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Best Electric Kettle – Top 5 Hottest Review

Best Electric Kettle - Best Electric Kettles

Not too long ago, an electric kettle seemed like nothing more than a novelty – or perhaps something you’d buy as a gift when every item on a couple’s wedding registry list had already been taken.

Today, these appliances have gained greatly in popularity as people realize that electric kettles are actually the most convenient way to boil water for coffee, tea, cocoa or hot chocolate.  They work much faster than a traditional kettle or saucepan and pot heated on a stove. Additionally, they will actually shut off on their own without causing damage, as opposed to a stove-top kettle left to boil for too long. Many just plain look beautiful on a countertop, as well.

Best Electric Kettle

The number of electric kettles on the market has soared in recent years; here’s Your House Garden’s review of the top 5 best electric kettles currently available.

1. Breville BKE820XL Variable-Temperature Kettle

Best Electric Kettle - Breville BKE820XL Variable-Temperature Kettle
Breville BKE820XL Variable-Temperature Kettle. Click on the photo to check the Price on Amazon.

Breville makes exceptional appliances, including top-of-the-line home espresso machines, so it’s not surprising that they also make a terrific electric kettle.

The BKE820XL isn’t just a pot with a heating element; it is specifically designed to heat water to the proper temperature for five different types of tea or coffee, with five temperature pre-sets available on its user control panel.

You can select 212 degrees for black tea (or simply for boiling water), 200 degrees for French press coffee, 195 degrees for Oolong tea, 185 degrees for white tea, or 175 degrees for green tea. The design is perfect for “tea nerds.”

The BKE820XL has several other cool bells and whistles: a button which will keep the water at your chosen temperature for 20 minutes, an easy-open lid which opens with the push of another button, and of course an auto-shutoff feature.

This electric kettle has a very large capacity, a full two quarts, which will easily provide enough water for seven to eight cups of tea. The downside to the large pot is that the Breville does take longer to heat water than smaller models, five minutes or even more. Of course, a comparable amount of water would take even longer to boil on the stove.

There are easy-to-read see-through water levels windows on either side of the kettle; unfortunately, they’re marked in millimeters and not in cups, but that’s a fairly simple learning curve to master. As for appearance, the Breville BKE820XL is all stainless steel (except for the windows, lid and handle insulation) and has a stunning, modern look.

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This variable temperature kettle may be overkill for many people who just want to boil some water. For those who are looking for more than that, it’s the best electric kettle on the market.

Specifications of the Breville BKE820XL Variable-Temperature Kettle:

  • 1500 watts
  • 2-quart kettle (roughly 1.9 liters)
  • 5 pre-set brewing temperatures
  • 360-degree stainless-steel directional base
  • Push button control panel
  • Hold temp button
  • Boil-dry protection and auto-shutoff
  • Water level indicators on both sides
  • Removable scale filter
  • 7-1/2 by 9-1/2 by 11 inches
  • Warranty – 1-year limited product warranty

Check Breville BKE820XL Price On Amazon

2. Cuisinart CPK-17 PerfecTemp Stainless Steel Cordless Electric Kettle

Best Electric Kettle - Cuisinart CPK-17 PerfecTemp Stainless Steel Cordless Electric Kettle
Cuisinart CPK-17 PerfecTemp Kettle. Click on the photo to see the Price on Amazon.

The Team had a hard time choosing between the Breville model reviewed above and this Cuisinart offering – for the most part, they provide almost the same functions and user experience and we’d be completely satisfied with either on our countertop.

The Cuisinart PerfecTemp does have several advantages over the Breville: it has one additional heating pre-set (160 degrees for “delicate”), the keep warm button works for 30 minutes instead of 20, it can operate in cordless mode, and it has a nice memory feature which maintains all settings if the pot is removed from the base for a minute or two.

The reasons the review team chose the Breville as slightly preferable are minor ones, and certainly, don’t detract from the performance of this machine. The CPK-17 gets a bit hotter to the touch, the kettle’s capacity is slightly smaller, and the single water-level indicator is harder to read because it is located behind the kettle’s handle (which also contains all of the push buttons for operation). Finally, we preferred the slightly more “futuristic” look of the Breville to that of the Cuisinart, which looks like – well – a kettle.

