Best Overall Electric Kettle
Bonavita BV382518V
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Pour-Over Ability 8.8
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Boil Speed 6.5
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Pour Speed 5.0
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Added Conveniences 9.6
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Filling 9.5
Boil Time (4 cups): 4 min 55 sec | Temperature Selection: Yes, (140º - 212ºF)
Great temperature accuracy
Smooth and balanced pouring
Temperature hold
Stainless steel
No boil notification
Slow pour for tea-making
The Bonavita 1.7L Variable is a sleek gooseneck kettle that adds a touch of sophistication to any kitchen. It provides a controlled and balanced pour through a well-designed handle and spout. The handle offers a comfortable grip allowing for easy flow rate manipulation from the gooseneck spout. The Bonavita creates a smooth, precise pour and the base has a convenient timer for dialing in that perfect pour-over coffee. And for tea drinkers, the temperature controls allow for heat adjustments in 1º increments so you can properly brew different tea varietals. Plus, as one tester noted, it also works well as a watering can for houseplants.
Overall, we're very impressed with the performance of this kettle, but we did uncover a few drawbacks during testing. This model lacks an alert indicating when you reach the desired water temperature, and its narrow spout pours very slowly. These flaws may not matter for a pour-over coffee addict but can be frustrating for high-volume applications or tea drinkers. Despite these limitations, the merits of the Bonavita far outweigh its faults.
Read review: Bonavita 1.7L Variable
From pour-overs to instant cocoa, this classy kettle has got you covered.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Best Bang for the Buck
Amazon Basics Stainless Steel 1.7L
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Pour-Over Ability 4.0
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Boil Speed 6.0
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Pour Speed 10.0
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Added Conveniences 5.0
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Filling 5.0
Boil Time (4 cups): 5 min 2 sec | Temperature Selection: No
Inexpensive
Sharp design
Small footprint
No presets
Hard to fill
Unpredictable pour
The Amazon Basics Stainless Steel 1.7L is a good option if you are not making specialty drinks and want a sleek-looking kettle that won't break the bank. This very affordable model has a large reservoir that can boil water at a decent rate. In addition, it pours reasonably smooth, given the disadvantages of pitcher-style spouts and handles.
While there is much to like about this model, it lacks all the control features enjoyed by the competition. It is hard to keep the kettle balanced to create a steady flow, making it a challenge for pour-over coffee brewing. In addition, this kettle does not have water temperature controls or a temperature holding function — the kettle boils water and then turns itself off with an audible click. That's it. Still, if you're just after a decent-looking machine that will boil water, this Amazon Basics kettle is a great option.
Read review: Amazon Basics Stainless Steel 1.7L
This stripped-down design more than meets the needs of the non-specialty user.
Credit: Laura Casner
Best for a Cool-Touch
Zwilling Enfinigy Cool Touch Pro
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Pour-Over Ability 4.0
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Boil Speed 5.8
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Pour Speed 9.8
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Added Conveniences 7.4
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Filling 9.8
Boil Time (4 cups): 5 min 10 sec | Temperature Selection: Yes, 6 preset temps
Well-insulated
Option for bottle warmer/sanitizer
No contact with plastic
Press and hold button to turn on
Difficult for pour-over brewing
The Zwilling Enfinigy Cool Touch Pro is a standard spout kettle with a timeless design that will look good on any countertop. The control panel on the baseplate offers useful preset functions to adjust brew temperatures for baby milk/food, teas, coffee, and a full boil. The water reservoir is double-walled, holding in heat while staying cool to the touch on the outside. This model is tall enough to heat a bottle, and paired with the cool-touch design, is a good option for anyone with young children.
While the Zwilling design speaks to many, specialty coffee fans may want to think twice. The opening of this pitcher-style kettle is a bit larger than others, resulting in a broader-streamed pour — it is not nearly as easy as a gooseneck to keep your pour steady and even. Those habitually in a hurry may also see the long boil time — just over 5 minutes for four cups — as an inconvenience. Finally, our testers found that holding the power button down for a few seconds to turn the machine on was an extra nuisance. Yet, if you're not too particular about your pour, this unit has a lot to offer.
The Zwilling Infinity Cool Touch Pro's double wall design keeps water hot and the outside cool.
