Customer Reviews

Braun WK200W Aqua Express Electric Water Kettle, White

5 star:		(352)
4 star:		(52)
3 star:		(28)
2 star:		(17)
1 star:		(28)

 

 

Not only does this improve upon the standard stove-based kettle, but it improves upon the previous generation of fixed-cord electric kettles.

The separation of kettle and corded base allows the former to be taken to the sink (or refrigerator if you're boiling pitcher-filtered water) without bother. It makes pouring at the table or in another room easy, as well. The cord can be wound inside the base so that only the needed length is exposed - neatening your countertop. The base has a "360-degree rotational connection," which means that you don't have to align the kettle in any particular way when replacing it. No buttons to press, no connector to snap.

The handle and kettle shell stay cool, obviating the need for a hot pad when picking it up, and the single control is as simple as can be: press it to start and it turns itself off when the water boils. If you forget about it, you needn't worry about boiling away all the water and leaving yourself with a burnt pot. (It will also turn off automatically if the pot is empty, the lid is opened, or the pot is removed from the base!)

The anti-calcification filter reduces scaling and thus the need to run a vinegar solution to clean out the buildup (something most people never do with their stove-based kettles). The design allows you to easily see the entire inside of the kettle, so you can keep an eye on things.

For those who regular drink tea or other beverages made with stove-boiled water, an electric kettle is a real convenience. This Braun kettle is about as convenient as they come.

We were recently in England and saw friends using an electric tea kettle that was different than any we had ever seen in the U.S. I had to have one. When we got home I found this lovely Braun electric kettle and purchased it immediately. It does all we expected. It has a large capacity so you don't have to refill it constantly. It boils very, very quickly and shuts off so I don't have to watch it. I love being able to take it to the sink to fill it without dragging the cord. It's very easy to clean because it detaches from the base. I like the large handle grip and the water window on both sides. We use it for everything instant including soup. How did we get along without it?

I got this after destroying a ... Alessi kettly by accidentally letting it boil dry until the plastic parts melted...

I was about to spring for one of the Zojirushi megabuck dispensers, when I spotted this unit. I have always liked Braun (more consistently good than Krups or Cuisinart) for their design and ergonomics. This pot doesn't fail to impress. This baby is FAST; It boils water at 1 minute per 8-oz cup (or faster, if you start with hot tap water). For a single cup of tea, this is about as fast as you can select a teabag and prepare the cup! BTW, this actually holds 7 cups, not 6 as described.

The design is very nice and clean-looking. The base is especially well-designed, since you can put the pot on rotated in whatever way is convenient. This is apparently a big win over the Krups kettle. The "mineral filter seems like overkill, but it does prevent splashing of the boiling water, and causes pouring to be very smooth. Cleanup is brain-dead simple (pour out the excess water after use, and flip the top open to allow evaporation). Pot itself does not get too hot to touch, and the handle stays completely cool. Automatic-off features work under all sensible scenarios: when it reaches full boil, when the top is opened for any reason, when lifted off the base, or when the pot is empty.

As for the Zojirushi dispensers? They may be useful if you want a lot of water (up to 5 liters for the big ones) held at a controlled temperature. But for most home uses, this need is rare, and otherwise deosn't justify the ... price tag.

For me, the Braun is one of those are kitchen appliances that took a while to see the need for, but now I couldn't live without. A real time and hassle saver!

well, it's by design.

The problems with the auto-shutoff and the condensation are probably all related - the mechanism for turning the switch on/off is built into the base - what has to happen is steam moves down the spine of the kettle (the gray area under the handle). THis is a steam passage that vents into the base of the unit. At this point inside the base, there is a bi-metallic disc - it will expand with heat, and this activates the toggle lever that cuts the unit off. Also contained on the other side of this lever, is a button that protrudes from the bottom of the unit near the power receptacle - it is a very small red pin shaped object - this is what toggles the power off when you remove it from the base.

The condensation is from steam activating the cutoff. You might get a few drops of water from condensation on the bottom - however - all the electrical contacts are WELL shrouded (nice plastic covers - nothing exposed). No metal there to rust either - the disc won't rust. The bottom of the heating element is sealed up nicely.

So - the people noticing the condensation on the bottom? It's normal - look at the base where the gray part goes down from the handle.... there is a small steam vent at the bottom. Watch that closely as you boil water - you'll see the steam escaping. From the inside of the kettle you can see the inlet near where the lid hinges - it takes steam from the top of the inside of the unit and channels it down to the shutoff mechanism.

The handle design, while nice looking ,isn't as functional as I would like. I prefer the handles that come all the way back around to the base of the unit - those you can grasp near the top, the middle, or the bottom - eases strain on the wrist when pouring (I don't care, but those with hand/wrist problems would care).

