Daewoo Essentials 1.7L Kettle Review: a cheap, no‑frills jug that just boils water

I’ve been using the Daewoo Essentials 1.7L kettle as a basic, everyday kettle in the kitchen for a few weeks. I bought it because my more expensive metal kettle died suddenly and I just wanted something cheap and quick from Amazon, nothing fancy. This one kept popping up with a decent 4.1/5 rating and a low price, so I figured I’d give it a go and see if a budget plastic kettle can actually keep up with daily use.

In practice, it’s very much a “does what it says on the tin” kind of product. It boils water, it’s fairly quick, and it’s light to handle. You can tell straight away it’s not premium: it’s all plastic, the base feels a bit small, and the fit on the stand isn’t perfect. But for what I paid, I wasn’t expecting something that feels like a high‑end stainless steel model with fancy temperature settings and all that.

What pushed me to test this one properly is the combo of features you usually see on pricier kettles: 1.7L capacity, auto shut‑off, boil‑dry protection, removable filter, and a visible water gauge. On paper, it ticks most of the boxes for a normal family kettle. I used it roughly 5–10 times a day: morning coffees, tea during the day, and boiling water for instant noodles or pasta water top‑ups in the evening.

Overall, my first impression is that it’s a budget kettle that gets the job done, with some clear compromises in feel and finish. If you’re expecting something premium, you’ll be disappointed. If you just want hot water fast and don’t care much about looks or fancy features, it’s honestly fine. The rest of this review goes into the details: how it’s built, how it performs, and whether I think it’s good value or if it’s better to spend a bit more.

On value, this kettle is pretty straightforward: it’s cheap and it works. That’s the main selling point. Compared to other kettles I’ve bought, it sits firmly in the budget zone, closer in price to travel kettles than to the big brand stainless models. One Amazon reviewer even bought it specifically for camping instead of a dedicated travel kettle, which gives you an idea of where it sits price‑wise. For that kind of money, getting 1.7L capacity, auto shut‑off, boil‑dry protection, and a removable filter is honestly decent.

What you’re giving up is the premium feel, heavier‑duty materials, and any extra features. There’s no temperature control, no fancy design, and the base feels a bit small and cheap. If I compare it to a mid‑range kettle that costs roughly twice as much, you definitely feel the difference in build and solidity. But if your budget is tight, or you just don’t care about kettles enough to spend more, this Daewoo still delivers the basic function: hot water, fairly fast, without major fuss.

The quiet operation and light weight add to the sense of value for me. You’re not just saving money; you’re getting a kettle that’s easy to handle and doesn’t sound like a jet engine. On the downside, the hot outer casing and slightly loose‑feeling filter are small annoyances that remind you why it’s cheap. If those things bug you a lot, you might feel like you should’ve stretched the budget a bit more.

So in terms of value, I’d say: good value for money if you’re realistic about what you’re buying. It’s ideal for student housing, rental places, a spare kettle for the office, or as a stopgap when your main kettle dies. If you want something that looks and feels premium and you’re picky about build quality, then no, this isn’t it. But if your priority is keeping the cost down while still getting a decent, usable kettle, it makes sense.

Design‑wise, this kettle is clearly built around cost. It’s a plain white plastic jug with a base that honestly feels a bit small compared to the body. When you put the kettle on the base, it sits fine, but you can tell there isn’t that solid, locked‑in feel you get from more expensive models. One of the Amazon reviewers mentioned the fit on the base being a bit off, and I’d agree: it’s not terrible, but you do sometimes have to look to make sure it’s properly seated before you hit the switch.

The overall footprint is fairly compact: around 17.4 x 17.4 x 24.8 cm, so it doesn’t hog the whole worktop. It’s a good size for a smaller kitchen or for using in a student room or office. The water gauge is on the side and is clear enough to read. I liked that I could quickly see if there was enough water for another cup without opening the lid. The locking lid clicks shut and has stayed shut during boils for me, so no steam leaks from there. It’s not the smoothest mechanism, but it works and hasn’t popped open while boiling.

Visually, it’s very basic. If you’re hoping this will match a stylish toaster or be a centerpiece in a designer kitchen, it won’t. It looks like what it is: a cheap white plastic kettle. On the other hand, the white colour blends in easily and doesn’t show fingerprints like shiny stainless steel. After a couple of weeks, it still looks clean with just a quick wipe‑down every few days. No weird yellowing so far, but obviously long‑term plastic can age differently.

In practice, the cordless jug design is handy. You can lift it off the base and move it around the kitchen without dragging the cable. The base cable is not super long, so don’t expect to stretch it across the room, but it’s fine for a normal kitchen counter. Overall, the design is functional but cheap‑feeling. It’s not ugly, it’s not nice, it’s just there. For the price, I can live with that, but if you care a lot about aesthetics, this isn’t the kettle you buy to show off.

The body of this Daewoo kettle is entirely plastic, and you can feel that straight away. It’s light, which is a plus when you’re pouring a full 1.7L, but it also feels a bit flimsy compared to metal kettles or even thicker plastic ones from bigger brands. One reviewer said it “feels a bit cheap,” and I’d say that’s accurate. The plastic doesn’t feel like it’s going to snap in your hands, but it doesn’t give that solid, reassuring feel either.

When the kettle is boiling, the casing does get quite hot. Not molten, but hot enough that you definitely don’t want to be grabbing it anywhere except the handle. If you’re used to double‑walled or insulated kettles, this will feel like a step down. The handle itself stays cool enough to hold comfortably, and I had no issues pouring, but you should be careful if there are kids around who might touch the sides out of curiosity. The plastic around the spout and lid also gets steamy and hot, which is pretty standard at this price, but worth mentioning.