Credit: Laura Casner
Best for Pour-Overs
Fellow Stagg EKG
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Pour-Over Ability 10.0
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Boil Speed 3.6
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Pour Speed 2.0
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Added Conveniences 8.8
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Filling 9.5
Boil Time (3.8 cups): 6 min 38 sec |
Temperature Selection: Yes, (104º - 212ºF)
Excellent control
Well balanced
Integrated stopwatch
Slower to heat
Lacks audible boil notification
The Fellow Stagg EKG is an excellent kettle to assist in brewing pour-over coffee. The EKG is easy on the eyes with a modern design and minimalist base that guarantees not to overcrowd your setup. The Stagg is a statement piece whether it sits on your desk or coffee bar. Its' narrow gooseneck spout and counterbalanced handle restrict water flow to a slow, steady stream. These two features significantly aid in the pursuit of the perfect pour-over. This model also has adjustable temperature control, a timer, automatic shut-off, and temperature holding — all great features for those aiming for pour-over recipe targets.
On the downside, the EKG has a small capacity (0.9L) and a relatively long boil time at 6 min 38 sec. As a result, it's not great for production or uses outside the specialty drink realm. However, if your primary hot water need is for coffee or tea, then this machine is a pleasure to use.
Read review: Fellow Stagg EKG
The EKG offers excellent control and precision.
Credit: Laura Casner
Compare Products
The Fellow Stagg EKG is our top choice for pour-over brewing.
Credit: Laura Casner
Why You Should Trust Us
In our pursuit of detailed, data-driven consumer electronics evaluations, we perform extensive and continual research on the most compelling products on the market. In this case, we scoured the web for the most popular electric kettle units, read manufacturer specifications, and consulted experts in the tea and coffee business. Then, after much deliberation, we purchased the best kettles we could find for comparative testing in our lab. Then, we put our kitchen appliance testing team on the job.
Senior Research Analysts Austin Palmer and Michelle Powell are joined by Senior Editor Penney Garrett and coffee professional Liz Nelson to craft this review. Austin and Michelle have extensive experience testing and reviewing consumer products, and both Penney and Liz know every aspect of the coffee and cafe world inside and out.
Austin has tested everything from bread machines to VR headsets. He has a knack for isolating the often overlooked features that can significantly impact customer experience. Michelle has over a decade of professional culinary experience that is rooted in the gourmet coffee business. Her expertise in coffee bars and cafes makes her uniquely suited for analyzing electric kettles. Before joining GearLab, Penney worked as a baker and barista, dipping her toes in every part of the specialty coffee world, from roasting and palate training to equipment sales and farm work. Liz is a professional coffee roaster who lives for sourcing, roasting, and brewing anywhere from cafe/roastery environments to on-the-road pour-overs. Together they make a dynamic team and bring a wealth of knowledge to this review.
Our testing of electric kettles is divided across
five rating metrics:
- Pour-Over Ability tests (30% of overall score weighting)
- Boil Speed tests (30% weighting)
- Pour Speed tests (20% weighting)
- Added Conveniences tests (10% weighting)
- Filling tests (10% weighting)
We've purchased and tested more than 10 electric kettles. Our exhaustive testing puts every kettle through a multi-point performance analysis to rate the most important functions we think users will want to know more about. The top two weighted metrics are Pour-over ability for 30% of the overall total score, Boiling speed, also for 30%.
Each kettle is subjected to more than 15 individual tests to analyze and compare their performances. Our review also utilizes exhaustive research and observations from various testers to develop a well-rounded perspective of use and functionality.
Analysis and Test Results
Our testers agree that one of life's most wonderful pleasures is enjoying a freshly brewed coffee or tea each morning. An electric kettle can be an excellent investment in enhancing your morning ritual. We've tested the top products on the market to help you find the right kettle for you.
Value
Our rule is to never factor in the price of a product during our testing process. We always want to get a clear picture of the pure performance of a product — and score based solely on this — before factoring in the price, which isn't part of our final scores. Price will be a limiting factor for some, but many folks just want to know how good a product is and base their purchase decision on that, cost aside. However, we know that price IS a huge part of deciding what to buy, so we consider it after wrapping up our testing. We believe a high-value product to be one that expertly balances cost and performance.
There's no better pick for those truly on a shoestring budget than the Amazon Basics Stainless Steel 1.7L. This basic kettle doesn't have any fancy features (it just heats to boiling and then shuts itself off), and the pour spout will make high-end coffee nerds cringe with the lack of finesse, but if all you need is something large that boils fast, this is your kettle. If you can spend a bit more and would like features such as preset temperatures for various beverages, temperature holding, and the ability to program a start time, the Hamilton Beach Professional Digital is one to consider. For those that know they want a gooseneck kettle for making properly detailed pour-over coffees, the Bonavita 1.7L Variable is by far our top recommendation. The price is fair, and features such as single-degree temperature control, a timer, and quick switching between Fahrenheit and Celsius mean you can get as detailed and nerdy as your heart desires.
