A kettle is an absolute must-have if you’re going to be making hot drinks like tea or coffee.
They seem simple enough, but there’s actually a bit more to them than simply boiling your water.
Since there is a surprising range of kettles available on the market now, it’s good to make sure you know which ones are worth your money and which ones are just overpriced junk.
You don’t want to end up with a rusty kettle that spits hot water in inconvenient places!
That’s where this article comes in – we’ll take you through a list of the best kettles available to you right now and explain their pros and cons, so you can choose which one is right for you.
That’s not all, though – we’re also going to include a buyer’s guide and a question and answer section underneath to make sure you know everything that you need to know to make the right choice.
For now, though, let’s take a look at the kettles themselves.
OUR TOP PICK
Elechomes 1.7 L Electric Kettle
EDITORS CHOICE
Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Gooseneck Kettle
BEST VALUE
OUR TOP PICK
Elechomes 1.7 L Electric Kettle
The first kettle on our list is from Elechomes. And since they’ve been around for quite some time, they have a lot of experience with the product line, too.
This particular model is an electric kettle that has received rave reviews from customers who love its sleek design, quiet operation, and easy to use controls.
It also features a large capacity, allowing you to boil up to 1.7L of water at once.
The body of the kettle is made of clear borosilicate glass, allowing you to see exactly how much water you have inside at any given time.
It’s resistant to both heat and cracking, so you won’t need to worry about burning yourself or damaging the kettle.
Adding water and cleaning are a breeze, too, thanks to the wide opening at the top.
The filter will also stop anything unwanted from coming through when you pour. The power cord can even be hidden away under the base to save space when it’s not in use.
Pros
- Transparent body lets you check water level easily
- Controls are simple to use
- 1.7 liter capacity is enough for just about any use
- Power cord can be hidden to save space when not in use
Cons
- Doesn’t automatically turn off when boiled
EDITORS CHOICE
Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Gooseneck Kettle
If you’re looking for elegance and luxury in your kettle, then look no further than this option right here. The first thing you’ll notice about it is its magnificent appearance.
We’re partial to the matte black with walnut handle, but you’ll find that several different choices are available when it comes to its appearance.
If you prefer pink or metallic finishes, you’ll be catered for.
It has a very long neck, and this makes it perfect for pouring over good quality coffee and tea – the continuous stream of water is exactly what they need to reach their full potential.
Unlike most kettles (which usually simply boil the water), this one allows you to control the temperature you want the water to reach to the exact degree.
This is great for serious tea drinkers who want to carefully control the temperature of the water they use for different varieties of tea.
Once it’s reached this level, you can set the kettle to hold, and it will keep the water at that temperature for up to an hour.
Altogether, it can boil 0.9 liters of water at a time.
Pros
- One of the most beautiful kettles you’ll ever see
- Can heat water to exact degrees
- Long neck is suitable for pouring on coffee and tea
- Hold setting allows you to keep water warm after heating
Cons
- On the pricier end of the spectrum
BEST VALUE
OXO BREW Classic Tea Kettle
This classically styled kettle is simply a great choice. It’s not an electric kettle, meaning you’ll need a stove top or other heat source to use it, but that shouldn’t put you off.
The handle is perfectly crafted for easy pouring and can also be folded away to save space in storage.
You’ll notice that it also has silicon touch points that resist heat for you to hold it by so there’s no need to worry about burning yourself.
It also has a capacity of 1.7qt (over 1.9L) so it should be able to cater for even the most extensive boiling water needs.
It also makes a classic whistling noise to let you know that your water’s done boiling.
The stainless steel material that it’s made of guards against rust and the wide cap makes it easy to get into for cleaning.
Also available on:
Pros
- Handle folds away for easy storage
- 1.9L+ capacity is large enough for anything
- Stainless steel construction
- Classic whistle sound
Cons
- Not electric
RUNNER UP
Le Creuset Enamel On Steel Whistling Tea Kettle
If you know good kitchen products, then you must have heard the name Le Creuset.
