How many kettles have I used over the past 20-odd years? I can't count (but let me try: Level Kettle, Hario Buono, Fellow, Bonavita, Brewista, a short squatty one I can't remember the name of... Oh, and the one I designed and manufactured!). Each one was an evolution, and each has things I don't like about them. The kettles we've used at DoubleShot over the past many years are Buonos I modified with more ergonomic wood handles, and I put a pipe bender on the spouts in an attempt to give it more flow control.
I started looking at this one because we sell Chemex coffeemakers. Their website says it doesn't work on induction cooktops, but I bought one anyway and found out that's not true. This is certainly an improvement over the Buono. It's a taller kettle, and holds a bit more water (1.2L). The pour spout goes up high enough to restrict flow, and it has a sharper tip that lets water come off in a narrower stream. So definitely more control. One issue I have with it is that there are no steam holes, which normally I'd bore out to accommodate a thermometer. The lid design is nice because it has a silicone gasket that holds it in place, but there's no place to put the thermometer without taking the lid entirely off. Curtis pointed out that the Chettle weighs 280g more than our Hario kettles, which feels like a lot when you're used to the lighter weight. 1200ml of water weighs 2.6 pounds, so that extra 280g will put your total weight (full) at 4.2 pounds. A substantial load on the biceps for weight weenies.
Other than that (and the cutesy name), it's a surprisingly capable pourover kettle.
