We've tested over 21 electric kettles to find the best models for tea, pour-over coffee and more.
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Electric tea kettles offer precise temperature control (sometimes to the exact degree), speedy results and helpful features like automatic shut-off or keep warm. An electric tea kettle isn't just for brewing your favorite tea either — use it to make a cup of pour-over coffee, warm water for a baking project or boil water for ramen in a jiffy. And if your tea's packaging suggests a certain temperature for brewing, many electric kettles offer presets whether you're making matcha, oolong or black tea.
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, we've tested over 21 electric tea kettles in the past decade alone. When analysts test electric tea kettles in our Lab, we measure how long it takes for each kettle to come to a boil (filled with water at max and minimum capacity), assess the amount of settings for different types of teas and coffee as well as how well they maintain temperature, size and more. On our list, you’ll find kettles in multiple sizes and shapes with a variety of features and settings, depending on your brew preference and style.
Scroll down to see how we evaluate electric tea kettles in our Lab — plus everything you need to know to shop for your perfect kettle — at the end of this guide. If you're in the market for a coffee maker instead, check out our guides on the best coffee and espresso makers, coffee makers with grinders and single-serve coffee makers.
Serious tea drinkers know that different types of teas steep at different temperatures and the folks at Cuisinart know this — their CPK-17 allows you to pick from six pre-programmed temperature settings that are labeled with the recommended tea and coffee options.
Its settings are easy to press and operate with one hand, while the kettle itself is easy to pour with a thick, ergonomic handle. It's also simple to remove from the base for pouring, as well as replace for the keep warm setting (up to 30 minutes) and storage. In our Lab tests, we enjoyed the easy-to-read viewing window that allows you to see how much water is in the kettle without opening the lid; not to mention, the three-year warranty! Keep in mind that we found kettle can get rather heavy when filled up to the max fill line.
Glass electric tea kettles are helpful, allowing you to see how much water is inside with the help of etched ounce markings and track your boiling progress. This model from Capresso has a color changing light around its base that illuminates when heating, too. It has five temperature settings, including 110°F (for baking), 160°F (green tea), 175°F (white tea), 195°F (oolong tea) and boil (black tea) with a color designated to each temperature.
This 2022 Kitchen Gear Award Winner came to temp quickly in our Lab test and was fairly accurate in temperature readings. One of our favorite parts of this kettle is being able to fill it without removing the lid. All you have to do is run it under the faucet to release the flap. Thanks to all of these great features and a price point under $50, we cannot recommend this electric tea kettle more. The only thing that we missed on this kettle was that there isn't cord storage included with the base for easier storage.
SAKI Baristan Electric Gooseneck Kettle is another 2022 Kitchen Gear Award Winner with precise temperature control and a gooseneck spout. Gooseneck kettles like this one allow you to better control the water stream when making pour-over coffee. This model also lets you digitally program the water temperature to the exact degree for making any varietal of tea you you wish. It keeps track of the current temp, target temp and boasts a timer as well.
We found the handle very comfortable in testing with a silicone grip that sets it apart from others we've tried. We also like the safety features on this kettle, such as the red light indicating when it’s on as well as vents on the side rather than on the lid, which helps prevent accidental steam burns. One thing we do miss with this kettle is that it doesn't have a window where you can check to see the status of boiling water or how much water is currently inside.
Breville's One-Touch Tea Maker is one of the most unique brewers on the market, perfect for tea aficionados. It comes with a brew basket that you fill with loose tea leaves and automatically lowers into the water when it has reached the perfect temperature. The brew basket is made of a fine mesh with a snap-tight lid to prevent seepage. You can also remove the brew basket if you want to use the kettle for boiling water for soup or a baking recipe.
Choose from five different temperatures for tea, plus a custom setting and three different steep times based on desired strength. In our Lab tests, the buttons were smooth, easy to control and, like most Breville products, very intuitive to use. And it received high scores in speed and temperature accuracy. The electric kettle may be programmed from the night before so you can wake up to the perfect brew. We also found it produced delicious iced tea, if you chill your tea for a few hours after brewing.
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This electric kettle is perfect for tea and coffee lovers who are short on time. In our Lab testing we found this kettle to reach temperatures faster than any other kettle tested, boiling four cups of water in less than five minutes. The thin gooseneck pouring spout allows for precise pouring with a slow and steady flow, two important attributes when it comes to making pour-over coffee. However in addition to its design, this kettle also controls the temperatures in one-degree increments from 170 to 212°F. The large range makes it ideal for both delicate teas and hot coffees. Its built-in timer also stood out during our Lab test, which helps keep an eye on your pour-over process. Additional features include a keep warm cycle, which automatically shuts off after 30 minutes for safety.
