Customer Reviews Breville BKE595XL the Crystal Clear™

We've had a couple of Chef's Choice clear water carafes over the years. They last about one year and the top latch stops functioning and is beyond repair. So far, we are very pleased with the Breville and hope that lasts longer than the other.

I wrote a review on Oct 01, 2013. The kettle is now barely 5 months old but has developed a fault. Unfortunately the rubber seal holding the top lid assembly in place has come loose, letting steam escape. I am a little astonished at Breville's design, and have sent them an email requesting a replacement under warranty. For the record, my family own a 35-year old K2 kettle that is still running as well as a new one.

I just love the quality of Breville products. When the lid on my Chef's Choice kettle broke I did a search and found Breville's BKE595XL on my favorite site, Zappos. Without hesitation I bought it to complement the Breville toaster I already have. As an engineer I look for the little details in the overall design like the soft opening lid and the filter screen. It has a nice long cord and I can actually get my hand in to clean the inside. So far it has performed flawlessly.

The Breville electric kettle is really nice to use. It heats the water quickly and then goes off. I like that I can see the water boil and that it doesn't chime when it is ready. It turns itself off. I recommend the Breville Crystal Clear.

I use my kettle several times a day using fresh water each time. I have no problem with the taste of the water as others commented. It looks great so I do leave it on the counter. I am very pleased with my purchase.

I like how quickly the kettle comes to a boil. It's easy to handle. The best part is the clear glass construction. Not only is it a delight to see the water boiling away, it's also practical because you can see when it needs descaling. Given our water source, it needs just a few strong wipes with a microfibre cloth every other week. I also have a Capresso clear-glass kettle, which is nicer looking, but doesn't hold as much water.

This kettle is simply the best. It looks beautiful, heats very rapidly, and has all the features you want for convenience and ease of use. Well worth the price.

We drink a ton of tea in my house so our water kettles get a lot of use. This breville model is beautiful, well-designed, and works perfectly. Water boils quickly and stays hot for a long time.

The right kitchen appliance can make life a little bit better!...like a cordless electric water kettle that heats 2 cups to boiling in just a couple of minutes (holds 1.7 L). Elegant appearance on my counter, too. Only stainless steel and glass contact the water, so no off-tastes or worries about carcinogenic vapors. Who knew how great the right water kettle could be?

I was looking for a kettle in the US similar to this Russell Hobbs one (which I bought for my sister), available only in the UK market. The Breville is large (I usually only fill it up a quarter of full capacity), sturdy (the glass is tough) and boils reasonably quickly. And it's also very quiet. Cons: In contrast to the Russell Hobbs, which is a pretty kettle, this one is not especially attractive. The Russell Hobbs, for example, has a ring of blue LEDs which illuminate the water when the kettle is heating. The Breville has a pilot light built into the on/off switch which is visible but only if you rotate the device to your field of view. This would mean that if your Breville is set up under a kitchen cabinet, and you have angled the spout away from the shelf (to avoid condensation), the on/off switch and pilot light would always be behind the device, making operation and observation of on/off status cumbersome. My biggest gripe about the kettle is the condensation which forms before boiling and remains there until the kettle is cleaned. This makes it difficult to see the water level, in spite of the brilliant glass walls. The Russell Hobbs does not have these problems (though, admittedly, the on/off switch is in the same position as the Breville's). The Breville is also rated at 1700W, compared to 3000W for the RH. This means that the water boils slower in the Breville, but the lower power rating is probably due to safety considerations, given the lower voltage of the US power supply. If you want a transparent kettle, this is a good choice for the US market. As far as utility goes, this kettle has served me very well.

I love the look of this this kettle. But there is no automatic shut off when you take it off the base and the lid can be open while boiling. Decide for yourself.

Love the look of this this kettle. But there is no automatic shut-off when you take it off the base and the lid can be opened while boiling. Decide for yourself.

Love the look of this this kettle. But there is no automatic shut-off when you take it off the base and the lid can be opened while boiling. Decide for yourself.

Love the look of this this kettle. But there is no automatic shut-off when you take it off the base and the lid can be open while boiling. Decide for yourself.