Electric kettle 4L Large capacity stainless steel kettle, Teapots, Kettles Electric Cordless, Kitchen kettle, Retro kettle

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One said: “How did I live without this? Works great to keep my coffee at the perfect temp - 137F for me. With longer battery life, I’d give it 5 stars. I bought two extra charging pads so that I don’t have to worry about running out of juice while sipping my coffee in my favourite places in my house.” Next up is useability. We test how easy the kettle is to fill, hold and pour, its weight and whether the fill lines are easy to read. If the kettle has any additional features beyond boiling water, we also look at how useful these are. Finally, we take into consideration each kettle’s build quality and design, and whether these reflect its price.

However, is it the first thing I reach for every morning? Not really. There are times it comes in incredibly handy, but how do you know when you make that cup of tea that it will be the one you forget about? Meanwhile, its short battery life means it has to be on the charging pad for most of the day and the skim on the top is a little off-putting when you leave it too long. The Aarke Kettle is an investment, but, just like all Aarke products, it’s beautifully designed. Its seamless stainless steel body will create a stylish focal point on a countertop, and its slim build and small footprint mean it’s a useful addition to a smaller kitchen. Whenever I fancy a cup of tea, I can call out ‘Alexa, turn on the kettle’ and it will start the boil without even having to get up. Further features that make this smart kettle superior are its two-hour keep warm function, dry boil protection, and the fact you can set up routines in the app so your kettle boils at certain times of the day, which can also make it more energy efficient. For me, this is a slightly better investment than the Ember Smart Mug, and a cheaper one, too. Being able to turn the kettle on while I’m mid-task means that when I complete it, the water is ready to pour and my tea ready to drink shortly after. Although the mug keeps my drink at the right temperature, I’ve let far fewer cups of tea go cold since getting the Swan device, and as it keeps the water warm, by the time I want a second cuppa it’s already at optimum drinking temperature straight from the kettle. Fancy something a little different? The Russell Hobbs Illuminating Glass Kettle stands out thanks to its unique physical design, as well as a few clever design elements. In use, the Illuminating Kettle, as its name would suggest, lights up its body and the water inside with a row of pleasant blue LEDs. The kettle is also capacious at 1.7l, has a one-button pop-up lid and bears a clear green marker on its body, which indicates how much water is needed for a single cup, helping you avoid water and energy waste.Another added: “Use this with Alexa routines. I have one where my Echo Flex rings the alarm, switches on my smart bulb, and boils the kettle. When I get downstairs, the water is boiled. For some reason my kettle doesn't beep when boiled, but I prefer that. Instead I just added a command to the routine and Alexa announces "The kettle has boiled".” Most kettles have removable, washable anti-scale water filters that sit at the base of the spout. These collect pieces of limescale from the water to prevent them from being poured into your drink, and they stop scum forming on the surface, making them a must for hard water areas. Our overall best kettle was the De'Longhi Ballerina Kettle, which we rate for its usability and temperature-control functions. The Dualit Architect kettle also wins our approval for its sturdy build and good looks, and the Russell Hobbs Emma Bridgewater Kettle is the quietest kettle we tested. Why do I need a kettle? We’re also big fans of the old-fashioned temperature gauge on the front, which proved both charming and practical. We also like the smooth-acting temperature setting lever on the bottom, which allows you to heat water to between 50°C and 100°C, in 10°C increments, ideal for a variety of drinks. Once set in action, the kettle emits a soft white light and a calming low beep – it might sound silly, but the Artisan gives boiling water a truly luxurious feel thanks to deft design touches like these. There are finer details to think about too, which can make a real difference when you’re using your kettle day in, day out:

Out of the nearly 20 kettles she tested in one day (there was a lot of tea), these were the 10 that made the final cut. Her favourite was the KitchenAid Temperature Control Kettle, which has the sleekest look and features out there. FAQs When's the best time to buy a kettle?

How we tested

All of the touch points are also well executed, from the comfortable handle that stays cool to the touch to the soft open lid and non-drip spout. It also comes with a polishing cloth included to buff away any fingerprints its stainless steel body might collect.This kettle also offers the ability to heat water to five different temperatures – 40, 75, 85, 95 and 100°C – which is great if you’re a coffee or herbal tea aficionado who knows the exact best degree centigrade for your brew. Matching its appearance, the Kenwood’s test results were equally calm, with a peak loudness measurement of just 53.3dB. Its 3,000W heating element also didn’t disappoint, recording a time of 2 mins 20 secs in our one litre boil speed test. What’s more, its peak exterior temperature in use was just 54.6°C, which sits firmly in the warm-but-safe range, meaning no burnt fingers. Other benefits of the Dusk include its 1.7l capacity and wide, smooth-pouring spout.

One very basic thing to look out for is how a kettle is filled: a button-operated flip-top lid is worth having as it means you don’t need to put your hand anywhere near the spout (or any steam coming out of it) when you’re refilling it. One notable downside of the Dualit Lite is that it doesn’t do its business super quietly. We recorded how loud each kettle was at boiling water and the Dualit Lite notched up 58.3dB, the second loudest score. Noisiness aside, it did perform well in our tests, including heat retention. There’s no need to rush to pour the water out with this one either. Five minutes after boiling, the water in the Dualit Lite still measured a toasty 93°C, coming second only to the Zwilling Enfinigy Pro.

Looking for the perfect kettle? Our guide covers everything from style icons to variable temperature models

The Ember Smart Mug takes a relatively minimalistic and non-showy approach, with a simple design and one LED light to indicate its battery life, charging status and whether your cup has reached its optimum temperature. Its setup was simple, connecting to an app where you can customise your optimum drinking temperature, save presets and get notifications about your drink’s status and mug’s battery levels. A power element of 3kW is generally considered best for fast boiling and all of our top-scoring kettles have this wattage.