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10 Best Electric Kettles 2022

10 Best Electric Kettles 2022 | The Strategist

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Photo: Marcus McDonald

Photo: Marcus McDonald

The function of an electric kettle is straightforward: to boil water. But it’s a crowded market, and the right model for one person might not be right for another. If you’re a pour-over-coffee diehard, a gooseneck is nonnegotiable (more on that below). If you prefer French press, the type of spout doesn’t matter so much. If tea is your beverage of choice, you already know that the brew temperature for a green tea differs significantly from that of a black tea, and you probably want a kettle that can dial in on that range. (I naïvely disregarded this until I got a temperature-controlled one of my own.) And while coffee and tea are the two main reasons people keep an electric kettle on their counters, maybe you just love instant noodles and want a quick and reliable boil when you’re hungry for dinner.

No matter your situation, there’s a right kettle out there for you — and I talked to a slew of experts to figure out the best of the bunch.

Best overall | Best less-expensive overall | Best simple gooseneck | Best large temperature-controlled | Best large simple | Best small simple | Best large for tea | Best less-expensive large for tea | Most stylish large | Best foldable

Type of pour spout: Some kettles have a classic, beak-shaped pour spout that dispenses water fairly quickly. Others have a gooseneck: a long, skinny spout shaped like a backward S, snaking its way from the bottom of the kettle out and toward the top. A gooseneck pours pretty slowly, giving you a better handle over speed and the surface area you’re covering with water. This might not matter so much when filling up a mug for tea, but it is imperative for something like pour-over, where the stream of water over the coffee grounds needs to be ultraprecise. I’ll also say that, even if it’s not strictly necessary for everything, the chance of splashes and spills with a gooseneck is next to nothing.

Temperature settings: Like the type of pour spout, temperature settings are something you’ll care about depending on what you’ll use your kettle for — and, frankly, how nitty-gritty you want to get about it. Some kettles heat to the exact degree you set (technically ideal for coffee and tea preparations), some have predetermined temperatures (usually tied to tea types), and some don’t have any temperature control at all. Also, some hold the temperature you want while you go about your business, while others will cool down before automatically re-boiling again, and others still need to be manually reheated if they’re left to cool.

Volume: Finally, you’ll want to consider how much water your electric kettle will hold. Are you only making one cup of coffee every morning? Do you often offer tea to multiple guests at once? Goosenecks are generally on the smaller side, but you’ll find the exact capacity of each kettle on this list.

Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Kettle

From $165

Gooseneck | Precise temperature control and hold | 0.9 liters

The Fellow Stagg EKG is, without question, the gold standard of electric kettles. It’s been a Strategist favorite since it came out several years ago and has held that regard since — through multiple updates to our best gifts for tea lovers and coffee lovers roundups and yet again when I set out to consult the experts for this piece. With the exception of two people, everybody told me the Stagg EKG is the best of the best (one simply didn’t mention it, and the other said he appreciates a lot about it but prefers the way other kettles feel in his hand).

The Stagg EKG is more expensive than most on this list — but not so much more expensive that the price lessened its ranking. There’s just too much praise surrounding it. “It heats quickly and allows you to adjust the temperature setting in one-degree increments,” explains Jerad Morrison, co-founder and co-CEO of Sightglass Coffee in San Francisco. “It will even regulate and hold at your temp preference, which is super-useful and convenient.” Marco Suarez, one of the owners of Methodical Coffee in Greenville, South Carolina, mentions that it turns itself off as a safety feature after it’s been left sitting for longer than an hour. “I’ve had mine for maybe five years, and it’s still in great shape,” he says.

Many called out its precise pouring ability thanks to the gooseneck spout (granted, a feature found in multiple models on this list), and everyone noted that it’s the most attractive of the bunch. “For an object you’re going to have sitting on your countertop day in and day out, there is no one else that really touches Fellow in terms of looks,” says Suarez. “The design is amazing,” agrees Kyle Ramage, co-owner of Black & White Coffee Roasters in Raleigh, North Carolina. “It’s sturdy and eloquent.” Finally, tea writer Sara Shacket, who owns the copper version (one of nine sophisticated styles), loves that it “makes for a nice presentation” if she’s serving tea to a group.

If you love the look of the Stagg EKG but don’t want to spend so much, my boyfriend bought this strikingly similar-looking electric kettle for us last winter before I started working at Strategist (and before I had ever heard of Fellow). It comes only in matte black, but it has exact temperature control and hold as well as a streamlined pour, and it has held up with frequent use.

