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An electric kettle is one of the few appliances I keep out on my counter. I use it mostly for hot and iced tea (my current model, our best overall pick, lets me brew to an exact temperature depending on the type). My needs, however, may be different from your own. If you’re a pour-over coffee diehard, a gooseneck is nonnegotiable (more on that below). If you prefer French press, the type of spout doesn’t matter so much. And while coffee and tea are the two main reasons people keep an electric kettle on their counter, maybe you just love instant noodles and want a quick and reliable boil when you’re hungry for dinner. Or maybe your stove takes ages to heat up so you want a vessel that can hold a lot of water to decant into a pot. No matter your situation, there’s a right kettle out there for you — and I talked to 13 experts to find the most efficient options.
What we’re looking for
Pour spout
Some kettles have a classic, beak-shaped pour spout that dispenses water fairly quickly. Others have a gooseneck: a long, skinny spout shaped like a backwards “S,” snaking its way from the bottom of the kettle out and towards the top. A gooseneck pours pretty slowly, giving you a better handle over speed and the surface area you’re covering with water. This might not matter so much when filling up a mug for tea, but it is imperative for something like pourover, where the stream of water over the coffee grounds needs to be ultra-precise. I’ll also say that even if it’s not strictly necessary for everything, the chance of splashes and spills with a gooseneck is next to nothing.
Temperature settings
Like the type of pour spout, temperature settings are something you’ll care about or not, depending on what you’ll use your kettle for — and, frankly, how nitty-gritty you want to get about it. Some kettles heat to the exact degree you set (technically ideal for both coffee and tea preparations), some have pre-determined temperatures (usually tied to tea types), and some don’t have any temperature control at all. Also, some hold the temperature you want while you go about your business, while others will need to be reheated if they’re left to cool.
Volume
Finally, you’ll want to consider how much water your electric kettle will hold. Are you only making one cup of coffee every morning? Do you often offer tea to multiple guests at once? Goosenecks are generally on the smaller side, but you’ll find the exact capacity of each kettle on this list.
Best overall electric kettle
Pour spout: Gooseneck | Temperature settings: Precise temperature control and hold | Volume: 0.9 liters
The Fellow Stagg EKG is the gold standard of electric kettles. It’s been a Strategist favorite since it came out six years ago and has held that regard since — through multiple updates to our best gifts for tea lovers and coffee lovers roundups and yet again when I set out to consult the experts for this piece.
The Stagg EKG is more expensive than most on this list — but not so much more expensive that the price lessened its ranking (it’s marked down 20 percent for Amazon Prime Day right now). There’s just too much praise surrounding it. “It heats quickly and allows you to adjust the temperature setting in one-degree increments,” explains Jerad Morrison, co-founder and co-CEO of Sightglass Coffee in San Francisco. “It will even regulate and hold at your temp preference, which is super-useful and convenient.” Marco Suarez, one of the owners of Methodical Coffee in Greenville, South Carolina, mentions that it turns itself off as a safety feature after it’s been left sitting for longer than an hour.
Many called out the precise pouring ability it has thanks to the gooseneck spout. While that feature can be found in multiple models on this list, Fellow has optimized the flow so the water comes out at the perfect rate for pour-over. In my testing, having a slower stream means that the water never splashes or overflows in the vessel I’m pouring into and that I have maximum control if I ever need just a splash of hot water to deglaze a pan while cooking. I also find the angled handle makes it comfortable to hold and pour at the same time.
Everyone I spoke to noted that it’s the most attractive of any kettle on the market. “For an object you’re going to have sitting on your countertop day in and day out, there is no one else that really touches Fellow in terms of looks,” says Suarez. “The design is amazing,” agrees Kyle Ramage, co-owner of Black & White Coffee Roasters in Raleigh, North Carolina. “It’s sturdy and it’s eloquent.” Finally, tea writer Sara Shacket, who owns the copper version (one of nine sophisticated styles), loves that it “makes for a nice presentation” if she’s serving tea to a group.
Fellow recently released the Stagg EKG Pro, an updated version of the original that I’ve been using for the past several months. For an additional $30, it allows you to preset a certain temperature for a certain time, to hear a chime when the water is done, to select from determined temperatures for particular types of coffee-brewing styles and teas, to change settings like altitude and language, and to connect to Wi-Fi to make sure it’s always up to date with the latest improvements. You navigate all these options through the simple dial that sits on the kettle’s base, a system I immediately found to be intuitive without even reading the directions. Otherwise, it has the same look, feel, and functionality as the original.
