After Testing 16 Electric Tea Kettles, I Got the Tea on the Best Ones

When I was a senior in college, I studied abroad at University College London to do research for my thesis. I stayed in Ramsay Hall, a 1960s-era freshman dorm with carpeted conversation pits and sticky linoleum floors. The dorm’s claim to fame was that Chris Martin of Coldplay used to strum his guitar in the cinderblock stairways. You could breathe the same musty air and walk the same cold steps as a famous musician. 

The only other redemptive factor of Ramsay Hall was its communal kitchens— the most modern thing about the building. While stocked with the basics—a microwave, refrigerator, a few utensils—there was one non-negotiable: an electric kettle. 

Tea time wasn’t just something Brits did back in the 1800s when they were bored—this is a thriving ritual, and the phrase “put the kettle on” is very much alive and well. And because I was deeply immersed in 2014 London youth culture, I did like the Brits and drank copious amounts of milk-spiked PG Tips tea. This experience taught me the utter luxury that is an electric kettle: Just fill it with water, press the tab (or select a specific temperature if it’s a fancy variable kettle), and a few minutes later you have piping hot water. And you can do it again, and again, and again—all without having to turn on the hob (a.k.a stove, which I can’t remember if the communal kitchens had…eh, likely not). 

When I came back stateside, my plain stovetop kettle reminded me of everything I missed about London—the accent, the pubs, the walkability, and the electric tea kettles. 

Luckily, electric kettles have made their way across the pond. Options abound, with simple press-the-tab-and-boil types (a.k.a non-variable) and the fancy choose-your-temperature kinds (a.k.a variable), and both have their merits. In search of the best ones, I tested 16 electric kettles (variable and non-variable) and found seven options for tea time and any time in between.

The Winners, at a Glance

This sleek offering has five labeled temperature settings: 175°F for green/white tea; 195°F for oolong, 200°F for French press, and more. This is a boon on early mornings when you don't want to think about anything. It heated water quickly, poured smoothly, and hit the sweet spot when it came to capacity, holding 57 ounces (a little over seven cups) of water. 

If you’re really into high-quality teas (maybe you have a few pucks of pu’er aging in your cupboard), this kettle lets you set precise temperatures—yes, you can even boil water to 163°F if you so choose. It heated up relatively quickly, and the handle design made pouring smooth and steady. 

Variable kettles (that is, kettles where you can set the temperature) are going to be pricier than ones where you push a tab and water is boiled—there’s just more going on under the hood. But, if you don't want to drop a ton of cash, this option from OXO is fairly affordable and performed well. It has a 60-ounce capacity (about seven-and-a-half cups) and a dial for choosing the temperature, and it poured a neat stream of H2O. 

This beauty of a kettle brought its maximum amount of water (51 ounces, or a little over six cups) to a boil in a lickety-split six minutes and 27 seconds. I liked the sleek, grippy silicone-lined handle, too.

This kettle made a sound similar to a bicycle bell when placed on the heating base and when it finished boiling. It’s sleek, poured water smoothly, and was overall a solid non-variable kettle at a good price.

A simple but pretty pick, the Capresso boiled water quickly and was easy to use. It’s on the petite side, so it won’t take up too much countertop space. 

If you’re in the market for a kettle for pour-overs, this elegant, fast, and precise kettle from Fellow was one of our gooseneck-style picks. "I've owned this kettle for years," says associate commerce editorial director Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm. "I love the digital control screen, the easy-to-adjust temperature dial, and the direct, beautifully angled gooseneck spout."

The Tests

• Speed Tests: I filled each kettle with three-and-a-half cups of 57°F water and then timed how long it took for them to bring the water to a boil. I then repeated this test but filled each kettle to its maximum capacity. 
• Accuracy Test (Variable Kettles): To test the variable kettles’ accuracy, I heated three-and-a-half cups of water to 175°F, 185°F, 190°F, and 200°F and took the temperature using an instant-read thermometer. If kettles had preset temperatures (like the Breville Luxe and Bodum) I used those preset temperatures instead. 
• Keep Warm Test: To test kettles with the ability to hold water at a specific temperature, I filled the kettles to their max capacity and set the temperature to 200°F (or close to it, depending on their presets). If they had a keep warm button/setting, I engaged it, and then I took the temperature of the water at 15 and 30 minutes, as well as at each kettle’s max time. 
• Taste Test: After boiling a few rounds of water, I tasted the water to see if there were any off flavors. 
• Ease of Use Tests: Throughout testing, I noted if the kettles were easy to set up, use, and pour from.

