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An electric kettle is one of the few appliances I keep out on my counter. I use it almost daily for hot or iced tea, depending on the season. (My current model, and our best overall pick, the Stagg EKG Pro Electric Kettle, allows me to brew to exact temperatures for each.) My needs, however, might be different from your own. If you’re a pourover coffee diehard, a gooseneck is nonnegotiable (more on that below). If you prefer French press, the type of spout matters less. Beyond coffee and tea, maybe you just love instant noodles and want a reliable boil when you’re hungry for dinner. Or maybe your stove takes ages to heat up so you want a vessel that can boil a lot of water quickly to decant into a pot.
To find the very best electric kettles on the market, I tested several styles out myself and talked to more than a dozen experts about their own favorites. I consulted a well-rounded group of people: coffee and tea professionals who are obsessive about temperature control and flow rate, along with regular cooks and other Strategist staffers with strong opinions on how they like their hot beverages. Read on to find the right kettle for you. And if you’re looking for other tools to make your morning coffee or tea, I’ve rounded up the best grinders, milk frothers, and coffee makers, too.
Update on November 15, 2024: Updated prices and checked stock for all products.
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 electric kettle overall
Pour spout: Gooseneck | Temperature settings: Precise temperature control and hold | Volume: 0.9 liters
The Fellow Stagg EKG Pro is the kettle I’ve been using for the past couple of years. First thing’s first: I know it’s on the pricey side, and more expensive than most on this list. But I consider it well worth the investment — a perfect marriage of form, function, and durability that makes it truly best in class.
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.
I also love the gooseneck spout. That’s a feature found in multiple models on this list, but 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 is still useful: I never splash or overflow when I’m pouring and I have maximum control if I ever need just a splash 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 of Black & 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.
If you’re interested in the Pro but can’t spend $195, Fellow still sells their original Stagg EKG model for $30 less. It doesn’t feature the pre-programmed settings (and is lacking a few other perks like the ability to change altitude and language, and a chime sound to indicate it’s finished heating). But otherwise, it shares the look, feel, and functionalities of the updated version. Indeed, it’s the one that many professionals — tea writer Sara Shacket, Jerad Morrison, co-founder and co-CEO of Sightglass Coffee in San Francisco, and Marco Suarez, one of the owners of Methodical Coffee in Greenville, South Carolina, among others — have been recommending to us since it originally came out six years ago (there’s a reason it’s one of only a few items that has survived countless updates to our gift guides for coffee lovers and tea lovers).
Best less expensive electric kettle
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 bad looking — 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 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,” he says.
Best simple gooseneck electric kettle
Pour spout: Gooseneck | Temperature settings: No temperature control or hold | Volume: 0.6 liters
While the Balmuda (maker of our very favorite steam toaster oven) comes in at a similar price point to the Stagg EKG, it might be a better choice for those who don’t need or want a high-tech option. I think it’s similarly pleasing to look at but only has a simple on/off switch. The water also heats up very quickly, in about two minutes, both because it doesn’t need to hone in on an exact degree like the Stagg EKG or the Bonavita and because it’s a bit smaller overall. Still, when full, it makes plenty of hot water for a couple of mugs of tea at a time. The speed also means I can simply reheat as needed without worrying about exact temperature hold. The spout pours gently and evenly, it’s 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 is 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 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’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 think it’s quite attractive.
Best large temperature-controlled electric kettle
Pour spout: Standard | Temperature settings: Precise temperature control and hold | Volume: 1.8 liters
For my own daily purposes, using a smaller gooseneck kettle makes the most sense. But for a larger vessel, I tested this OXO — and really love it. It’s 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).
The kettle is also the only larger model on this list that allows for precise temperature control. This means you can use 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.
Best large simple electric kettle
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 editor Sam Daly bought this same model about eight months 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 a pot on 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.
Best large electric kettle for tea
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 the Breville One-Touch comes courtesy of a review written a few years ago by contributor David Schwartz — and when 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-mill coffee makers do: 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.”
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, this model comes with a few preset 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.
Most stylish large electric kettle
Pour spout: Standard | Temperature settings: No temperature control or hold | Volume: 1.9 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 writer Liza Corsillo bought 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.
Some more kettles we’ve written about
Our experts
• Liza Corsillo, Strategist senior writer
• Sam Daly, Strategist deals editor
• James McCarthy, coffee educator at Driftaway Coffee
• Suyog Mody, founder of Driftaway Coffee
• Jerad Morisson, co-founder and co-CEO of Sightglass Coffee
• Ken Nye, owner of Ninth Street Espresso
• 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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