Why you should trust us

We talked to a number of experts about what they look for in a kettle, including Tony Gebely of World of Tea; Michelle Rabin, founder of T Ching; Peter F. Goggi, president of the Tea Association of the U.S.A.; and famed tea expert Bruce Richardson. We also looked at highly rated models on Amazon as well as reviews from Cook's Illustrated (subscription required), Good Housekeeping, and Wired.

Michael Sullivan, who contributed to our 2016 and 2017 updates, has spent dozens of hours testing electric kettles in the Wirecutter test kitchen. This guide builds on work by Wirecutter staffers Winnie Yang and Tim Barribeau.

Who should get an electric kettle

A variable-temperature kettle can heat water to the correct warmth for making delicious coffee or tea at home. Getting a variable-temperature kettle is the key to immediately improving your caffeinated-drink game, whether you're a tea collector or a scale-grinder-dripper coffee nerd. If you're not a coffee or tea aficionado, you may just want a no-frills basic model that only boils water. In either case, an electric kettle also works for people who hate the alarming sound of whistling kettles and want a fast, more automatic path to their morning cup of caffeine.

If the entirely plastic electric kettle you already own imparts an unpleasant taste or smell to the heated water, you may want to switch to stainless steel or glass. While these models still contain some small plastic components, they generally don't have as many issues when it comes to producing a plastic taste or smell. To avoid plastic entirely, we'd recommend investing in an old-fashioned all-metal stovetop kettle.

How we picked and tested

In preparing tea, most people just put a kettle on to boil and then pour the resulting hot water over the tea bag, regardless of type or temperature. But the different varieties of tea are meant to be brewed at specific temperatures. While exact temperatures are up for debate and come down to personal preference (see Wirecutter's suggested water temperatures for teas and coffee below), the general rule is that more delicate leaves require cooler water. So green tea, for example, should steep at a temperature markedly lower than the rolling boil that black tea requires.

A great electric kettle should have a wide variety of temperature settings to accommodate different types of beverages. Illustration: Elizabeth Brown

Coffee aficionados also pay attention to temperatures. The AeroPress system, for instance, suggests using water that is considerably cooler than freshly boiled: 175 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit. Some dripper owners use 195 °F water while others suggest 205 °F, and both of those temperatures fall under the full-boil temp of 212 °F, too. A great electric kettle should have a wide variety of temperature settings to accommodate different types of beverages. Reasonable accuracy at hitting those temperatures is also important, because there's no point in aiming for 200 °F and hitting 212 °F instead. That said, we realize that not everyone is a coffee or tea aficionado, so we also looked at kettles that do not have variable temperature settings and simply boil water.

Speed is critical—you don't want to wait forever for your water to come to temperature. An electric kettle should also be easy to use, have a handle that doesn't get too hot, and feature automatic shutoff so you don't have to worry about forgetting to turn it off. A large mouth for easy cleaning is another plus, but these days the vast majority of electric kettles conceal the heating element, so you no longer have to contend with scale-covered electrical pieces that never get totally clean.

For 2017, we tested a new round of electric kettles for speed, accuracy, and ease of use. Photo: Michael Hession

Aside from technical features, we looked for models that came with decent warranties. Our research has shown (and customer reviews have indicated) that electric kettles have a high failure rate across the board. Boiling water is very hard on appliances, especially those with finicky moving parts or complex settings. Even high-quality kettles have a somewhat short lifespan, so finding a model with a solid warranty is key.

We tested the accuracy of the variable-temperature kettles using a Thermapen thermometer. Photo: Michael Hession

All of the kettles we tested for our 2017 update were metal or glass. Some people, including our experts, complain about plastic kettles imparting a funny taste or smell to the water. To minimize the possibility of unpleasant flavors in the water, we didn't test any models made entirely of plastic. All of the models we did test, however, contained some minor plastic elements, such as parts of the lid, a filter, or the water-level window. All of the manufacturers of our picks assured us that the plastic components in their kettles were made from heat-resistant plastics; this means they're less likely to leach by-products into your water at high temperatures, even after repeated boilings over prolonged use. Though glass kettles are less likely to impart off flavors to the water, they are more prone to breakage if dropped. In our experience testing kettles, we've found stainless steel models are more durable.

