Your guide to finding the best kettle
Kettle buyers guide
As a nation of tea drinkers, finding the best kettle is extremely important. Kettles are not just functional; they can be really stylish and can have various different features too. But with so many options available, it’s not always easy to know where to start. That’s why we’ve put together this handy buying guide.
Style and colour
Kettles come in all shapes, sizes, colours and designs. While basic black, white and stainless steel models are still popular, there is now a much wider range to choose from. If you want to add a pop of colour to your kitchen, consider opting for a statement shade such as red, blue, green or orange.
Alternatively, take a look at our 50s inspired retro Smeg kettles in a multitude of colours, or even striking nordic designs.
Here are some features to consider
Whether you’re just looking for the basics or you want some optional extras, here’s our round-up of the key features to consider when buying your next kettle.
Minimum fill / one cup boil
If you regularly make a cup of tea or coffee for one person and are conscious about saving energy, look for a kettle that has a low minimum fill level. Some kettles will ask you to boil as many as four cups worth in one go, meaning that you will have to wait longer for your kettle to boil and waste more energy and water.
Water level indicator
Make sure you find the water level indicator easy to read so you are able to easily see when the water needs refilling or if there is too much water in there.
Multi-temperature kettles
Some kettles have temperature gauges on them for heating your water. This is particularly useful if you enjoy herbal tea as these drinks are better at a slightly lower temperature so as not to affect the flavour. View our range of Haden variable temperature kettles on our website.
Smart kettle
Smart kettles can be linked to an app on your smartphone or tablet. You can use the app to check things like how much water is in the kettle and how hot the water is. You can even set it to boil remotely so the water is ready to use as soon as you need it – perfect if you don’t like waiting!
Quiet boil kettles
A loud whistling kettle can be really irritating, especially if you have an open plan kitchen/living area. Keep this in mind when purchasing your kettle if it’s something that may bother you. This may mean you pay a little more for your kettle for a better quality.
Kettles for hard water areas
Hard water can damage your kettle and shorten its lifespan. It’s also not very nice to get bits of scale in your brew. Some kettles have built-in water filters, although these can be slow to fill and need to be replaced regularly.
Other points to consider
You may also want to think about the following:
Efficiency
Kettles with a better energy rating will cost less to run, while those that allow you to boil smaller amounts can help to reduce water and energy usage.
Ease of use
While style is important, you’ll need to make sure your new kettle is easy and comfortable to use. The last thing you want is a kettle that’s too heavy or difficult to handle.
Speed
Some models take longer to boil, so it’s worth bearing this in mind when choosing your new kettle. If speed is important, you might want to opt for a kettle with a rapid boil function or one that connects to the wi-fi so the water is ready and waiting when you come down for breakfast.
