First, here is a list of the eight models we tested in this latest round of finding the best kettle:
Chefman Easy Fill Kettle: This is a fantastic value for less than $30. A pour-through lid allows for quick and easy filling. It does not have a temperature control nor does it keep the water hot after it boils. It was one of the slower kettles and took 6 minutes to come to a boil. If you just want to boil water and don’t need any bells and whistles, this is for you.
Hamilton Beach Cool Touch Kettle: With five preset temperature settings, a cool-touch exterior, a quick boil time, and a reasonable price, this is a good option for tea drinkers. The set temperature can be maintained for up to 30 minutes.
Beautiful one-touch kettle from Drew Barrymore: Our overall winner is great value with a variety of features and it boils water as quickly as any other kettle we tested. There are four preset temperatures, but you can increase or decrease them in five-degree increments. This attractive kettle keeps your water at your chosen temperature for up to 60 minutes and the cool-touch exterior makes it a safer option.
KitchenAid 1.25 liter kettle: For a kettle, this kettle looks unusual as it looks like a regular kettle. It’s compact and cute and comes in numerous color options, making it one of our top picks. You can even combine it with your other KitchenAid appliances, such as a stand mixer. It has a mesh filter to catch limescale deposits for cleaner water, but otherwise doesn’t offer any fancy features.
Bodum Melior gooseneck kettle: At around $40, this is the cheapest gooseneck kettle option I’ve tested. If that’s the only feature you need, the Bodum is an attractive choice because of its price, but it lacks special features and cooks relatively slowly compared to other higher wattage options.
Cosori Electric Gooseneck Kettle: If you’re looking for a budget-friendly gooseneck kettle with five temperature presets for tea and coffee and a 60-minute temperature hold feature, this is your kettle for around $60 to $70. Clearly marked buttons on the base make operation easier.
Stagg EKG kettle: Want to impress your guests with the best pour-over coffee? With a retail price of between $165 and $195 depending on the version, this coffee is a real treat but offers the best qualities for coffee lovers. The Stagg has the gooseneck spout you need for controlled pouring, and you can set exactly the temperature you want and then hold it there for 60 minutes. Furthermore, it is an extremely beautiful addition to any kitchen that you will be proud of.
Aromaster Electric Gooseneck Kettle (Update: out of stock): The gooseneck spout and built-in analog thermometer are the main features of this kettle. A gooseneck spout is a must for pouring coffee, and knowing the exact temperature is important since you don’t need boiling water to brew the coffee. You can’t set or maintain a specific temperature, but at least you can see it with this kettle.
For comparison, here is a more detailed overview of the most important specifications of each model:
Technical data of the kettle
| Chefman Easy Fill Kettle | Hamilton Beach Cool Touch Kettle | Beautiful one-touch kettle from Drew Barrymore | KitchenAid KEK1222 kettle | Aromaster gooseneck electric kettle | Bodum Melior gooseneck kettle | Cosori Electric Gooseneck Kettle | Stagg EKG kettle | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model number | RJ11-17-GM-EF | 41033 | 19135 | KEK1222 | YK-139T | 11883-259US | CO108-NK | EEO1AA1A |
| Color | Matt black, clear | Black | Black, cornflower blue, merlot, oyster gray, sage green, white glaze | Matte Black, Onyx Black, Brushed Stainless Steel, Empire Red, Pistachio | Black | Matt black | stainless steel | Matte Black, Matte White, Polished Steel, Polished Copper, Stone Blue, Warm Pink (multiple wood accents available) |
| capacity | 57.48 ounces. (1.7L) | 57.48 ounces. (1.7L) | 57.48 ounces. (1.7L) | 42.27 ounces. (1.25L) | 27 ounces. (0.8L) | 27 ounces. (0.8L) | 27 ounces. (0.8L) | 30.43 ounces. (0.9L) |
| Dimensions (HxWxD, in inches) | 9.5×6.1×8.3 | 9.5×6.0x8.4 | 10.5×6.4×9.2 | 10.3×7.0x8.9 | 7.1×6.5×11.6 | 6.3×8.3×11.8 | 9.0×7.7×11.6 | 8.0×6.8×11.5 |
