Having drunk a lot of tea in Europe, I decided on getting an electric kettle while here in the U.S. I just received this Proctor Silex 1.7L kettle. I was a little skeptical because it is competing with the likes of Braun and T-Fal. But, I was pleasantly surprised by its performance. It will boil 1.7L of water in about 8 minutes. I thought that was a little long, but I attribute it to the 110 volt system here versus the 220 volt system in Europe. Nevertheless, this kettle works great. The handle is ergonomic, the opening is big enough to clean and or remove the heating element, and it does boil water. I have only had it for a day, so I am not sure about durability. Nevertheless, it's a great electric kettle; a must for any serious tea drinkers!!!