This PerfecTemp electric kettle is priced a little lower than the Breville, which may also factor into your decision; overall, this machine is full-featured, performs well and a great choice for those who want to heat a lot of water to a lot of different temperatures for a lot of tea.

Key specs for the Cuisinart CPK-17 PerfecTemp Stainless Steel Cordless Electric Kettle:

  • 1500 watts
  • 1.7-liter capacity
  • 6 preset temperatures
  • One-touch controls with blue LED indicators
  • 30-minute keep warm option
  • Memory feature for the brewing process
  • Blue backlit water window
  • 360 degree swivel cordless connector
  • Concealed heating element to prevent mineral buildup
  • Removable scale filter
  • Auto shutoff and boil dry protection
  • 2 by 9.8 by 12 inches
  • Warranty – 3-year limited warranty

Check Cuisinart CPK-17 Price On Amazon

3. DeLonghi Kmix 54 Ounce Kettle

Best Electric Kettle - DeLonghi Kmix 54 Ounce Kettle
DeLonghi Kmix 54 Ounce Kettle. Click on the photo to see the Price on Amazon.

DeLonghi is another company with a long and distinguished pedigree when it comes to coffee and espresso makers. Their Kmix electric kettle isn’t quite as complicated or innovative as their coffee machines, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s simply a well-crafted and durable kettle meant to boil water quickly and it does that job extremely well.

* Note – the 54 ounce (1.6 liter DeLonghi) is not available on Amazon at the moment so Your House Garden have linked to the 25 ounce (.75 liter)model.

There are no fancy controls or multiple settings for the DeLonghi. You put the water into its good-sized 54 ounce (about six cups) kettle, turn it on, and it lets you know when your water has boiled – usually in just a few minutes.

This machine has the usual useful functions you’d expect: automatic shut-off, a concealed heating element, and cord-free operation. One smart addition to the Kmix is its removable limescale filter, which will remove deposits and impurities from the water as it boils.

A major selling point of this electric kettle is its appearance. The inside of the kettle is stainless steel, but the outside is die-cast aluminum and can be purchased in any of eight designer colors: green, red, yellow, orange, magenta, blue, black or white.

The DeLonghi will not only boil water efficiently and safely but add a real splash of color to any kitchen.

Here are the specs of the DeLonghi Kmix 54 Ounce Kettle:

  • 1.6-liter capacity
  • Stainless steel interior
  • Illuminated on-off switch
  • Die-cast aluminum exterior
  • Available in 8 colors
  • Cord-free operation
  • Detachable base
  • Removable limescale filter
  • Concealed heating element
  • 7 by 9 by 9.8 inches
  • Warranty – 1 year warranty

Check DeLonghi Kmix Price On Amazon

4. Adagio Teas 30 Ounce utiliTEA Variable Temperature Electric Kettle

Best Electric Kettle - adagio Teas 30 Ounce utiliTEA
Adagio Teas 30 Ounce utiliTEA Kettle. Click on the photo to see the Price on Amazon.

This smaller electric kettle is another model which lets you select the optimal water temperature for your tea but without fancy programmable functions or push-buttons. It’s simply a stainless steel kettle with a plastic handle, a plastic lid, and one plastic knob which controls the temperature.

Unlike the Breville and Cuisinart models, the Adagio requires some trial and error to find the perfect setting for heating your water because the knob indicators are colored lines and not numbers, so they are just general guidelines for “hotter” and “cooler” instead of actual temperatures.

Once you’ve used the machine a few times, though, you should be ready to go – and, after all, since there are no premium electronics in the utiliTEA, you’re not paying a premium price.

There are pros and cons to the size of this machine. It only holds about three cups’ worth of water so it’s more of a “personal” kettle than one for large families or gatherings, but it also means your water will heat up much more quickly than with a huge tank. Other pros are that it’s convenient, has a small footprint, and is relatively inexpensive; negatives are that it does get pretty warm on the outside, doesn’t have an on/off switch, and doesn’t signal when the water has reached proper temperature.

The Adagio is not a perfect electric kettle. But it’s sturdy and works well, particularly if you just want to make a couple of cups of tea. And it’s the least-expensive, quality variable-temperature electric kettle you’ll find.

