T-Fal BF6520004 Vitesse 1.7L Electric Kettle
Technical Details
- 1750-watt high-speed kettle boils 7 cups of water in just 5 minutes
- On/off button located on handle; boil-dry protection with automatic shut-off
- Variable temperature control; lifts off corded power base for cordless pouring
- Exterior water-level indicators; concealed heating element; anti-scale filter
- Measures approximately 8 by 11 by 8 inches; 1-year limited warranty
Product Description
T-fal's new high-speed kettle employs 1,750 watts of electric power to bring 1 cup of cold water to a rolling boil in one minute. With the kettle filled to its 7-cup capacity, a full boil is achieved in five minutes. That makes the kettle ideal for instant coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or instant soups. To ensure that the water doesn't boil away if attention is diverted, the kettle shuts off automatically once the water reaches full boil. For convenience, it lifts off its corded power base for cordless pouring, can be set on the power base in any direction, and turns on (or off) with a simple push of a button on the handle. Inside the spout there's a removable and washable antiscale filter that extends the kettle's life. With an exterior of hard, gleaming plastic, the kettle wipes clean easily. It's pleasingly plump, has water-level windows on both sides and a cord wrap underneath, and carries a one-year warranty against defects.
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Customer Reviews
"Ultra so-so" 2010-10-01
By
J. Carroll (baltimore)
We keep buying these kettles for some reason - 3 US models so far - and they keep breaking down after 3 years or so. In every case, the electric connection to the base has deteriorated. You can fiddle with it with a pair of needlenose pliers and keep it limping along for a while, but only a while. Even with with the heavy but non-abusive daily use we subject them to, there's no reason these things shouldn't be able to last longer. The one we have now looks practically new except for that screwed up connection. It's just bad engineering.
Why have we continued to buy them? My wife has been using these exact kettles since her youth, although without the useless temp control and in a 220V version. Overall, we like their form and function better than other kettles. I suppose having to invest an average of $14 a year in an electric kettle (which functions in our household like the cast-iron cookstove once did in homes of yore) isn't the end of the world. But I am seriously thinking of forcing myself to habituate myself to something else just to punish this company for its lax quality.
"So far, so good..." 2010-09-27
By
Spin Disorients (Shrewsbury, MA)
The kettle appears to be nicely made. It certainly heats up water very fast and the auto-off feature is great! It means you don't have to wait close by while it heats. I only have a few reservations:
1. You need to have a minimum of 0.7 liters of water in the kettle. Since I use this mostly for myself, I might have looked harder online to see if there is a smaller electric kettle on the market.
2. When brand new, the plastic gave out a lot of "new plastic" smell and taste. This went away quickly over a week or two and is now not a problem. But is it healthy to have Made-in-China plasticizers leaching into hot water that you drink? Would a kettle with stainless steel innards be healthier?
3. Like everything these days, it is Made in China. Which usually means something will break on it in a year or two and it will need to be replaced. Initial quality looks excellent (better than I expected), but I wonder about the life of these things?
"Nasty Plastic Taste" 2010-09-22
By
S. W. DAVIS (Oakland, CA)
The product works great, but the water is undrinkable. The smell and taste of the water is of strong plastic. I'm scared to think what chemicals leached into the water to give off an odor and taste like this. I'm returning this product. I washed the kettle, I used it for over a week, but the smell remains.
"Terrific kettle!" 2010-09-21
By
Nina (Northern New England)
I've been using this kettle for 6 months and I really like it! It's great for setting up the night before. Push the button and in less than 3 minutes I have water for 2 large cups of hot beverage. The best part is the temperature control dial. I cannot conceive how anyone can drink coffee at the temp it is served at in restaurants. Ouch! I use this on the lowest setting and it's still hot enough to put in liquid creamer and be perfect drinking temp. If you're taking it to go, you just turn it up. I read a complaint about the hinge. I guess I wouldn't have noticed as I have simply filled it through the spout this whole time. It stays cool on the outside and I got an additional one for my 87 yr old mother in law as it's so easy to handle and requires no stove usage. (other caregivers will understand)
The only, and I mean only, reason it didn't get 5 stars is because I wish the water didn't heat in plastic. (to be fair I did call TFal and there aren't any of the "bad" plastics in it, but...) I'd rather it was lined in stainless steel rather than just on the bottom. I imagine it is not because it would make it hard to control the heated temperature, with metal holding heat so much more. More metal, more heat, less control. As a second choice, I'd be happy if it were lined in tempered glass, like pyrex or the like. But, other than that, really it's a terrific little kettle!
"Strong Plastic Aftertaste and Smell" 2010-09-21
By
Steven Elfant (Boston, MA)
We used this kettle for making everyday green/black tea, and occasional coffee.
Unfortunately, after 3 months of use, the water coming out of this kettle stinks of melted plastic and has a bit of a chemical aftertaste. I emailed T-FAL numerous times, with no response. Do not make the same mistake we did, if you intend to actually drink this water and taste/smell matters to you at all.
The strong points of this kettle is that it looks good, has water temperature control, and boils the water really fast. Excellent price too!
Anyone still want it? You pay shipping and its yours for free. ;)
