BPA FREE ELECTRIC KETTLE
BPA stands for bisphenol A. BPA is an industrial chemical that has been used to make certain plastics and resins since the 1960s.
The one thing to avoid was kettles with plastic insides. Every single one with plastic innards had comments about plastic taste in the water. Stainless and glass interiors didn't have this problem, but glass was more susceptable to scale buildup. So advisable with stainless. There aren't many of these kettles with stainless insides, and the ones there are generally more expensive. Look at the Breville and some others, but they were simply too much money. This one, while not cheap, offered a great feature set, accurate temperatures, stainless interior, good controls, unobstrusive base, and pretty nice aesthetics.
The kettle is easy to fill, solidly built, and heats water very fast. It finishes its heat cycle with an authoritative BEEP. Another bonus is that even once it has reached temperature, it will keep the water at that temperature for up to 30 minutes, so if someone busy doing something else, the kettle can wait until you get there, and the water isn't too cold or too hot! The most important thing about a good cup of french press coffee, besides the beans, is the temperature of the water.
The base is very minimal and you don't even notice it when the kettle is sitting on it, it looks like one piece of the kettle. The controls are easy to reach while holding the kettle by the handle, and the little LED light on the water level indicator is bright and helps you see the water level in a dimly lit early morning kitchen. It also automatically shuts off after a bit if the kettle heat has been turned off. The kettle will turn off automatically after a certain amount of time, but it also is easy to turn off once you've poured out your needed water by pressing the "keep warm" button again.
Cleaning is as easy as making a water/white vinegar mixture and letting the kettle boil for 10-15 minutes, then rinsing it out a few times. This removes lime scale deposits and calcification.
P.S.
If you're concerned about BPA, you can take steps to minimize your exposure by:
- Some manufacturers label their products as BPA-free. If a product isn't labeled, keep in mind that most aluminum cans or bottles have linings that contain BPA, while steel bottles or cans don't
- The plastics can break down over time, possibly causing BPA to leach into food.
- Use glass, porcelain or stainless steel containers for hot foods and liquids instead of plastic containers.
