We Talk Shop

A few months ago I reviewed a Philips electric water kettle that I loved, but then I discovered mineral deposits forming in the bottom. After a little research, I realized a stainless steel bottom would resolve this issue and set about looking for a replacement kettle. And here it is, T-fal’s Vitesse 7-Cup Electric Kettle has almost every feature you could want in a kettle, and a few you might not expect.

In a head-to-head battle between the T-fal and Philips kettles, the Philips still wins a few rounds — the ding when the water was ready and the measurement window showing both cups and liters.

The T-fal, however, wins in a knock out with a slightly sleeker design (we shopgirls all about the aesthetics), a stainless steel kettle bottom, and a temperate control ranging from hot to boiling. And oh, it heats faster too.

Like the Philips, the cord can be hidden, and the kettle can be removed from the base. A couple things to note though — the temperature control can be finicky. It takes a few uses before you figure out what temperature you prefer. Also, even with a stainless steel bottom, you’ll still get mineral deposits, but it’s easy to wipe away.

Get it: T-fal makes some great products, and this one is no exception. While it could be improved by adding a few simple features like a ding to signal water is heated or an option to keep the water at a certain temperature, it’s still more than worth the buy. You can find it at Amazon and Target.