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The KitchenAid 5KEK1701 is the brand’s flagship 1.7L variable temperature kettle — a premium stainless steel electric kettle with adjustable heat from 50°C to 100°C in 10° increments, 3,000W fast boil performance and seven colour options including Cast Iron Black, Empire Red and Pistachio. At a price well above most UK kettles, the 5KEK1701 is a direct competitor to the Smeg KLF04 and Dualit Architect — and one of the most visually distinctive temperature control kettles on the UK market. We tested it fully to determine whether the KitchenAid name and precision temperature range justify the premium over more affordable rivals.
Who Is the KitchenAid 5KEK1701 For?
The 5KEK1701 is a premium temperature control kettle for buyers who take hot drinks seriously and want a designer kitchen appliance to match. It suits:
- Green tea and white tea drinkers who need precise lower temperatures — 65–80°C — that a standard boiling kettle cannot deliver without waiting
- Pour-over and filter coffee enthusiasts who want 90–96°C precision for bloom and brew, where extraction quality is most temperature-sensitive
- Designer kitchen owners who want a kettle that is a visual statement — KitchenAid’s colour options and retro-modern silhouette are genuinely distinctive in any kitchen
- KitchenAid stand mixer owners who want their worktop appliances to coordinate in colour and aesthetic
- Gift buyers looking for a premium, gift-worthy kitchen appliance from a globally recognised brand
If you make exclusively standard black tea or builder’s tea and never require precise temperature control, a Russell Hobbs or Morphy Richards kettle at a fraction of the price delivers identical boiling results. The 5KEK1701’s price premium is justified almost entirely by its temperature control precision and visual design — both of which matter only to specific buyers.
KitchenAid 5KEK1701 Specifications
- Capacity: 1.7L (also available in 1.3L and 1.5L)
- Wattage: 3,000W
- Temperature Range: 50°C–100°C in 10° increments
- Material: Stainless steel
- Controls: Dedicated temperature selector buttons
- Water Window: Illuminated water level gauge
- Base: 360° cordless
- Colours: Cast Iron Black, Empire Red, Pistachio, Stainless Steel, Black, Ink Blue, Almond Cream
- RRP: £149.17
Build Quality and Design
KitchenAid’s design language is unmistakable — the 5KEK1701 has the same rounded, confident silhouette and premium weight as the brand’s stand mixers and toasters, with none of the hollow plasticity that marks out lesser kitchen appliances. The stainless steel body has genuine substance to it; picking it up feels immediately different from a budget kettle at this capacity.
The Cast Iron Black finish is a deep matte black that avoids the fingerprint-prone glossiness of many black kettles. Empire Red and Pistachio are genuinely striking colour choices for buyers who want their kettle to be a kitchen centrepiece rather than a background appliance — the red kettle and pistachio green kettle versions pair directly with the matching KitchenAid toasters in the same colour range, making a coordinated kettle and toaster set that is hard to replicate at this visual quality from any other brand. The cream kettle variant (Almond Cream) is also available, and the stainless steel and ink blue variants round out a colour range that covers almost any kitchen scheme.
The temperature selector buttons sit on the front face of the handle, allowing you to set the target temperature before lifting from the base. The illuminated water level gauge is clearly visible from both front and side angles. The 360° cordless base performs as expected for a premium kettle. There is a satisfying quality to every interaction — the lid opens cleanly, the handle grip is comfortable and proportioned for a full kettle, and the pour is clean without drip.
Temperature Control: The Defining Feature
The 5KEK1701’s 50°C–100°C variable temperature control in 10° increments is its primary differentiator from every budget and mid-range kettle in this guide. This matters because different hot drinks genuinely benefit from different water temperatures — a detail that the majority of UK kettle buyers never encounter simply because a standard boiling kettle gives them only one option.
In practice, the 10° step increments cover every meaningful hot drink scenario:
- 50–60°C: Tepid water for baby formula preparation or cooling hot drinks for children
- 70–75°C: Green tea and white tea — at 100°C these teas turn bitter and astringent; at 70–75°C they are sweet, clean and correctly extracted
- 80–85°C: Oolong tea and Japanese green teas such as gyokuro and sencha
- 90–96°C: Pour-over coffee, Aeropress and French press — the temperature window where extraction is most balanced and nuanced
- 96–100°C: Black tea, builder’s tea, herbal teas, instant coffee and instant noodles
A kettle without temperature control forces you to boil then wait for the water to cool — imprecise, slow, and entirely avoidable with the right tool. The 5KEK1701 eliminates that trade-off. In testing, temperature accuracy was within 2–3°C of the selected setting consistently — well within the range where it makes a meaningful difference to drink quality. The 10° step system is sufficient for all practical purposes; the difference between 88°C and 90°C is imperceptible in most pour-over scenarios, and the KitchenAid hits 90°C accurately and repeatable.
