Product Description
OXO's Kettles – The Pressure is On
In 1998, OXO introduced its first Tea Kettle. Safety and practicality were the guiding principles during the development process, and our little Kettle came complete with an innovative steam shield.
Through user feedback, we realized we missed a key consumer insight – that a Tea Kettle, while a practical kitchen tool, is often a centerpiece in the kitchen. Users would leave them out on the stovetop when not in use and some even coordinated their entire kitchen decor around their Kettles. While the steam shield was innovative, it was considered by many to be unsightly (some likened it to the "Flying Nun"!).
In 1999, we corrected the aesthetic flaws to our otherwise safe, practical and well-performing Kettle with the Uplift. The kicker is that all of its elegant aesthetics came as a direct result of making the Uplift safe and easy to use.
Fun Fact:
The OXO Uplift Tea Kettle has an iconic shape that has become an instant American classic. It is the most requested OXO item used in propping television and movie sets. Look for it next time you watch "The Big Bang Theory!"
Problems Identified
- Handles on tea kettles are positioned too close to the steam and hot water at the spout, making it uncomfortable while pouring
- Angle of kettle handles combined with weight of filled kettle make it difficult for users to lift and pour without straining wrists
- Fine motor skills required to open kettle trigger to pour hot water; difficult for many older users to maneuver
- Small opening on top makes it difficult to clean interior of kettle
The Process
- The quest for the perfect interaction point between the spout and the handle (so the kettle would not open when carried around filled with water, but would open easily when tipped forward) led us to the current connection between the spout and handle, one that resembles a splash of water.
- The same connection point was also designed to keep the spout open if the user chose, so that they could keep the Uplift's whistle quiet while boiling water, which is especially handy when preparing an early morning cup of tea.
- While designing an opening large enough to be easy to clean, we needed to ensure it wasn't so low as to limit the maximum water level, but we still needed to keep it in balance with the spout for aesthetic reasons.
- Through user research, we learned that steam would sometimes escape from the lid and unfortunately heat the handle, so we added a silicone seal to minimize any unintended heat transfer and keep the kettle safe and easy to use.
OXO's Solutions
- Large, comfortable handle is angled away from the spout and is heat resistant and non-slip, even when wet
- Handle angle allows user to hold Kettle comfortably and without wrist strain, whether filled with water or nearly empty, by adjusting grip accordingly
- Whistle spout opens automatically when Kettle is tipped to pour – no awkward buttons or levers to press
- Wide opening on top of Kettle enables easy access for cleaning and can also be used as an opening to fill Kettle
The OXO Story:
In 1990, OXO staged a revolution (of sorts) by offering an easy-to-use, high-performing alternative to uncomfortable and ineffective kitchen gadgets. OXO's innovative take on the traditional Swivel Peeler, complete with its pudgy black handle, raised consumers' expectations of what could be expected from household products.
Today OXO offers over 800 products, each developed with a close (some might say "obsessive") attention to detail. Our goal is to deliver products that maximize comfort AND performance, illustrating our mission to create innovative consumer products that make everyday living easier.
| Price: |
$39.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details |
| as of Mon, 18 Mar 2013 04:36:47 GMT ***Remember, deals price on this item for sale just for limited time*** | |
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #1050 in Kitchen & Housewares
- Size: 1.7 qt
- Color: Silver
- Brand: OXO
- Model: 1479500
- Dimensions: 9.75" h x 9.75" w x 8.00" l, 2.65 pounds
Features
- High-grade stainless steel construction guards against rust
- Large lid opening for convenient filling and cleaning
- Loud whistle signals when water is ready
- Handle rotates out of the way for filling, pouring or storing
- Silicone touch points on spout and handle resist heat
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
155 of 157 people found the following review helpful.
By Uncle Willie
This is a fine kettle, and all the 'cons' in other reviews seem silly to me.
I drink a lot of good tea, use good water, and I want a good kettle--and this one is it!
(Isn't it crazy how hard you need to shop for a simple water kettle? Well, search no more.)
The PROS:
1. Solidly made: 1-piece body construction (i.e. except for spout) with no bottom seam to get messed up.
2. Heats quickly: wide bottom is smart design.
3. Easy to fill: handle moves correctly, lid correct tightness.
4. Easy to use and pour.
5. Good whistle that fits well.
About the supposed 'CONS':
1. NOT 'non-stick': The inside is simply not highly polished like the outside. Think about it: Why would a manufacturer spend extra to polish the inside or add an insanely useless non-stick coating?? (and I NEVER use anything 'non-stick'!)
2. NOT a rigid handle: Mine moves with a gently push but also stays upright, as it should. Do you want a loose handle that will drop to the side of the pot and get hot while heating?
3. Sharp edges? None on mine. Smooth as silk.
4. Leaky pour spout? Not on mine. Seamless, perfect construction.
5. Bubbles over? Read the filling directions! It fills my big English teapot.
6. Hot to open or pour? Not mine, not at all: spout opens and closes cool.
I'm not searching for the 'perfect teapot,' whatever that might be. (I've had both cheap and expensive pots. All I care about is function, though this one is stylish, too!) I'm absolutely delighted with this--A GREAT WATER KETTLE!!
98 of 101 people found the following review helpful.
By Kenneth Pierce
It took me two night of reviewing all the kettles on Amazon. So what do I do? I buy this kettle which at the time did not have any reviews. I am not sorry because this is a great kettle. First of all the brushed finish matches my GE Profile stove perfectly. I love the spout and it does not drip when you pour hot water in your cup. It does have a large capacity but so what just don't fill it all the way if you don't need to. When the water starts boiling you get the whistle like you would with most kettles. What's also nice is when the kettle starts to boil and steam is coming out the cover on top the cover is large enough so that the steam comes out the sides which allows you to pick up the handle without burning your hands. Another point that I don't want to forget. The inside of the kettle is a one piece mold. Along the bottom of the kettle there is no seam along the bottom edge which means that this kettle is very easy to clean. Most of your cheap kettles have a seam in the corner which allow deposits of some kind to get stuck in the corner. You would not think this would happen with just plain water but it does. I gave this kettle to my wife for Christmas and she was very happy with it. It is a well made kettle that is very nice to look at when it is sitting on top of the stove. It is well worth the price.
54 of 54 people found the following review helpful.
By MBK
This really is a wonderful kettle. It's a simple, low-tech design with very little to wear or go wrong. There are no seams that might eventually fail, the top removes for easy cleaning, the spout easily flips up for a smooth pour (and to cancel out the whistling if you don't want it), and the handle flips out of your way for compactness when needed. It also feels well balanced in your hand when pouring. All in all, it doesn't get any better than this one. And I think it's built to outlast me.
Update:
I'm perplexed by some of the bad reviews. My kettle does not spurt water at all, nor does the handle get hot. It pours perfectly. Additionally, I was concerened about the review that said there was a non-stick coating on the interior since I too do not want this. I contacted Oxo about this and they assure me that the kettle is stainless only with no non-stick coating. I'm still loving my example, but maybe there are some quality control issues with others? Still 5 stars from me.
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