Regardless of what your hot water needs happen to be, the Bonavita 1.7L Variable will handle them with style. This electric kettle has continuous temperature settings from 140°F to boiling for loose leaf tea connoisseurs and coffee enthusiasts. Additionally, it has automatic shut-off and temperature holding features for those who don't want to monitor their hot water. The gooseneck spout and a well-designed handle will further appeal to specialty coffee consumers as these features facilitate slow, even pouring. This kettle also has a large capacity, which is great for multiple users, though Bonavita sells it in a smaller size. Our only complaint is that it lacks an audible boil notification, but we suspect most people can overlook this and would be happy to have it as part of their kitchen gadget lineup.
Editor's Note: Bonavita no longer makes the 1.7L version of this kettle. They still have a 1L version in production, which is nearly identical except for the smaller capacity. We're now linking to this 1L kettle as of this June 30, 2022 update.Bonavita BV382518V Review

Pros: Precise temperature settings, easy pouring, temperature holding, intuitive interface
Cons: Lacks an audible boil notification, not the fastest
Manufacturer: Bonavita
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
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Bonavita BV382518V | |||||
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Awards | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||
Price | $130 List $129.99 at Amazon | $70 List | $130 List $129.95 at Amazon | Check Price at Amazon | $48 List $24.97 at Amazon |
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Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Precise temperature settings, easy pouring, temperature holding, intuitive interface | Quick to boil, good variety of preset functions, easy to fill | Well-insulated, option for bottle warmer/sanitizer, no contact with plastic | Simple design, minimal footprint, inexpensive | Large capacity, decent boil time, glass kettle |
Cons | Lacks an audible boil notification, not the fastest | Large base, display screen is hard to read | Must hold down power button to turn on, difficult for pour-over brewing | No adjustability, no temperature holding, not the easiest to fill | Fragile, handle can get very hot, terrible control for pour-overs |
Bottom Line | A multi-purpose kettle that excels at controlled pouring and offers several helpful customization and ease of use features | This kettle offer a quick and predictable pour and a variety of presets making it a good choice for those in hurry | A standard spout kettle with adjustable brew temperatures and a timeless design that will look good on any countertop | A basic but effective kettle that is competitively priced and nice-looking to boot | This low-cost glass kettle is illuminated by LED lights around the base and has a large capacity for busy kitchens |
Rating Categories | Bonavita BV382518V | Hamilton Beach Prof... | Zwilling Enfinigy C... | Amazon Basics Stain... | Mueller Ultra Kettl... |
Pour-Over Ability (30%) | |||||
Boil Speed (30%) | |||||
Pour Speed (20%) | |||||
Added Conveniences (10%) | |||||
Filling (10%) | |||||
Specs | Bonavita BV382518V | Hamilton Beach Prof... | Zwilling Enfinigy C... | Amazon Basics Stain... | Mueller Ultra Kettl... |
Temperature Range | Temperature select: 140ºF - 212ºF Presets: 140ºF, 176ºF, 185ºF, 190ºF, 205ºF, 208ºF |
Presets: 160ºF, 175ºF, 180ºF, 190ºF, 200ºF, 212ºF | Presets: 104ºF, 140ºF, 160ºF, 175ºF, 194ºF, 212ºF | N/A | N/A |
Temperature Holding? | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Auto Shutoff? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Interior Material | Stainless | Stainless steel, plastic water window | Stainless steel | Stainless steel, plastic water window | Borosilicate glass |
Lid Attached or Separate? | Separate | Attached | Attached | Attached | Attached |
Type of Spout | Gooseneck | Normal | Normal | Normal | Normal |
Minimum Capacity | 0.75L | 0.5L | 0.5L | 0.5L | 0.5L |
Maximum Capacity | 1.7L | 1.7L | 1.5L | 1.7L | 1.8L |
Water Level Indicator? | Min and max level line inside kettle | Yes, window inline with handle | Markings on inside for every 2 cups and 0.5L, 1L and 1.5L | Yes, window on the side | Glass kettle with markers |
Contact with Plastic? | Plastic is only hit by steam and is BPA-free | Yes, plastic window, plastic around filter and handle | None detected | Yes, plastic window, spout filter, and underside of lid | Not while boiling, but filter that you pour through and lid/spout assembly have plastic |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The gooseneck Bonavita Variable is unique among kettles as it can perform most specialty tasks with a high level of proficiency. The long, slender neck and beveled spout facilitate the slow discharge and delicate, circular pouring required for pour-over coffee. The large water reservoir and adjustable temperature setting make it great for specialty drinks, cooking tasks, and multiple users. The kettle also has a sophisticated look so that it won't upset your countertop feng shui.
Performance Comparison
Pour-Over Ability
The main complaint about kettles — particularly models with large water capacities — is that they are unbalanced, and as a result, they are hard to pour in a controlled manner. The Bonavita does not suffer in this regard. Its beveled gooseneck spout and well-designed handle make slow pours a pleasure. There's a reason this is the kettle you see in many specialty coffee shops worldwide.
Boil Speed
To test the boiling speed of each kettle, we poured four cups of 57°F water into the reservoir. We then suspended a thermometer in the water to standardize our boil temperature. At our lab's location at altitude, water boils on average at 201°F, so we use that value as our cut-off. At 4 minutes and 55 seconds, the Bonavita doesn't claim the fastest time to a boil, but it's no slouch either.
Pour Speed
Gooseneck kettles, by design, can't pour as quickly as something with a wide spout. However, if you're making high-quality coffee pour-overs regularly, you don't want a large opening as they are messy and fast instead of slow and controlled. That said, the Bonavita Variable isn't the slowest gooseneck kettle we've tested. The flow rate is impressive for the design, and we never felt like water was going to leak out the lid from increasing the pouring angle.
Added Conveniences
- Temperature selection: 140º - 212ºF, adjustable by single degrees
- Temperature holding: Yes, up to 60 minutes
- Automatic shutoff: Yes
- Inside material: Stainless steel
- Lid attached or separate: Separate
- Type of spout: Gooseneck
- Max/Min capacity: 1.7L/0.75L
- Water level indicator: "Min" and "Max" marked internally
- Other: Comes with a protective cover for the base, has a timer, very easy to switch between Fahrenheit and Celsius
Filling
The Bonavita Variable has a removable lid, creating a wide opening that is very easy to fill. The only thing you need to be mindful of is the spout, as it's long and thin and could get broken off if hit hard enough against a counter or the sink.
Should You Buy the Bonavita BV382518V?
To be sure, the Bonavita is not an inexpensive product. Yet, it checks all the boxes for both general and specialized uses. Additionally, this kettle has a sharp look and can last for many years. Accordingly, we think that this machine is one of the better values in the class. The Bonavita 1.7L Variable is a refined kettle that boasts ease of use across multiple applications. No other kettle in our lineup can make this claim. Regardless of what your hot water needs happen to be, this device will meet and even exceed expectations. If you desire a do-it-all kettle, then look no further.
What Other Electric Kettles Should You Consider?
It is hard to say what you should consider beyond a product that sort of does it all. However, if the perfect pour-over is your goal, then the Fellow Stagg EKG is the niche product for you with a perfect score for pour-over. If you only want to boil water and care less for pour-over, the Amazon Basics Stainless Steel is a fantastic steal for a budget-friendly option that pours quickly and gets hot with swiftness.
— Penney Garrett, Michelle Powell, and Austin Palmer
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