5 Best Electric Tea Kettles for Quick and Convenient Countertop Boiling

With electric tea kettles being smarter and safer than ever, their popularity is at an all-time high, and it’s only continuing to grow.

Tea lovers, French press aficionados, and pour-over coffee enthusiasts may not be on the exact same page about their beverage of choice, but we can all appreciate a good electric tea kettle!

In a Hurry? Here’s Our Quick List of Top Picks

• KitchenAid KEK1222SX Brushes Stainless Steel Electric Kettle
• AICOK Electric Gooseneck Kettle
• VOSEN Electric Kettle with Auto Shut-Off & Boil Dry Protection
• Russell Hobbs KE5550CRR Retro Style Electric Kettle
• COSORI Electric Gooseneck Kettle

The Evolution of the Kettle

The origin of the kettle can be traced back thousands of years ago to ancient Mesopotamia, where bronze kettles with decorated spouts were used for filtering water.

Kettles became a part of many civilizations over the following centuries, and iron was a popular material for its ability to be placed directly on a flame.

Carpenter Electrical Company developed the first electrical kettle in 1891. