The Cuisinart PerfecTemp CPK-17P1 is a 1.7 liter cordless electric kettle with six preset temperatures. It suits tea drinkers who want water at a set heat rather than a plain boil. Cuisinart lists 1500 watts and a 30-minute Keep Warm option Cuisinart.
Cuisinart PerfecTemp at a glance
1.7liters
Capacity
6
Preset temperatures
1500watts
Power
30minutes
Keep Warm
Cuisinart lists these specs on its PerfecTemp Cordless Electric Kettle page, model CPK-17P1 Cuisinart.
Capacity
1.7 liters
Preset temperatures
6
Power
1500 watts
Keep Warm
30 minutes
Preset list
Delicate Tea, Green Tea, White Tea, Oolong Tea, French Press, Black and Herbal Teas
Memory feature
Lift the kettle off the base for 2 minutes
Water window
Blue backlit
Base
360 degree swivel cordless connector
Handle
Stay-cool nonslip
Heating element
Concealed, to prevent mineral buildup
Scale filter
Removable and cleanable
Safety
Auto shutoff and boil dry protection
Size
8.8 in L x 6.1 in W x 9.75 in H
Warranty
Limited 3 year
How big is the Cuisinart PerfecTemp kettle?
Cuisinart lists the kettle at 8.8 inches long, 6.1 inches wide and 9.75 inches high Cuisinart. That height includes the power base.
How many cups does 1.7 liters hold?
Cuisinart lists the capacity as 1.7 liters Cuisinart. By our maths that is about 57 US fluid ounces, or seven 8-ounce mugs (1.7 x 33.8).
Is the Cuisinart PerfecTemp stainless steel?
Yes, Cuisinart lists the color of the CPK-17P1 as Stainless Steel P1 Cuisinart. The page also lists the kettle as BPA free.
Cuisinart PerfecTemp or the Electric Cordless Tea Kettle?
Pick the PerfecTemp for the six preset temperatures and the 30-minute Keep Warm option. The Electric Cordless Tea Kettle shares the 1.7 liter body and the 1500 watt element, and heats at the push of a button Cuisinart.
Keep Warm holds the temperature for 30 minutes. After that the cycle ends. Press the preset and START again to restart it manual.
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The Boil preset holds just below boiling during Keep Warm. To bring the water back to a rolling boil, press the START button twice manual.
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Do not fill past the 1.7L mark. The manual says overfilling could cause boil-over. Watch the level in the water window as you fill manual.
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The kettle is designed for 120-volt outlets. The warranty excludes damage caused by using the unit with a converter. Plan for a US outlet manual.
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The kettle and the power base must never go in water. Wipe both with a soft, damp cloth, and keep the kettle socket dry manual.
How the Cuisinart PerfecTemp compares
Cuisinart PerfecTemp vs Breville IQ Kettle
The PerfecTemp lists six preset temperatures and a 30-minute Keep Warm option. Breville lists five varietal settings on the IQ Kettle and a Keep Warm button that holds for 20 minutes Breville.
Cuisinart PerfecTemp vs Hamilton Beach Variable Temperature Kettle
Both kettles list 1.7 liters, 1500 watts, six presets and a 30-minute Keep Warm setting. Cuisinart adds a concealed heating element to prevent mineral buildup, and Hamilton Beach lists a temperature range of 160°F to 212°F Hamilton Beach.
The six presets run from 160°F for delicate tea up to a full boil at 212°F. Each button is named for the drink it is set up for. The manual prints the steeping chart below manual.
Preset
Temperature
Steep time
Delicate Tea
160°F
1 to 2 min
Green Tea
175°F
2 to 3 min
White Tea
185°F
2 to 3 min
Oolong Tea
190°F
3 to 4 min
French Press
200°F
4 to 5 min
Black and Herbal Teas
212°F, a full boil
3 to 5 min
You can change your choice at any time by pressing another preset. When the flashing light stays lit, the water has reached the set temperature manual.
How does the Keep Warm option work?
Keep Warm is the default setting, and it holds the selected temperature for 30 minutes. Cuisinart says the preset and Keep Warm buttons both light up when you choose a preset manual.
Press the KEEP WARM button to turn it off, before or during the heating cycle. Press it again to turn it back on. With Keep Warm off, the kettle beeps and the START light goes out once the water is up to temperature.
Tip
If you chose the Boil preset, press START twice to bring the water back to a rolling boil manual.
Is the Cuisinart PerfecTemp cordless?
Yes, the kettle lifts off a power base with a 360 degree swivel cordless connector Cuisinart. The base takes the cord, so you carry only the kettle to the table.
An internal memory holds your place for 2 minutes while the kettle is off the base. Return it within that time and the heating or Keep Warm cycle picks up where it left off manual.
