doesn't spill a drop. However, if you're trying to dump the water out really fast, like into a large pot, slow down or you'll get a trickle down the sides because the spout won't handle the volume
- There's a fine mesh filter across the spout to catch any scaling if it ever occurs (not seen it yet but I have an undersink filter) and I remove that to stick a thermometer to catch it short of boiling. Would have been nice to get something where I could simply set the temperature rather than monitor the kettle - but that would be a different product altogether.
- The lid is nice, opens gently
- I wondered whether I could heat vegetable stock in it, but I think that better be left to the 670 or 675 that you see on Good Eats - the electric hot pot that looks like a kettle but with perfectly vertical sides. This has a tube in it and its shape won't lend well to thorough cleaning. I'll stick to water.
- It feels like it sits loose on the base, but that's what makes it easy to pick up and put down. The base doesn't get lifted with the kettle, so it's nice in that. The cord is solid and has a three-pronged plug at the end.
All in all, it feels solid and can do what it's supposed to do. I fault it a star for trickling when I try to pour the water very quickly, and for the odd placing of the level indicator, the difficulty of being able to reach in and deep clean anything. I'd probably give it 4 1/2 stars if that was possible.
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Chef's Choice 678 Cordless Electric KettleProduct Description: Boil water more quickly than a microwave for tea, coffee, hot chocolate or instant soup. Generous 2.0-quart capacity with an exterior water gauge for easy measuring. The powerful 1500 watt heating element is hidden beneath the stainless floor of the unit, so it's never in contact with water, eliminating build-up of mineral deposits on it and allowing for easy clean-up. The revolutionary cordless design allows the kettle to be lifted from its base for convenient filling and serving. Handsomely constructed of high-quality brushed stainless steel, the kettle ensures several years of service. The automatic shut-off, double boil-dry safety shut-off and lid-lock features guarantee safe use UL listed. One year warranty.
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Update: Three months later, and the kettle is broken. It just stopped working! The blue light still turns on, but the water no longer boils. Bummer. Down to 1 star, if they'd let me edit the star rating part of this review. I have updated my review to 1 star (per the request of some commenters).
