Zulay Kitchen Fast-Boiling Electric Kettle

Generally yes — reviewers call it easy to clean, and the wide opening gives you good access. The glass body also means you can see exactly when it needs cleaning. However, a couple of reviewers mentioned that mineral film or stains can develop over time that are harder to remove. A periodic descaling with white vinegar and water (boil a 1:1 mix, let it sit, rinse thoroughly) keeps it looking new. The mesh screen at the spout is also easy to maintain.

Yes — it has several built-in safety features that reviewers appreciate. The auto shut-off turns the kettle off once water reaches a full boil, so there's no risk of forgetting about it. Boil-dry protection kicks in if you accidentally turn it on empty, preventing damage to the heating element. The cool-touch handle keeps your grip comfortable (though the area near the very top can get slightly warm, one reviewer noted). The borosilicate glass is heat-resistant and won't shatter from thermal shock under normal use.

It's ideal for everyday tea and coffee drinkers who want fast, no-fuss boiling. The one-button operation with auto shut-off makes it perfect for beginners or anyone who doesn't want to fuss with settings. It's also great for office or work-from-home setups where you're making multiple cups throughout the day. The 1.7L capacity works well for small families or entertaining. It's not the best choice for tea enthusiasts who need precise temperature control for delicate teas, or for anyone who needs water to stay hot for extended periods.

Most reviewers actually love the blue LED — it's mentioned positively in many reviews as an attractive feature, and some say it's even a hit with kids who enjoy watching it glow. That said, one reviewer noted it can be quite bright in a dark room. If you're boiling water in a dim kitchen early in the morning or late at night, it's something to be aware of. It's not a flashlight, but it's noticeable in darkness.

Some owners do, and the mesh screen at the spout actually makes this work surprisingly well — it acts as a built-in strainer when you pour. This is especially handy for making large batches of iced tea, since you can use the full 1.7L capacity. Just keep in mind that brewing tea directly in the kettle means you'll need to clean it more frequently to prevent staining and buildup. It's not the intended use, but it's a legitimate trick that several reviewers have discovered.

It's actually one of the best budget options for iced tea. The 1.7L capacity lets you boil enough water for a large batch, and some owners brew tea bags directly in the kettle, using the mesh spout screen as a strainer. Boil the water, drop in your tea bags, let them steep, then pour over ice. Several reviewers specifically mention using it for iced tea preparation. Just remember that pouring boiling water directly over ice can crack glass pitchers — pour into a heat-safe container first.

No, and this is something a few reviewers flagged. The power cord is thick and non-removable, which can create placement challenges on your countertop. There's no cord wrap or retraction feature on the base. If counter space or cord management is important to you, plan for where you'll position the kettle near an outlet. The 360° swivel base at least gives you flexibility in which direction the kettle faces.

The lid works fine, but one reviewer noted it doesn't flip back far enough for truly easy filling — you may need to hold it open while pouring water in. It's a minor ergonomic quirk rather than a real problem. The lid does have a plastic disc that lets you close it while the kettle is still hot without burning your fingers, which is a thoughtful touch.

The standard approach is to boil water in the Zulay, then pour it over a tea bag in your mug. But here's a trick some owners have discovered: you can drop tea bags right into the kettle after boiling, let them steep, and then pour through the mesh spout screen which catches any loose bits. This works especially well when you're making tea for multiple people — the 1.7L capacity gives you about 7 cups worth. Just be sure to clean the kettle after to prevent staining.

Fill the Zulay with cold water — you can see the level through the glass body — and press the button to boil. Once it clicks off, pour the hot water over your tea bag or loose leaf tea in a mug and steep for the recommended time (usually 3-5 minutes for black tea, 2-3 for green). Some Zulay owners have discovered you can actually put tea bags directly in the kettle and use the mesh spout screen as a built-in strainer when pouring, which is a handy trick for making a full pot's worth at once.

