Buyer's Guide

Check out these top tips to find the best kettle to help you create your perfect brew.

ELECTRIC OR STOVETOP?

It's a matter of personal preference when choosing between an electric or stovetop kettle. Stovetop kettles are still available and come in a range of styles, however they can be less easy to use (e.g. lids can be hard to remove) and as for energy efficiency, they aren't as good as an electric kettle. If you really like the style of a stovetop kettle, these now also come in electric options.

STYLE AND FINISH

Electric kettles come in a variety of designs and many also come with matching toasters.

Plastic

A plastic kettle is lighter in weight, is more cost-effective than glass or stainless steel, and has a cool exterior.

With a glass kettle, you can easily see how much water you fill it with however, the outside of the glass can become very hot during boiling. A glass kettle also doesn't rust and is easy to clean.

A stainless steel kettle is the most durable and has a modern look to easily match other kitchen appliances. These kettles usually include more features however they show fingerprints more easily.

STANDARD, MODERN OR RETRO DESIGN

A standard kettle has no extra functions - you simply boil water with it. Retro kettles are available in pastel shades and sometimes feature an analogue temperature meter to easily read the temperature of the water. Are you looking for a modern designer kettle where more attention has been paid to the ease of use of the kettle? Consider, for example, kettles with extra features such as a keep-warm function or adjustable temperature.

QUIET BOIL FEATURE

Electric kettles with a quiet boil feature are usually quieter than most other kettles. However, as the kettle gets older, it's possible that the quiet boil function may become less effective.

SMART TECHNOLOGY

Even kettles are getting smart technology upgrades. There are smart kettles currently on the market with more than one temperature setting to match your perfect brew directly from the kettle, plus a keep-warm function too. Technology is also being developed so you can boil the kettle, get alerts when it’s ready and keep it warm all from the convenience of your smartphone. Hopefully, someone will develop a kettle that can make your perfect cuppa and deliver it too - fingers crossed!