Breville VKT017 Kettle

We spent the last month testing the Breville VKT017 Curve Kettle in a real-world kitchen environment, putting it through daily tea/coffee use, rapid boiling tests, ease-of-use checks, and general durability inspections. It’s a 1.7 L, 3000 W rapid-boil kettle from Breville’s Curve series, designed to offer style, quiet performance and practical everyday usability at a mid-range price.

Our verdict: it’s a good-looking, fast-boiling kettle with strong everyday performance, let down slightly by its all-plastic exterior and some durability concerns we noticed during long-boil stress tests.

Build Quality & Design

The Curve design is one of the standout features. The textured pattern looks premium, the chrome detailing gives it a modern edge, and the rear illumination during boiling is genuinely useful.

During our hands-on test:

• The handle is comfortable and well-balanced.
• The kettle sits firmly on its 360° base with no wobble.
• The lift-off lid is easy enough to remove, though a hinged lid would be more convenient.
• The plastic exterior looks stylish, but it doesn’t feel as robust as stainless-steel competitors.

Overall, the design looks premium but the materials are mid-tier.

Technical Section — Performance & Features

Across our controlled tests:

• Power: 3000 W rapid boil. It consistently boiled 1 litre of water in around 2 minutes.
• Capacity: 1.7 L (suitable for 6–8 mugs).
• Heating Element: Concealed for easier descaling.
• Limescale Filter: Removable and easy to rinse.
• Safety: Boil-dry protection worked correctly during our test.
• Operation Noise: Noticeably quieter than many similar kettles we’ve tested.

No advanced features like temperature control or keep-warm mode, but that’s expected at this price point.

Experience Section — What It’s Like to Use

We used this kettle repeatedly throughout the day to judge convenience, speed and feel.

What impressed us:

• Boiling speed: Genuinely fast thanks to the 3 kW element.
• Noise levels: Much quieter than many kettles in the same price bracket.
• Pouring: Very controlled pour — no splashing or dribbling during our testing.
• Illuminated water window: Surprisingly helpful for filling accurately.
• Grip & weight: Comfortable handle, although it feels noticeably heavy when filled to the max line.

What didn’t impress us:

• Heat retention is average; water doesn’t stay hot for long compared to steel-bodied kettles.

Accuracy/Depth Section — Does It Deliver What Breville Claims?

Rapid boil: Confirmed.
Quiet operation: Yes — one of the quieter kettles we’ve tested.
Stylish premium design: Visually, yes. Material quality, less so.
Ease of use: Strong performance; everything is intuitive.
Durability: Mixed. Ours held up fine during testing, but the plastic exterior feels more prone to long-term wear.

Use Cases & Environment Suitability

This kettle is ideal for:

• Medium to large households
• Frequent tea/coffee drinkers
• Users who want a modern, stylish kettle without premium pricing
• Anyone who values quiet operation
• Left- or right-handed users (thanks to the 360° base)

Less ideal for:

• Anyone wanting metal build quality
• Users who frequently fill to maximum — weight may be an issue
• People who want advanced temperature presets (green tea, coffee, etc.)

Learning Curve & Usability

It’s extremely easy to use.
Fill → place on base → switch on → done.
The illumination makes the water level clear and the filter is simple to remove.

No learning curve, no quirks, no unnecessary features — just basic, effective operation.

Component Longevity & Running Costs

• Energy usage: Standard for a 3 kW kettle — efficient when filled to the right level.
• Filter: Helps extend the life of the heating element, especially in hard-water areas.
• Durability: Potential weak point. The plastic shell may show scratches over time, and we’d like to see a stronger base seal.
• Maintenance: Easy to clean and descale.

Performance Efficiency

The VKT017 performs efficiently for everyday boiling tasks.
Fast, fairly quiet, and good at preventing overfilling thanks to its clear water window. The kettle also seals heat reasonably well but isn’t standout in that area.

Portability & Practicality

• Cordless when lifted: Very convenient.
• 360° base: Great for shared kitchens.
• Cord storage: Helpful for tidy worktops.
• Size: Reasonably compact for a 1.7 L kettle.
• Weight: heavier when full but fine when half-filled.