Best less expensive electric kettle
Pour spout: Gooseneck | Temperature settings: Precise temperature control and hold | Volume: 1 liter
If you don’t particularly care about design, several experts mentioned the Bonavita electric kettle as being just as operationally and technically impressive as the Stagg EKG. “It does all the same things; it’s just less form focused,” says Ramage. “But it’s also less expensive.” Indeed, you’ll save $60 (considering both models’ regular prices) if you go this route without giving up the temperature precision and hold.
In my own testing, I found the functions very intuitive. While the Stagg operates via a nondescript dial and display screen (part of what makes it so sleek looking), the Bonavita has clearly marked buttons on its base: power, a plus and minus to cycle through exact degrees, a hold, and one with preset temperatures for common drinks. It is simply a bit clearer and faster to operate than the original Stagg. I also appreciate the comfortable handle and stainless-steel body, which is easy to wipe down so it looks spotless. Strategist senior editor Chelsea Peng has been using hers daily for about five months and says she is most impressed by how quickly it gets hot — so much so that she doesn’t even bother sitting down while she waits for the water to reach temperature. Ken Nye, owner of Ninth Street Espresso, even thinks the Bonavita has a slight edge over the Stagg EKG beyond the lower price: “The larger capacity and faster flow rate are both helpful when using the kettle for things other than pour-over coffee.”
Best simple gooseneck electric kettle
Pour spout: Gooseneck | Temperature settings: No temperature control or hold | Volume: 0.6 liters
While the Balmuda (maker of the very best steam toaster oven) comes in at a similar price point to the Stagg, it might be a better choice for those who don’t need or want a high-tech option. It’s similarly nice to look at but has only a simple on/off switch. The water heats up very quickly, in about a minute (likely due to the fact that it holds slightly less than the other gooseneck models on this list), but it’s still plenty big for a couple of mugs of tea at a time. The speed also means I can simply reheat as needed without worrying about temperature hold. The spout pours gently and evenly, the handle is comfortable to grip, and I particularly enjoy the light on the end of the handle that turns on when your water is heating and off and when it’s done. Finally, it has a fitted, rounded base, as opposed to the wider square base of the Stagg, so if you have limited counter space, this design choice can make a difference.
Best less expensive simple gooseneck electric kettle
Pour spout: Gooseneck | Temperature settings: No temperature control or hold | Volume: 0.8 liters
Hario was the original creator of this type of spout, and though more advanced gooseneck kettles have come out since, it still commands a lot of respect, cited by several of our pros as a solid choice. Suyog Mody, founder of Brooklyn’s Driftaway Coffee, has had his for nearly a decade. And if you’re looking to get a temperature that will work for coffee, you don’t have to overthink it: “Just boil the water, wait a minute, and then pour it,” he instructs. Mody’s colleague and coffee educator at Driftaway, James McCarthy, is also a fan: “I like the feel of it. It’s easy to handle.” While none of the professionals I talked to called out the look of the Hario in particular, I have to say, I think it’s quite attractive. Former Strategist writer Leah Muncy, who’s an avid tea drinker, owns one and agrees wholeheartedly. “I mean, just look at that little wavy handle!” she says. “Sometimes I just stare at it.”
Best large temperature-controlled electric kettle
Pour spout: Standard | Temperature settings: Precise temperature control and hold | Volume: 1.8 liters
McCarthy called out the Oxo gooseneck as his personal favorite (and price-wise, it’s just about the same as the Bonavita). But Oxo also makes this larger version with a standard pour spout, equipped with the same base as the gooseneck. It allows for temperature adjustments down to the degree and holds that temperature for up to 30 minutes. Of course, the glass body allows you to see how much water is inside, and the overall design is quite sleek (harder to find, in my opinion, when it comes to the larger models). Finally, the silicone on the bottom of the kettle itself allows you to set it down on any surface without worrying about damage.
Best large simple electric kettle
Pour spout: Standard | Temperature settings: No temperature control or hold | Volume: 1.7 liters
Strategist deals editor Sam Daly bought this Cosori kettle a few months ago after her old one died and has used it nearly every day since. She’s appreciative of the two minutes it takes to heat up. “I can literally start the water, grab a tea bag and mug, turn back around, and it’s at a good temperature,” she says. Beyond tea (this one doesn’t have exact degree control, but she’s not particular about that), she uses this large kettle to make oatmeal and to get a head start in boiling water for a pot on her stovetop since her range takes forever to heat up. And while her previous model would keep sizzling on the bottom even after she poured the water out, “this one automatically shuts off after I pick it up,” she says.
