Several reputable consumer tests rank the Cuisinart CPK-17 adjustable temperature tea kettle at the very top. That caught my eye. But so did its high price--almost double the also nicely designed Miroco MI-EK001. Both have the same 1.7 liter (57 ounce) capacity, with very similar features. I bought the Cuisinart first but was intrigued by the Miroco at roughly half the price so I bought it, too. I had earlier compared the Hamilton Beach 41020 to the Cuisinart but found its workmanship not nearly as good, and its lack of temperature accuracy disappointing. In my opinion, the highest quality appliances should be fairly priced, but reliable and also of long term value.
Spoiler alert! Can the Miroco compete at half the price? REMARKABLY WELL although its features are not identical. The Cuisinart does offer offer small convenience advantages depending on your household’s priorities.
Cuisinart CPK-17 vs. Miroco MI-EK001/ Design:
As you can see in the photos, both designs are similar, but not identical. The Cuisinart weighs a couple of ounces more than the Miroco, noticeable when filling when empty but not when pouring with water inside. The Miroco has a slightly wider pop up lid with two separate buttons for opening and closing. That may make the Moroco easier to fill for those with less pouring dexterity, yet both models have ample filling room.
For better balance with the Cuisinart I have to “choke up” (a baseball term) on it’s handle with my fingers over the temp controls but this has never been a problem. Before trying the Miroco, I thought its squared-off shape handle might be uncomfortable. However, since I have medium sized hands, I prefer it to the Cuisinart’s slightly more bulbous handle. All things considered, the ergonomics of the handle on the Miroco is a small advantage.
Cuisinart CPK-17 tea kettle vs. Miroco MI-EK001 / Workmanship:
This was a very pleasant surprise. When I compared the Hamilton Beach near clone of the Cuisinart, one big difference was cheaper workmanship for the HB. No so with the Moroco. Beautiful, smoothly machined and solid. Both brands are quality appliances and impressively built. Both have similar fill windows that turn a pleasant blue while on. The Cuisinart only shows liters while the Microco shows cups as well as liters. I find the Miroco slightly easier to read. While the lid designs are different, I prefer Cuisinart’s open button which can be accomplished one handed. For the Miroco, using only one hand, you can’t open the lid at the same time as holding the handle.
Cuisinart CPK-17 vs. Miroco MI-EK001 / Temp choices and features:
The two kettles have virtually the same features. As you can see in the photo, the design approaches are different. Both have a great feature that will allow you to hold the brewing temp for another 30 minutes. So, what is different between the two brands? For the Cuisinart, the keep warm feature is on by default—it can also easily be turned off—either before or after brewing. For the Miroco, the default is off and the keep warm button must be pressed manually. Due to busy mornings in our house, I prefer the Cuisinart design with the default to be on automatically. As an example, I typically wake up first, have a cup of green tea brewed at the proper 175 degrees and then wait for my wife to join me. Everything is ready to go with no additional button pushes needed. Later, we’ll pour water for oatmeal for our daughter. All can be poured at the same temp held by the kettle. However, if you typically would not need a second cup, perhaps you might prefer the Miroco approach. Turning on its keep warm feature is easy, especially before brewing.
Since we pour multiple cups, one other Cuisinart advantage we really like is a memory feature. If you take the kettle off the base, then return it to the base within a couple of minutes, the Cuisinart keeps the temperature and hold setting. As soon as the Miroco is removed to pour, when returned to the base, the tea kettle is fully shut off. This may be a disadvantage for some. However, to get back to the settings to hold the kettle for 30 minutes longer requires a few quick button presses, easy to do in only takes a couple of seconds. You just need to get in the habit of remembering.