If the kettle sits unused for 5 minutes it goes into sleep mode. The heater and lights switch off, and your last choices stay in memory. Press any button, or lift the kettle and set it back down, to wake it.
Can you use the PerfecTemp for coffee?
Yes, one of the six presets is French Press, set to 200°F manual. Cuisinart says brewing in a French press keeps the essential oils that carry coffee flavor.
The manual also points to the Boil setting for hot breakfast cereals, instant soup and hot chocolate drinks. So the kettle covers more than tea.
What happens if the kettle runs dry?
The kettle has boil-dry protection, so the heater shuts off by itself if it starts heating without enough water. The lights flash and the unit beeps to alert you manual.
Let the kettle cool, lift it off the base, then set it back on to reset and restart. The quickest way to cool the heater is to fill the kettle with cold water.
How to set up and use it
Rinse the kettle with water before the first use, to clear any dust from the factory.
Press the OPEN button to release the lid.
Add fresh, cold water. Watch the level in the water window and do not fill past the 1.7L mark.
Close the lid by pressing down until it locks shut.
Plug in the base, then place the kettle on it.
Press the preset for your drink: DELICATE, GREEN, WHITE, OOLONG, FRENCH PRESS or BLACK.
Press START. The preset light flashes until the water reaches the set temperature.
Wait for the beep. The Keep Warm, preset and Start lights stay on for 30 minutes.
Lift the kettle off the base to pour. All the lights turn off while it is off the base.
Return the kettle to the base. The lights come back on and Keep Warm continues.
Care and quick fixes from the manual
How to clean it
Unplug the kettle and let it cool.
Wipe the kettle and the base with a soft, damp cloth.
Keep the electric kettle socket dry.
Dry all the parts after every use.
Before you start
Never immerse the kettle or the power base in water manual.
How to clean the scale filter
Grasp the filter inside the kettle and pull it upward to remove it.
Run it under hot water.
Rub it with a clean cloth or brush.
Push the filter back in until it snaps into place.
How to descale it
Use a kettle descaler and follow the directions on its package.
If you have no descaler, pour in enough white vinegar to cover the bottom by about half an inch.
Heat the vinegar to a boil.
Repeat with cooled vinegar until all the deposits are gone.
Empty the kettle and rinse it several times with clean water.
Cuisinart says how often you need this depends on the hardness of your tap water and how often you use the kettle manual.
If the unit beeps and all the lights flash
The water level is too low for heating. Remove the kettle from the base, add water, return it to the base and press START again manual.
If no lights come on or the water is not heating
Check that the unit is plugged in.
Check that the kettle sits securely on the power base.
Press your preset temperature, then press START.
If it still does not heat, call Cuisinart Customer Service.
If the kettle forgets its settings on the base
The internal memory turns off when the kettle is off the base for more than 2 minutes. Put it back on the base, reselect your settings and press STARTmanual.
If the water takes longer than usual to heat
Room temperature, the amount of water and the water temperature all change the heat-up time. If you just heated water above your current choice, the kettle waits for it to cool. Add cold water to speed it up manual.
Cuisinart PerfecTemp FAQ
Does the Cuisinart PerfecTemp have a filter?
Yes, it has a removable and cleanable scale filter inside the kettle Cuisinart. Cuisinart also sells the scale filter as a replacement part.
Is the Cuisinart PerfecTemp BPA free?
Yes, Cuisinart lists the PerfecTemp Cordless Electric Kettle as BPA free Cuisinart.
Is the Cuisinart PerfecTemp dishwasher safe?
No. The manual tells you to wipe the kettle and base with a soft, damp cloth, and never to immerse the kettle or power base in water manual.
How do you reset the Cuisinart PerfecTemp?
After boil-dry protection trips, let the kettle cool, lift it off the base, then replace it to reset and restart the heating cycle manual.
What warranty does Cuisinart give the PerfecTemp?
Cuisinart gives a limited 3-year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship under normal home use manual. It is available to US consumers and runs from the date of original purchase.
How much is the Cuisinart PerfecTemp?
See today's price with the link above.
Where can I find the Cuisinart PerfecTemp manual?
Cuisinart posts the PerfecTemp Cordless Programmable Kettle instruction and recipe booklet as a PDF manual. It covers the whole CPK-17 series, and includes tea recipes.
The verdict
4/4 PASS
No. 029 · Cuisinart PerfecTemp Kettle
Tea brewed at exactly the right temperature.
The Cuisinart PerfecTemp suits tea drinkers who care about brewing heat, and anyone who uses a French press. Six presets cover 160°F to a full boil, and Keep Warm holds the chosen temperature for 30 minutes. A 1.7 liter body, 1500 watts and a 360 degree swivel base make it a full-size kettle for a kitchen counter.
4/4 PASS