What We Learned

Is a Variable Temperature Electric Kettle Better Than a Non-Variable One?

At their most basic, electric kettles heat water—it’s not rocket science. Within the category of electric kettles are variable and non-variable options; Variable kettles let you choose a precise temperature, while non-variable ones simply bring water to a boil. Neither is better than the other. Instead, choosing between them depends on what you’re looking for in a kettle. If you want precise water temperatures for various teas or pour-over coffee, a variable kettle is the way to go. But if you just want to pop the kettle on for a cup of something hot and don’t need to go granular, a non-variable kettle is often cheaper and will do the job just fine.

Most of the Variable Temperature Electric Kettles I Tested Were Accurate

Accuracy was similarly consistent across the board. If any kettles were off, it was usually only by a degree. The Bodum was the only kettle that performed poorly in the heat accuracy test; it was off by around 10 degrees.

What's the Fastest Electric Kettle?

While it may sound reductive, all of the kettles I tested heated up water fairly fast: Every kettle (save for the Fellow Corvo and Fellow Stagg gooseneck kettle, which was my control) boiled three-and-a-half cups of water in under five minutes. Among our winners, the fastest were the Breville Variable, the Fellow Clyde, and the Capresso.

How Quickly the Electric Kettles Boiled Water
Kettle	Time to Boil 3.5 Cups of Water
Breville Variable Temp Luxe Kettle	4 minutes, 34 seconds
Fellow Corvo EKG Electric Kettle	5 minutes, 26 seconds
OXO Brew Adjustable Temperature Kettle	4 minutes, 50 seconds
Fellow Clyde Electric Kettle	4 minutes, 34 seconds
Capresso ® H20 Tea Kettle	4 minutes, 34 seconds
OXO Brew Cordless Glass Electric Kettle	4 minutes, 54 seconds

Simple, Intuitive Control Panels Were Best 

Choosing winners came down more to ease of use and versatility. Most of the non-variable kettles functioned similarly: push down a tab and, when it pops up, the water is ready. But a few tried to shake up that simple design with no apparent benefit. The Breville Crystal Clear Electric Kettle had a switch instead of a tab, which was difficult to press, while the Hamilton Beach Electric Tea Kettle required pushing the tab upwards to start it, which was the opposite of every other non-variable kettle. 

When it came to variable kettles, I liked the simple dial interfaces on the Fellow Corvo and OXO Brew Adjustable Temperature Kettle, which made choosing a temperature and starting the heating process easy. Just turn the dial and press it, and the water begins to heat. (In the case of the Corvo, you press the dial to turn it on, then turn it to choose the temperature.)

Buttons were often more finicky and confusing, and often oddly placed—both the Cuisinart and the Haden sported theirs on the upper part of the handle. The Haden was particularly perplexing to program. It has plus and minus buttons, a start/on button, and a wavy button. When pressed, none of them seemed to do what I thought they would—instead, I’d find myself somehow toggling between 200°F and 212°F without being able to start the dang thing. 

While I did prefer dials, the Breville Variable Temp Luxe Kettle had a button control panel with temperature presets on the base that was easy and intuitive to use. The only qualm I had with it was that to keep water warm, you have to press the Keep Warm button before you select your water temperature—but once you know, it’s not a big deal.

The Criteria: What to Look for in an Electric Kettle

A good electric kettle should be accurate, heat water quickly, and have a simple-to-use interface. It should also be easy to fill and pour smoothly. A sturdy, grippy handle (that's not too thick) is also a must. The good news? Most kettles I tested had all these traits. With variable kettles specifically, look for ones with dials for easy programming (though a clearly labeled button control panel, like on the Breville Variable Temp Luxe Kettle, was also fine).