While this appliance doesn't look like a kettle, it heats an impressive four liters of water, making it great for parties or large groups. Choose from four temperatures settings and a quick re-boil option if the water has cooled too much. Keep in mind though that it takes about 28 minutes for the model to boil water when filled to max capacity. The boiler/warmer has a vacuum-sealed chamber, which we found in our tests that it maintains the temperature, even when it's not plugged in.
Use the handle to move it from one counter to another, but don't go too far as it will be rather heavy. The outside stays cool to the touch and the large viewing window always lets you know how much is left. This was the only kettle we tested that had a dispense function as well; simply put a cup or teapot underneath and push the dispense button to dispense hot water.
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances & Innovation Lab we've tested over 21 kettles in the last decade, collecting almost 1,000 datapoints, including hundreds of water temperature readings to determine temperature accuracy and consistency of each kettle.
In Lab testing, we measure how long it takes for kettles to come to 110ºF (for baking), 160ºF (green tea), 175ºF (white tea), 195ºF (oolong tea) and 212ºF (herbal, black tea or coffee) both at max water capacity and minimum. Kettles are ranked high if they boil within 1.5 minutes or less per 8 ounces of water and also how well they maintain temperature in the keep warm phase. Temperatures are also taken at each temperature setting to ensure that kettles are accurately heating to the correct temperature.
We also consider about 11 other data points like programmable temperatures and settings for different types of teas and coffee, size (some kettles boil up to two cups while one of our picks can heat up to 17), spout type and ease of pouring, plus overall ease of use. We also consider whether or not you can steep tea directly in the kettle with an infuser basket or not.
No matter if you’re a coffee aficionado, novice tea drinker or a busy person who needs water boiled quickly, an electric kettle comes in a range of designs that suit your brewing needs, ranging from easy touch-start buttons to advanced types that lower a tea basket into the water for you. We’ve provided a rundown of the key details to look for when shopping for electric kettles:
✔️ Interior materials: First things first, you'll have to decide between the three standard types of kettle materials: plastic, glass and stainless steel.
✔️ Features: Automatic shut-off is essential in a good electric kettle while a keep warm setting is desirable. Some electric kettles even offer programs with timers and temps for specific teas and drinks. Tea drinkers may opt for kettles with filters that allow you to brew tea directly in the kettle or even ones that are equipped with baskets and automatically steep the tea for you. As for coffee lovers, gooseneck styles offer a long spout convenient for a pour-over.
✔️ Size: The average electric kettle is about 1.7 liters and larger ones can span up to four liters, which comes in handy when serving larger parties. If you take your tea on-the-go or like to sip at your desk, you may opt for a no-frills kettle that pours out just enough at two cups.
✔️ Warranty: Some kettles can be more expensive than others; consider your kettle's warranty if it costs more than $100.
Not every tea brews best with boiling water. Below you will find a helpful guide to navigating your kettle's temperatures. These are just suggestions though; we recommend looking at your tea's temperature recommendations first.
✔️110ºF: This is the standard temperature for "warm" in baking; if you're blooming yeast this is the temperature of water it is recommended you use. ✔️160ºF: Green tea is the most delicate of tea leaves and brews best at lower temperatures because if it is brewed at a higher temperature it can be bitter in taste. ✔️175ºF: White teas are also delicate in nature and brewing at this temperature will prevent damaging the leaves and the flavor. ✔️195ºF: Oolong tea varies based on how oxidized the tea leaf is. To be on the safe side, this temperature ensures you will get a delicious cup of tea if you don't know how oxidized the tea leaf is. ✔️212ºF: This is the best temperature for herbal, black teas and coffees. If these are the teas and coffees you drink, you might not even need an electric kettle with temperature control.
Eva Bleyer has professionally tested all kinds of kitchen equipment, from oven ranges to juicers to kitchen scales to blenders. Eva has rigorously tested over 11 kettles (both electric and stovetop) in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances & Innovation Lab. An electric kettle is probably one of her most used kitchen appliances, whether she is making a pot of tea before bed or starting the morning with pour-over coffee.
Eva (she/her) is a reviews analyst in the Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she tests kitchen gear, home appliances and culinary innovations. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor of science in food studies, nutrition and public health and is a trained chef through the Natural Gourmet Institute. Eva has more than 10 years of experience in the food industry, working as a food stylist, personal chef and marketing manager.
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