Melitta 40994 1.7-Liter Kettle

I bought this tea kettle when l thought my trusty 6-year old Braun had developed a leak. It hadn't, but I decided to keep the new kettle at home and use the Braun at work. When I received the new Melitta, I did a test to see which kettle boiled 4 cups of water faster. To my surprise, the old Braun was 30 seconds faster! That being said, the Melitta is plenty fast enough. It's a great value for the money and I'm very satisfied.What I like:It looks nice on the shelf and blends in well with my stainless and black kitchen.The viewing window is big enough to easily see how much water is in the kettle.The viewing window lights up a pretty blue color while the kettle is on.It has very few plastic parts that actually touch the water and Melitta claims it is BPA free.The base has a nice twist handle on the bottom that allows you to easily rewind the cord.The spout is well designed so it doesn't drip once you stop pouring.The handle is comfortable and well-balanced.Once the water is boiled the kettle shuts off with an audible "click".What I don't like:My only complaint is that the water level markings are in liters as opposed to ounces or cups. I guess the U.S. has to join the rest of the world in using the metric system sooner or later!

I did a lot of research and read hundreds of reviews before finally buying this Melitta. I am really pleased. It is smaller than my 10 cup Krups which I finally had to replace after 10 years, but I really don't mind the size difference. The positives: It's very attractive, brushed metal. Big viewing window that turns blue when you turn it on, boils fast (4 minutes at the 1 liter mark and 5:45 min. At the 1.5 ltr) the lid opens whisper smooth ( no splash) with a touch of a button at the top of the handle. BPA free. From the box, I took it out, set up was as easy as stretching out a bit of cord and plugging it in. I rinsed out the inside of the kettle, poured in water half way and boiled it twice before drinking a cup of tea. I used filtered water for my first cup and the taste is PERFECT. Cons: The lid opening diameter can fit a small hand, so for me it's a bit tight if I want to clean it by hand. I will use a cloth on a wooden spoon or something when I need to. That's it....The quality appears to be excellent. Only time will tell if it lasts a long time. I have a Melitta at the office which is still going strong after 7 yrs., so I expect no less from this one.

About six weeks in and so far, so good. It is fairly quick with the amounts we put in it per cycle...enough for two cups. Obviously, the more water, the longer the time but that is hardly an issue by the time we get everything out of the cupboard, the water is ready.The on switch works well; a little push down lever at the bottom right below the handle. This kettle differs from out last in that it automatically shuts off when you lift it from the base. Since my wife likes to preheat her cup with hot water before it boils, I have to remember to hit the lever again when replacing the kettle. The water level gage is easy to lighted and easy to read if that is important to you.I recall one reviewer remarking that the gage and lights protrude into the water vessel and I guess they do. And they are all sealed in plastic which I guess freaks some people for fear of some toxic residue from it. Another commented on the ergonomically stressing contour of the handle. I notice it but my wife does not. My hands are bigger and my grip from the bottom of it, whereas my wife's hand is centered. The lower grip requires you to rotate the kettle much farther to pour. The less water you start with the farther the rotation, and the more water the heavier so either way it is a slight strain that I would not have given much thought until someone else said something. But what's a little pain when you need a coffee fix...

I purchased the Melitta 40994 1.7 liter electric hot water kettle from Amazon.com one year ago and have experienced no problems with it. The Melitta 1.7 liter electric water kettle still works wonderfully and heats the water much faster than trying to heat water on the stove or in a microwave oven. The Melitta electric kettle is very attractive (concealed heating element), removable filter for easy cleaning or replacement, auto-shut off after water has reached the required temperature and easy to maintain. Another nice feature of the Melitta electric kettle is the adjustable electric cord. You can adjust the length of the electric cord by turning the handle on the bottom of the heating base which the Melitta electric kettle sits on. I use only filter or purified water which helps to keep any hard water deposits from developing and extends the life of any electric water kettle. The only concern with safety is not touching the outside of the kettle immediately after use, as the metal body of the kettle is hot! Overall, I am very satisfied with my Melitta electric hot water kettle purchase:-)