These 8 Electric Kettles Wowed Testers With Their Features, Designs, and Efficiency

Great Jones has partnered with Fellow to create this custom Stagg EKG Kettle in vibrant emerald green with yellow accents (dubbed broccoli and mustard). There’s also a Pro version in blue and fuchsia (blueberry and raspberry).

“This kettle is adorable. I like the design, with its precise spout and colorful exterior. It's like a little piece of pop art for your countertop!” says editor Katie Tuttle. “I'm quite happy with this. It's been a staple in my kitchen for over a year, and I use it religiously during the colder months, when my hot-tea habit is in full swing. It's the perfect size for a pour-over coffee or for tea, and the precise temperature control helps you ensure you get the best flavor from your brew.”

The dial lets you choose any temperature between 135 and 212 degrees F, and lets you set how long you'd like the kettle to maintain that temperature. Testing showed this 0.9-L kettle can reach its top temperature of 212 degrees F (boiling point) in about four minutes. The gooseneck spout provides a precise, even pour, although if you tip it too far, you may encounter some splashing. The handle doesn’t get hot, but the body of the kettle does. It automatically shuts off if the kettle is empty. While there’s an associated app, it can’t control the settings, so we found it pointless.

We also tested the classic version of this kettle, the Stagg EKG Pro Electric Kettle, which again won points for aesthetics. It feels very sleek and modern, despite having some classic elements. “It’s truly one of the most beautiful kettles,” says editorial director Simone Scully. “I've had a lot of electric kettles over the years, but this kettle really is one of the prettiest I've ever seen.” It comes in a variety of gorgeous muted color combinations, like stone blue and walnut. This model also has a slightly wider temperature range, from 104 to 212 degrees F.

The Breville IQ Kettle holds an impressive 1.8 L (57 fl oz) of water: enough for making hot drinks for the whole gang, quickly prepping boiling water for cooking, or household cleaning. Despite its large capacity, it boils water incredibly fast. Testing showed it took just over five minutes (five minutes, 16 seconds) to boil, one of the fastest we tested, especially given the capacity.

Our tester also highlighted the kettle's versatility, citing its volume. “This is my favorite kettle. It’s used every day in our kitchen for making pour-over coffee, boiling water to clean our cast iron, making tea, and various other uses,” says editor Nicole Bonaccorso. The handle stayed comfortable and cool to the touch, although the kettle itself does get hot since it isn’t insulated. We appreciated the external water gauge and the soft-open lid, which gently releases steam and prevents splashing.

It features five temperature buttons ranging from 175 to 212 degrees F. “The controls are extremely easy to figure out because they say what each temperature is for,” says Bonaccorso. “I love the temperature buttons that indicate what to make at each temperature. It says all that right on the control panel, which is one of my favorite things about this product.” The buttons are labeled “Green Tea 175°,” “White Tea 185°,” “Oolong 195°,” “French Press 200°,” and “Boil/Black Tea 212°.” The “Keep Warm” button will hold the water at your preferred temperature for 20 minutes.

If your kettle lives on your countertop, it should be just as pretty as it is effective. We love this gorgeous floral-print kettle from Laura Ashley. You can choose from options such as white with a delicate blue China-rose print or white with “Elveden”-print blue-and-pink flowers and birds, but we’re particularly taken with the dramatic navy blue with Elveden print.

“I think it's worth it if you want an aesthetic electric kettle. It works well, boils pretty fast, and lets you boil as little as a cup at a time,” says content specialist Ray Finch, who tested this kettle for us. “It's also very beautiful, and having the temperature gauge is very handy for brewing different types of tea or coffee.” We appreciated the one-cup boil feature and the external water gauge.

This kettle has a simple one-click operation. If you need a temperature other than boiling, check the temperature gauge and stop it as needed. It heats water very efficiently and automatically shuts off when empty or overheated. Our only issue was with the handle. The chrome can be a bit slippery if you touch it with a wet hand. Finch also has ongoing hand pain and was concerned that the handle's shape might cause some discomfort if he used it frequently or held it for extended periods. 

Offering a bevy of fun features, a high capacity, and a fast boil, all for around $50, we feel this kettle offers a great value. It was super-easy to set up and simple to use. “No frustrations, only fun,” says food and health journalist Amy Sowder. “It boiled water in a couple of minutes, and poured smoothly with no dripping or splashing.”

The handle felt comfortable and cool, the lid felt secure, and the auto-shutoff worked well. We also liked being able to see how much water it holds, thanks to the glass, double-walled design that helps keep water warmer longer while the outside stays cooler to the touch.