The size and spout of Breville the IQ make it a difficult choice for pour-over brewing.
Credit: Laura Casner
Pour-Over Ability
Balance, weight, and ergonomics are essential components for creating a properly brewed pour-over coffee. It might seem silly to be diving this deep into how a kettle feels when most people only hold them for a few seconds a day. However, for cafe-use or specialty quality brewing at home, a nicely balanced kettle makes a world of difference.
The Fellow Stagg EKG grabbed a perfect score in this metric for being the best pour-over kettle in our review. The counterbalance design of the EKG creates a delicate pour as close to perfection as one can get.
The Fellow's counterbalance design makes it our top choice for pour-over brewing.
Credit: Laura Casner
Although most tend to use these products lightly, we found some kettles clunky and difficult to pour. Given the option between a comfortable, balanced model or an awkward, heavy one, we assume that most prefer the latter. Unfortunately, larger, heavier kettles without a gooseneck spout do not provide the accuracy that manual brewing requires. Conversely, the Fellow, Bonavita, and Cosori all feature gooseneck spouts (that discharge from the bottom of the kettle and have a slower pour rate) and handle designs that naturally tilt the unit into a pouring position. As a result, these models feel good to hold and, at the same time, promote smooth and precise pours.
Pour-over brew methods require a precise pour to properly extract coffee.
Credit: Laura Casner
Brewing Like a Pro
This review is not a guide to proper coffee brewing practices. However, we will touch on this subject because it provides the background for the importance of certain kettle features. Coffee drinkers vary considerably in palate and attention to detail in their brewing methods. In our tests, we brewed coffee following the industry's highest standards for extraction. If you're looking to up your coffee game, we suggest engaging with a local cafe or roaster and following their recommended extraction parameters. A visit to a specialty shop may also inspire you to invest in brewing equipment if you haven't already. Namely, a quality grinder, dripper, kitchen scale, and a gooseneck kettle with adjustable temperature settings.
If you really want to up your coffee brewing game, this simple-yet-effective setup can take a mediocre cup of coffee to another level.
Credit: Laura Casner
Coffee experts have long experimented with particle size, water temperature, and brew time to extract the unique flavor profile each coffee region offers. If the variables in the extraction process are limited, you can isolate the factors contributing to desirable flavor outcomes. The result is a procedure that — as a general rule — sets the coffee to water ratio at 1:17 (1:15 or 1:16 for those that prefer a stronger cup) and the brew time to three minutes per 360 grams of water. Like many culinary pursuits, merely following the directions is not enough. A certain degree of craft is required to achieve the best results. Every region, harvest, and roast will vary ever so slightly.
The craft we are referring to for this review is the pour. The intention is to deliver hot water to the brew bed in a slow, circular pour with pauses between full saturation and drainage. This method yields more even extraction and maximum flavor.
To evaluate each kettle's pouring accuracy, we placed a carafe and cone dripper with 21 grams of ground coffee on a scale and zeroed it out. Next, we attempted to pour water over the grounds in an even, circular pattern until we achieved full saturation. We then wet the brew bed every 10 - 15 seconds until our scale registered 360 grams of brewed coffee in the carafe. Our expert barista and in-house tester, Michelle Powell, administered this test for consistency and accuracy.
Dialing in a perfect brew with the incredible finesse of the Fellow Stagg EKG.
Credit: Laura Casner
This coffee to water ratio combined with proper pouring technique is known to produce a pour time of approximately three minutes, so it wasn't a surprise that our tester's practiced hand managed to get all the kettles to cluster around this time. However, the raw data does not show the quality of the pour itself. The kettles with chunky proportions and pitcher-style spouts tended to slosh their way to 360 grams faster — which leaves the final cup slightly under-extracted. We experienced mixed results regarding pouring ease and accuracy. Only gooseneck models — the Bonavita, Fellow, and Cosori — supplied an even flow that saturated the grounds rather than plunging the water through them and pooling underneath.
Gooseneck kettles provide a controlled pour, perfect for manual brews.
Credit: Laura Casner
Boil Speed
You may have heard the axiom a watched pot never boils. That might have been true in the past, but no longer! Electric kettles seemingly attack the water and force it to change states right before your eyes. To quantify this action, we ran a simple boil time analysis. We took four cups of 57°F water, poured it into each unit, turned it on, and recorded the time it took the water to reach a rolling boil.