Highlights of the Adagio Teas 30 Ounce utiliTEA Variable Temperature Electric Kettle:

  • 30-ounce capacity (roughly 0.9 liters)
  • Stainless steel
  • Knob controls temperature up to 212 degrees
  • Cord-free operation
  • Flip-top lid button
  • Concealed heating element
  • 2 by 6.75 by 9.2 inches
  • Warranty – 90 day warranty

Check Adagio Teas 30 oz.Price On Amazon

5. Chef’s Choice 680 Cordless Electric Glass Kettle

Best Electric Kettle - Chef’s Choice 6800001 Cordless Electric Glass Kettle
Chef’s Choice 680 Cordless Electric Glass Kettle. Click on the photo to see the Price on Amazon.

When you’d rather see how much water is in your kettle instead of trying to squint through a small window, the Chef’s Choice 680 is your machine. It has a cool look to it, with its brushed stainless steel housing and black handle/lid/accents, in addition to the large (1.5 liters) glass tank.

There’s also no chance the water will be touching any metal or plastic which would add unwanted taste since it only touches the glass.

This model does not have any temperature adjustments controls; you just fill it with water and flip the “on” switch, and wait until the water boils. No mess, no fuss, and a price tag that matches. Unfortunately, there’s no signal to let you know the water has hit maximum temperature, but since you can clearly see when it’s boiling that’s not a major disadvantage. There is an automatic shut-off feature, too.

The Chef’s Choice is a powerful unit and brings water to temperature quickly. It doesn’t have some of the advanced features you can find in more expensive units, but most people are just looking for an electric kettle that works and works well. This one does.

Specifications for the Chef’s Choice 680 Cordless Electric Glass Kettle:

  • 1.7 liter (1 ¾ quart) capacity
  • 1500 watts
  • Stainless steel housing, plastic handle/lid
  • Boil-dry protection and automatic shut-off
  • Locking Lid
  • Cord-free operation
  • Concealed heating element
  • 9 by 7.5 by 10 inches
  • Warranty – 1 year warranty

Check Chef’s Choice 6800001 Price On Amazon

The team at Your House Garden hopes this list helped you find the kettle of your dreams.  Just in case you are still in the mood to read about more kitchen appliances, why not read the team’s other top-rated kitchen appliance reviews:

Electric Kettle Advantages and Buying Guide

Electric Kettles Boil Water Faster

It can take eight to ten minutes for a nearly-full stovetop kettle to bring water to a boil, while a good electric model will do it in four minutes, three minutes or even less. Most of the best electric kettles will also keep your water at the right temperature for when you’re ready for a refill; as we all know, you’ll have to turn a stovetop kettle back on if you want a second cup after 15-20 minutes.

There Is an Optimal Temperature for the Hot Water in Your Tea and Coffee

And even though some people aren’t particular about the temperature of the hot water they use to make coffee or tea, they should be. Water that’s been heated to the sweet spot around 200° will provide optimal results for most types of coffee, while you’ll get the best cup at lower temperatures for some roasts.

White, green, oolong and even delicate black teas are meant to be brewed at specific temperatures. That’s why being able to choose the right water temperature with an electric kettle is such a pleasure – all a stovetop kettle will do is whistle at you when the water boils. (Oh, and most electric units will sound a pleasant beep when your water’s ready – a lot less nerve-wracking than a shrill, ear-piercing whistle.)

Convenience and Comfort

Add other advantages like automatic shutoff, grips that are usually more comfortable, materials that won’t rust (try to avoid plastic which can make the water taste funky), and the fact that you’d really have to try hard to burn yourself on an electric kettle, and you can easily see the arguments in favor of ditching grandma’s old tea kettle and going electric.

How to Shop for an Electric Kettle

Check the Amount of Water the Kettle Can Hold

First and foremost, you’ll want to make sure the electric kettle is the right size for your intended use. The most common sizes are in the one-to-two quart range, but a one-quart kettle isn’t going to be big enough to supply an office that isn’t located near a Starbucks.

Construction and Power Available

Sturdy construction, either one-piece or with solid welds, is important unless you don’t mind owning a leaky kettle after you’ve used it for a little while. Look at the kettle’s power specs as well, since a model under 1500 watts will take a while to heat your water.