Our favorite part was the countertop light show it provides. Color-changing LED lights illuminate the water as it heats up to indicate the temperature: purple for under 113 degrees F, blue for 113 to 144 degrees, green for 144 to 169 degrees, yellow for 169 to 198 degrees, and red for over 198 degrees. “The color-changing thing is so fun,” Sowder says. We found little to complain about during testing, but some user reviews mention leaking with long-term use.

My kitchen is tiny for a family of five, so I’m always looking for products that occupy the smallest footprint possible while still delivering on form and function. After living in the U.K. for several years, I've found that an electric kettle is a must-have in my kitchen. I was excited to try this sleek Zwilling kettle for its insulation and multiple temperature settings — but I was even more excited to discover that, at 6-in wide and with no oversized handle or spout, it easily fit into the tiny space next to my coffee maker.

This has become our family’s new everyday kettle for making tea, hot cocoa, instant coffee, and noodles. I like that the insulated, double-walled design keeps the outside cool to the touch, so I don’t have to worry about my kids using it. The five temperature settings between 140 and 212 degrees F allow me to make different types of tea correctly, and they really do taste better when brewed at the correct temperature. It also includes a bottle-warming function and a “keep boiling” feature that maintains the water at a constant temperature until you turn it off.

This Haden Dorset Electric Kettle wowed us with its retro design and modern features, but it really excelled when it came time to pour.

“The placement of the handle is one of the things I love about this kettle. It was very unique. I've never used anything like this, where the handle is on the top of the kettle, versus on the side or back. This makes pouring the tea very easy and effortless,” says health writer Raki Swanson, who tested this model for us. “The handle is very secure, has a thick grip around it, and never gets warm.” Plus, it has a wire filter that helps prevent water from gushing out while pouring.

This kettle is effective, fast, and very attractive sitting on the counter. “Everyone who has seen it has commented on how pretty it is,” says Swanson. “They then ask for tea.” The front-mounted thermostat displays the water temperature as it heats, so you can stop it before it boils. Boiling a full pot (1.7 L) took about six minutes and 20 seconds. The external water gauge is a lifesaver “if you are like me and you forget if you filled the kettle the last time you made tea,” Swanson says. “This also helps to not overfill the kettle and have it boil over, which has happened a lot with my stove kettles.”

It has a simple click-on operation, and the button remains lit blue until it finishes boiling and automatically shuts off. Note that the kettle body is not insulated, so it gets quite hot. And the lid, which comes all the way off, is very tightly secured when on, so it takes some oomph to remove. And while we appreciate the handle placement for pouring, it is slightly awkward when filling the kettle.

If you regularly enjoy different types of tea, you’ll love this Cuisinart PerfecTemp Kettle. It features six temperature preset buttons that are labeled with their related tea type: “160° Delicate,” “175° Green,” “185° White,” “190° Oolong,” “200° French Press,” and “212° Boil Black.” A “Keep Warm” setting maintains the temperature for 30 minutes. Plus, the memory feature means that the kettle can be lifted off its base for up to two minutes without turning off or losing its place in the brewing process. It boiled in about four minutes.

“This kettle was basically as simple as it could be to operate. I never felt like I had to reference the manual or wonder if I was doing anything wrong,” says health writer Julia Pelly, MPH, who tested this for us. Pelly used it mostly for tea, but since it has preset temperature settings, she felt comfortable allowing her kids to use it independently to make hot cocoa or tea. “It's sturdy, simple to use, and seems really durable.” And it’s the sort of kettle “that allows you to not have to buy another for a very long time,” she says.

We also appreciated this kettle’s smooth pour, cool and comfortable handle, and blue LED-backlit external water window. On Amazon, there are several colors and designs to choose from; we’re particularly partial to the grey version with the etched octopus design. Testing revealed no faults, but some online reviews report occasional auto shut-off failures and issues with pouring too fast or too slow.

If you prefer glass over stainless steel or you like to be able to see inside your kettle, this glass Oxo Adjustable Temperature Kettle is just the ticket. It features a backlit screen with a dial interface that allows you to choose any temperature between 104 and 212 degrees F, so you can make the perfect cup of tea every time. It boiled 1.75 L of water in just over seven minutes, and it can maintain your desired temperature for up to 30 minutes.

“This is a very nice kettle; I love the clear glass and its sleek look,” says tester Bonaccorso. She found the controls intuitive: “You just turn the knob to adjust the temperature and press the button to start the heating element.” It pours very smoothly, the handle doesn't get hot, and the lid stays secure during pouring.

What you sacrifice with that precision single-digit temperature control is a bit of convenience. “My only real complaint is that the temperature knob adjusts very slowly; it clicks up one temperature digit at a time,” says Bonaccorso. “In my opinion, it should have some set temperatures for different types of tea and for coffee.”