Braun WK200W Aqua Express Electric Water Kettle, White

The separation of kettle and corded base allows the former to be taken to the sink (or refrigerator if you're boiling pitcher-filtered water) without bother. It makes pouring at the table or in another room easy, as well. The cord can be wound inside the base so that only the needed length is exposed - neatening your countertop. The base has a "360-degree rotational connection," which means that you don't have to align the kettle in any particular way when replacing it. No buttons to press, no connector to snap.

The handle and kettle shell stay cool, obviating the need for a hot pad when picking it up, and the single control is as simple as can be: press it to start and it turns itself off when the water boils. If you forget about it, you needn't worry about boiling away all the water and leaving yourself with a burnt pot. (It will also turn off automatically if the pot is empty, the lid is opened, or the pot is removed from the base!)

The anti-calcification filter reduces scaling and thus the need to run a vinegar solution to clean out the buildup (something most people never do with their stove-based kettles). The design allows you to easily see the entire inside of the kettle, so you can keep an eye on things.

For those who regular drink tea or other beverages made with stove-boiled water, an electric kettle is a real convenience. This Braun kettle is about as convenient as they come.


Clean Design, Very Functional   February 20, 2002
 74 out of 77 found this review helpful

I got this after destroying a ... Alessi kettly by accidentally letting it boil dry until the plastic parts melted...

I was about to spring for one of the Zojirushi megabuck dispensers, when I spotted this unit. I have always liked Braun (more consistently good than Krups or Cuisinart) for their design and ergonomics. This pot doesn't fail to impress. This baby is FAST; It boils water at 1 minute per 8-oz cup (or faster, if you start with hot tap water). For a single cup of tea, this is about as fast as you can select a teabag and prepare the cup! BTW, this actually holds 7 cups, not 6 as described.

The design is very nice and clean-looking. The base is especially well-designed, since you can put the pot on rotated in whatever way is convenient. This is apparently a big win over the Krups kettle. The "mineral filter seems like overkill, but it does prevent splashing of the boiling water, and causes pouring to be very smooth. Cleanup is brain-dead simple (pour out the excess water after use, and flip the top open to allow evaporation). Pot itself does not get too hot to touch, and the handle stays completely cool. Automatic-off features work under all sensible scenarios: when it reaches full boil, when the top is opened for any reason, when lifted off the base, or when the pot is empty.

As for the Zojirushi dispensers? They may be useful if you want a lot of water (up to 5 liters for the big ones) held at a controlled temperature. But for most home uses, this need is rare, and otherwise deosn't justify the ... price tag.

For me, the Braun is one of those are kitchen appliances that took a while to see the need for, but now I couldn't live without. A real time and hassle saver!


Great design - super performance and safe   December 18, 2002
 45 out of 47 found this review helpful

The Braun kettle clearly exeeded my expecations.

Performance: it is super fast. Faster than a microwave, faster than my old B&D kettle and certainly faster than the stove top.

Convenience: it is easy to use, the handle sits well in the hand, the buttons are in easy reach, the water level indicator cannot be more clear to read

Safety: I didn't realize when I bought it but it's super-safe. It shuts off when the water boils, when the lid is opened (most other kettles don't), when the water is empty and when it is lifted off the base. This is what I call German engineering (it's also made in Germany). I am putting the emphasis here because consumer overlook the importance of safety when in urge of buying a new product.

Design: I love it...it is destinctive and modern. I am proud to place it on my kitchen counter-top.

This is not the 1st Braun appliance I bought and they have not disappointed me yet. I can't wait to try the brand new coffeemaker Braun AromaDeluxe. Unfortunately, my present Braun is still working well to be replaced.


Fast, Clean, Well-Designed Workhorse   February 20, 2002
 36 out of 37 found this review helpful

UPDATE, July 2007: See below for comments about this pot vs. an always-on water pot like the Zojirushi; I still like this appliance a lot, but I love my ne Zojirushi Micom water pot too!

I was about to spring for one of the Zojirushi megabuck dispensers, when I spotted this unit. I have always liked Braun (more consistently good than Krups or Cuisinart) for their design and ergonomics. This pot doesn't fail to impress. This baby is FAST; It boils water at 1 minute per 8-oz cup (or faster, if you start with hot tap water). For a single cup of tea, this is about as fast as you can select a teabag and prepare the cup! BTW, this actually holds 7 cups, not 6 as described.

The design is very nice and clean-looking. The base is especially well-designed, since you can put the pot on rotated in whatever way is convenient. This is apparently a big win over the Krups kettle. The "mineral filter seems like overkill, but it does prevent splashing of the boiling water, and causes pouring to be very smooth. Cleanup is brain-dead simple (pour out the excess water after use, and flip the top open to allow evaporation). Pot itself does not get too hot to touch, and the handle stays completely cool. Automatic-off features work under all sensible scenarios: when it reaches full boil, when the top is opened for any reason, when lifted off the base, or when the pot is empty.

As for the Zojirushi dispensers? They may be useful if you want a lot of water (up to 5 liters for the big ones) held at a controlled temperature. But for most home uses, this need is rare, and otherwise deosn't justify the price tag.

IMHO, the Braun is one of those rare kitchen appliances that took a while to see the need for, but now I couldn't live without. A real time and hassle saver!

UPDATE July 2007: well, I finally had occasion to get a Zojirushi Micom water pot Zojirushi CD-FAC22 Zutto Micom Electric Dispensing Pot. I have to say that the Zojirushi has replaced this Braun on the counter, and the Braun has been relegated to special-purpose use. Why? A full-time hot water pot makes for instant gratification. Also, the Zojirushi above (and many other brands/models of these pots) allows you to set the hold temperature to one of 3 settings (208, for black tea etc., 195, for green tea, 140 for baby formula and cereal), instead of just getting 100% boiling water. The advantage of ad-hoc pots like the Braun, on the other hand, is less energy use and ease of pouring in tall vessels or odd places (since the pot lifts off the power base). A true kitchen junkie will find a way to justify having both...