The 10 Very Best Electric Kettles

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Pour spout:Standard| Temperature settings:No temperature control or hold| Volume:1.5 liters

Fellow is perhaps best known for its Stagg EKG gooseneck kettle, which you’ll find below. But not everyone needs such a precise pour spout (especially when it’s one of the more expensive models out there). If you don’t make pour-over coffee, where a slow stream of water is necessary, it can even be a bit of a hindrance. The brand’s Clyde kettle delivers all of the durability and style of the Stagg — but it’s much simpler and suited for a wider variety of uses, like French press coffee, ramen, and tea. It also has a larger capacity, at 1.5 liters.

You turn it on by clicking down a small lever (a light goes on to indicate it’s working), and then it automatically unclicks when it reaches boiling. It has a comfortable-to-grip handle that sticks up and over the top of the kettle. At first, I was skeptical that pouring would be easy (just because said handle doesn’t have a traditional shape or placement), but it’s actually quite ergonomic. The spout has two layers of holes: larger ones partway down, and a mesh screen at the very edge. The water comes out much quicker than with a gooseneck, but it still has a very controlled flow and doesn’t drip. While it doesn’t have precise temperature control or hold, the water heats quickly (it takes under four minutes when filled to its maximum, and even faster when there’s less), and it stays fairly hot for a bit, too, thanks to the stainless-steel interior and tight-fitting lid.

Pour spout:Standard| Temperature settings:No temperature control or hold| Volume:1.7 liters

Strategist senior editorWinnie Yanghas an older version of this kettle, which she has owned for a striking 15 years, and uses it every day, twice a day (mostly to make tea but occasionally for heating water for cooking). “Like every Breville appliance I’ve ever used, it’s well made,” she says. “It doesn’t do anything besides heat water when you flip the power switch (a light indicates that it’s on) and chime once it has reached a boil, and that’s all I need it to do.” (She notes that the chime sound is soft and relatively pleasant, too.)

The kettle is comprised almost entirely of heavy-gauge stainless steel, which Yang says feels substantial. The material also means that it heats water up especially quickly and stays hot for a while, and you can see how much is inside thanks to the glass window that runs down the body. Yang also appreciates the soft-close lid and rocker switch, which both give a satisfying click when operated.

Pour spout:Standard| Temperature settings:No temperature control or hold| Volume:1.7 liters

In testing the Cosori, I found that the spout releases a very steady and controlled stream, especially for having a larger opening); there’s no splashing or spilling when I pour. And while I’m partial to the Stagg EKG, 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, and the handle is sturdy and comfortable to hold, too.

Strategist deals editorSam Dalybought this same model over a year ago and has used it nearly every day since. She’s appreciative of the quick 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, she uses the large kettle — which doesn’t have exact degree control, but she’s not particular about that — to make oatmeal and to get a head start boiling water for apoton her stovetop (her range takes forever on its own, she says). 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.

Pour spout:Gooseneck| Temperature settings:Precise temperature control and hold| Volume:0.9 liters

I’ve been using Fellow’s Stagg EKG Pro for several years. Its now-retired and very similar original version shot to popularity when it first came out nearly a decade ago, and both models have been by far the most-recommended among the many coffee and tea professionals I’ve talked to, including tea writer Sara Shacket; Jerad Morrison, co-founder and co-CEO ofSightglass Coffeein San Francisco; and Marco Suarez, one of the owners ofMethodical Coffeein Greenville, South Carolina.

It has exact temperature control in single digit increments, plus clearly named predetermined settings for tea and coffee types (which is what I use). While the ultra-precise settings mean it takes slightly longer to reach temperature than other kettles (it slows down as it gets close to your desired degree to ensure precision), it still takes only five minutes to reach a full boil when filled to the maximum capacity. And it holds temperature, too.

Fellow has optimized the flow so that it comes out at the perfect rate for pour-over. I don’t personally drink that style of coffee, but having a slower stream of water doesn’t bother me: I never splash or overflow when I’m pouring and I have maximum control if I ever need just a bit of hot water to deglaze a pan while cooking.

