Customer Reviews

Le Creuset Zen Enamel-on-Steel 1-2/3-Quart Kettle, Caribbean

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This tea pot is very attractive and looks great in our kitchen, but drips everywhere when you pour water. It doesn't matter if you do it slow, or fast, we've tried many different pouring techniques, but we always end up with a ton of water on the counter. Really too bad for such an expensive and beautiful kettle.

After reviewing a bunch of teakettles, this one was the pick. While I liked the look of the KitchenAid teakettles, the Le Creuset models were more attractive mainly because I was hoping to match the teakettle to other LeCreuset pieces I have. The Caribbean color is fabulous!

The Zen kettle holds plenty of water without being of such a shape that it takes over the stove top. One of the other models holds close to the same amount of water yet it appears huge!

The whistle on the Zen kettle is loud enough that you can hear it at the other end of the house, which is important to me cuz I'm forever walking away from the stove to do a couple more chores while I wait for the water to heat.

As another reviewer said, if you over-fill the teakettle, the water/steam will spew out the hole in the spout.

The lid fits tightly - perhaps a bit too much so... and it would be great if the spout opened automatically without you having to put a finger near the hot steam in order to manually open the spout. Those are the only minor flaws.

The Zen teakettle is decorative enough to be kept right on the stovetop between uses. I recommend this model!

Beautiful finish, pleasant whistle.

When the kettle is full of boiling water, sometimes pouring jets steam and water across the counter-top, instead of into the cup. Solution: pour like a zen master.

Love this kettle! My only complaint when full, hot water spills when it's being poured. Solution -- don't overfill the kettle.

I am very pleased with this tea kettle. Nice design easy pour doesn't over pour. Eye catching on the stove I would highly recommend .

Lets face it. Le Creuset is synonymous with quality. This however is not.

This does not work better than others because
1. the base is smaller than the mass therefore only allowing a smaller flame. (warnings indicates only heating the immediate base. Had to put it on my second smallest burner, it takes forever)
2. In the kitchen i cant be arsed with impractical appliances so i will turn up the heat fully until the enamel blisters
3. Its made in Thailand. (Pretty sure Le Creuset is not Thai)
4. No where near as sturdy as their other cookware.
5. Looks like a fish out of water on my practical, almost industrial cooking space.

On the plus side, opposing other reviews, the whistle works. Lucky me.

After researching for a week I chose this product over others primarily for the name and colour. I would not have bought this if i saw it in a shop. A waste of money. I shan't return it because I live in Australia and the shipping cost back are silly so I will use it hard until it breaks. I give it 3 months max.

I couldn't wait for my new tea kettle to arrive, I drink tea daily and had been suffering along with a broken kettle that burned my fingers and had a broken whistle. When the box finally arrived and I opened it up, the kettle was GORGEOUS. Except for a pencil eraser sized chip in the enamel. There was no return form in the box, and all of the information online instructed me to use the "enclosed easy return form." After some research, I found a customer service email to write to. The response I got was that customer service was really busy, and they were sorry but they'd get back to me in 3-5 days. I had probably 3 email exchanges with this department with 3-5 days in between each. Finally they offered to send me a new one, within 10 business days. Today is the 10th day, let's see if it arrives. So the moral of the story is, I ordered this kettle about a month ago and am still waiting for it. So much for the convenience of ordering online...

Dribbles all over when you try to pour slow, and accurate (like for a manual pour over coffee filter, or smaller Asian teapots)..

I almost gave 3 STARS, but since this is a water kettle (and its basic function is to pour) It deserves 2=STARS doe such a serious flaw..

AND I FIGURED OUT WHY:
When you pour slow the large spout ends up straight and horizontal, which increases the tendency for the water to "wrap" around and dribbl down to the bottom of the pot (they use this trick on rain gutters to collect the water and sheds the pine needles behind)..

And I see the same complaint for other Le Creuset teapots..
I have the white ZEN..
Too bad because this is obviously a deal killer..

I WILL BE RETURNING THE ZEN WATER POT..
As another reviewer mentioned, it dribbles water everywhere (a lot of water).. You would think they would do a test pour before manufacturing a million of these.. I was barely able to pour onto a large mug.. When I tried to use the manual pour over coffee filter, it was not enjoyable..



MY THOUGHTS "BEFORE" I TRIED TO POUR..
Several people complained about the whistle being too soft.. I LOVE THIS FEATURE, since I keep the pot in the room with me.. I wish it were more quiet actually (I will probably open the flap and listen for the boil; I am only 52 and I still have my hearing, LOL).. My other enameled steel pot made in germany, but I was fearful of getting burnt with the steam (the ZEN lid fits tight; but I found the lid easy to remove (because I could pry again ST the handle).. Someone complained about rusting; I have had several pieces of Le Creuset for 4 years, and no hint of rust on any.. However, if the spout were to bang against something and case the enamel to flake off, I would expect rust (maybe thats what happened).. I like the large lid so I can clean it out when I need to.. I have found though that enamel doesnt need cleaning very often (my stainless seemed to always want to develop scum).. The enamel mates with the glass of the induction cooktop perfectly (its nice not to have that old electric scratching my enamel and looking ugly at the same time.. and heating up the room; as the induction cooker doesnt heat up the room nearly as much as the electric)..

LOVE MY NEW ALL CLASD INDUCTION HEATER (William Sonoma $300):
It heated 1/2 pot of water to FULL BOIL in 3 MIN, 45 SECONDS.. Then one click down on the dial kept the water right on the edge of a boil.. Another click and no boil.. Left it there a while, then 2 clicks up and FULL BOIL again in less than 5 seconds.. This is the best water heating setup in the world, LOL (but very expensive).. I also plan to use the $300 device for braising and slow cooking (I tried a blue two induction and it would not simmer so I had to return it).. The all clad simmers better than any stove (gas or electric), but it was a slightly fast simmer (and havent figured out if I can change it).