For kettles, we time how long it takes to boil a full kettle of cold water from the tap, as well as 1l for comparative purposes. Each litre of water was measured using the same jug, as it’s not uncommon for litre markings on a kettle to be incorrect or unavailable. Integrated cord storage keeps everything tidy and safe, and it’s very easy to use. Not only is it lightweight (ideal if you have weak wrists), it also sits on a 360-degree base, which is handy if you’re left-handed or live with a leftie as you can swivel it to wherever you want it to sit. There’s a kettle for every kitchen style and budget, from traditional stove-top pots that whistle pleasingly when it’s time for tea, to smart kettles that switch themselves on before you’ve even decided you want a brew. Swan Tribeca 1.8L Pyramid Kettle and 2-Slice Toaster: Best kettle and toaster set for compact kitchens The external casing of some kettles can get extremely hot. Often, those with a brushed stainless steel exterior reach hotter temperatures than other materials – not ideal if you have young children in the kitchen. Kettles with an auto shut-off feature will automatically stop when water begins to boil or if the kettle is lifted from its base.

First we put our kettle on to see how long it took to make a cuppa – and because we just think more clearly with a mug of tea in our hands. We all covet KitchenAid gadgets. If you want a bit of the iconic KitchenAid style (in a range of colours) in your kitchen but can’t quite stretch to the stand mixer, this Artisan Kettle might fill a hole on your work surface and in your heart. There’s a lot more to kettles than just boiling water for your brew. Here are some features you may want to consider investing in: Russell Hobbs is a leading kettle brand that has landed three models in our list, which we think says a lot about quality and reliability. There are also Russell Hobbs kettles to suit every budget. This set’s glossy faceted exterior with geometric shapes belies its modest price. Despite being one of the more affordable options in our roundup, it still has some premium features, such as a defrost option on the toaster and internal kettle illumination.This isn’t the cheapest kettle you can buy, but for the price, you’re getting one that’s pretty close in spec to more expensive models. It would go particularly well in a modern kitchen with its blue light-up feature when in boiling mode, and a permanent limescale filter means it’s suitable for hard-water areas. Variable temperature: A kettle that offers multiple temperature settings is useful if you use it for coffee and some teas like Oolong, which are both best made at a slightly lower temperature. Warm water can also be used to heat a baby bottle or pouch. Some of the best kettles also have a keep-warm feature.

Smart features: The fanciest of kettles now have smart features, meaning you can switch on your kettle from your app or keep it warm so your cup of tea is only seconds away when you walk in the door. How much should I spend on the best kettle? Capacity: If there are only one or two tea or coffee drinkers in your household, this won’t be so important. But if you regularly make a round of drinks for a group of people, you’ll want to go for a large capacity to avoid having to boil the kettle multiple times. The limescale filter is top-quality so it’s a good choice if you live in a hard water area, and it’s capable of boiling one cup to 1.5 litres of water.

There are two main types of kettle: jug and dome. Jug kettles are taller, tend to have handles located on the side and will generally hold a larger volume of water. It scored well in terms of insulation, with the water temperature still measuring 71.6°C an hour after boiling — so you could return later for a second cup of tea if you wanted. It’s easy to pour a small amount of water out of the spout without any dribbling, and the accuracy is easy to control too. We noticed that if you remove the lid soon after boiling, you can catch and burn your hand on the steel parts, however. Kenwood Mesmerine Jug Kettle review: Ease of use and manual Boil-dry protection: Many kettles now come with safety features such as boil-dry protection, which means the kettle won't turn on if there’s not enough water in it. If you're fussy about how brown it gets (hey, no judgement here), look for machines with adjustable shade settings.

We think the best kettle is the Bosch Styline TWK8633GB Cordless Kettle for its brilliant safety features and added extras that make it a real pleasure to use. Most kettles have this clearly visible on the exterior but some are more awkwardly placed, such as behind the handle. Kettles with large viewing windows are best if you want to know exactly how much water is in the kettle at any time.Size: First, decide where your kettle is going to live in your kitchen as size will dictate your product choice. The mirror-like stainless-steel parts of the kettle at the top will be more of a challenge to keep spotless – during testing, I found that watermarks and fingerprint smudges tended to show up daily. Filters: If you’re in a hard water area, look for the best kettle with built-in filters that will soften hard water.