Braun AquaExpress WK 600 Electric Kettle

t is hard to beat our 15 year old Russell Hobbs that finally died. I wish they were still making kettles! This Braun is pretty good. It heats water very fast and stays hot for quite a while. I like how easy it is to place on the base and it is an attractive kettle. I followed the instructions to boil a couple of full pitcher cycles before first use. We have never smelled any strange, plastic-y or other odors. I also like that it does not beep when done boiling. Drawbacks: it's not as ergonomic to pour as a more traditional kettle format because the pitcher can be heavy and your hand is on the side rather than the top; when you open the lid water (from condensation) tends to drip down the out side of the canister; it is frequently hard to see the water level - we use the kettle often and tend to have water remaining inside; and it is way noisier than our previous kettle.