The Hamilton Beach 8 Cup Cordless Kettle 40898 is made with a double-wall brushed stainless-steel housing for extra insulating capability. This unit has a capacity of 8 cups and heats quickly, reaching boiling temperature in about seven minutes. The kettle sits on a flat disk base during heating and lifts off for convenient cord-free serving.

The rounded stainless-steel kettle is stylish with a black Phenolic plastic open-style handle. The kettle has an interesting recessed hinged lid, which we found difficult to attach the first time we used it. Once it is locked in place, however, it pivots open with an easy press of a button. To remove the lid entirely, you need to press the latch release located on the underside of the lid. With the lid removed, it is quite easy to rinse and dry the kettle.

With the lid locked in place, pouring is smooth and easy. The contoured handle stayed cool to the touch and provided a comfortable grip.

One benefit we noted with the double-wall stainless-steel housing is that it retains its temperature better so the water stays heated longer, even after the pot has shut itself off. If you need to reheat, simply place the kettle back on its base and press the "on" switch again. The kettle reheats water very quickly.

The packaging claims that the double-wall stainless-steel housing stays cool to the touch. In our tests, the exterior got quite warm, even hot, as the kettle reached its full boil. It was considerably cooler than, say, a stovetop kettle would be, yet the designation "cool touch" may be misleading.

We liked the fact that you can set the kettle on its base from any direction. Once it's seated, the kettle can be turned on by pressing a switch located at the base of the kettle. A green power light glows to signal heating. When the kettle reaches boiling, the unit shuts itself off automatically. Note: The lid must be properly locked in place for the auto-shutoff to function properly.

There is a maximum water fill marking inside the kettle, but no external water fill indicator, so it's difficult to see how much water is in the kettle unless you open the lid. The heating element is completely concealed to protect it from mineral deposits.

The kettle has a plastic heat-resistant bottom to protect countertops and tables. Other features include wraparound cord storage on the flat disk base, an anti-scale mesh filter and safety boil dry protection.


Pros: Cordless serving, concealed heating element, removable lid, double-wall stainless-steel kettle
Cons: No water-level indicator

Warranty
1 year, limited