The Zulay works great for pour-over coffee, French press, and instant coffee — basically anything that needs hot water. Boil the water (2-3 minutes), then pour it over your grounds or into your press. For pour-over, one thing to note is that the Zulay's spout isn't a precision gooseneck, so you won't get the slow, controlled pour that coffee purists prefer. But for French press, instant coffee, or Aeropress, it does the job perfectly. The 1.7L capacity means you can make a full French press in one go.

For tea specifically, think about what kinds of tea you drink. If you mainly drink black tea, herbal tea, or chai — all of which use fully boiling water — the Zulay is a great fit. It boils fast, holds enough for multiple cups, and the glass body won't impart any off-flavors. If you're serious about green tea, white tea, or oolong that needs lower temperatures (160-185°F), you'd either need a variable-temperature kettle or be willing to let the water cool for a few minutes after boiling. The Zulay's mesh spout screen is a nice bonus — some reviewers actually brew tea directly in the kettle.

The Zulay uses borosilicate glass for its body, which is one of the healthiest materials for boiling water. Borosilicate glass is non-reactive, meaning it won't leach chemicals into your water the way some plastic kettles might. You can also see exactly what's happening inside — the glass lets you visually confirm the water is clean and there's no buildup. The mesh screen at the spout adds another layer by filtering out any mineral deposits before they reach your cup.

In the US, 1500W is the sweet spot — it's the maximum you can draw from a standard 120V outlet, and it gives you the fastest possible boil time without needing special wiring. The Zulay runs at exactly 1500W, which is why it can boil water in just 2-3 minutes. Kettles with lower wattage (say 1000W) will take noticeably longer. In the UK and Europe, kettles run at 2000-3000W on 240V circuits, which is why British kettles boil even faster — but that's not an option with US electrical systems.

The Zulay Kitchen Electric Kettle is one of the faster options in its price range, with its 1500W heating element bringing water to a full boil in about 2-3 minutes according to multiple reviewers. That's competitive with kettles costing two or three times as much. For context, most standard electric kettles in the US run at 1500W (the max for a standard outlet), so the real difference comes down to build efficiency — and the Zulay performs well on that front.

With the Zulay, it's a good idea to do a couple of rinse boils before your first real use. Fill it with water, boil it, dump it out, and repeat once or twice. This clears out any manufacturing residue and ensures your first cup tastes clean. After that, just fill with cold water to your desired level (there are markings on the glass), set it on the base, and press the button. The blue LED will light up, and it'll shut off automatically when it's done. Reviewers note it's genuinely one-button simple — no learning curve at all.

With the Zulay, it's three steps: fill, press, pour. Open the lid, fill with cold water up to the max line (1.7L), close the lid, and press the power switch. The blue LED indicator lights up so you know it's heating. In about 2-3 minutes you'll have a full rolling boil, and the kettle automatically shuts itself off. Just lift it off the 360° base and pour. The cool-touch handle keeps your hand comfortable, though a couple reviewers noted the area near the very top of the handle can get slightly warm.

The big factors are speed, safety features, material, and capacity. The Zulay checks all four boxes well: 1500W for fast 2-3 minute boils, auto shut-off plus boil-dry protection for safety, borosilicate glass construction for purity and visibility, and 1.7L capacity for making multiple cups. A couple of things to think about that some buyers overlook: cord length and storage (the Zulay's cord is thick and non-removable, which a few reviewers noted can make placement tricky), and whether you need variable temperature control (the Zulay only does full boil).

Look for the features that match how you'll actually use it. For everyday tea and coffee, you want fast boiling (the Zulay does 2-3 minutes), automatic shut-off (so you don't have to babysit it), and enough capacity for your needs (1.7L handles about 7 cups). Material matters too — the Zulay's glass body means no plastic taste and you can see the water level at a glance. If you're into specialty teas that need specific temperatures, you'll want a kettle with variable temp control, which the Zulay doesn't offer.

Always start with fresh cold water. Cold water from the tap contains more dissolved oxygen, which actually improves the taste of tea and coffee. Hot tap water can contain more mineral deposits and metals from your pipes. With the Zulay's 1500W element, cold water reaches a full boil in just 2-3 minutes anyway, so there's really no need to start with hot water to save time.