The spout is just one of many positives of the overall design: The Stagg EKG is as counter-worthy as it is functional. Its minimal profile, clean lines, and nice color options (I have the all-white) make it what I think is the most attractive option on the market. Kyle Ramage, co-owner ofBlack & White Coffee Roasters, expressed a similar sentiment. “It’s sturdy and it’s eloquent,” he says. I also find the angled handle makes it comfortable to hold and pour at the same time.

Finally, if neither the Clyde nor the Stagg feels quite right, Fellow has one more kettle called theCorvo EKG, which falls somewhere in between. It looks more similar to the Stagg and has precise temperature control and hold — but features an open spout.

Pour spout:Gooseneck| Temperature settings:Precise temperature control and hold| Volume:1 liter

I find the Bonavita to be nearly as impressive as the Stagg EKG on a technical level. If you go this route, you won’t give up temperature precision in one-degree increments, or temperature hold, or a gooseneck spout. And it does have some predetermined temperatures, too, though it doesn’t actually say what they’re for outside of the instruction manual, which I don’t find as helpful as the Stagg’s markers. Otherwise, my main knock is aesthetic: It’s simply not as sleek as our best overall pick. It’s not badlooking — just more standard appliance than design object-esque.

The functions are very intuitive. While the Stagg EKG operates via a nondescript dial and display screen, the Bonavita has clearly marked buttons on its base: power, a plus and minus to set exact degrees, and a hold. I also appreciate the comfortable handle and stainless-steel material, which is easy to wipe down so it looks spotless. Ken Nye, owner ofNinth 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,” he says.

Pour spout:Gooseneck| Temperature settings:No temperature control or hold| Volume:0.8 liters

Hario was the original creator of this type of spout on an electric kettle, and though more advanced gooseneck kettles have come out since, it still commands a lot of respect, and was cited by several of the pros I spoke to as a solid choice. Suyog Mody, founder of Brooklyn’sDriftaway 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 think it’s quite attractive.

Pour spout:Standard| Temperature settings:Precise temperature control and hold| Volume:1.75 liters

This OXO kettle is sturdy and well-made, which I attribute largely to the glass walls and stainless-steel details. Those materials are both more durable, nicer-looking, and easier to clean than the cheap plastics of the kettles I associate with dorm rooms. It does have some silicone, but only in thoughtful places like the handle (for comfort) and the base (to ensure you can put it directly down on a surface without causing any damage).

It’s also the only larger model on this list that allows for precise temperature control. Just as a point of comparison, it costs about the same as the Clyde. I think it’s not quite as nice-looking, but this feature does give it an edge. Youcanuse it for perfect coffee and tea — but the capacity makes it more versatile for serving other people at the same time as yourself, as well as other forms of cooking. It holds temperature for 30 minutes, too. I appreciate that the glass lets you easily see how much water is inside, and I find the pour spout to produce a clean pour even though it’s a larger opening than a gooseneck.

Pour spout:Standard| Temperature settings:Precise temperature control and hold| Volume:1.5 liters

This is a high-tech kettle meant specifically for tea; it brews at custom temperatures depending on leaf type and the preferred flavor strength. The recommendation for theBreville One-Touchcomes courtesy of a review written a few years ago by contributor David Schwartz — andwhen I checked in with him all this time later, he told me he still enthusiastically endorses it. He’s been a regular tea drinker his whole life, but the ritual changed for the better when he received this as a gift. “What differentiates this from less-expensive alternatives is something that almost all run-of-the-millcoffee makersdo: It brews automatically, at any time of day, without you having to do anything but pour in the tea,” he says. “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 sauce.”

Pour spout:Standard| Temperature settings:Standardized temperature control and hold| Volume:1.7 liters

If the Breville isn’t worth the investment to you, this model comes with a fewpreset temperatures for different types of teas. Shacket thinks the presets, though simple, are solid: 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, too. There’s also a keep warm setting, unlike some of the bigger models that automatically shut off and cool down once they’re done boiling.

Pour spout:Standard| Temperature settings:No temperature control or hold| Volume:1.7 liters

As I mentioned up top, one of the standout features of the Fellow is how nice-looking it is. But if you don’t want to spend that much money, or if you’re in search of a larger size, the Chantal Oslo is aesthetically pleasing, too. Strategist senior writerLiza Corsillobought it because she was drawn to the stylish Scandinavian design, which comes in a range of pretty matte colors and features a light wood handle. 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 has a comfortable grip.