From $165 at Amazon

Buy

From $165 at Fellow

Buy

Bonavita Variable Temperature Electric Kettle

$100

$105 now 5% off

$100

Gooseneck | Precise temperature control and hold | 1 liter

If you don’t particularly care about design, several experts mentioned the Bonavita electric kettle as being just as operationally and technically impressive as the Stagg EKG. “It does all the same things; it’s just less form-focused,” says Ramage. “But it’s also less expensive.” Indeed, you’ll save $59 if you go this route without giving up the temperature precision and hold. Ken Nye, owner of Ninth Street Espresso, likes that “the controls are simple and intuitive” and even thinks the Bonavita has a slight edge over the Stagg EKG beyond the lower price: “The larger capacity and faster flow rate are both helpful when using the kettle for things other than pour-over coffee,” he says.

$100 at Amazon

Buy

$100 at Amazon

Buy

Hario V60 Buono Power Kettle

$80

Gooseneck | No temperature control or hold | 0.8 liters

Hario was the original creator of this type of spout, and though more advanced gooseneck kettles have since come out, it still commands a lot of respect, cited by several of our pros as a solid choice. Suyog Mody, co-founder of Brooklyn’s Driftaway Coffee, has had his for about eight years. And if you’re looking to get a temperature that will work for coffee, you don’t have to overthink it: “Just boil the water, wait a minute, and then pour it,” he instructs. James McCarthy, Mody’s colleague and coffee educator at Driftaway, is also a fan: “I like the feel of it. It’s easy to handle.” While none of the professionals I talked to called out the look of the Hario in particular, I think it’s quite attractive. Former Strategist writer Leah Muncy, who’s an avid tea drinker, owns one and agrees wholeheartedly. “I mean, just look at that little wavy handle!” she says. “Sometimes I just stare at it.”

$80 at Amazon

Buy

OXO Adjustable Temperature Kettle

$84

$84

Standard pour spout | Precise temperature control and hold | 1.8 liters

McCarthy called out the Oxo gooseneck as his personal favorite (and price-wise, it’s just about the same as the Bonavita). But Oxo also makes this larger version with a standard pour spout, equipped with the same base as the gooseneck. It allows for temperature adjustments down to the degree and holds that temperature for up to 30 minutes. Of course, the glass body allows you to see how much water is inside, and the overall design is quite sleek (harder to find, in my opinion, when it comes to the larger models). Finally, the silicone on the bottom of the kettle itself allows you to set it down on any surface without worrying about damage.

Cosori Electric Glass Kettle

$28

$28

Standard pour spout | No temperature control or hold | 1.7 liters

If you’re not fussy about the idea of temperature control and want something with a larger body and wider pour spout than the Hario, this Cosori kettle was a favorite among Strategist readers in a previous version of this story. It has the Amazon rating to back that up — 4.7 stars with more than 11,000 reviews — with buyers seeming particularly pleased with the materials it’s made from (impressive, given the affordable price). With glass walls and a stainless-steel filter, it produces “clean hot water that has virtually no contact with any plastic parts,” says one buyer. Beyond that, it boasts an automatic shut-off with a light indicator that lets you know when your water is done boiling (a plus if you happen to be sitting across the room) and an opening wide enough to allow for easy cleaning.

KitchenAid Electric Kettle

$100

$100

Standard pour spout | No temperature control or hold | 1.25 liters

Recipe developer and content creator Sohla El-Waylly says this electric kettle looks enough like a stovetop model that one morning her mom (whom she gifted one to) was so sleepy, she literally put it on a burner and ruined it. Luckily, El-Waylly has never done the same with her own in the six years she’s owned it — but she does appreciate its “old-timey retro vibes,” along with its “no bells and whistles” functionality. While that means you can’t see the water level and there’s no temperature control, it perfectly suits El-Waylly’s main needs: making tea (she’s not fussy about exacting degrees) and using a bit of boiling water for cooking, whether deglazing a pan, finishing off undercooked rice, or giving a head start to water for potatoes or pasta.