Cuisinart CPK-17 vs. Miroco MI-EK001 / All important performance tests:
As both are 1500 watts, each has terrific, fast speed far surpassing stovetop kettles or microwave heating. For a full 1.7 liter pot (57 ounces), the Cuisinart shut off at the 212 degree boiling point in 7:06. The Miroco took 7:35. In everyday real world usage, this is not a meaningful difference yet the Cuisinart is slightly faster. For 24 ounces, the Cuisinart finished in just 3:31 and for 16 ounces, it was done in only 2:32. The Miroco was not far behind. Plenty quick all around.
At the green tea setting of 175 degrees, the Cuisinart took just 2:22 for 24 ounces, and a terrific 1:40 for 16 ounces. The Miroco finished 24 ounces in 2:40, and for 16 ounces, just 1:52.
Both of these pots are very well insulated. Even an hour or two after turning off, the water inside is still plenty hot. If initially set to boil, a full hour after turning off the Moroco is still at 178, while the Cuisinart is slightly cooler at 167. Each can be brought back to a full boil in just a minute or two, depending on how much water is inside.
Cuisinart CPK-17 vs. Miroco MI-EK001 / Temperature consistency:
When brewing to 212 degrees, both brands hit the boiling point and are ready to pour. Yet, it is likely that in buying a versatile temp variable kettle like these, you may also care about consistency at different temperatures, and in using the keep warm setting. For example, Chinese green teas are best brewed between 170 and 180, while delicate Japanese Senchas benefit from 10 degrees cooler yet. When using each kettle’s 175 degree setting for green tea, as soon as the brewer beeped and stopped, I used a Thermapen instant read thermometer and learned the Cuisinart measured 176 degrees. Excelllent performance indeed!
For the same test at the 175 degree setting, the Miroco was 182 degrees but quickly dropped down into the mid to upper 170s. Whatever your preferred brewing temp, keep in mind that as soon as the water hits your cup, it will cool slightly more. Thus, the Miroco’s performance was also quite good—far more consistent than the less than satisfying Hamilton Beach clone of the Cuisinart I reviewed earlier.
What about temp consistency using keep warm feature? Once desired temp is reached, each kettle will sit idle until the internal water temp drops 6-8 degrees. Then a sensor kicks in, very briefly turns on the kettle for mere seconds, bringing the temp back in range. Both brands did well using the keep warm setting.
Cuisinart CPK-17 vs. Miroco MI-EK001 / Warranty and the long term:
Although Cuisinart has a laudable three-year warranty, several reviewers here complain that obtaining warranty service can be cumbersome and that the units sometimes go out before the warranty has expired. The buyer must pay for warranty shipping both ways. I paid $4 extra for the Assurant extended warranty. However, most warranties of this type only kick in after manufacturer warranty expires. Keeping fingers crossed! We own four Cuisinart small kitchen appliances and have never needed warranty service, happily. My original Cuisinart food processor works great after 30 years.
Concerning the CPK-17 kettle, several reviews state the number markings can rub off in time. This is not a concern with Miroco’s design—the markings lie beneath an acetate covering. Miroco’s warranty is 18 months warranty plus an 18-month extension with registration.
Cuisinart CPK-17 vs. Miroco MI-EK001 / Conclusion: These are both five star machines. We are keeping the Cuisinart at our main home and the Miroco at our vacation home. The differences between Cuisinart and Miroco are mainly differentiated by three things: 1) The keep warm feature is the automatic default for the Cuisinart but can easily turned on with the Miroco. 2) The Cuisinart has a handy two-minute memory feature that remembers the keep warm temp setting if the kettle is removed, then returned to the base. 3) If those features are considered crucial to some, the Cuisinart runs nearly double the cost, yet is well known brand name with a long term track record.
Here are two links that may be of help to you:
This first link compares the Cuisinart CPK-17 compared to the Hamilton Beach 41020. It's also a good kettle that most would be happy with, yet in my opinion not in the same league as the Cuisinart or Miroco.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R100D8UJNUET21?ref=pf_ov_at_pdctrvw_srp
Next, here's a link to the Miroco MI-EK001 discussed in this review:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JN2TK4Q/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_10?smid=A3JUQH6RQNGOWX&psc=1
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