Alexandra Ramirez
Tea Kettle Reviews
Tea Kettles are as important in our homes as coffee makers and coffee grinders are, but they also come in different designs, models, functions and even sizes. There is no one size fit all for any one person. But there are some functions that we all look out when deciding to purchase a tea kettle. We want o know how quickly it heats up, the temperature control, sound notification, auto shut off, how long it keeps the water heated once it’s finished boiling.
Here at reviewdots, we take a look at some of the best tea kettles in functionality and in price. We would take a look at the best electric kettle in the market now – the Breville BKE820XL Variable Temperature Kettle and the cheaper alternative – the Adagio Teas 30 oz. utiliTea Electric Kettle. We would also delve a bit into the best stovetop tea kettles and automatic tea makers in the market; what makes them tick and more valuable than the electric models or the pour-over kettles.
Tea kettles do more than you know
A tea kettle’s job used to be to boil water for tea but today, they do more than that. Tea drinkers and coffee drinkers are more invested in their kettles and coffee makers (link) now than they have ever been due to the kettles ability to do other things than just boil water for tea. Some kettles have evolved for specialized uses such as pour over coffee with long gooseneck spout, electric kettles with different temperature settings and automatic tea makers that can be programmed to brew your tea for you without you being there.
Coffee, oatmeal, hot cocoa, ramen noodles are all examples of great meals that can be created with the help of a fully functional kettle.
Types of Tea kettles
1.) Electric Kettles:
Electric kettles are a crowd’s favorite due to the level of automation involved and options offered. All you need to do is to plug the kettle inside the power socket, switch a button and wait for the water to boil. They bring a certain level of convenience and speed as well as safety. Electric kettles have the ability to shut down the whole system once a certain level of temperature has been reached to avoid boiling the water dry. Some electric kettles whistle to let you know when the water is rolling boil while others have a temperature setting that you can use to select the exact temperature that you want to help you brew certain types of tea. Green tea brews at 150 to 175 degrees while French press coffee tastes best when it’s brewed at 200 degrees. Electric kettles give you these options to brew these certain types of tea easily.
2.) Automated Tea Makers:
Also known as tea machines; these automated tea makers come in two models of operation. On one hand is the tea maker that immerses the tea leaves in hot water once a certain temperature has been reached and another that prompts you to lower or raise the tea leaves through the brew process. Some also come with a timer that allows the machine to brew the perfect cup of tea for you early in the morning when you wake up.
3.) Stovetop Kettles:
If you don’t fancy the automation in the tea machines and don’t like having an electrical outlet nearby, then the stovetop would be perfect kettles for you. They are safe, quick and convenient for use. They are made from different materials such as cast iron (need to wipe dry after every use), to steel, tempered glass etc. Most stovetop kettles can’t shut down completely once the water is boiled as their electric or automated counterparts but they can whistle. Considering the fact that you would be hearing a lot of whistles in the house, it is advisable that you purchase a stovetop kettle with harmonic whistles a bit more pleasant. A cool handle touch is also necessary since other part of the body would be scorching hot when the water is boiled.
4.) Pour over kettles
Kettles are also used for other beverages and meals outside of tea making. They are the pour over kettles. They help to make specialty beverages due to their pour over effect
These report won’t be complete without a buying guide as we understand that knowing how to buy is equally as important as knowing what to buy,
How to Buy a Tea Kettle
There are definitely many factors that need to be considered when you are on the search for a new tea kettle. You could decide on the kind of tea kettle you want to purchase once you know how many people you would be brewing for. A Larger group means you would need a large kettle to reduce the back and forth and save more time heating water. On the other hand, brewing tea for a small set of people means a smaller kettle would do the job well. Having a smaller tea kettle also means faster boil times and better temperature accuracy.
The kind of tea that you are brewing would also have a significant impact on the kind of tea kettle that you would purchase. If you want to brew black tea, you would need the water to boil up to 212 degrees Fahrenheit; a green tea would require lower water temperature. Brewing specialty teas could leave a bitter taste in the mouth. There are tea kettles with preset settings for different kind of teas and even French press especially the electric models.