$100 at Amazon

Buy

$100 at KitchenAid

Buy

Breville One-Touch Tea Maker

$300

$300

Standard pour spout | Precise temperature control and hold | 1.5 liters

This recommendation comes courtesy of a Strategist story written a couple of years ago by contributor David Schwartz — a recommendation that, when I checked in with him all this time later, still holds up. He’s been a regular tea drinker his whole life, but the ritual changed for the better when he received this (undeniably high-end) electric kettle as a gift. It’ll cost you a pretty penny, but it very well might be worth the investment. “It brews tea at custom temperatures depending on leaf type and flavor strength,” Schwartz writes, “but what differentiates this from less expensive alternatives is something that almost all run-of-the-mill coffee makers do: It brews automatically at any time of day without you having to do anything but pour in the tea. The Breville’s pièce de résistance is a metal-mesh basket that robotically dunks loose leaves in boiled water for the exact steeping time and then removes them, resting above the water’s surface to prevent too-bitter brews or totally weak souse. ”

Cuisinart CPK-17 PerfecTemp Cordless Electric Kettle

$94

$100 now 6% off

$94

Standard pour spout | Standardized temperature control and hold | 1.7 liters

If the Breville isn’t worth the investment to you, Shacket recommends this Cuisinart model with preset temperatures for different types of teas. It has a full-boil button for black tea (which is also the correct setting for herbal and rooibos teas), a 190-degree button for oolong, a 185 button for white, a 175 button for green, and a 160 button for delicate teas — not to mention a French press setting. There’s also a keep-warm setting, unlike with some of the bigger models that automatically shut off and cool down once they’re done boiling.

$94 at Amazon

Buy

$100 at Target

Buy

Chantal Oslo Electric Kettle

$120

$120

Standard pour spout | No temperature control or hold | 1.9 liters

Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo had coveted the out-of-her-price-range Fellow Stagg kettle for a long time — but then she saw this equally stylish one and decided to buy it. “I just thought it was so nice looking,” she says, and much more in line with her and her partner’s style than the previous big one she owned when she lived with roommates. She also calls the Chantal “blissfully uncomplicated” to use. You simply fill it up and press down on a single button. The cord wraps into the base for neat storage, it holds a lot of water, and the handle has a comfortable grip.

T-magitic Travel Foldable Electric Kettle

$34

$40 now 15% off

$34

Standard pour spout | No temperature control or hold | 0.6 liters

This foldable electric kettle was brought to our attention by Death Cab for Cutie front man Ben Gibbard, who takes this clever contraption with him when he’s on the road (along with his portable AeroPress). “When you’re on tour, the first thing you want every morning is a really good cup of coffee,” he says. “I’d rather make it myself than be on the hunt for it. And this kettle is great, because it compresses down and doesn’t take up a lot of room in your bag.” It works with a simple on-off button, which, when on, will automatically reheat your water as soon as it drops below 75 degrees. You can also adjust the voltage at the bottom, which makes it usable all over the world if you have the correct plug adapter.

$34 at Amazon

Buy

$34 at Amazon

Buy

The under-$50 kettle food writer Yossy Arefi uses

Buy at Amazon

The kettle RuPaul purchases for every studio he works in

$59

$100 now 41% off

Buy at Amazon

A (very) affordable kettle that's great for college students

From $16

• Liza Corsillo, Strategist senior writer
• Sohla El-Waylly, recipe developer and content creator
• Ben Gibbard, Death Cab for Cutie front man
• James McCarthy, coffee educator at Driftaway Coffee
• Suyog Mody, founder of Driftaway Coffee
• Jerad Morrison, co-founder and co-CEO of Sightglass Coffee
• Leah Muncy, former Strategist writer
• Ken Nye, owner of Ninth Street Espresso
• Kyle Ramage, co-owner of Black & White Coffee Roasters
• David Schwartz, Strategist contributor
• Sara Shacket, tea consultant
• Marco Suarez, co-owner of Methodical Coffee

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The 10 Very Best Electric Kettles

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7 best electric kettles of 2022, according to experts

Electric kettles can be an essential appliance if you’re looking to heat up or boil water quickly, whether you’re brewing tea, preparing a cup of coffee or making some instant oatmeal in the morning. While stovetop kettles can still get the job done well, electric kettles are usually much faster and more convenient, with adjustable temperatures and glass exteriors that let you see exactly how much water you’re heating up. As they’ve gotten more popular, they’ve also become more accessible and affordable, according to Jane Pettigrew, a tea specialist and founder of the UK Tea Academy — today, most quality models start at around $30 to $50.

SKIP AHEAD How to shop for an electric kettle

To help you sort through the various electric kettles on the market, we talked to experts about the different features to look for when shopping for one. They also shared some of their favorite electric kettles to consider.

Best electric kettles to shop in 2022

The experts we spoke to recommended each of the following highly rated electric kettles, all of which include a durable frame, comfortable grip and safety features like auto shut-off. We also included a highly rated electric kettle recommended by one of our Select writers.

Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Gooseneck Kettle

Roy Lamberty, founder of the New York Tea Society, recommended this electric kettle from Fellow thanks to its convenient gooseneck spout and its sleek and modern look. He noted that it also features a large handle with “enough room for you to grip it properly … even when it’s full.”

