Calphalon Tea Kettle - collector's edition
Written: Jul 23 '02 (Updated Jul 23 '02)
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Pros: aluminum base, attractive
Cons: no whistle
The Bottom Line: Really a nice all-around kettle with a style that blends in regardless of decorating taste.
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| LRGuis's Full Review: Calphalon 2-Quart Stainless Steel Collector's Edit... |
I love tea. Some have a coffee addiction, and I'll go for a good latte from time to time, heaven knows there are some beer guys out there as well, but for me it's tea. A love for years, and I can only assume a love for years to come. So you have the love, but somehow you need to get from dried up leaves to drinkable tea and a tea kettle is a sensible way to go.
Note here to purists, I use tea mostly in bags and I do often nuke a mug of water in the microwave when I need a quick fix. It just seemed necessary to include this oh-so-vital piece of information
But why a $40 tea kettle?
Yes, this stainless steel model from Calphalon will cost you in the neighborhood of $40. Immediately I know you're laughing when you think of the savings you encountered with that $19 model sitting so primly on your range top. Ah, but from the keyboard of a gal who has been through more than a few kettles...these reasons for the Calphalon:
- The exterior is stainless steel, quite trendy right now, but Calphalon made this superior by placing aluminum on the base (which helps in the effort to heat evenly). In addition, styling is classic fitting well into a wide range of decorating styles.
- The handle here is of the same stainless steel as the kettle's body. Why is this important? Many cheaper kettles come complete with a wooden handle which will expand and contract with the moisture emitted from a steaming hot kettle. In fact, I've had one actually begin to smoke from the heat - good for testing the smoke alarm, not so great for picking up the kettle and pouring the water.
Other features: Glass lid makes this one unique and more interesting than many others. The lid is complete with hole to allow steam to escape and is tempered for safe handling.
Dishwasher safe makes it fashionable while still retaining some practicality. That said, many will find that stainless steel means spotting when the kettle is left to go through the drying cycle of the dishwasher.
Interior is stainless resulting in another safety feature - no corrosion.
What's not to love?
There really are no bad features with this one, just a missed feature that some may truly enjoy in a tea kettle: the sound of a whistle when the water is ready. No whistle to be had with this model, and my shopping excursion proved a bit fruitless in that Calphalon's closest model with whistle was about $79. Granted, Michigan could just have a really inflated tea kettle market.
With a height of just over 6 inches this should fit well on a range even with a low-slung vent (i.e. in my case our vent hood is an over-the-stove microwave). Two quarts supplies plenty of water for the tea guzzlers among us - even for this heavy {tea} drinker.
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This one is called a "collector's edition" yet supplies are more than good here as well as online during my last surfing shopping trip.
My favorite tea? Try Stash English Breakfast Tea for a nice brew any time of the day.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 38.99
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LRGuis
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