Chef's Choice 685 International Deluxe Cordless Electric Teakettle Review

I had one of these for almost six years and used it on a daily basis (not just for making tea, but also for boiling water quickly for other uses, i.e. food preparation).It always looked great and was a pleasure to use, but one day it stopped working.So I went online and looked at all of the kettles currently available.I thought about trying a different brand, but all of the other stainless steel kettles (I wasn't interested in plastic) had something I didn't like about them -- an awkwardly placed handle, an exposed element, etc.In the Chef's Choice kettle the element is hidden, so the interior of the kettle is easy to clean (it pretty much doesn't have to be cleaned at all, since only water is ever put in the kettle), and if the element gets covered in scale, I don't know about it (Chef's Choice does recommend occasionally "decalcifying" the kettle by boiling some white vinegar in it -- I never did this with my first kettle and I wonder if this eventually led to it malfunctioning?).The handle doesn't extend over the opening of the kettle, so it is easy to fill, and the spout is truly dripless.And of course the cord is attached to the base, not the kettle itself, so there is no need to plug and unplug it when carrying the kettle to sink or table or stove or wherever.So I'm on my second Chef's Choice kettle and very happy with it so far.I'm the kind of person who doesn't go in for a lot of kitchen gadgets, and I don't like using electric/electronic items when a manual or mechanical one will do, but I definitely recommend an electric kettle because it is energy-saving, fast, and won't boil dry (if you forget about it) or annoy you with a whistle (when you're busy doing something else).

UPDATE: (June 2008)My second one of these has just stopped working.I still love the design of this kettle, and maybe 5-6 years is not a bad lifespan, but . . . I think I might give the Breville kettle a try this time.Will report back!

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Product Description:
Includes Edgecraft 685 Cordless Electric Tea Kettle.

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Bodum YoYo 13-Ounce Tea Infuser Set Review

This is a nice quality cup and infuser -- it's sturdy and comfortable.The infuser is resistant to staining and the little lid that is used to keep the heat in when steeping can be turned upside-down to act as a holder for the wet infuser when you remove it from the tea.

However, there are some problems.My main complaint is the design of the infuser.The sides are a nice, fine mesh whereas the bottom is plastic with some perforations.These holes in the bottom allow small leaf bits to flow-out.I have a Teeli infuser that has the mesh in the bottom also and it keeps all of the leaves contained.Second, and far more minor, the cup is rather small.It makes a nicely sized cup of tea, but if you're used to drinking from larger cups and mugs, you will find yourself gulping this one down pretty quickly.

Overall, this is not a bad product and if it had the full mesh infuser, I would have given it 4 stars.

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Product Description:
Tea for one is easier than ever with the Bodum YoYo personal tea infuser.Just add the appropriate amount of tea to the infuser basket, place in the cup and add hot water.Let the tea steep to your liking and then remove the infuser.The lid for the infuser acts as a trivet to help keep your counter clean.For those who want to enjoy all the benefits of loose leaf tea, or just try a variety of flavors, the YoYo is an excellent solution.The YoYo is a great gift item and travels well.Whether you use this personal infuser set at home, the office, or on the road, your always close to a fresh cup of your favorite loose leaf tea.

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