Most of the kettles we tested, boiled water in about 4 minutes. However, the Fellow Stagg EKG took quite a bit longer at 6 minutes 40 seconds. The Hamilton Beach Professional Digital achieved the same outcome in just 4 minutes and 30 seconds. That's a pretty big difference if you hit the snooze button one too many times and are running late.
The Hamilton Beach Professional Digital Kettle smoked other kettles in terms of boil speed.
Credit: Laura Casner
A Note About Boil Time
Water's boiling point varies based on atmospheric pressure and — all things being equal — atmospheric pressure decreases with elevation. Our lab sits at about 6,200 feet above sea level, an elevation that yields a relatively low average boiling point of 201°F. At sea level, this value rises to ~212°F. Accordingly, don't be surprised if you can't match our reported boil times. However, the observed differences between the kettles should remain the same.
The Cuisinart PerfecTemp helps guide you to the right temperature depending on what you're boiling - and it does it all quickly.
Credit: Laura Casner
Pour Speed
This analysis is primarily for tea drinkers, but hot cocoa lovers may be interested too. In this simple test, we timed how long it took to make a controlled pour of 360 grams of hot water from a kettle directly into a glass, just as one would do when pouring for tea with a simple tea bag. Here the results were the almost-exact inverse of the pour-over metric above.
The range of pour times was relatively wide, with the Amazon Basics and the Fellow Stagg bookending the class at 5 seconds and 30 seconds, respectively. The Hamilton Beach and Zwilling Cool Touch tied for a close second. Simply put, a gooseneck will pour slowly, and a pitcher-style spout will get water out of the kettle and into your cup at a much faster rate.
The Fellow Stagg EGK offer great control and balance for manual brewed coffee but the slow pour isn't ideal for other uses.
Credit: Laura Casner
Again, the models with goosenecks pour much slower than those with a pitcher-style spout, but they offer a more controlled pour. However, we think it should be noted that the Cosori and Bonavita kettles pour quickly for a gooseneck. This speed can pose issues for pour-over brewing but can work in your favor for filling a teacup.
Pitcher-style spouts provide a more rapid pour than a gooseneck kettle.
Credit: Laura Casner
Added Conveniences
Several kettles offer additional features that are not common to all the products in this review. The following is a rundown of these features and why they may be necessary for specific kettle applications.
Temperature Control
Some models can heat water to a specific sub-boiling temperature — we refer to this function as temperature control. For example, kettles such as the Bonavita and Fellow have continuous settings within a range. of 140° - 212°F (57° - 100°C). Others, like the Zwilling or Cuisinart, offer preset options at various increments below boiling. And others, like the Mueller or Amazon Basics, have just one option — boil. Specific water temperatures or single-degree settings are primarily the province of specialty coffee and tea drinkers, as each leaf or bean has a particular temperature that unlocks its full flavor profile potential. A temperature control feature allows you to achieve your exact water temperature preference for other endeavors, too — such as slightly warmed water for activating yeast when baking bread.
Bonavita comes complete with temperature control settings.
Credit: Laura Casner
Temperature Holding
Temperature holding is simply the ability to set a specific water temperature and have the machine hold the water at that value. This feature is particularly nice if you're doing production pouring in a professional setting or for a big get-together. Think hot toddies at a party or bottomless coffee on Christmas morning with the extended family. About half of the models in the class offer this feature, including the Bonavita, Fellow, and Cosori.
Cosori offers many programmable functions including a temperature hold setting.
Credit: Laura Casner
Built-in Timer
A timer will be invaluable if you plan to use your kettle for specialty brewing of any kind. Sure, you can always use the timer on your phone or stove, but having it built into the kettle is a really nice feature. Again, models geared toward craft coffee enthusiasts like the Fellow Stagg and Bonavita include this helpful feature.
The built-in timer on the Stagg EKG is very helpful for those that need to time their brewing.
Credit: Penney Garrett
App Connectivity
Some kettles can be connected to an app via Bluetooth, so you can control it from across the house, set custom parameters, or schedule brews. The Cosori has just such an app, complete with features like a baby formula mode, so the kettle can be ready when you're ready. The Fellow also offers this functionality, but only if you upgrade to the Stagg EKG+ (we tested the basic EKG model).
The Cosori app allows you to customize more of your brewing experience.