So before you select any of the kettles here, we would like to show you some of the things that the best kettle should do. We do understand that some of these features might not be important to you but it would be fascinating if you know what some of the tea kettles in the market can do and what you can use them for.
1.) Sound Notification
Electric kettles are known to have indicators that tell you when the water is hot; some models come with a sound notification. Stovetop kettles whistle to let you know when the water has reached boiling point.
2.) Heats Water Quickly
No one likes to sit around to wait for water to boil. The best tea kettle should be able to boil water faster than your microwave oven. Some boil a cup of water as fast as 60 seconds, though more ounces would take more time. The faster and reliable the kettle gets the water hot, the better you are for it.
3.) Temperature settings
Just as we have in coffee makers, the best kettles give you options with the temperature settings to brew for specialty beverages. A rolling boil temperature would give great results for black tea but could lead to an unpleasant taste for green tea. Electric kettles and automatic tea brewers are known for offering this flexibility than the other models.
4.) Automatic shut off
What happens when the water gets to boiling pot and you are not around? For stovetops, it could boil the water dry if it keeps whistling and no one is there to bring the kettle down. For electric kettles and automatic brewers, it stops boiling once it gets to the desired temperature and shuts down automatically thereby reducing the incidence of fire hazard.
5.) Stays cool
Every time water boils in a kettle, you would have to lift the kettle up to pour the water into a cup. If the handle doesn’t have a cool touch, that won’t be possible. The best kettles have a stay cool touch on the handle so you can carry the kettle easily and pour the water into the cup. Some have a cool exterior that doesn’t allow the heat to come close to the exterior which could burn your hands especially when it’s rolling boil.
6.) Sturdy construction
The best kettles come with stout construction around seams and weld points that prevent them from bursting or leaking. Having a sturdy constructed kettle would go a long way in how well you would enjoy the kettle.
7.) Easy to clean
Ideally, you should be able to fit your hands inside the kettle which means you would definitely want to purchase a kettle with a large lid or top openings. The best kettles are easy to use and also easy to clean and maintain
Best Tea Kettle Reviews
1.) Best Electric Kettle
Electric kettles are kettles that use electric power to brew tea at an incredible speed. They are also known for the flexibility of option settings they present the owners with.
Our best pick for this report is the Breville BKE820XL Variable-Temperature Kettle. This is a standout performer and it does everything you want right. It boils water quickly at the needed temperature. It also allows you to set the temperature to suit the level needed for the tea you are brewing. It can hold water at the desired temperature for up to 20 minutes and more.
Breville IQ Electric Kettle, Brushed Stainless Steel, BKE820XL
7 used from $104.96
It comes in a 2-quart capacity so it can serve a small set of people but won’t cut it for a larger family. It features all attractive stainless steel housing. If there was one complaint that we found with current owners, it is the fact that it can boil past the set temperature.
2.) Best Cheap Electric Kettle
While the Breville BKE820XL Variable-Temperature Kettle could offer a lot of users what they want from an electric kettle, we understand that the price could deter a number of people from purchasing it. The Adagio Teas 30 oz. utiliTea Electric Kettle offers something similar to those who want to brew for one to two people. It comes in a 30 ounce container with quick boil times and temperature settings for different types of tea (green and black tea alike).
It has a 360-degree swiveling base and an automatic shut off functionality that shuts the kettle off once the water has boiled. The cool touch handle that it comes with means you don’t have to worry about getting burned when you want to lift the kettle to pour the content into the cup.
Adagio Teas 010026001 utiliTEA Variable-Temperature Electric Kettle, 57 oz, stainless steel, black
$41.66 in stock
3.) Best Stovetop Tea Kettle
When it comes to having a stovetop tea kettle in the house, the advantages are usually enormous. They come in extra wide base and cool touch handles plus most of them can whistle when the water has reached the necessary temperature needed for tea. One of the best stovetop kettle in the market with the most reviews from experts and owners are alike is Mr. Coffee Harpwell Whistling Tea Kettle. This 2-quart kettle is seamless and has a leak free bottom which is extra wide. Its extra wide bottom creates more contact with the burner which makes for faster boiling time. Owners also gave it praise for its “stay-open” trigger on the handle; just by flipping the lever, the lid would “stay open” until it is closed.