In our tests, we timed how long each kettle took to boil 1 liter of water. Photo: Michael Hession

We tested each variable-temperature kettle by measuring how long it took to bring a liter of water to a boil and by measuring how accurate the internal thermometer was for non-boiling temperatures. We tested the internal thermometers by heating the water to one of the specific temperature settings (below boiling) and measuring it with a Thermapen thermometer, performing this test multiple times for the various temperatures available on each kettle (with ample time for cooldown in between sessions). For the simple electric kettles we tested, we just measured the time to boil. Some models in the test group had a warming feature that could hold set temperatures, so we checked their accuracy after letting them rest for an extended period of time. We also tested automatic shutoff features and took note of any excessive or annoying beeps. Additionally, we tasted the water from each model after boiling to see if it had any off flavors caused by plastic components.

We tested the automatic shutoff features for each kettle and took note of any excessive or annoying beeps. Photo: Michael Hession

Our pick: Cuisinart CPK-17

The Cuisinart CPK-17 remains our top pick for the fifth year in a row. Photo: Michael Hession

Our top pick for the fifth year in a row is the Cuisinart CPK-17 PerfecTemp Cordless Electric Kettle, thanks to its ease of use, speed, and accuracy. It has an intuitive interface with a keep-warm option that conveniently holds water at a set temperature. The wide handle is comfortable to hold, and the spout doesn't cause water to dribble when pouring. Unlike many of the kettles we tested, it has a simple streamlined design, so it won't be an eyesore if you store it on your kitchen counter.

Compared with all the other variable-temperature models we tested, the Cuisinart CPK-17 was the simplest to operate. It offers six preset temperature settings as buttons on the handle (labeled as 160°, 175°, 185°, 190°, 200°, and Boil), along with a Start button and a Keep Warm button. You add the water, select the temperature you want, hit Start, and wait for the kettle to beep when it's done. It then kicks into an automated keep-warm cycle, where it maintains the temperature for up to 30 minutes in case you can't quite make it to the kitchen in time. In our tests the push button on the handle made for easy one-handed lid opening, and the water poured in an even stream without dripping.

The wide spout on the Cuisinart CPK-17 poured water in an even stream without dribbling. Photo: Michael Hession

Aside from its straightforward, easy-to-use design, our testers found the Cuisinart had an extremely consistent boil time. On average, it brought 1 liter of water to a boil in around four minutes. While the CPK-17 wasn't the fastest of the kettles we tested, it was speedier than most. Additionally, the Cuisinart proved to be impressively accurate in our tests: After it held a set temperature of 185 °F for 30 minutes, the water measured just 2 degrees over.

The Cuisinart CPK-17 also has all the other features we look for in an electric model, including a removable scale filter for easier cleaning, a concealed heating element that won't get gunked up by mineral deposits, and a 360-degree swivel base so you can grab it from any angle. Its lid is large enough for you to get inside easily for cleaning (just avoid splashing water on the control buttons located on the handle). And while all of these features are fairly standard, the Cuisinart CPK-17 is the only model we tested that offers them all while managing to avoid the glaring flaws that plague its competition.

Our top pick has six preset temperature settings as buttons on the handle (160°, 175°, 185°, 190°, 200°, and Boil), plus a Start button and a Keep Warm button. Photo: Michael Hession

In contrast to the annoying, excessive beeps that were one of the drawbacks of the KitchenAid KEK1722SX kettle (our former runner-up two years ago), the Cuisinart CPK-17 beeps only once when you press a button on the control panel, or several times when it reaches a temperature setting. Our testers liked that temperature alert—it means you don't have to hover over the kettle in eager anticipation. Be mindful, however, that a raucous beeping will occur if the kettle is on and you return it to the base empty. This is the "boil-dry protection" warning, intended to prevent damage to the kettle; just remember to shut it off if it's empty. Since the water-level window allows you to see when it's getting low, we found it easy to avoid this situation.

One feature the Cuisinart CPK-17 has that makes it stand out is a limited three-year warranty, which is substantially better than what you get with all the other models we tested in this price range (most come with only one year of coverage). Given that constantly boiling water can be rough on a gadget, having triple the warranty coverage of the rest of the pack is impressive. For more warranty information or replacements, contact Cuisinart.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Although the Cuisinart CPK-17 had better accuracy than most of the other kettles we tested (which measured more than 10 degrees off their temperature settings in some cases), we found it wasn't as accurate at hitting lower temperatures, measuring 8 degrees over when we set it to 160 °F. On temperatures of 175 °F and up, it measured only 3 to 4 degrees off, which is pretty accurate. Since this model has a slew of other noteworthy features and has been consistently reliable over four years of long-term testing, we're willing to forgive its minor temperature variances at the lowest setting.