Our Favorite Electric Kettles

What we liked: The gorgeous kettle features five temperature buttons on the base: 175°F, 195°F, 200°F, 205°F, and 112°F, each labeled according to what they’re good for (e.g. 175°F is best for green tea, while 200°F is preferred for a French press). This was really helpful, and I think the preset temperature options are likely sufficient for most folks’ needs. The kettle was also quick to heat up (boiling 28 ounces of water in four minutes and 34 seconds) and poured smoothly. It was accurate, too, and held water at 200°F for 20 minutes. 

What we didn’t like: It’s expensive—no buts about it. The button interface, while easy to use and nicely labeled, does limit you in terms of temperatures. This kettle kept water warm for 20 minutes, which was shorter than most other kettles with this feature. 

Key Specs

• Stated capacity: 57 ounces
• Style: Variable
• Temperature settings: 175°F, 195°F, 200°F, 205°F, 212°F
• Keep warm: Yes, 20 minutes

What we liked: This petite, attractive kettle is super easy to use: push the dial in to start it, then turn it to select the temperature. The kettle automatically holds water at the set temperature for 60 minutes, which was the longest of the lineup. And talk about temperature options—you can toggle between 104°F to boiling. It was the only kettle I tested that offered such a wide range. 

What we didn’t like: It has a smaller capacity and when filled to the max line, it dribbled when pouring. The all-metal lid scraped against the opening and the handle on it felt jiggly. It was on the slower side when it came to boiling, taking five minutes and 26 seconds to heat 28 ounces of water.

Key Specs

• Stated capacity: 30 ounces
• Style: Variable
• Temperature settings: 104°F to 212°F
• Keep warm: Yes, 60 minutes

What we liked: This kettle sports a simple dial control panel, allowing you to get particular about your temperature choice. It’s got a large capacity, pours smoothly, and is a fairly affordable variable kettle. I liked that it was made of glass, which made it easy to see the water level (though glass isn’t as good at retaining heat as insulated stainless steel). 

What we didn’t like: The measurement lines are white, making them difficult to see when filling the kettle with water. 

Key Specs

• Stated capacity: 59 ounces
• Style: Variable
• Temperature settings: 170°F to 212°F
• Keep warm: Yes, 30 minutes

What we liked: When it comes to a non-variable kettle, simplicity is key—after all, this style of kettle is solely meant to boil water. The Fellow Clyde heeded this and kept the design simple and chic, with a tab to start heating, a comfy silicone-lined handle that stayed cool, and a smooth pouring spout. The base was also sturdy, which wasn’t the case with most of the electric kettles I tested.  

What we didn’t like: It’s a bit big and the exterior of the kettle gets quite hot. It’s also pricey for a non-variable kettle. 

Key Specs

• Stated capacity: 51 ounces
• Style: Non-variable
• Temperature settings: Boil
• Keep warm: No

What we liked: With a wide opening that made filling easy, a simple start tab (with a green dot on one side and a red dot on the other), and a bicycle-bell-esque ding to alert you when your water is ready, this kettle did its job and did it well. The handle was also slim and easy to grip, making pouring easy. 

What we didn’t like: I sometimes struggled to slot the kettle onto the base, and it took a little long (around eight minutes and 30 seconds) for it to boil its maximum capacity of water. 

Key Specs

• Stated capacity: 57 ounces
• Style: Non-variable
• Temperature settings: Boil
• Keep warm: No

What we liked: A kettle that’s sub-$100, looks cute, and performs well? Count me in. This no-frills option from Capresso was fast to heat water (it boiled six cups of water in a little over seven minutes) and poured smoothly. 

What we didn’t like: There's no button to spring the latch for the lid (you have to tug it open) and the opening was small, making it a little messy to fill. The “start” tab is a button on the handle, which wasn’t as audible when the water reached a boil. 