Credit: Laura Casner
Temperature Alerts
Some kettles will alert the user that their water has come to a boil (or predefined temperature). The Bonavita and Fellow turn off unless set to the hold. Others, such as the Breville the IQ and Zwilling Cool Touch Pro, administer a series of beeps. Basic models like the Amazon Basics and Mueller Ultra have an audible click when the on/off switch returns to the off position.
The Zwilling kettle indicates when water reached has reached preferred temp with a series of beeps.
Credit: Laura Casner
Water Level Indicator
Many kettles, like the Hamilton Beach Professional Digital , have a water level window on the side of the container; others have a minimum and maximum waterline indicated on the interior. Others have no indicators at all. Water indication is a convenient feature but not essential since you can simply look inside. It just depends on if this is a useful feature for you personally, though you'll always want to check that you're not trying to heat an empty kettle. Fancier models like the Fellow Stagg can sense this and turn themselves off, but simplistic budget models may not do this, and you could run the risk of damaging the heating element.
The Hamilton Beach Kettle has a water indicator window inline with the handle.
Credit: Laura Casner
Contact With Plastic?
All the kettles in this review have stainless steel interiors except the glass Mueller. However, water may contact plastic somewhere in the design, even in stainless kettles. For example, Breville the IQ has three points where water contacts plastic, where water in other kettles such as the Bonavita and the Fellow never come in contact with plastic.
Water comes in contact with plastic in numerous places on Breville the IQ.
Credit: Laura Casner
Base
Whether your counter space is vast or compact, the base is another factor to consider when choosing your kettle. A solid base that does not move around adds a little extra ease to your morning. Some baseplate models come adorned with a cord wrap which can alter the stability. Kettles with programmable features are more likely to have a digital display attached to the base. The Bonavita and Fellow bases provide a clear temperature display and stopwatch features. The Bonavita even comes with a protective cover to protect everything — a nice feature if your kettle is being used day-in-day-out in a busy cafe or large household.
The Bonavita 1.7L Variable Temperature comes with a protective cover for the interface that is removable.
Credit: Laura Casner
Spout
There are two spout types: gooseneck and pitcher-style. A gooseneck spout draws from the bottom of the kettle, whereas a pitcher-style flows from the top. In terms of pouring performance, the main difference between these spouts is the amount of tilt required to pour and the corresponding control over the flow rate. Gooseneck models like the Fellow, Bonavita, and Cosori require slight tilting to initiate a pour, and the flow rate is easy to control. The opposite is true for most pitcher-style kettles. We found the Zwilling to be the easiest of the standard pour spouts to use, flowing quite nicely compared to the other pitcher-style models.
The wider the spout the quicker the pour.
Credit: Laura Casner
Capacity
The maximum capacity of the reviewed models ranges from 0.8 - 1.8 liters, with the Cosori Smart Electric being smallest and the Mueller and Breville the IQ tying for the largest. So whether you want a gooseneck or a traditional spout, there is a range of volumes available in each category. Smaller kettles can be easier to control the flow rate for a pour-over. However, most kettles lean towards larger capacities. The size of your kettle is something to think about, especially with elders who may experience difficulty pouring from a heavy kettle or coffee enthusiasts looking for a precise pour.
If you like to drink cup after cup of tea without refilling or there's a lot of folks all needing hot water at once, a large kettle can keep everyone happy.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Automatic Shut-off
Except for the OXO, all models in this review turn themselves off automatically when they reach the selected temperature — or a boil — unless set to hold a particular temperature. The OXO's automatic shut-off switch doesn't engage until 30 minutes after reaching the desired temperature setting, though an extra press of a button will turn it off. The Mueller delays shut-off for 30 seconds following the boiling point.
This simple kettle has just one push button to turn it on and it automatically clicks off once water boils.
Credit: Laura Casner
Filling
Finally, we assessed how easy it was to fill each kettle. While not a very heavily weighted testing metric, this small detail is worth considering since you'll be filling your kettle at least once a day.
We found a theme here: all the gooseneck kettles came with a fully removable lid, while the pitcher-style kettles had an attached lid that flips up. Generally, a fully removable and separate lid made filling much easier. The Zwilling Cool Touch was the one exception thanks to the top opening a full 90° and the opening being very large.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Conclusion
This review provides a wide range of information on electric kettles derived from our extensive hands-on testing of these products. Our analysis looks at boiling times, pour rates, and available features. Using this information, we highlight kettles that are best suited to brew pour-over coffee and tea and other kitchen tasks requiring hot water in a hurry. Whatever your hot water needs happen to be, there is a kettle here with features that will satisfy.