We have received recent feedback from some of our readers and have seen other reports of this Cuisinart model breaking down after about a year. Some Amazon customers have reported rusting screws on the interior within a couple of weeks, but this problem is rare and should be covered under warranty. We've also heard complaints that the lids on some Cuisinart CPK-17 units have broken off at the hinge. We haven't experienced these issues ourselves; several people on our staff have owned and used this kettle for years and haven't encountered any problems with it. Most say it has been a workhorse. One of our staffers has used it every day, sometimes up to four or five times a day over the past year, and they reported that it has never broken "or acted up." We will certainly keep an eye on the owner reviews for the CPK-17 to see if a quality-control problem has cropped up, but we continue to stand by our pick.

Runner-up: Bonavita BV382510V

The 1-liter Bonavita BV382510V is great for preparing pour-over coffee or heating water to precise temperatures for making tea. Photo: Michael Hession

We think the stainless steel Bonavita BV382510V 1.0L Digital Variable Temperature Gooseneck Kettle (a design also available in a larger, 1.7-liter version) represents an excellent compromise between a traditional tea kettle and one better suited for making pour-over coffee (see our guide to the best pour-over coffee gear for more). Although this model wasn't the fastest kettle to bring water to a boil, the Bonavita had the most accurate temperature controls among all the models we tested. The long, gooseneck spout provides superior pouring technique, and the interface is easy to use. We also like the looks of this kettle; it's handsome enough for you to keep it on your kitchen counter.

The Bonavita 1-liter kettle had the most accurate internal thermometer of the models we tested. Photo: Michael Hession

Of all the models we tested, the Bonavita BV382510V had the most precise temperature control, impressively measuring just 1 degree off regardless of the temperature setting. It gives you the freedom to set it in 1-degree increments from 140 °F to 212 °F on an easy-to-read digital display. This model also tracks the water's temperature accurately as it rises or lowers, so you always know how hot it is. A Bonavita representative we spoke with said this model's impeccable accuracy was one of the reasons why it's so popular among baristas.

We loved the Bonavita's long, gooseneck spout for precision pouring. Photo: Michael Hession

Our testers also praised it for its long neck, which provided excellent pouring technique for pour-over coffee or a single cup of tea. And while the spout wasn't very handy for pouring into a teapot, we think that isn't an issue since this model is attractive enough for you to serve directly from the kettle.

It has some minor drawbacks, however. This model took about two and a half minutes longer to boil than our top pick, and it doesn't provide a water-level window for you to see when it's getting low. Unlike our top pick, it lacks a boil setting, so you have to manually enter 212 °F using the plus button. Also, the lid doesn't have a push button and needs to be removed, as on a traditional stovetop kettle. But despite those minor flaws, after over two years of using the Bonavita BV382510V daily, we haven't experienced any issues, and we think it's the best for anyone who will use it for both tea and pour-over coffee.

The Bonavita kettle comes with a one-year warranty, which is skimpy next to the three-year warranty of our top pick. Members of the Wirecutter staff, however, have owned this kettle for over four years and say it's still working like new. You should contact Bonavita if you encounter problems or need a replacement.

Budget pick: Hamilton Beach 40880

The Hamilton Beach 40880 offers fast and consistent boiling times at a bargain price. Photo: Michael Hession

We recommend the Hamilton Beach 40880 Stainless Steel 1.7 Liter Electric Kettle for anyone who wants an affordably priced basic model that quickly brings water to a boil. This kettle lacks the bells and whistles of our other picks—it doesn't have preset temperature controls, or a keep-warm setting—but it does have all the other features we look for in a decent kettle. Most important, perhaps, its handle is easy to hold, and the spout doesn't cause water to drip when pouring.

Our testers were impressed with the speed of this kettle, which was on a par with our main pick in boiling time (about four minutes). This Hamilton Beach model is very simple to operate: You flick the tab up on the base of the handle, and the kettle begins heating the water. The red light illuminates on the base once the boiling cycle begins, so you always know that it's on. Once the water reaches a rolling boil, the kettle automatically shuts off, so you don't have to worry about turning it off manually.