Key Specs

• Stated capacity: 48 ounces
• Style: Non-variable
• Temperature settings: Boil
• Keep warm: No

What we liked: With a wide range of temperatures (104°F to 212°F) and a curved, gooseneck spout, this kettle is designed with pour-overs in mind. The Stagg makes it easy to control the flow and direction of water, ensuring evenly saturated coffee grounds and a smooth final cup. "I always get compliments on this kettle," Riddley says. "Not only does it work great—perfect for pouring in the concentric circles pour-over requires—but it's beautiful, too."

What we didn’t like: It has a small capacity, and the lid leaks when pouring (even when it’s not even close to being full). 

Key Specs

• Stated capacity: 30 ounces
• Style: Variable
• Temperature settings: 104°F to 212°F
• Keep warm: Yes, 1 hour

The Competition

Other Electric Kettles I Liked

• OXO Brew Cordless Glass Electric Kettle: Nearly identical in form to the OXO variable kettle, this non-variable option performed well, boiling three-and-a-half cups of water in less than five minutes. 
• Cosori Original Electric Glass Kettle: This is another solid, no-frills non-variable kettle that lights up blue when the tab is pushed down so you know it’s heating up. The base was lightweight and prone to flipping over without the kettle on top weighing it down. 
• Cuisinart PerfecTemp Cordless Electric Kettle: While this kettle performed well (it was fast and poured smoothly), I didn’t love the buttons on the handle. The model was also a wee bit off regarding temperature accuracy, though only by two degrees. But, overall, it’s still a solid kettle. 

Not Recommended

• SMEG Electric Kettle: While this non-variable kettle performed just fine and has a cute, vintage aesthetic, it’s nearly the same price as my top variable kettle. It also felt cheap and plasticky. 
• Bodum Bistro Electric Water Kettle: This kettle has some really odd temperature presets (140ºF; 158ºF; 176ºF; 194ºF; 212°F) and a stiff dial interface. It also struggled with accuracy, routinely heating water nine to 10 degrees cooler than what I’d set it to.  
• HADEN Dorchester Kettle: This kettle felt cheaply made, and the metal lid was hot to handle and hard to remove. The button control panel on the handle was poorly placed and confusing to program. 
• Hamilton Beach Electric Tea Kettle: This kettle had a small opening, making it difficult to fill. While most non-variable kettles had a tab meant to be pushed down to start it, this kettle’s tab had to be pushed upwards—not a big deal, but why? The handle was slippery and got larger towards the top, which made it more difficult to hold and press the button to open the lid. 
• Breville the Crystal Clear Electric Kettle: Instead of a traditional tab, this non-variable option has a switch that was difficult to press (and felt a little loose). The handle was also a bit wide and uncomfortable to hold. Overall, for the price, you could get something better.
• Krups Cool Touch Plastic and Stainless Steel Electric Kettle: When you push the lid shut it snaps violently down. Plus, it has a very thin, light base that wobbles when you put the kettle on it. There aren’t any measurement markings other than a max-fill line inside.
  

FAQs

What is the average lifespan of an electric kettle?

Like many an electric appliance, kettles do have finite lifespans, though if you treat ‘em well (occasionally letting them soak with descaler to reduce the risk of mineral buildup), they should last years. 

How fast does an electric kettle heat water?

Most of the electric kettles we tested boiled three-and-a-half cups of water (a standard amount we used to test speed) in less than five minutes, with a few outliers climbing just over that time. Max water capacity (which ranged between 30 and 59 ounces) boiling times differed more, but that’s par for the course when you’re boiling different amounts of water.

How do you clean an electric kettle?

Like a drip coffee maker, electric kettles can be prone to scale buildup from water—the good news is, all you need to clean them is some descaler and hot water. To do so, just fill the kettle with hot water, add the descaler, give it a stir, and let it sit for a bit. Then, empty the kettle, give it a good rinse, and you’re ready to brew more tea.

Why We're the Experts

• Grace Kelly is a commerce editor at Serious Eats, and she’s been testing gear for three years. 
• She’s worked in test kitchens, as a prep cook and bartender, and as a magazine and environmental journalist.  
• Grace tested 15 electric kettles for this review, examining their speed, heat retention, accuracy, and overall user-friendliness. 
• We first tested electric kettles in 2016, and have updated this review frequently since then.