Target Temperature Functions and Auto Shutoff Features

As we mentioned earlier, the best electric kettles will allow you to select the target temperature for your water; the more settings there are, the more flexibility you’ll have. They’ll also either have a timer or automatic shutoff feature plus an option to keep your water warm, and their handles will be wide enough to grab yet cool to the touch.

Non-Spill Spout and Removable Power Cord

There are a few more features that are less obvious but should be considered. A non-spill spout will keep you from pouring near-boiling water over the counter or your hands, and a kettle that has a removable power cord or sits in a heated base will let you pour without having to worry about the cord getting in the way. Some bases now swivel 360° so you can turn the kettle to the angle that works best for you; that’s extremely handy for lefties.

Exposed or Concealed Heating Element?

Finally, the location of the heating element can make a huge difference in how easy it is to clean an electric kettle. An immersed element will cause limescale to quickly build up inside the unit and require to clean the unit often. A hidden or concealed heating element avoids that problem.

Your House Garden’s Best Electric Kettle Comparison Table

Use the comparison table to help you identify if there is a specific electric kettle that interests you, and identify the key differences.  You can then choose to:

  • use the “Quick Navigation” button at the bottom of the table to navigate straight to the product you are interested in reading more about
  • use the “Check Price on Amazon” button if you know exactly what you want to buy
  • Take your time and read more about the different types of kettles and buying considerations
[go_pricing id=”kettle_595cbaed3fa60″]

Author

  • Rebecca Moses

    Depending on the day, you’ll find Rebecca in a well thought-out ensemble that she handcrafted herself, or in hiking and rock climbing gear. An avid outdoorswoman, cyclist, and cat lover, Rebecca reminds us all on the Your House Garden team just how much we need to get outdoors. She’s worked in spas and salons off and on before going full-time with the Your House Garden team. Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-moses-3158b914b/

11 thoughts on “Best Electric Kettle – Top 5 Hottest Review”

  1. I am looking for an electric kettle that makes the water very hot. I don’t need temperature settings, I just like really hot tea that stays hot for a while. I am looking for stainless steel, with a shut off. I have bought many kettles where the water either isn’t boiling or stay hot. Something simple but hot!!

    Reply
    • Hi Eileen,

      I would suggest the Cuisinart CPK-17, a great value stainless steel kettle, with automatic shut off and a simple temp select button to boil your water to 212 degrees (other nice features are the concealed heating element and removable/washable limescale filter).

      In addition can we suggest you use a double walled stainless steel mug such as the Avito mug linked here on Amazon -> https://geni.us/stainlesssteelmug
      It will keep your team warm for up to half an hour.

      Enjoy!

      Kind Regards,
      Lisa

      Reply
  2. Hello – I would like to purchase another electric kettle. I’d like to know which is the easiest to clean? We have lots of deposits in the water here in Italy. I prefer the glass type so I can visually see the build up on the bottom and sides. But most have a flip top with a smaller opening making it challenging to clean. A removable top would be ideal for my usage. Any suggestions?

    Reply
    • Hi Giacomo,

      What a great question, please find below 4 great quality kettles with either removable lids or large openings to enable easy cleaning – 2 are made from glass.

      Secura SWK-1701DB The Original Stainless Steel Double Wall Electric Water Kettle 1.8 Quart
      This is a brilliant value kettle with a wide open lid, so is easy to clean, it stays cool to the touch and has a seamless stainless steel interior – it is not glass.
      Link to Amazon -> http://geni.us/securakettle

      Breville BTM800XL One-Touch Tea Maker
      This is a fully featured, tea infuser kettle where you can control the boil temp and time, it is glass with a big opening, and premium price to match its premium quality.
      Link to Amazon ->http://geni.us/brevilleteamaker

      Russell Hobbs Retro Style 1.7L Electric Kettle, Red & Stainless Steel
      This is a brilliant retro style kettle, which has a great balance of price and quality with a removable lid for easy cleaning. The version available on Amazon Itlay is slightly different and made from glass.
      Link to Amazon -> http://geni.us/russelhobs

      Chef’s Star Borosilicate Glass Electric Kettle with Infuser, 1.8-Liter Electric Tea Kettle
      This is a great value glass kettle with a removable lid and tea infuser included.
      Link to Amazon -> http://geni.us/chefstarglasskettle

      In terms of the best strategies for areas with hard water, the key is to filter your water before placing it in the kettle to reduce the speed of the build up. Also, when the time comes to clean the kettle fill it with half vinegar and water and let it sit for an hour, after the hour is up boil the kettle, rinse and clean – you can also use lemon juice as well.

