Cuisinart CPK-17 PerfecTemp Review

The Cuisinart CPK-17 PerfecTemp was a real contender in the multi-purpose kettle subclass as it performed well at most of our testing 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.

Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Boil Time

One of the big advantages that an electric kettle has that stovetop kettles lack is the speed at 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 PerfecTemp 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.

Credit: Jenna Ammerman

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.

Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Value

It is our thinking here at GearLab that value is the result of a price to quality ratio wherein quality is high and the price is low relative to similar products. While we think that the PerfecTemp is a quality product, the price to 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.

Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Conclusion