Mr. Coffee 74265.02 Harpwell 2 Quart Stainless Steel Whistling Tea Kettle, Silver
$29.99 in stock
4.) Best Automatic Tea Maker
Sometimes, having a tea maker could reduce all the stress you go through while trying to make tea. An automatic tea maker is a bit similar to a coffee maker. You load the reservoir with water and add your coffee ground then it brews coffee. The automatic tea maker works in a similar fashion. One of the best automatic tea makers is the Breville BTM800XL Tea Maker. The Breville automatic tea maker can make tea and can as well be used as an electric kettle to boil water to use to blanch vegetables. It comes in a 1.5 liter tank that automates the tea making process. All you have to do is to load the tea leaves, then select water temperature (rolling boil is for black tea while lower temperature works best for green tea). It is fully automated and can hold temperature for as much as 60 minutes.
Breville Tea Maker, Brushed Stainless Steel, BTM800XL,Silver
6 used from $277.32
5.) Cheap Automatic Tea Maker
The best automatic tea maker in the market is the Breville BTM800XL Tea Maker but there is a cheaper alternative for those who want similar functions found in an automatic tea maker but at a cheaper price. The Cuisinart TEA-100 Tea Steeper and Kettle is the runners up after the best automatic tea maker. It is loved by owners for its simple operation and great looks. It is not fully automated as the Breville BTM800XL but it can work wonders still. The Cuisinart TEA-100 prompts you when the water has gotten to a set temperature so you can lower or raise the steeping basket that contains the tea leaves. It is a 1-liter capacity tea steeper and has 1.2 liters as a water kettle.
6.) Best Pour-Over Kettle
Buying a pour over kettle is mostly about the spout and a little bit about its functions. There is something fascinating about having a kettle with a gooseneck spout that provides easy controlled flow of water that can help make flavored pour over coffee or specialty tea. The Bonavita Variable Temperature Digital Electric Gooseneck Kettle gets our nod as the best pour over kettle for its temperature settings options, premium design and its gooseneck spout. This affordable kettle with a 1-liter capacity, comes with features that are seen in higher end models such as variable temperature control, ability to hold temperature for 60 minutes and a gooseneck spout which experts believe provides an easy to control flow of boiled water for making delicate and flavorful pour over kettle.
Bonavita 1L Digital Variable Temperature Gooseneck Electric Kettle for Coffee Brew and Tea Precise Pour Control, 6 Preset Temps, Café or Home Use, 1000 Watt, Stainless Steel
$110.49 in stock
1 used from $113.99
7.) Cheap Pour-Over Kettle
Another alternative to the Bonavita Variable Temperature Digital Electric Gooseneck Kettle reviewed above is the well-designed Hario V60 Buono Coffee Drip Kettle which comes in a stainless steel design. Most reviewers believe it is light, well balanced and is well suited to be used as a dedicated kettle for its pour-over capabilities. Some of the owners who bought a unit recently said they don’t use it on a stove but prefer to use it as a dedicated kettle. The Hario V60 Buono Coffee Drip Kettle features a cool handle that makes lifting it a breeze without the occasional fear of getting burned.
Hario V60 "Buono" Drip Kettle Stovetop Gooseneck Coffee Kettle 1.2L, Stainless Steel, Silver
$44.50 in stock
Top 10 Best Electric Tea Kettles with Review Videos
Buying an electric kettle for the first time could be a bit confusing. If you have bought one in the past, it is easier to introduce newer models to you because you already know what you are looking for. Electric kettles are more than a jug for boiling water. They do a whole lot of other cool stuffs. Some electric kettles allow you to control the temperature to boil the water; some have a gooseneck spout which is great for beverage drinks like pour-over-coffee. Some of the most affordable models are still plastic kettles due to their simple design and operation. One problem with plastic electric juggles is that they leave an unpleasant taste in the mouth. Higher end kettles come in stainless steel and glass and they are known for durability, functionality and quality.