To begin boiling water on the Hamilton Beach kettle, you flick the tab up on the base of the handle. Photo: Michael Hession

In our tests, the spout on the Hamilton Beach 40880 didn't dribble water when pouring, and the wide handle was comfortable to hold. Unlike some models in our test group that require you to open the lid manually, such as the Hamilton Beach 40865 1.7 Liter Glass Electric Kettle, the 40880 conveniently opens with a push of a button located at the top of the handle. This model also boasts two water-level windows, a design that allows you to see how full the kettle is regardless of which way you place it on the base.

The main drawback to the Hamilton Beach 40880 (left) is the lid's plastic hinges, which aren't as durable as the metal on our top pick, the Cuisinart CPK-17 (right). Photo: Michael Hession

The plastic hinges on the Hamilton Beach 40880's lid are its only significant drawback. Other models, such as our top pick, the Cuisinart CPK-17, have metal hinges that seem more durable. Our testers liked that this model doesn't beep, unlike our previous budget pick, the Chefman RJ11-17-GP, which was plagued by excessive beeping.

The Hamilton Beach 40880 is covered by a one-year warranty. For replacements or other issues, contact Hamilton Beach.

Care and maintenance

To minimize the amount of deposit buildup in your kettle, always empty it after you use it. You'll still need to decalcify your kettle from time to time, though the frequency depends on the hardness of your water. Check the manual for the manufacturer's specific instructions on descaling; otherwise, you can fill the kettle with 1 cup of white vinegar and 3 cups of water, heat it to a boil, turn it off, and allow it to stand overnight. Alternatively, half a teaspoon of cream of tartar with half a kettle of water should also work. After emptying the kettle, refill it with water only, bring it to a boil, and drain; repeat twice more.

Some kettles come with a mesh filter for trapping calcium deposits, which you will need to clean periodically—more often if you have hard water. Follow the instructions in the manual for removing the filter, and clean it with a cloth or brush under hot water. For hard-to-remove calcium deposits, let the filter stand overnight in a solution of one part water to three parts white vinegar; rinse thoroughly before returning it to the kettle.

The competition

The Chefman RJ11-17-GP Precision Electric Kettle was a previous budget pick, but during long-term testing we found its beeping very annoying. This model has also gone up in price since we originally published the guide.

Although the OXO On Adjustable Temperature Electric Kettle was very accurate in our tests, it had trouble staying closed; as water came to a boil, the lid frequently popped open. A different OXO model, the OXO On Cordless Glass Electric Kettle, is far too expensive for a basic kettle that lacks variable-temperature controls.

The Tribest Glass Raw Tea Kettle GKD-450-B lacks a push button on the handle. Its blue light constantly turns on and off until it reaches the desired temperature, something we found annoying.

We didn't like the lid on the Hamilton Beach 40865 1.7 Liter Glass Electric Kettle, which you have to open manually by squeezing two release buttons. The lid also doesn't stay propped open, so filling this kettle with water was more difficult in our tests.

The 10-cup Hamilton Beach 40870 Stainless Steel Electric Kettle is an older version of the Hamilton Beach 40880 budget pick we currently recommend, so we opted not to test it.

The KitchenAid KEK1722SX Electric Kettle was a runner-up pick previously, but after long-term testing we found its excessive beeping beyond irritating. Also, the kettle always defaults to Celsius; for Fahrenheit temperatures, you have to change the settings every time you use it. And in February 2018, several KitchenAid electric kettles were recalled, including the KEK1722SX, due to burn hazards.

We were disappointed to see the steep price of the Breville BKE820XL IQ Kettle, as it doesn't have any features to differentiate it from the Cuisinart CPK-17 and make it worth the extra cash. We also looked at the glass Breville IQ Kettle Pure, but we preferred the stainless steel model.

In our tests the Chef'sChoice SmartKettle 688 was very precise, but it was incredibly slow at bringing water to a boil. Its customer ratings have also dropped on Amazon due to various malfunctions.

The Chef'sChoice Cordless Electric Kettle 681, a previous budget pick, had one of the fastest boiling times of all the models we tested, but Amazon reviews for this model have dipped considerably due to leaks or auto-off function failures.

The Secura 1.8 Quart Stainless Steel Cordless Electric Kettle did very well in our tests and is currently around the same price as our budget pick, but it lacks a water-level window. According to a Secura representative, the small hole on the interior allows steam to reach the bottom interior of the unit, where the temperature control is located. We found, however, that cleaning in between the walls of the kettle would be impossible, so we dismissed this model.