The kettle features a temperature control dial that lets you choose your desired temperature from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 212 degrees Fahrenheit. The fixed base lets you move the kettle wherever you need, and a toggle on the back of the base can be switched on to maintain your desired temperature for 60 minutes, according to the brand — when the toggle isn’t on, the kettle will turn off after reaching the set temperature.

Bonavita Digital Variable Temperature Gooseneck Kettle

Bonavita’s gooseneck electric kettles are a favorite among our experts — Anna Ye, founder and tea educator of Anna Ye Tea, said she frequently recommends this kettle due to its “slender gooseneck spout for controlled pours. ” Ye also called out the kettle’s durable stainless steel frame and noted that the Bonavita she owns has held up well over the years. You can monitor and adjust the temperature in 1-degree increments — ranging from 140 to 212 degrees Fahrenheit — using its digital display, and the Hold feature lets you maintain your desired temperature for up to 60 minutes, according to the brand.

Cuisinart PerfecTemp Cordless Electric Kettle

Pettigrew recommended this 1.7-liter Cuisinart PerfecTemp electric kettle, which she noted is on the larger side of electric kettles, has a flat bottom and is “much more like an old-fashioned kettle that you might put on the gas.” Though it lacks the gooseneck spout, it does have six preset heat settings, including 175 degrees Fahrenheit for green tea and 200 degrees Fahrenheit for a French press. However, Pettigrew did emphasize that these temperatures aren’t always accurate and suggested double-checking them with a thermometer if your brew depends on a very precise temperature. This kettle also includes a 30-minute keep warm function and a 360-degree swivel base for cordless portability.

Zojirushi Hybrid Water Boiler and Warmer

Pettigrew said she’s worked with Zojirushi kettles at various tea competitions and noted they’re “completely different from [the] typical kettles” she sees at home in England. She said a lot of tea experts choose this Zojirushi Hybrid Water Boiler and Warmer for “its durability and ease of accessing the water via a pumping action rather than pouring.” It has four water warming settings ranging from 160 degrees Fahrenheit up to 208 degrees Fahrenheit and the aforementioned water dispensing function can be a good option for those who want to avoid lifting a heavy kettle. The device features a clear-coated stainless steel body and nonstick interior, according to the brand, and the beep signal can be turned off to reduce the noise level.

OXO Brew Cordless 1.75-Liter Adjustable Temperature Electric Kettle

Several experts we spoke to recommended OXO kettles for their functionality and durability. This glass model has an adjustable temperature control dial so you can choose the exact temperature you need, which “enables tea lovers to quickly heat up and maintain the water at a fixed temperature,” Ye said. She added that the temperature dial “is intuitive and gives the kettle a clean and sleek feel.” The kettle can boil up to 1.75 liters of water, and you can set the temperature anywhere between 170 degrees Fahrenheit and 212 degrees Fahrenheit.

Hamilton Beach Electric Tea Kettle

If you’re willing to sacrifice temperature control for affordability, this electric kettle from Hamilton Beach is a “great option for folks who don't need the gooseneck or adjustable features,” Ye said. The kettle is cord-free for portability, has an auto shut-off feature that prevents the hot water from evaporating and uses a drip-free spout, according to the brand. It features a water level window that lets you measure exactly how much water you’re putting inside. Hamilton Beach also offers an affordable glass version.

Bodum Gooseneck Electric Water Kettle

This 27-ounce Bodum Electric Kettle has a slim gooseneck spout that’s great for pour overs, coffee experts previously told us. Though this kettle doesn’t feature temperature control, it can be a more affordable option for those looking to only boil water. The body of the kettle is made of durable stainless steel, and the handle and lid are covered with cork to improve the grip and protect your hands from the heat. Select writer Zoe Malin uses this kettle to boil water for her pour overs and said the gooseneck is great for controlling where the water goes. She also appreciates the auto shut-off feature since she can do other things around the house while her water boils.

How to shop for a quality electric kettle

The experts we spoke to agreed that electric kettles are typically a better — and even safer — alternative to stovetop kettles. Lamberty said some of the major benefits of an electric kettle include a faster boiling time, greater energy efficiency and a safer boiling experience since most include auto shut-off features and lack exposed flames. He added that one of the biggest advantages of an electric kettle is “being able to boil water in any location where you can find an outlet.”

There are a few key features that experts told us are important to consider when shopping for an electric kettle, including temperature control, material and size. Below, our experts break down why these features matter and what specifically you should be looking for.

