Braun WK200W Aqua Express Electric Water Kettle, White

I fully recommend purchasing this high quality BRAUN WK200W Aqua Express Water Kettle. I purchased this product to replace a similar model that I have had for years. I have always enjoyed BRAUN products, as they bring the right mix of QUALITY and AFFORDABILITY.

I am not as pleased with this kettle as I hoped I would be. I wanted a replacement for my trusty Bodum which I owned troublefree for 13 years. I loved the sylish look of the Bodum, it looked so nice in the kitchen with its ultra modern design. This kettle is big and quite ugly looking on the kitchen counter top.

Things I like:-

1) Fast
2) Good pouring
3) Easy fill
4) comfortable handle
5) Cordless
6) 7 cup capacity (although the big bulky size is also a negative as it makes it unattractive)
7) Automatic cut-off


Things I do not like:-

1) The big, black, extra thick ugly cord, (the kettle is white, not like the picture, a white handle too)
2) The plain ordinary style, (compared to the Bodum's ultra modern look)
3) The size
4) The noise, (it is VERY noisy, I can hear it upstairs)
5) The smell, (at the moment it smells of plastic, I am hoping that will go)

Unfortunately the Bodum has been discontinued but it had all the advantages this one has not. It was quiet, smaller, only fractionally slower, stylish, and did not smell. It was also cordless and had automatic shut-off. It was white to match my kitchen and had a white cord.

It is very disappointing when an old friend dies.

UPDATE.

Good news! I have found a vendor who has the Bodum Curl Cordless Electric Kettle, so I will order one of those and send this thing back.

I was really jazzed about my purchase of the Braun WK200W. It was a real improvement over my previous electric kettle. You can fill it through the spout, it's very quick and the level indicator is conveniently located. Good, good, good
Now the bad. I noticed standing water adjacent to the kettle, this was at about 8 months. It leaked on and off for a couple of months, before I called Braun expecting a replacement. Their response was,"Thank you for the information, we'll make note of it. Good bye." They essentially left me hanging, like thanks for the info guinea pig.
It still works but leaks. I was in Costco yesterday and bought a Hamilton Beach Stainless Steel electric kettle for $29. It looks great, but the reviews on Amazon give me caution.

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.

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.