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Hamilton Beach 40865 Glass Electric Kettle
At the top of our list is the affordable Hamilton Glass Kettle. It comes with a wide opening that makes it easy to pour the contents and to clean. It is cord free with an auto shut off feature when the kettle is done boiling the water or is idle so the water doesn’t dry off. With 1500 watts of power, the Hamilton Beach 40865 Glass Electric Kettle can boil water faster than an average microwave over. It has a compact design and can fit into tight spaces. It comes with an in built mesh filter and one touch one/off switch
Pros:
- Stylish design
- Wide opening
- Base rotates 360 degrees during use
Cons:
- Its plastic components look out of place
- Could leak water if poured too quickly
Hamilton Beach Glass Electric Tea Kettle, 1.7 L, Clear & Beach Personal Blender for Shakes and Smoothies with 14 Oz Travel Cup and Lid, Raspberry (51131)
$51.84 in stock
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Cuisinart CPK-17 PerfecTemp 1.7-Liter Stainless Steel Cordless Electric Kettle
When it comes to having freedom to select heat settings, no kettle does it better than the Cuisinart CPK. It has six settings for green, white, oolong, black tea and even for French press. The buttons are stylishly placed on the kettle handle right after the “start” button. There is a button that opens the lid automatically also. With 1500 watts of power, you would be amazed at the speed that the Cuisinart CPK-17 has in its tanks. The power base is cord free. It has a keep warm feature and a water window to monitor the water level.
Pros:
- Stylish design
- Stay cool handle
- Six heat settings
Cons:
- No ounce markings
- No dedicated “off” button
Electric Kettle by Cuisinart, 1.7-Liter Capacity, Cordless 1500-Watts for Fast Heat Up, Stay Cool Non-Slip Handle, Stainless Steel, CPK-17P1
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Secura SWK-1701DB Stainless Steel Double Wall Electric Water Kettle
The Secura SWK can boil water fast but it won’t scald your hands thanks to its cool touch exterior. It’s made from BPA-free material. It has a stainless steel interior and it offers 1.7 liter capacity which can provide hot water for different people to use in making their tea. It has an all-black double wall construction and it can keep water warm for long hours
Pros:
- Stainless steel construction
- Stay cool exterior
- 1.7-liter capacity
Affordable
Cons:
- One heat setting
Secura SWK-1701DB The Original Stainless Steel Double Wall Electric Water Kettle 1.8 Quart, Black Onyx
$35.49 in stock
33 used from $18.62
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Hamilton Beach 40880 Stainless Steel Electric Kettle
The Hamilton beach 40880 does well for tea, hot chocolate and it heats water up very fast in its user friendly design. It uses 1500 watts of power to heat up water for your tea within seconds. It comes with a 360-degrees rotating cordless base and it is compatible with any standard outlet. The Hamilton Beach 40880 comes with a stay cool handle, drip free spout and an auto shut off function once the water has been boiled
Pros:
- 1500 watts of power
- Cordless base
- Auto shut off functionality
Cons:
- Lid can open anytime and spray water
- Measuring indicator is not well placed.
Hamilton Beach Electric Tea Kettle, Water Boiler & Heater, 1.7 L, Cordless, Auto-Shutoff and Boil-Dry Protection, Stainless Steel (40880)
16 used from $25.84
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Proctor Silex K2070YA Electric Kettle
Affordable Proctor Silex is ideal for small spaces and homes and can be used in private dorms or offices. It doesn’t have a cordless feature but it comes with a detachable cord. It has a boil-dry protection that shuts off the boiler once the water has been heated. It has an easy to flick on button for switching the kettle on and off. You can also see the water level with the help of the dual water windows and it uses 1000 watt heating element for power.
