To start, here’s a list of the eight models we tested in this latest round to find the best electric kettle:
Chefman Easy Fill Electric Kettle: This is a fantastic value at around $34. A pour-through lid makes it quick and easy to fill. It doesn’t have temperature control, nor does it keep the water hot after it reaches a boil. It was one of the slower kettles, taking 6 minutes to reach a boil. If you just want to boil water and don’t need any bells and whistles, this is the one for you.
Hamilton Beach Cool Touch Kettle: With five preset temperature settings, a cool-touch exterior, fast boil time and a reasonable price, this is a nice option for tea drinkers. It can hold your set temperature for up to 30 minutes.
Beautiful by Drew Barrymore One-Touch Kettle: Our overall winner is a great value with a host of features, and it brought water to a boil as fast as any electric kettle we’ve tested. It has four preset temperatures, but you can dial them up or down in five-degree increments. This attractive kettle will keep 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 Electric Kettle: This has an unusual look for an electric kettle in that it looks like a traditional one. It’s compact and cute and comes in a bunch of color options, making it one of our top picks. You might even match it to your other KitchenAid appliances, such as a stand mixer. It includes a mesh filter to trap scale for cleaner water but otherwise doesn’t offer any fancy features.
Aromaster Electric Gooseneck Kettle (out of stock): The gooseneck spout and built-in analog thermometer are the star features of this kettle. A gooseneck spout is a must for pour-over coffee, and knowing the exact temperature is important since you don’t want water at a full boil for brewing coffee. You can’t set or hold a certain temperature, but at least you can see it on this kettle.
Bodum Melior Gooseneck Electric Kettle: At around $40, this is the cheapest gooseneck kettle option I tested. If that’s the only feature you need, the price point makes the Bodum an attractive pick, but it lacks distinguishing features and is relatively slow to boil compared to other, higher-wattage options.
Cosori Electric Gooseneck Kettle: If you want a reasonably priced gooseneck kettle with five temperature presets for tea and coffee, plus a 60-minute temperature hold, this is your kettle for around $70. Clearly marked buttons on the base make it simple to use.
Stagg EKG Electric Kettle: Looking to impress your guests with the best pour-over coffee? With a retail price ranging between $165 and $195 depending on the finish, this one’s a splurge, but it has the best features for coffee aficionados. The Stagg has the gooseneck spout you want for a controlled pour, and you’ll be able to dial up the exact temperature you desire and then hold it there for 60 minutes. Plus, it’s a downright gorgeous addition to any kitchen, something you’ll be proud to display.
For comparison, here’s a more detailed overview of each model’s key specs:
Electric kettle specs
| Chefman Easy Fill Electric Kettle | Hamilton Beach Cool Touch Kettle | Beautiful by Drew Barrymore One-Touch Kettle | KitchenAid KEK1222 Electric Kettle | Aromaster Electric Gooseneck Kettle | Bodum Melior Gooseneck Electric Kettle | Cosori Electric Gooseneck Kettle | Stagg EKG Electric Kettle | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model number | RJ11-17-GM-EF | 41033 | 19135 | KEK1222 | YK-139T | 11883-259US | CO108-NK | EEO1AA1A |
| Color | Matte Black, Clear | Black | Black, Cornflower Blue, Merlot, Oyster Grey, Sage Green, White Icing | Black Matte, Onyx Black, Brushed Stainless Steel, Empire Red, Pistachio | Black | Matte Black | Stainless Steel | Matte Black, Matte White, Polished Steel, Polished Copper, Stone Blue, Warm Pink (multiple wood accents available) |
| Capacity | 57.48 oz. (1.7 L) | 57.48 oz. (1.7 L) | 57.48 oz. (1.7 L) | 42.27 oz. (1.25 L) | 27 oz. (0.8 L) | 27 oz. (0.8 L) | 27 oz. (0.8 L) | 30.43 oz. (0.9 L) |
| Dimensions (HxWxD, in inches) | 9.5 x 6.1 x 8.3 | 9.5 x 6.0 x 8.4 | 10.5 x 6.4 x 9.2 | 10.3 x 7.0 x 8.9 | 7.1 x 6.5 x 11.6 | 6.3 x 8.3 x 11.8 | 9.0 x 7.7 x 11.6 | 8.0 x 6.8 x 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 |
| Set temperature feature | No | Yes (5 options) | Yes (4 options) | No | No | No | Yes (5 options) | Yes (to the exact degree) |
| Hold temperature feature | No | Yes (automatically holds for 30 minutes) | Yes (automatically holds 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 |
| Boil time | 6:00 | 4:12 | 4:10 | 4:13 | 4:59 | 6:42 | 4:34 | 4:34 |
| Retail price | $28 | $45 | $40 | $100 | $60 | $40 | $100 | $165 |
Finally, here are the testing notes from previous years’ tests.