Boil Speed
At 3,000W, the 5KEK1701 boils a full 1.7L to 100°C in approximately 4 minutes 45 seconds — the same performance as any other 3KW electric kettle at this capacity. There is no speed advantage in a premium temperature control kettle versus a budget fast boil kettle at the same wattage; both draw the same power from the socket. Where the KitchenAid differs meaningfully is when set to a lower target: reaching 80°C for green tea takes approximately 3 minutes 10 seconds from cold, versus waiting 4 minutes 45 seconds for a 100°C boil to cool to the same temperature — a 90-second time saving with perfect precision.
Colour Options and Size Variants
At 1.7L, the 5KEK1701 is available in seven colour variants: Cast Iron Black (reviewed here), Empire Red, Pistachio, Stainless Steel, Black, Ink Blue and Almond Cream. Each colour coordinates directly with the corresponding KitchenAid toaster range — making the 5KEK1701 the natural choice for buyers who want a matching black kettle and toaster, cream kettle and toaster, or red kettle and toaster from a single premium brand.
The same design is also available in 1.5L and 1.3L capacities at a similar price point. The 1.3L variant is particularly well suited to 1–2 person households who want KitchenAid’s temperature control precision but rarely boil more than 3–4 cups. The 1.7L reviewed here is the best choice for households of 3+ or anyone who regularly fills a teapot.
How Does the KitchenAid 5KEK1701 Compare?
KitchenAid 5KEK1701 vs Smeg KLF04
The Smeg KLF04 (reviewed separately in this guide) is the 5KEK1701’s most direct competitor — retro Italian design, seven temperature presets from 50°C to 100°C, a keep-warm function that holds temperature for 20 minutes, and a polished stainless steel body available in cream, pastel green, pink, black and more. The Smeg KLF04 has 728 reviews at 4.4 stars versus the KitchenAid’s 307 reviews at 4.2 stars. Both sit in the £100–£150 price bracket. The Smeg’s keep-warm function is a genuine advantage the KitchenAid lacks. The KitchenAid’s wider colour range and American-designed silhouette are its visual differentiators. For most buyers, the Smeg is the slightly more feature-complete choice; for KitchenAid loyalists and stand mixer owners, the 5KEK1701 is the natural fit.
KitchenAid 5KEK1701 vs Dualit Architect
The Dualit Architect (reviewed separately) is a British-designed premium kettle with interchangeable colour panels, the patented Pure Pour non-drip spout, 2.3KW power (quieter than the KitchenAid’s 3KW) and a 1.5L capacity. At 3,427 reviews and 4.5 stars, the Dualit has a significantly larger and higher-rated review sample than the KitchenAid 5KEK1701. The Dualit wins on the non-drip spout and its deeply customisable colour panel system; the KitchenAid wins on temperature range, fast boil speed and colour variety. Both are premium British and American design offerings at comparable prices.
KitchenAid 5KEK1701 vs Sage Kettle
The Sage smart kettle (from the brand behind the Sage Barista Express) is the primary rival for coffee-enthusiast buyers who want temperature precision and optional app connectivity. It targets specialty coffee preparation directly. The KitchenAid 5KEK1701 offers comparable temperature control without smart features, at a similar or slightly lower price. For pure coffee-focused temperature accuracy with app integration, the Sage is compelling. For buyers who want a design-forward temperature kettle for all hot drinks — not just coffee — the KitchenAid covers the same temperature range with considerably more visual impact and colour choice.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy the KitchenAid 5KEK1701?
The KitchenAid 5KEK1701 is one of the best temperature control kettles available in the UK — a beautifully built, precisely functional appliance that covers every hot drink temperature from 50°C to 100°C with genuine accuracy, in a colour range that covers almost every kitchen aesthetic. For green tea drinkers, pour-over coffee enthusiasts and anyone who wants a designer kettle as a kitchen centrepiece, it is hard to fault at its current sale price.
At its full £149 RRP, the value calculation is tighter — the Smeg KLF04 offers similar functionality with an additional keep-warm function at a comparable price, and the Dualit Architect has a stronger review rating at a lower price. At £112–£120 on promotion during Prime Day and Black Friday, the 5KEK1701 becomes more compelling against both rivals.
For KitchenAid loyalists, stand mixer owners who want a coordinated worktop set, and anyone who cares about precise drink temperatures — the 5KEK1701 is the KitchenAid kettle to buy.