Inside, there’s a removable limescale filter at the spout. It’s just a small plastic mesh piece that pops in and out. One reviewer mentioned it pops out easily, and I’ve had that happen once when I was cleaning it. It’s not a big deal, but it doesn’t feel super secure. The good news is that rinsing it under the tap is quick, and it does catch the worst of the scale if you’re in a hard water area. The heating element is hidden, so you don’t have a big exposed coil to scrub around, which helps cleaning a lot.

I wouldn’t call the materials durable in a heavy‑duty sense, but for a budget, light‑use kettle, they’re acceptable. If you’re planning to use this in a busy office with people hammering it all day, I’d probably look for something sturdier. For home use, especially if you’re not too rough with it, the plastic is fine. Just don’t expect it to feel premium or to take a lot of abuse without showing it over time.

Durability is where you really feel that this is a budget kettle. I haven’t had it long enough to comment on multi‑year lifespan, but just from handling it and comparing it to other kettles I’ve owned, I’d say it’s built to a price, not to last forever. The plastic body flexes slightly if you squeeze it, the base doesn’t feel ultra solid, and the filter popping out easily doesn’t scream long‑term robustness. That said, a lot of reviewers seem happy with it for regular use, and the average rating of 4.1/5 from nearly 4,000 reviews suggests it doesn’t just die instantly for most people.

After a few weeks of steady use (multiple boils per day), I haven’t seen any real signs of wear beyond some water marks near the spout. No cracks, no loose handle, no dodgy switch behaviour. The lid still closes properly, and the auto shut‑off hasn’t started acting up. For a cheap kettle, surviving that kind of usage without complaints is already a decent sign. Obviously, time will tell whether the heating element or switch gives out early, which is quite common on budget kettles.

One thing to watch is the heat on the casing. Because the body gets quite hot, I can imagine the plastic aging faster if it’s constantly pushed to full boil with maximum fill. If you’re the type who always fills to the brim, expect more stress on the materials. I’d personally keep it under max fill most of the time; it’s safer and probably better for longevity. Also, if you’re in a hard water area, you’ll want to descale it fairly often. The removable filter helps a bit, but limescale build‑up inside will still affect performance over time if you ignore it.

Overall, I’d rate durability as acceptable for the price, but not impressive. If you want a kettle that you’ll keep for 5–7 years, I’d spend more and go for a sturdier metal model. If you just need something cheap that will hopefully last a couple of years of normal home use, this Daewoo seems like a reasonable bet, as long as you treat it decently and don’t expect miracles.

On performance, this kettle actually does better than I expected for something so cheap. With its 1850–2200W power rating, it boils a full 1.7L in a reasonable time. I didn’t time it with a stopwatch, but compared to my old 3kW metal kettle, it’s only slightly slower, not by a huge margin. For smaller amounts, like water for one or two mugs, it feels pretty quick. One reviewer called it “fast boiling and very quiet,” and I’d broadly agree with that. It’s not silent, but the noise level is lower than some noisy metal kettles I’ve had that roar while they boil.

The auto shut‑off works reliably. Every time the water reaches boiling, it clicks off cleanly. I never had it keep boiling or fail to switch off. Same with boil‑dry protection: I tested it once by accident when I thought there was water in there and there wasn’t much left. It heated for a bit, then cut out before anything bad happened. That’s reassuring, especially for a cheap appliance. I’d still not make a habit of running it empty, though, because that’s how you shorten the life of these things.

In daily use, I mostly boiled between 0.5L and 1L at a time. For that range, the kettle is efficient enough: you flip the switch, the little red LED comes on, and by the time you’ve grabbed your mug and teabag or coffee, it’s usually nearly done. I didn’t notice any weird tastes from the plastic after the first couple of boils. I did rinse and boil twice before using it for drinks, which I always do with new kettles. After that, the water tasted normal.

There are no fancy temperature settings, no keep‑warm function, nothing smart. But if your only requirement is “boil water fairly fast and don’t make a racket,” this kettle handles it. For the price bracket it sits in, I’d say performance is one of its stronger points. It’s not a powerhouse, but it’s efficient enough for normal home use without annoying you every time you turn it on.

Out of the box, the Daewoo Essentials 1.7L kettle is very straightforward. You get the kettle, the base, and a removable filter already fitted inside the spout. No extra accessories, no jug warmers, no fancy cleaning tools. The manual is basic but clear enough: it explains the auto shut‑off, the boil‑dry protection, and how to remove and rinse the limescale filter. For something that costs as little as this, that’s pretty much what I expected.

The main specs are simple: 1.7L capacity, 1850–2200W power, auto shut‑off, boil‑dry protection, white plastic body, and a visible water gauge on the side. There’s also a small LED light that turns red when the kettle is on. Nothing special, but useful to see from across the room if it’s actually boiling. The unit weighs about 0.8 kg, so it’s lighter than most metal kettles I’ve had. That makes it easier to lift when it’s full, especially if you have weaker wrists or don’t want to heft a heavy stainless steel jug.

In day‑to‑day use, the capacity is enough for about 6–7 average mugs in one go, which matches what Daewoo claims. I usually boil for 2–3 mugs at a time, and it handles that easily. There’s a clear max fill line inside, and you really don’t want to ignore it because once you go past, the spout can start to feel a bit risky with splashes. The lid opens wide enough to fill it directly under the tap without fighting with the sink tap height, which is something that annoys me with some chunky kettles.

So in terms of basic presentation: it’s a no‑frills, functional kettle. You’re not getting variable temperatures, no keep‑warm mode, no fancy stainless finish. But you do get the essential safety features and a decent capacity. If you go in knowing it’s from the “essentials range” and priced accordingly, the overall package makes sense. It’s clearly built to hit a low price point, not to impress anyone on your kitchen counter.