Le Creuset Whistling Teakettle: Cherry

Comment: This is the second Le Creuset tea kettle I've owned, and neither has been a disappointment. My first was the Zen tea kettle. I loved it's graceful shape. I am enjoying this one no less. In fact, I am surprised at how much satisfaction this little tea kettle has provided. It's a little work of art. The color and shading are very attractive, it has a pleasing shape, and it's well made.

The whistle is a bit unpredictable, but that's a small thing. It was never intended as a safety feature but as a convenience. To those who complained that the lid is too tight, I would point out that this is a good thing, since it keeps steam from escaping around the rim. You don't want that to happen when you're handling the kettle. To those who complained about the stopper and about burned fingers, I would say read the directions before you use this product. If you wait a moment for excess steam to escape the spout you won't burn yourself. In all the years we've owned Le Creuset tea kettles we've never experienced any burned fingers by following that practice.

You do have to take care of the enamel finish, but that's the nature of enamel coating. If you bang it too hard you will chip it, and if you use abrasive cleansers you will dull it. If you take care of it properly it will last a long time and provide much more than satisfactory service. I am sold on my Le Creuset tea kettle.

Comment: We received this as a gift and it will replace our old Revereware tea kettle. I do have an issue with the whistle, however. Our old kettle has a beautiful song, as the note will slowly rise in volume and pitch until it settles on it's final, unmistakable note at full boil. The whistle on the LeCrueset cannot seem to settle on a single note, it warbles and garbles random pitches and volumes in a very awkward way. Is this what the designers and engineers planned, or did they forget to actually try it? Maybe the sound of the whistle was never a consideration or they got a really good deal on the hardware. Either way, I've heard a lot of tea kettles in my life, and appreciated a good many of them, but this one sounds obnoxious.

Comment: The tea kettle has a vibrant cobalt blue color, which enhances any kitchen. It also has a good capacity and a pleasing whistle sound!

Comment: This kettle is as good as every other Le Creuset product I've ever owned. It is handsome with a simple design and a slightly ombred beige-to-ivory enamel exterior. The kettle itself is large so you can fill it with enough water to make a big pot of tea or a full container of coffee (I use it to boil water for a Chemex coffee maker) without it sputtering and boiling over. The handle doesn't get too hot to touch and the whistle gets your attention without giving you a headache. In other words, this is a splendid teakettle and I'm delighted to have it, especially since it replaced a smaller and cheaper one by Copco that nearly disintegrated in less than 2 months. Like every other Le Creuset product I've owned, this teakettle is sturdy, the enamel exterior is a snap to clean, and I forecast that it will last for years.

Comment: Product shipped promptly and arrived in good condition. Teapot looks nice on the stove..... unfortunately I can't seem to get a spill-free pour from it after it has boiled. You have to be careful not to fill too much water before heating or it will build up pressure and spurt hot water while you pour...