Krups FLF2 Review

What reviews like:
The Krups FLF2 Electric Cordless kettle is fast -- boiling seven cups of water in fewer than four minutes. It's equipped with an automatic shut-off and a water gauge. It pours flawlessly and stays cool to the touch.

What reviews don't like:
The Krups FLF2 Electric Cordless Tea Kettle has problems with its power switch, judging by both user reviews and testers who say it failed right out of the box. Some report a plastic taste or smell when it heats up.

Krups FLF2 review highlights

Sources and research:

Cook's Illustrated performed the most thorough testing of the Krups FLF2 Cordless by powering up multiple kettles and comparing the Krups FLF2 to other brands. Editors at Real Simple also tried out this model and gave a helpful, short summary. In addition, we found user reviews on Amazon.com that backed up Cook's findings about the faulty switch.

The Krups FLF2 is a basic cordless electric tea kettle made of plastic. According to reviewers, it boils quickly, stays cool to the touch and has good safety features, including an automatic shutoff. However, many owners report that the power switch is finicky or didn't work at all out of the box. Overall, we found somewhat better reviews for the comparable Bodum Ibis electric tea kettle (*est. $40), which costs the same.

Also see full report: Tea Kettles

*In order of credibility (see our Ratings Criteria).

1. Cook’s Illustrated
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Electric Kettles
Editors at Cook's Illustrated
Mar. 2008

The Krups FLF2 was the fastest boiler among eight electric tea kettles tested here. In addition to its speed, editors liked its low exterior temperature and safety features. They noted that one of four FLF2 models they tested had a defective power switch. Otherwise, it earned a thumb's up.

2. Amazon.com
Krups FLF2 – J4 Electric Kettle, Black and Stainless Steel reviews
Contributors to Amazon.com

Cook's wasn't the only source to point out a problem with this kettle's power switch. Users on this website had the same problem, resulting in the Krups FLF2 receiving nearly as many one-star as five-star ratings in a couple dozen reviews.

3. Real Simple
The Best Tea Kettles
Sarah Engler
Feb. 2006

The Krups Cordless is selected as the best electric tea kettle in this short feature. Sarah Engler is impressed by its speed, automatic shut-off and water gauge. She apparently did test the model, because she lists the boil time as three minutes (for four cups of water).

4. About.com
Top 8 Tea Kettles
Sean Paajanen

There's no evidence that writer Sean Paajanen tested the tea kettles covered in this review. Instead, he describes their features in short summaries. The Krups Electric is a good basic kettle, he concludes.

Also see full report: Tea Kettles

Krups FLF2 Review