Other than that:

-it heats water quickly. Faster than the phillips
-the cup measurements on the side are actually.... cups. 8oz. incrememnts
-lid shuts nicely. Opens easily. Good fit and finish.
-cord is short (won't trip over it)
-cord is actually grounded! (3 prong, not two - most aren't grounded!)
-heating element covers the ENTIRE bottom of unit - boils faster than other 1500 watt kettles
-very smart design for electrodes
-kettle rests nice on base... good fit and finish

cons:

-don't like the design for the cutoff (picky about mess - even 2 drops of water are 2 many!)
-don't like the cutoff when you remove it - one more part to fail
-don't like the fact that the lid won't open past about 80 degrees from horizontal (philips will open much farther).
-short handle limits positioning of wrist when pouring.
-cord is very short (might be a problem with some kitchen setups).
-lid design could be a bit better - lid fits to the inside of the body, allowing a small amount of steam to escape around the edges (people notice condensation on top of lid). Philips and others don't do that.

All in all - a great kettle. The weak point would be the safety cutoff when you remove the kettle from the base - if that small plastic pin mechanism fails, the switch won't stay on.

I have another kettle that doesn't have this feature, and have never found it a useful safety feature (all of them have built in thermal protection so if you leave it on and put it back on the base empty, they shut off). NOTE: if this ever happens, it takes a few minutes to cool back down where the switch will start working again. Fill the thing with cold water and let it sit for 5 mintues. Good as new.

If this were priced the same as a philips or others, it would get more stars.

My wife and I bought this kettle about a month ago, and I find myself telling her every other day that I just love this kettle!

I count myself as something of an expert, since we've owned a variety of expensive electric kettles here in the States in the past, plus we've had the opportunity to try out various models in Britain on many trips over there to visit the relatives.

Here are just some of the positives about this lovely kettle;

1- Absolutely no chance of getting your hand burnt by either the water or steam, unless you stick your finger into the spout as you pour out the boiling water. My last $85 model had an annoying habit of stinging one's hand with steam unless you hired an architect to assist you in replacing the lid in a perfect fashion.

2- Light as a feather. This kettle seems to add just about nothing to the weight of the water. It has a large conveniently placed handle that allows you to use your full strength when picking up the kettle. Consequently it's oh so light to lift even when full of water.

3- Quick to boil. The kettle has a wide gauge (see picture of kettle) that allows you to easily read the amount of water in the kettle. Plus it doesn't get covered in steam (like other models do), so you can fill just what you need, and therefore boil very quickly.

4- Very easy to twist on stand. The element that attachs the kettle itself onto the base is a small, circular, knob, about 2" in diameter, and about 2" high. Consequently it is supremely simple, while the kettle is in the process of boiling, to twist it in any direction, for instance to make the handle more accessible, or to look at the water gauge. It is also a breeze to lift it from the base to pour out the boiled water.

5- No need to remove the lid to refill! The kettle comes with a basic filtering system, and from the clever way that it has been constructed, there is no need to remove the lid to add fresh water. You simply add it through the pouring funnel, which is itself the filtering funnel.

6- I could go on for awhile listing smart things about this kettle, like the fact that it turns off when you remove the lid, or that it pours very smoothly, and that you can't get burnt on the hand by the kettle because it's plastic unlike a metal model on which you could sear steaks, and that it makes great tea (which after all is it's most important purpose). But I think you've probably got the idea that this is a great kettle in my opinion.

I bought mine from Amazon.

The Braun kettle clearly exeeded my expecations.

Performance: it is super fast. Faster than a microwave, faster than my old B&D kettle and certainly faster than the stove top.

Convenience: it is easy to use, the handle sits well in the hand, the buttons are in easy reach, the water level indicator cannot be more clear to read

Safety: I didn't realize when I bought it but it's super-safe. It shuts off when the water boils, when the lid is opened (most other kettles don't), when the water is empty and when it is lifted off the base. This is what I call German engineering (it's also made in Germany). I am putting the emphasis here because consumer overlook the importance of safety when in urge of buying a new product.

Design: I love it...it is destinctive and modern. I am proud to place it on my kitchen counter-top.

This is not the 1st Braun appliance I bought and they have not disappointed me yet. I can't wait to try the brand new coffeemaker Braun AromaDeluxe. Unfortunately, my present Braun is still working well to be replaced.

I asked for this tea kettle for my birthday, frustrated with a slow, noisy, hard-to-clean metal kettle used on a natural gas range. Little did I realize that I would fall in love with it so fast. The Braun WK200 is a pinnacle of water-boiling perfection. There is no aspect in which the designers didn't stop and think (or test) how people react.

First off, the entire unit is light, easy to move, and fits together beautifully. The base as a three-prong cord and four "cut outs" for the cord to extend though. You can unwrap extra cord (or rewrap it) around a circular depression in the base to perfectly position the base.

The kettle sits on the base and there's no way to set it down wrong. It rests on the electrical element, which is completely safe to the touch. It can sit in any orientation. It's also balanced to avoid tipping.

The design of the kettle truly shines. Because the kettle can sit in any orientation, the designers put the water level and red "on" light on both sides -- that's a small detail that makes a huge difference. The handle and kettle are well balanced against each other even when the kettle is full.