In my own testing, I found the spout releases a very steady and controlled stream, especially for being larger (something Daly notes too); there’s no splashing or spilling when I pour. And while I’m partial to the Fellow I keep on my counter year-round (mostly because of its small footprint), the larger volume of this one is useful for batching iced tea as well as cleaning my sink: I fill it up, let the water get piping hot, scrub the stainless interior of my basin with a sponge, and then pour the water out all over it for a sparkling finish. I like that the kettle is made of glass because I can easily see the amount of water inside. The handle is sturdy and comfortable to hold, too.
Best small simple electric kettle
Pour spout: Standard | Temperature settings: No temperature control or hold | Volume: 1.25 liters
Recipe developer and content creator Sohla El-Waylly says this electric kettle looks enough like a stovetop model that one morning her mom (whom she gifted one to) was so sleepy, she literally put it on a burner and ruined it. Luckily, El-Waylly has never done the same with her own in the six years she’s owned it — but she does appreciate its “old-timey retro vibes,” along with its “no bells and whistles” functionality. While that means you can’t see the water level and there’s no temperature control, it perfectly suits El-Waylly’s main needs: making tea (she’s not fussy about exacting degrees) and using a bit of boiling water for cooking, whether deglazing a pan, finishing off undercooked rice, or giving a head start to water for potatoes or pasta.
Best large electric kettle for tea
Pour spout: Standard | Temperature settings: Precise temperature control and hold | Volume: 1.5 liters
This recommendation comes courtesy of a Strategist story written a few years ago by contributor David Schwartz — a recommendation that, when I checked in with him all this time later, still holds up. He’s been a regular tea drinker his whole life, but the ritual changed for the better when he received this (undeniably high-end) electric kettle as a gift. It’ll cost you a pretty penny, but it very well might be worth the investment. “It brews tea at custom temperatures depending on leaf type and flavor strength,” Schwartz writes, “but what differentiates this from less-expensive alternatives is something that almost all run-of-the-mill coffee makers do: It brews automatically, at any time of day, without you having to do anything but pour in the tea. The Breville’s pièce de résistance is a metal-mesh basket that robotically dunks loose leaves in boiled water for the exact steeping time and then removes them, resting above the water’s surface to prevent too-bitter brews or totally weak souse.”
Best less expensive large electric kettle for tea
Pour spout: Standard | Temperature settings: Standardized temperature control and hold | Volume: 1.7 liters
If the Breville isn’t worth the investment to you, Shacket recommends this Cuisinart model with preset temperatures for different types of teas. It has a full-boil button for black tea (which is also the correct setting for herbal and rooibos teas), a 190-degree button for oolong, a 185 button for white, a 175 button for green, and a 160 button for delicate teas — not to mention a French press setting. There’s also a keep-warm setting, unlike with some of the bigger models that automatically shut off and cool down once they’re done boiling.
Most stylish large electric kettle
Pour spout: Standard | Temperature settings: No temperature control or hold | Volume: 1.9 liters
Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo had coveted the out-of-her-price-range Fellow Stagg kettle for a long time — but then she saw this equally stylish one and decided to buy it. “I just thought it was so nice looking,” she says, and much more in line with her and her partner’s style than the previous big one she owned when she lived with roommates. She also calls the Chantal “blissfully uncomplicated” to use. You simply fill it up and press down on a single button. The cord wraps into the base for neat storage, it holds a lot of water, and the handle has a comfortable grip.
Best foldable electric kettle
Pour spout: Standard | Temperature settings: No temperature control or hold | Volume: 0.6 liters
This foldable electric kettle was brought to our attention by Death Cab for Cutie front man Ben Gibbard, who takes this clever contraption with him when he’s on the road (along with his portable AeroPress). “When you’re on tour, the first thing you want every morning is a really good cup of coffee,” he says. “I’d rather make it myself than be on the hunt for it. And this kettle is great because it compresses down and doesn’t take up a lot of room in your bag.” It works with a simple on-off button, which, when on, will automatically reheat your water as soon as it drops below 75 degrees. You can also adjust the voltage at the bottom, which makes it usable all over the world if you have the correct plug adapter.
Some more electric kettles we’ve written about
Our experts
• Liza Corsillo, Strategist senior writer
• Sam Daly, Strategist deals editor
• Sohla El-Waylly, recipe developer and content creator
• Ben Gibbard, Death Cab for Cutie frontman
• James McCarthy, coffee educator at Driftaway Coffee
• Suyog Mody, founder of Driftaway Coffee
• Jerad Morisson, co-founder and co-CEO of Sightglass Coffee
• Leah Muncy, former Strategist writer
• Ken Nye, owner of Ninth Street Espresso
• Chelsea Peng, Strategist senior editor
• Kyle Ramage, co-owner of Black & White Coffee Roasters
• David Schwartz, Strategist contributor
• Sara Shacket, tea consultant
• Marco Suarez, co-owner of Methodical Coffee
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