The company is well-known for producing a range of high quality cookware and other kitchen accessories, and this kettle is a more than worthy addition to their catalog.
It has the signature Le Creuset appearance, being available in a range of 8 deep, rich colors.
This color is on the sleek enamel coating, which covers the solid steel body of the kettle.
It will make a whistling sound when your water is ready to pour, and both the handle and whistle are covered in a heat-resistant plastic to make sure you won’t burn yourself.
It heats up quickly and can be used on any kind of heat source (gas, electric, halogen, ceramic, induction). Ideal for pour-over coffee.
Pros
- Well-regarded brand
- Solid steel and enamel construction
- Choice of colors
Cons
- Somewhat pricey
RUNNER UP
Zeppoli Electric Kettle
Here’s another great contender if you’re looking for an electric kettle. It can hold and boil up to 1.7 liters of water.
You’ll also be able to see exactly how much there is in there, thanks to the transparent glass that makes up the body of the kettle.
It also means that there’s no risk of rust, or of the kettle’s materials from contaminating the water you drink.
This one also features an automatic shut-off when the water has finished boiling, meaning that there’s no risk of overboiling.
Pros
- Reasonable price
- Automatic shut-off to prevent overboiling
- Large capacity
Cons
- Spout is small, which can cause overflowing if water is poured too quickly
RUNNER UP
Bonavita 1.0L Variable Temperature Electric Kettle
As you’ll have guessed from the name, this is an electric kettle that can hold and boil up to a liter of water.
This is a smaller amount than some of the others on this list, but it should be enough unless you need to make a lot of hot drinks all at once.
Its goose neck design makes it look nice and is perfect for pour-over coffee. It can be adjusted in one degree increments in either Centigrade or Fahrenheit.
It’s range is 140˚-212˚F, which means it can be used for all kinds of different drinks.
It can also hold the water at that temperature for an hour, meaning you won’t need to reheat it if you feel like having a second cup.
Add to that its sleek appearance and it’s a great option.
Pros
- Adjustable temperature
- Hold-at-temperature feature
- Goose neck
Cons
- Smaller capacity than some others
Best Kettle Buying Guide
There are a few things you’ll want to consider when you’re deciding on a kettle to buy.
We’ve detailed them here, so make sure you read this buyer’s guide so that you know all that you need to know to make the best choice.
Electric vs Non-Electric Kettle
The first consideration to think about is whether you want a non-electric kettle or an electric one.
There are many benefits to having an electric kettle because they really do speed up heating times dramatically, but there are some downsides as well.
Obviously, you’ll have to plug them in to use them, and keeping a kettle plugged in in your kitchen for easy use can take up space that you might want to use for something else.
On the other hand, electric kettles are usually much quicker at heating water than non-electric ones.
They are also more convenient to use, since you only need to flick a switch to start boiling. Non-electric ones require you to use a stove top, which needs time to come up to temperature.
Non-electric kettles often have a whistle to let the user know when the water’s boiled, which can be attractive for some people.
Capacity
Capacity is another thing to consider, and what capacity you need will depend on what you’re going to be using the kettle for.
If you just want to make the occasional cup of coffee for yourself, then a smaller capacity should be fine.
But if you have a larger household who all enjoy their hot drinks, you might want to look at a larger kettle instead.
Remember that you can also use a kettle to boil water for use in cooking too. Some recipes might call for a lot of water, so if you want to cook these, a larger kettle will come in very useful.
Material
Kettles can be made of various different materials, each with their own pros and cons. Cheaper kettles are often made from plastic, often in combination with another material.
This makes them lighter (and of course cheaper) but isn’t always the most durable. Stainless steel is also common, and is generally a good material (depending on the quality of the steel).
Some, like the Le Creuset kettle mentioned above, are coated in enamel. This is both for its appearance and for its other properties, like protecting the steel from rusting.