When filling it with water, the decalcification filter deters scale if you fill through it (which is the best way), while also slightly aerating the water for better boiling. Pouring, likewise, is safer: the filter prevents a huge outflow of water, which can scald. You can also pop the entire top of the lid open for more rapid filling.

The on button (there is no need for an off button) is a light press. It can only be engaged when the kettle is fully settled on the electrical element in the base. Removing the kettle from the base automatically pops the on button out.

And how does it boil water? Miraculously fast. It doesn't make much noise, either, and it shuts off the instant a full rolling boil is reached. But getting back to a boil takes literally a few seconds if you've walked away.

I've used this kettle at my in-laws' home, and was impressed enough that I want to buy one. Checking it out here, I saw the comment by the person who sent it back because the hot water would be exposed to "plastic".

The word "plastic" (as he or she used it) covers thousands of different materials - and many of them are better at handling hot and corrosive liquids and keeping things ultra-pure than other materials, including stainless steels. I'd hate to go to a hospital that banned plastics - imagine copper tubing IVs carrying the saline solution from stainless steel tanks, using brass Swagelok fittings to connect them.

I don't know what material this kettle is made of, but it'd be pretty stupid of the manufacturer to use a polymer which would give off plasticisers or molding release agents (the usual contaminants from plastics) since these would absolutely affect the taste and smell of tea being made, and the kettle would never sell.

My Ph.D. advisor was a metallurgist who saw plastics as a pestilence, but even he would probably agree (if I dared bring up the subject) that there's no reason to believe that hot water would absorb or be contaminated with anything if the correct plastic were used.

In most of these types of kettles, which I've used in Singapore, Japan, and the US, and which are ALWAYS made of some polymer, the major source of contamination for the water is the metallic heating element!

Dr. Dan Schwarcz

This is nearly the perfect kettle! I bought this because my in-laws are coming for two weeks and my father in-law hates heating water in the microwave (he's a technophobe)... Needless to say, this Braun is a dream! Add the water, place it on the plugged-in base and "BAM" instant hot water!

The Braun kettle is almost idiot proof (which will be great for my mother in-law a great deal). When it boils, it shuts off... When you open the lid on the base, it shuts off... When you take it off the base, it shuts off... Great for those folks who are just too .... retentive/impatient and have to fiddle with the kettle.

Ok, downside... After it shuts off, you need to wait 10 minutes for a cool down/reset before starting the system again... Not too bad for those of us who can wait or think the water is hot enough, but for those folk who want an instant boil again, this might be torture.

All in all, great investment. I'm glad I spent the money for it. BTW, for those folks worried about plastic leaching, I have a family friend who's a chemist (he's also real environmental-organic freak) and has the Braun kettle as well. He told me there is negligible leaching... He told me you get more leaching from one of those Britta water filters than you do with the Braun kettle. Sounds good to me.

UPDATE, July 2007: See below for comments about this pot vs. an always-on water pot like the Zojirushi; I still like this appliance a lot, but I love my ne Zojirushi Micom water pot too!

I was about to spring for one of the Zojirushi megabuck dispensers, when I spotted this unit. I have always liked Braun (more consistently good than Krups or Cuisinart) for their design and ergonomics. This pot doesn't fail to impress. This baby is FAST; It boils water at 1 minute per 8-oz cup (or faster, if you start with hot tap water). For a single cup of tea, this is about as fast as you can select a teabag and prepare the cup! BTW, this actually holds 7 cups, not 6 as described.

The design is very nice and clean-looking. The base is especially well-designed, since you can put the pot on rotated in whatever way is convenient. This is apparently a big win over the Krups kettle. The "mineral filter seems like overkill, but it does prevent splashing of the boiling water, and causes pouring to be very smooth. Cleanup is brain-dead simple (pour out the excess water after use, and flip the top open to allow evaporation). Pot itself does not get too hot to touch, and the handle stays completely cool. Automatic-off features work under all sensible scenarios: when it reaches full boil, when the top is opened for any reason, when lifted off the base, or when the pot is empty.

As for the Zojirushi dispensers? They may be useful if you want a lot of water (up to 5 liters for the big ones) held at a controlled temperature. But for most home uses, this need is rare, and otherwise deosn't justify the price tag.

IMHO, the Braun is one of those rare kitchen appliances that took a while to see the need for, but now I couldn't live without. A real time and hassle saver!

UPDATE July 2007: well, I finally had occasion to get a Zojirushi Micom water pot Zojirushi CD-FAC22 Zutto Micom Electric Dispensing Pot. I have to say that the Zojirushi has replaced this Braun on the counter, and the Braun has been relegated to special-purpose use. Why? A full-time hot water pot makes for instant gratification. Also, the Zojirushi above (and many other brands/models of these pots) allows you to set the hold temperature to one of 3 settings (208, for black tea etc., 195, for green tea, 140 for baby formula and cereal), instead of just getting 100% boiling water. The advantage of ad-hoc pots like the Braun, on the other hand, is less energy use and ease of pouring in tall vessels or odd places (since the pot lifts off the power base). A true kitchen junkie will find a way to justify having both...