      Oh, we have also found that by placing some “stainless steel mesh” in our kettle in reduces the speed of limescale buildup.
      Link to Amazon -> http://geni.us/kettlescalecollector

      Hope this helps.

      Kind Regards,
      Lisa

      Reply
  3. Thanks for the interesting and thorough review of these electric kettles. I just bought the Breville yesterday and am very happy to have done so. It is a much classier looking kettle than the Cuisinart and it thus far works very well. Also, and the reason I am writing, is to point out one window gives you water measurements in milliliters and, when you swivel it around, the other window on the Breville gives you measurements in cups. No learning curve required! Now I have to study teas!

    Reply
    • Hi Fern,

      Thanks for taking the time to comment, we appreciate the additional update. Enjoy the kettle, and many future cups of coffee, tea and hot chocolate!

      Kind Regards,
      Lisa

      Reply
  4. We have had 4 electric kettles in 4 years. Without fail, they have either developed a leak, or the auto shut off stopped working. While your review covers all the features, none telttl us how reliable they really are. We can send a man to the moon but can’t seem to build a good kettle.

    Reply
    • Hi David,

      Thanks for your comment. Very good point… 🙂 We have updated the article with the warranty information which should give you some confidence in your purchasing decision. The other alternative is that when you buy from Amazon you can usually also buy a Protection Plan for 3/4 years for a nominal amount – might be something worth considering?

      Having said all that by doing our research we have listed only kettles that we are confident will stand the test of time…

      Good luck with your choice.

      Kind Regards,
      Lisa

      Reply
  5. Would it be possible to add the time it takes to boil a quart of water to 100 degrees Celsius? I’ve been told that new electric kettles can boil water in less than 50 seconds, is that true?

    Reply
    • Hiya,

      I have to say my “inner geek” got a huge kick when I saw this question – so I probably have to apologise in advance for my answer as I am going to try and explain a bit about the science of heating water (and I am certainly no scientist so hopefully this makes some sense). Scientists out there please correct me if something does not make sense.

      So how long does it take to boil water in Your House Garden’s best electric kettle top 5 list?

      The quick answer is that “generally” the boiling speed of all the kettles in the top 5 list above are roughly the same. It will take you about 4-5 minutes to boil 1 litre of cool tap water in each of the kettles above.

      The wattage of each of the kettles in this list is 1500 watts (a Watt is a unit of power defined as the rate of energy transferred/per second) – so the amount of energy these kettles has available to heat the water is the same for each. This means that the speed at which each of the kettles in the list boils water comes down to how efficient the kettle is at transferring that heat to the water – how much heat loss is there in the process? There are differences in the kettle designs but they are not major, so the heating time turns out to be about the same.

      You have to be careful when you read about electric kettle boiling time claims to compare the same conditions. How much water are they boiling (1 cup = 236ml = .208 imperial quart) and what was the starting temperature of the water (cold water tap = 50 degrees Fahrenheit = 10 degrees Celsius). Other factors such as room temperature, air pressure and water impurities also affect that boiling speed. What we have found is that “rapid boiling kettles” are only approximately 20 seconds faster than “normal” kettles. For example, Braun’s MultiQuick 3 Kettle WK 300 says it can boil 200ml of water in 45 seconds (as the boiling speed of water is roughly linear [it will not be exactly linear in an electric kettle] this means it will boil 1 litre in probably a bit more than 3mins and 45 seconds). They don’t mention starting temp etc. but their tests are usually water at room temperature (roughly 70 degrees Fahrenheit = 20 degrees Celsius) – so the 3mins 45 seconds is probably more like 4 minutes from a cold water tap.

      Braun’s MultiQuick 3 Kettle WK 300 -> Amazon Link -> http://amzn.to/2kwmrhR

      There is a fun little water boiling calculator that you can play with in the link below.
      https://www.easycalculation.com/physics/thermodynamics/water-boiling-time-calculator.php

      The efficiency factor in this calculator is effectively (in relationship to our discussion) related to how efficient the kettle is at transferring heat to the water.

      Cheers for now,
      Pierce

      Reply

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