The Zwilling Enfinigy performed well, and we loved the minimalist design.
The Zwilling Enfinigy was a favorite right out of the box purely from an aesthetic perspective, and this kettle performed at a high level during our tests, too. The build is solid, and I dug the minimalist one-button design. At just over 2 pounds, it isn’t overly bulky, and it has a cool-touch exterior for finger safety. There’s also a similar-looking, equally-sized Pro model now.
Another top pick from previous years is the Oxo Brew Adjustable Gooseneck Kettle. With its gooseneck spout, it’s a particularly appealing kettle for pour-over or other manual coffee-making setups that require a steady, controlled pour. It’s still a great pick, but Cosori’s gooseneck kettle offers comparable features and performance while costing a few bucks less.
Meanwhile, the Oxo Brew Cordless Glass Kettle was actually the fastest and most consistent kettle from our 2021 boil tests. It features a sleek and sturdy build and would fit nicely with any kitchen motif, especially if you’d prefer an electric kettle with a glass carafe.
The Smarter iKettle: Currently unavailable in the US, this performed well in our tests, and I loved the sturdy, stainless steel build. It’s the only app-controlled kettle we’ve tested, which proved both a blessing and a curse. Specifically, it boiled water quickly and completely when controlled through the app, but it shut off before coming to a complete boil when I tried to boil water the old-fashioned way, using the button on the side of the kettle. If you’re app-addicted, it is convenient to be able to see how much water is in your kettle and to start it boiling remotely from your device. Whether or not that’s worth paying a little more than you would for a standard electric kettle is up to you.
The Smeg gets style points and boiled water in a jiff, but it’s a little pricey for what it does.
The pricey Smeg Electric Kettle was another high-octane kettle with a solid build and a ton of retro charm to boot. My main beef with it is that it got extremely hot to the touch. It’s also awfully expensive, especially considering there are no special features other than simply boiling water. If you like the look, you won’t be disappointed, but it doesn’t offer much value.
The Cuisinart PerfectTemp also did well in testing but its performance is not commensurate with the $100 list price (though it can be found on sale for as low as $81). If you’re looking to snag one from that brand and the PerfectTemp isn’t on sale, I’d recommend this slightly basic model for $70, which has fewer presets but a more reasonable price. As my (now former) colleague Megan Wollerton reported in her initial round of testing for CNET, PerfectTemp has received customer feedback and Amazon reviews stating that its auto shut-off feature is defective and poses a potential fire hazard. Cuisinart did not respond to a request for comment.
Both of the Ovente electric kettles I tested — the $26 Ovente Illumination and the $50 Ovente Victoria Series — are affordable options that boil water quickly and are easy to use. Neither one stood out in testing, and they felt a bit cheaply made. Also, both had lids that were unnecessarily detached from the kettle, which means you could misplace them. Knowing me, I probably would.
Sensors attached to this four-channel K thermometer SD logger help track water temperature.
Source: CNET