Material

There are three main material types for most electric kettles: stainless steel, glass and plastic.

  1. Stainless steel kettles are durable, lightweight and make the deposit buildup at the bottom less noticeable, according to Pettigrew.
  2. Glass kettles can be a great option if you want to see the water inside, especially if you’re looking for bubbles to indicate a boil. “They’re naturally free of BPA and other similar chemicals — make sure it's made of borosilicate glass [that’s] scratch-resistant and does not crack or break while boiling,” Ye said.
  3. Plastic kettles are typically the cheapest of the three options, but the experts we spoke to recommended generally avoiding these. “I'm a little bit wary of [plastic kettles] because we don't know how much of the kettle is maybe being dissolved into the water,” Pettigrew said. Diana Zheng, co-founder of Three Gems Tea, said she prefers a nonplastic body “so there's no plastic flavor imparted to your water.”

Temperature control

The experts we spoke to emphasized that being able to control the temperature of your water can be crucial to brewing a traditional cup of tea or coffee. “For example, black tea should be made with boiling water (212 degrees Fahrenheit), and green teas should be made using water at around 185 degrees Fahrenheit — this flexibility is not available with traditional stovetop kettles,” said Peter Goggi, president of Tea Association of the U.S.A.

Most higher-end electric kettles will provide temperature ranges from around 100 degrees Fahrenheit up to boiling temperature — some will display preset temperatures, and others will show the specific temperature of the water going up in increments of 1, 5 or 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Pettigrew said she prefers kettles that increase incrementally since those “can show finer differences for teas like oolongs and black tea.”

Some preset temperatures may only show the name of the tea or coffee the setting is meant for instead of the temperature it’s heating up to — Pettigrew noted those may not always be accurate and give less control to the user. However, the preset temperatures can be good for beginners — “I suspect that might help people who aren't used to doing different temperatures for different teas,” Pettigrew said.

As for kettles with low, medium and high options, Pettigrew said she’s not a fan. “You really have no idea what those temperatures are,” she said. Some kettles may also have a Keep Warm function that can keep the water hot after it boils — this can be an effective feature, but keep in mind some of the contents of the water could evaporate, according to Pettigrew.

While experts told us temperature control is preferred, this feature is contingent on how you intend to use the kettle. “Most tea kettles will automatically shut off at a boil — if you intend to always use boiling water, a temperature control is unnecessary,” said Lamberty. “However, if you’re like me and enjoy drinking many different teas, knowing the temperature of the water is important.”

Spout

Lamberty said one of the most important features he looks for in a kettle is a gooseneck spout, which originates toward the bottom of the kettle rather than the top. “If the spout originates from the top of the kettle, then as the water level gets lower, it becomes necessary to tilt the kettle further to be able to pour the water and can cause leaking from the lid or maybe even cause the lid to fall off,” he said.

The gooseneck spout is also popular among other experts we consulted — according to Ye, it “[gives you] precise and easy pours” and could be an aesthetically pleasing part of your tea or coffee routine. However, our experts noted it’s all about personal preference — if you’re using your electric kettle for something like a French press and don’t need a precise pour for a pour-over coffee, for instance, a conventional spout works just as well.

Safety features

Since an electric kettle doesn’t need to sit on top of an open flame, there is less of a fire hazard, even when you set it and forget it. “I love being able to just turn the kettle on and walk away, not having to monitor when it reaches a specific temperature,” Zheng said.

There are also several safety features built into most electric kettles that can help prevent accidental fires and burns. All of the experts we consulted agreed that an auto shut-off feature, which turns the device off when the water reaches a boil, is a priority — fortunately, most electric kettles already have that feature.

Goggi also said his favorite type of kettles are those with fixed bases. “The base plugs in but the heating element is not activated unless the kettle is positioned on the base,” he said, adding this is “both a safety feature and an energy saver” since you don’t have to keep the kettle connected to the heating source.

Choosing a kettle with a large handle that gives you enough room to grip comfortably can also be a key safety feature, according to Lamberty. “Make sure that it has a tight-fitting lid [that] doesn’t allow water to leak out,” he added.

Noise level

Both Pettigrew and Lamberty said that noise level can be an important consideration when shopping for an electric kettle, especially for avid tea drinkers. “A noisy kettle can take away from the serene atmosphere which is desired during a tea drinking moment, especially if tea has become a part of your meditation practice,” Lamberty said. If noise is an easy distraction for you, they recommend testing the noise level before committing to a kettle purchase.

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Best electric kettles, top 10 rating of electric kettles