In our tests, the 1.7-liter Capresso H20 Steel Plus heated water nearly 10 degrees over the preset temperature, but the biggest problem was that the water had a slight plastic taste and smell after boiling.

The Chef'sChoice Cordless Electric Glass Kettle 679 is too expensive for a basic boiler. We dismissed this model, since you can find a slew of other kettles in this range that offer more features at a lower price. We also looked at the Chef'sChoice 691/692, but that version is also a bit pricey for a basic kettle.

The Melitta 40994 1.7 Liter Kettle ranked among the top selling kettles and had decent reviews on Amazon at the time we checked. While we like the damped lid, this model is a bit too expensive for a basic kettle.

Although the Melitta 1.7-Liter Cordless Kettle has a temperature control knob, it doesn't indicate specific temperatures. (The labeling is by tea type: "oolong" and so on.) We found this design frustrating, especially when trying to heat the water to a specific temperature for pour-over coffee. This model also has availability issues on Amazon.

In our tests, the Hamilton Beach 40996 Programmable 1.7 Liter Kettle was inaccurate. It was also slow to bring water to a boil, and we found the controls unintuitive.

At the time we checked, the Bonavita BV382517V 1.7 Liter Variable Temperature Kettle had notably poor reviews on Amazon, apparently at least in part due to the handle overheating. We also came across a Pino digital kettle that Cook's Illustrated liked, but the Amazon reviews were poor at the time, and it didn't seem to be widely available.

On the super-cheap end, the Ovente KS96S Stainless Steel Cordless Electric Kettle looks like a promising on/off-style kettle, and it has pretty good ratings on Amazon, but many reviews complain that it is slow to heat up.

The Ovente KG83 1.5 L Glass Electric Kettle has a fairly good rating on Amazon, but we dismissed it since a lot of reviews claim that the plastic warps after several uses.

While the Ovente KS88S Temperature Control Stainless Steel Cordless Electric Kettle has a few promising features, its LED light—which changes colors to indicate various temperatures—is gimmicky. Additionally, many customer reviews complain that it beeps loudly.

The Adagio Teas varieTEA Variable Temperature Electric Kettle is expensive and has a low rating on Amazon.

The Adagio Teas utiliTEA Variable Temperature Electric Kettle has only a 0.9-liter capacity. On top of that, in testing we weren't fans of its heat control, which lacked temperature markers.

The temperature-controlled Firebox iKettle connects via Wi-Fi to your smartphone, a feature we find unnecessary. This model is also exorbitantly priced.

Reviews on Amazon reveal that the Aroma Hot H20 X-Press Cordless Electric Water Kettle has problems with rust, shutoff malfunctions, and water leakage.

The Hario EVKB-80U-HSV V60 Power Kettle Buono has an appealing design but doesn't offer anything more than the less expensive Bonavita gooseneck model. The Hario also lacks variable-temperature controls.

The Sharper Image kettle we considered has no variable-temperature control and is too pricey for a basic kettle. Our current top pick has a slew of other features and is much less expensive. In our tests the Sharper Image kettle also took a long time to bring water to a boil, longer than some of our other picks.

Two glass models, the Salton GK1429 Kettle & Tea Steeper and the SMAL WK-0816, have temperature readings only in Celsius, which isn't practical for most American households.

The Epica 1.75 Quart Cordless Electric Stainless Steel Kettle seems like a good contender and has a decent rating on Amazon currently, but some customer reviews say it smells of burning plastic while heating water.

Although the 1-liter Proctor Silex K2070YA Electric Kettle has a lot of positive reviews on Amazon right now, it lacks a stainless steel interior.

You can find myriad models lacking temperature controls, such as the Breville SK500XL Ikon Electric Kettle, that cost more than what they're worth. And most cheaper models that have some form of temperature control (like the T-fal BF6138 and the Hamilton Beach K6080A) are almost entirely made of plastic; some reviews indicate that these plastic models leave the water tasting and smelling like plastic.

Some other models we encountered, such as the Breville BTM800XL One-Touch Tea Maker, were exorbitantly priced. More than $200 is too much to spend on a kettle, especially if it has only a one-year warranty. Even the KitchenAid KEK1522CA Pro Line Series Electric Kettle doesn't have any more to offer than our top pick, which is about half the price currently.

This guide may have been updated by Wirecutter. To see the current recommendation, please go here.

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