Who would have thought the world of kettles would become so confusing? These days, kettles aren’t just devices that heat water to boiling point – they’re gadgets that can be tweaked to heat water to the ideal temperature for everything from coffee to green tea, while removing limescale and softening water with built-in filters.
This is all well and good, but working out which features are actually worth investing in is no mean feat. So, we decided it’s high time to stick the kettle on (many, many times) and offer a tried-and-tested guide to the best kettles out there.
First, a few tips for kettle care. Limescale build-up is impossible to avoid, especially in hard water areas. But removing it won’t just improve your cuppa – it could cut your energy bills, too.
“Descale your kettle using a product such as Oust which is specifically designed for kettles,” says Sophie Herrmann, spokesperson for the brand. “Doing so will remove limescale debris from the internal coils of the kettle and result in shorter boil times. If you live in a hard water area, descale every three months, and every six months in soft water areas.”
Keen to take a more natural approach? “Fill the kettle halfway with a solution which is 50 per cent water and 50 per cent vinegar. Bring it to a boil, then let it sit for 20 minutes before pouring away,” suggests Dean Davies, professional cleaning expert at Fantastic Services. And you can even use lemon to spruce up the exterior of chrome kettles. Whatever way you choose to clean your kettle, keeping it in pristine condition is essential for a decent brew.
Bosch styline TWK8631GB kettle with temperature selector, white/stainless steel
Bosch might be known for its washing machines and fridges but this brilliant kettle suggests this might not be the case for long. Its 1.5l capacity was more than adequate (it’s equivalent to six cups), and 3,000W of power made for seriously quick boiling times. It’s a temperature control kettle, but not one which needed a degree in computing to use, and we loved the “keep warm function” which kept the water hot for 30 minutes. As keen tea drinkers prone to flicking on the kettle without checking whether there’s enough water inside, we appreciated the boil dry protection, too – if there’s no water in the kettle, it simply won’t turn on.
Swan 1.8l retro dome kettle
Weirdly, although this kettle has a huge capacity – 1.8l, which is the biggest of the bunch by far – it didn’t feel like a space sapper, perhaps because its glorious design meant this was an appliance which we were happy to display. It looks spectacular, but its high gloss finish made it easy to clean, and although the handle is positioned at the top (typically a pet hate, due to the burn risk) there was more than enough space to prevent steam-related singes. We also loved the great range of colours and the brightness of the light on the on/off switch, which minimised the risk of turning it on accidentally.
Philips eco conscious edition5000 series kettle
If you drink as much tea as we do, you’ll be well aware that constant kettle boils aren’t great for the environment. This is precisely why we’re huge fans of brands which minimise the environmental impact of our addiction, and this kettle ticks that box, thanks to the materials – it’s made entirely of bio-based plastics, which doesn’t just mean a greener approach to its production, but a smaller landfill footprint, too. The downside? There are none.
We were smitten with its colour scheme – neutral tones with surprisingly realistic wooden accents – and we appreciated the large tactile handle, which meant lifting it was a breeze, even when the kettle was full. The water level gauge was refreshingly clear, too – all too often gauges with numbers printed on the transparent part make the capacity hard to read, but this wasn’t a problem with this kettle, which had the numbers listed to one side.
Tower Housewares bottega stainless steel kettle
Tower has done a brilliant job of blending tech and tradition with this kettle, which has a generous 1.7l capacity. Yes, this kettle looks like its rightful home is a stove top, but behind its vintage exterior is plenty of tech, including a whopping 3,000W of power for fast, quiet boils and an easily removable limescale filter (most are so tricky to remove we simply don’t bother).
We were reassured by the lid’s tight seal, too – we’ve come across too many kettles with hinged lids that pop open unexpectedly, but there was zero risk of this happening with this one. Partial to a spot of colour coordination? Pair it with the renaissance toaster, which has the same black-and-chrome styling.
