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Cuisinart CPK-17 PerfecTemp Review

This fast boiling, high-capacity kettle is great for multiple uses and users
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Price:   $100 List | $100 at Amazon
Pros:  Temperature holding, fast boiling
Cons:  Heavy, hard to control pouring
Manufacturer:   Cuisinart
By Nick Miley, Michelle Powell and Austin Palmer  ⋅  Sep 9, 2019
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Our Verdict

The Cuisinart CPK-17 PerfecTemp is a great multifunction kettle for kitchens that have diverse hot water requirements. Perhaps its most salient selling point is its boil time — it was one of the fastest models in bringing water straight out of the tap to a roaring boil in our tests. The placement of the controls on the handle allows for quick and easy selections of temperature. Additionally, the temperature holding and automatic shutoff options free the user from having to monitor the device.

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Cuisinart PerfecTemp was a contender for our Editor's Choice Award for best multi-purpose kettle as it performed well at most of our test tasks. The kettle brings water to boil quite fast, it pours quickly, and it has a generously proportioned reservoir. However, it struggles with controlled pouring as it's heavy and poorly balanced.


Boil Time


One of the big advantages that an electric kettle has that stovetop kettles lack is speed in which a boil is achieved. The PerfecTemp is a prime example of this as it will bring four cups of 57° F water to a boil in just four minutes flat. This time will increase for most folks as our lab is at ~6200 ft above sea level and the boiling temperature here is around 10° F lower than at sea level. That being said, the pace at which this machine heats water will still impress those at lower elevations.

Pouring


We looked at pouring from two opposing perspectives. First, we analyzed how easy it is to make slow, even pours that are preferred when making drip coffee. Second, we assessed how quickly a kettle can pour while maintaining control of the discharge. Like most of the pitcher-style kettles, the Cuisinart struggles with slow pouring as it is heavy and has an arched handle design that does not promote a natural, balanced pouring position. Moreover, the spout of this model is wide with a thin lip that favors high volume pouring.


Ease of Use Features

  • Temperature selection: 160, 175, 185, 190, 200 degrees Fahrenheit + Boil
  • Temperature holding: Yes
  • Automatic shutoff: Yes
  • Inside material: Steel
  • Lid attached or separate: Attached
  • Type of spout: Pitcher
  • Min/ Max capacity: 0.5L/ 1.7L
  • Water level indicator: Plastic view

Tea drinkers will appreciate these push-button presets as they match the appropriate temperature to common tea varieties.
Tea drinkers will appreciate these push-button presets as they match the appropriate temperature to common tea varieties.

Value


It is our thinking here at TechGearLab that value is the result of a price/ quality ratio wherein quality is high, and price is low relative to other similar products. While we think that the Cuisinart CPK-17 PerfecTemp is a quality product, the price/ quality ratio is a bit out of balance when compared to equivalent kettles. Accordingly, we do not think this product offers the consumer an outstanding value.


Conclusion


The Cuisinart is a multifunction kettle with loads of convent features for multiple users in a busy kitchen. Complementing this suite of features is an extremely short boil time. However, our tests revealed markedly similar products that cost significantly less.

— Nick Miley, Michelle Powell and Austin Palmer