Of course, the higher quality the materials, the more you’re going to pay for the kettle, so keep that in mind.
Durability
It doesn’t matter what sort of material your kettle is made out of if it breaks, so it’s important that you choose a durable one.
Fortunately, we’ve found some excellent options that won’t break easily, even after years of heavy usage.
The Le Creuset kettle we reviewed earlier, for example, is crafted from beautiful and enamelled stainless steel, making it incredibly tough and resilient – it can last for years and years if you treat it well.
Safety Features
Another important consideration is safety.
That said, we haven’t found anything in our testing that was unsafe, but if you’re worried about safety, remember that cheaply made electrical items can sometimes have faulty wiring.
In theory, this could cause a fire.
There’s no reason to think that any of the kettles on this list are unsafe in any way, but it’s something to consider if you’re looking at the lower end of the price spectrum.
You should also check reviews before you buy to make sure there are no problems with the construction of the kettle you’re considering (e.g. gaps where water can splash out unexpectedly).
Special Features
Some kettles come with quite an impressive range of extra features beyond just the ability to boil water.
For example, some can heat water to a particular specified temperature and then use their keep-warm function to maintain it at that temperature.
Some are specifically designed to be used for making things like pour-over coffee or other particular drinks.
While most kettles will be fine if all you want is just to boil some water, there are quite a lot of higher-end models to choose from if you want something more sophisticated.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Happens If You Put A Kettle On Without Water?
The first thing to say is that this is really not a good idea, and under no circumstances should you do it.
If you switch on an empty kettle (or let one boil dry) then you risk overheating and melting/damaging the walls of the kettle.
Even if this doesn’t totally break the kettle, it might make it unsafe to use in the future due to contaminants leaking out.
A stainless steel kettle is very unlikely to melt if you boil it dry, but there’s still the possibility that one of the weld joints might pop open, which would make the kettle useless.
How Long Should A Kettle Take To Boil?
This depends on a lot of things.
The list includes how big the kettle is, how much water it has inside it, whether it’s electric or not, how powerful it is (if it’s electric), and how it’s being heated.
A sufficiently powerful electric kettle can boil water in as little as a minute or two.
Non-electric kettles tend to take longer, as they need to be placed on a stove top, which will need to come up to temperature.
Do Electric Kettles Turn Off Automatically When The Water Has Boiled?
Most of them do, but not all of them. It is definitely an advantage for them to do so because it can prevent the hot water from becoming a hazard if it’s left on for too long.
In some cases, a kettle might even boil dry if left unattended.
If you want to go for a kettle with an auto shut-off feature, make sure that the model you’re looking at definitely does have one before you decide to part with your money.
How Often Should I Clean My Kettle?
Again, this depends on several different things, including the quality of the water that you use in it.
You might notice that over time, limescale or sediment starts to build up in your kettle, either in the body of the kettle or on the filter.
Many kettles have removable filters to help make it easier to clean them. Many also have larger openings where you put the water in to make them easy to clean.
If you notice that water from your kettle is tasting strange, that could be a sign that it needs a clean.
How Can I Clean My Kettle?
A good way to clean your kettle is to fill it with a 50-50 mixture of water and white vinegar, and then set it to boil. Once it’s boiled, let it sit in the kettle for half an hour or so.
Then rinse the kettle thoroughly. If this doesn’t seem to be enough, you might need to do a more thorough wash inside the kettle using soap and hot water.
Some brands also recommend cleaning their kettles with a descaling powder from time to time, to make sure that limescale build up doesn’t become too advanced.
Final Thoughts
So, there you have it, a list of the best kettles available on the market at the moment.
Whether you want something electric or non-electric, affordable or high-end, there’ll be something that suits your needs perfectly on this list.
Also, now that you’ve read the buyer’s guide and the FAQ section, you should be well equipped to decide exactly what it is you want and choose the right model for you.
Now, get that kettle and enjoy that cup of coffee!
