CHEMEX Hand Blown Glass Water Kettle, 2 Quart

I have had this for less than a week, and love it. I almost didn't buy it after reading a view that made it sound like it didn't work well on a gas stove. But I loved the design so much, I decided I didn't care. I was stunned when it began boiling very quickly on a low flame (I was heeding the reviewers instruction about a low flame, but didn't see those instructions on the box or insert), the neck was barely warm so caused no problems using it with my bare hands, and the pour is fabulous. No awkwardness or drip. I cannot remember ever having a teapot with such a dripless pour. Plus, it is simply beautiful in my kitchen. Honestly, I cannot imagine how the reviewer had an experience so polar opposite to mine using this same item: it doesn't seem plausible to me, unless he or she did something wrong, but I can't imagine what that would be.UPDATE: Now that I've used this water kettle everyday for almost 2 months, I feel compelled to report that I've had absolutely no problems. I also find I do not have to use a low flame to heat water. I put it on a medium-low flame, and the water boils really fast. I suspect I could use an even higher flame, but one of the reviews here sort of spooked me. I did read that it is just important you don't let the gas flame come up the sides, but I haven't tested a higher flame. I can just say that this is my favor water kettle ever, and I've owned some expensive disappointments. Plus, let me say again, it looks beautiful on my stove. Everyone notices it and asks about it. Also, no hand burning. I assume people must let it boil too long. But once when I let it boil longer than I should have (albeit, not for a crazy long time), it was still fine to handle. No whistle on this pot, so if you are the walk away from the kettle and forget about it type, this one isn't for you.

'Received this as a gift. 'Cracked within 2 months of use from heating water up on a coil stove-top.

You can tell by looking that this isn't your average kettle.Reasons I LOVE it: It's glass. No worries about contamination. It's beautiful. It doubles as a humidifier to my dry dry high desert home if I want to leave it on the stovetop... I can leave the water just under a boil and keep the air comfortable without having moisture buildup on the windows, etc. I'm going to have to disagree with previous reviewers and say that with the chimney in place the handle is warm but not at all uncomfortable to use for pouring without any kind of protection. If, however, I remove the chimney [the thing with the balls] the handle gets too hot to touch immediately. It has a nice pour spout for pouring into a cup. No dribbling and easy to handle with one hand even with 2 quarts of water in it. I am not a strong woman, nor am I frail but I was a little concerned about this.Slight drawbacks for the very picky: When you fill the kettle, you need to pour the water straight down the handle and not be in a huge hurry or it slides along the sides and some splashes out the pour spout. Not a lot and not a big deal. I just slow down and no problem. For a really precise pour when making coffee with the Chemex coffee maker, I pour my water into a pyrex measuring cup first as the spout doesn't allow as much precision as say a hario buono kettle.

Interesting design. Borosilicate glass gives me confidence that it will stand the test of time, durability-wise. The water pours very smoothly from the spout, which tapers well so that no drips occur post-pour.The design of this kettle makes getting the last bits of water very awkward (close to 120° of rotation), so you may want to figure out how much extra you need to add if you need a precise, measured amount. Either that - or pour from kettle into your preferred measuring device before application of excited dihydrogen monoxide. This is the sole complaint about the kettle design...I don't even care about having to use a potholder to grasp the neck - you have to do that with many kettle designs.Also, this is a *water* kettle. Don't boil stuff like milk in it, because it's impossible to clean the denatured proteins from the inside unless you're Mr. Fantastic. Luckily, it is completely transparent so, unlike a metal or opaque ceramic kettle, you at least have a prayer of getting it clean with a variety of ingeniously adapted household items. Thank goodness for water piks... Alternately, it may be cleanable by some chemical means, such as with a strong base (lye).In sum, don't be skinny arms me - only boil water. And maybe sugar water because that will dissolve easily, but that's it. Or maybe something like rubbing alcohol would be okay, though not on a gas stove. Actually, I can't think of a reason why you would want to do that - but who am I to judge? Just don't boil anything that will leave a residue. Unless that residue is easily removed with some kind of liquid like draino. But don't boil that liquid unless it's water.