Reviews of Medelco 12-Cup Glass Stovetop Whistling Kettle

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I bought this kettle strictly for heating water for French press coffee making. Since this kettle is glass there is no chance of it imparting off flavors to the water (then the coffee). I got tired of my metal kettles becoming discolored and rusted, even with proper care. I love the idea of glass for coffee making and this kettle by Medelco is indispensable for coffee making!

It is also easy to clean (dishwasher safe) and looks wonderful. It holds 64 ounces of water when filled to the bottom of the rim, however DO NOT boil that much as it will erupt and shoot steaming water up out of the lid. I feel safe however boiling 50 to 55 ounces of water, which is more than enough for even the largest French presses.

I like to use a probe thermometer to monitor the water temp and stop at 200F, which is the ideal temperature for coffee brewing. This kettle does have a whistling lid that I use (I simply insert the thermometer into the whistling hole). The plastic handle is sturdy and remains cool (remember you can't use HIGH heat and expect the handle to stay cool, I like medium-high heat) to the touch and pouring is easy (the lid must be removed to pour). All the componets are thick and durable (especially the glass). With minimal care this kettle should last a lifetime.

All the features I wanted in a coffee kettle and add to that a fantastic price. Although inexpensive this kettle does not feel cheap. A wonderful value!

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Yay, no more metallic-tinged water! The pot comes with a wire coil shaped like a 3-leaf clover to place on electric burners, to diffuse the heat contact to the glass. I'm not completely convinced that the breathy whistle qualifies as 'piercingly loud,' but it gets the job done. The lid has a handle to minimize the risk of steam burns while removing it in order to pour (no pouring through the lid), and a shaped pour-spout minimizes drizzling. The "Diner-Flair" style is either cool or slightly disappointing, depending on my mood, but I don't drink straight from the kettle, so 'tis okay! Very good product; made in Connecticut. Medelco Inc. (not to be confused with the medical equipment makers) has a website, too.

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I purchased this glass tea kettle for use with my Bodum Chambord 12-cup coffee press. Although I am not a "coffee snob" I do like a very good cup of coffee, and the best coffee (and tea) is made in glass because there is no chance of tainting your coffee with metallic substances or Teflon.

This kettle is easy to use and easy to clean (you can even put it in the dishwasher if you like). It comes with a heat diffuser for use on electric ranges, but I suggest using it even for glasstop ranges as well. The whistle works well, but is a little more throaty than the high-pitch whistle on your standard metal tea-kettle. I use a probe thermometer and place it in the whistle hole, and let the water get between 200-205 degrees Fahrenheit which is the proper brewing temperature for the best cup of coffee.

The kettle has a clean, retro design and is very well-constructed. Some reviewers have noted that the handle heats-up. I believe this is most likely because they are using the "big burner" on their stove and not the smaller one that is the proper size for the tea kettle (thus the handle is over the outside of the burner and causes it to heat-up). So just make sure to use the smaller, more appropriate-sized burner to prevent over-heating the handle. Regardless, the handle is pretty strong, and the entire kettle is solidly-built. The kettle is made in Germany, according to the documentation that comes with it (though the company is based in the USA).

I use glass almost exclusively for all of my cooking (like Corning Visions pots and pans, this Kettle, and so on) and if I can offer some suggestions to make sure your glass cookware (like this kettle) last you a lifetime, make sure that the outside is clean and dry when you place it on the burner, and turn the burner on low temperature for a few minutes and then turn it to medium to heat-up. Gently easing-up the temperature like that allows the glass to expand slowly and prevents cracking (which happens when you heat fast though only rarely). Another tip I mentioned earlier always use the heat diffuser! You probably won't need it for gas ranges, but for electric and glass-top ranges, use it to be on the safe side. When you take the pot off of the hot burner DON'T place it on a cold burner or on the counter this causes the glass to contract quickly and could possibly cause it to crack eventually. Instead, place it on a folded, dry towel or on a pot holder or two. Let id cool before you rinse it or clean it.

All-in-all, this kettle is an EXCELLENT buy! The level of quality of craftsmanship is superb and for the price it's unbelievable!

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I've used this kettle for about a week on an electric, glass stovetop using the supplied metal trinket for heat distribution. Here are my observations so far:

It takes much longer to boil the same amount of water vs traditional kettles

The handle feels flimsy, and just by its design of coming down over the pot so close to the glass, it *DOES* get very warm. I wouldn't go so far as to say the handle is hot, but some people may not feel comfortable with it's temperature once the pot is boiling.

I feel like this kettle pours water ineffectively. The water does not splatter on it's way out, but it is not in as nice a stream as other kettles I've used.

Other reviewers have stated their kettle does not whistle. My kettle does whistle, but it is nowhere near as loud as a traditional kettle; I cannot hear the whistling unless I am in the same room as the kettle.

I do like the fact that it is easy to clean and I can see that it is clean (versus other kettles where you can see discoloration inside the pot)

Overall, it get's the jobs done, but if you're coming to this kettle from a more traditional kettle, I think you'll be disappointed.

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I have to note a couple of things. First off I research a lot of the stuff I buy this kettle included. In some of the reviews customers mentioned hot handles and having to use two hands to pour because of the lid. One review mentioned off setting the kettle so the handle isn't in the line of fire/heat. This worked amazingly, the handle was quite cool. As far as the lid issue, perhaps the design has changed? The lid has in big letters remove lid prior to pouring, I remove the lid before taking the kettle off the stove to pour. I have uploaded a picture of my kettle sitting off center on my electric stove. Everything else about the kettle is true; loud whistle, easy to clean, fast boil. In short THIS IS A GREAT KETTLE FOR UNDER $15. I had an electric plastic kettle but I am phasing out all plastic that is used with heat.