| Weight (in pounds, including base) | 2.0 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 2.6 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 2.7 | 2.8 |
| Cool-touch exterior | NO | Yes | Yes | NO | NO | NO | NO | NO |
| Temperature adjustment function | NO | Yes (5 options) | Yes (4 options) | NO | NO | NO | Yes (5 options) | Yes (to the exact extent) |
| Temperature holding function | NO | Yes (automatically lasts for 30 minutes) | Yes (automatically lasts for 60 minutes) | NO | NO | NO | Yes (for 60 minutes) | Yes (for 60 minutes) |
| thermometer | NO | Yes (digital) | Yes (digital) | NO | Yes (analog) | NO | NO | Yes (digital) |
| Wattage | 1,100W | 1,500W | 1,500W | 1,500W | 1,200W | 1,000W | 1,200W | 1,200W |
| Cooking time | 6:00 | 4:12 | 4:10 | 4:13 | 4:59 | 6:42 | 4:34 | 4:34 |
| Selling price | $19 | $45 | $40 | $100 | $60 | $40 | $60 | $165 |
Finally, you will find the test notes from the tests from previous years here.
The Zwilling Enfinigy performed well and we really liked the minimalist design.
The Gemini Enfinigy From an aesthetic perspective alone, the kettle was a favorite from the start and this kettle also performed well in our tests. The workmanship is solid and I chose the minimalist one-button design. At just over 2 pounds, it’s not overly bulky and features a cool-touch exterior to protect fingers. There is also one similar looking, same sized Pro model Now.
Another top selection from recent years is this Oxo Brew adjustable gooseneck kettle. With his Gooseneck spoutIt is a particularly attractive kettle for making coffee or other manual preparation methods where even, controlled pouring is required. It’s still a good choice, but Cosori’s gooseneck kettle offers comparable features and performance but costs a few dollars less.
Now it is Oxo Brew wireless glass kettle was actually the fastest and most durable kettle from our 2021 cooking tests. It features a sleek and sturdy build and will fit well with any kitchen theme, especially if you prefer a kettle with a glass carafe.
The Smarter iKettle: Not currently available in the US, performed well in our testing and I loved the sturdy stainless steel construction. It’s the only app-controlled kettle we tested, which proved to be both a blessing and a curse. Specifically, it boiled the water quickly and completely when controlled via the app. However, when I tried to boil water the old-fashioned way using the button on the side of the kettle, it shut off before it fully boiled. If you’re an app addict, it’s handy that you can see how much water is in your kettle and boil it from your device. Whether it’s worth paying a little more than for a normal kettle is up to you.
The Smeg gets style points and boiled water in no time, but it’s a bit pricey for its performance.
The expensive Smeg kettle was another high-octane kettle with solid construction and a ton of retro charm to boot. My main problem with it is that it felt extremely hot. It’s also terribly expensive, especially considering there are no special features other than just boiling water. If you like the look of it you won’t be disappointed, but it doesn’t offer much value.
The Cuisinart PerfectTemp It also performed well in testing, but its performance doesn’t match its $100 list price (although it’s already on sale for $68). If you are looking for a model from this brand and the PerfectTemp is not on offer, I would only conditionally recommend it Base model for $70which has fewer presets but has a cheaper price. As my (now former) colleague Megan Wollerton reported in her first round of testing for CNET, PerfectTemp has received customer feedback and Amazon reviews stating that the automatic shut-off feature is defective and poses a potential fire hazard. Cuisinart did not respond to a request for comment.
Both Ovente kettles I tested – the $27 kettle Ovente lighting (Update: Sold out) and the $50 (now less than $40) Ovente Victoria series – are cost-effective options that boil water quickly and are easy to use. Neither of the two stood out in the test and seemed a bit cheaply made. Additionally, both lids were unnecessarily detached from the kettle, meaning they could be misplaced. Knowing me, I probably would.
Sensors attached to this four-channel K thermometer SD logger help track water temperature.