Pros:
- 1000 watt of power
- Detachable cord
- Very affordable
Cons:
- Short power cords
- Lacks temperature settings
Proctor Silex 1 Liter Electric Kettle for Tea and Water with Auto-Shutoff and Boil-Dry Protection, White (K2070PS), 1 L,
7 used from $11.33
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BELLA 1.2L Electric Ceramic Tea Kettle
Stylishly designed with enough power to boil your water with ease. It is quite colorful and it is a very appealing sight in any kitchen. It has a gooseneck spout that controls water as its being poured out. It has a fully detachable base, boil-dry protection and an auto shut off functionality
Pros:
- Gooseneck spout
- 1200 watt heating element
Cons:
- Lid could be tough to remove.
BELLA Electric Ceramic Tea Kettle, Boil Water Quickly and Easily, Detachable Swivel Base & Boil Dry Protection, Carefree Auto Shut Off, 1.2 L, Silver Tile Pattern
7 used from $26.15
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T-fal BF6138 Balanced Living 4-Cup 1750-Watt Electric Kettle
With a 360-degree swivel base and a variable temperature control for accurate brewing, you can’t go wrong with this T-fal BF6138 Balanced Living 4-Cup 1750-Watt Electric Kettle. It has lid locks that prevent its content from spewing out and a water level window that shows you how much water is inside. This electric kettle is also cord free and it has a removable anti-scale filter.
Pros:
- Automatic shut off switch when temperature is met
- Lid locks
- 360-degrees swivel base
- Cool touch handle
Cons:
- No sound notification when heating is done
- Has an initial first time plastic taste
T-fal C76220 Specialty Stainless Steel Dishwasher Safe Whistling Coffee and Tea Kettle, 3-Quart, Silver
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Bonavita BV382510V Electric Kettle
The Bonavita BV382510V Electric Kettle is a special electric kettle that gives you full access and control over the temperature of the water and it features six preset settings for doing this. It has a LED display screen that shows current water temperature. You can set your own temperature from 140-degrees Fahrenheit upwards. It use 1000 watt heating element for power and this boils the water quickly. It is stylish and quite appealing to the eye especially with the gooseneck spout which ensures controlled pouring of its contents for making the perfect beverage
Pros:
- LED display
- Six preset temperature settings
Cons:
- Could take a while to heat up
- No sound notification when desired temperature is reached.
Bonavita 1L Digital Variable Temperature Gooseneck Electric Kettle for Coffee Brew and Tea Precise Pour Control, 6 Preset Temps, Café or Home Use, 1000 Watt, Stainless Steel
$110.49 in stock
1 used from $113.99
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Aroma Housewares Hot H20 X-Press 1.5 Liter (6-Cup) Cordless Electric Water Kettle
With supersonic speed allowing for water to be boiled at desired temperature, the Aroma cordless electric kettle is a top performing kettle for both the home and the office. It boils up to one cup per minute. It is cordless and has a 360-degree swivel base so you can move it from one direction to another. It is housed in a stainless steel construction that gives it a premium look. It features a water indicator, stay cool handle, non-drip spout and a washable spout filter.
Pros:
- Automatically shuts off when boiling temperature is reached
- Stay cool handle
- Premium stainless steel finishing
Cons:
- Could be tough to clean
- Doesn’t always automatically shut off.
Aroma Housewares Electric Water Kettle
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OXO On Cordless Glass Electric Kettle
Made from borosilicate glass, the OXO On Cordless Glass Electric Kettle is a premium choice for users who want a fully functional electric kettle with a stylish appeal. It comes with a rubberized bottom to keep your hands from being burned during transportation from the counter to the table. It has a soft open lid and an automatic shut off function. There is an illuminated LED power switch.
Pros:
- Premium design made from borosilicate glass
- Automatic shut off
- LED power switch
- Stainless steel filter
Cons:
- A bit tall for small countertops
- Lid can’t be detached for cleaning.
OXO Brew Cordless Glass Electric Kettle - 1.75 L
8 used from $65.96
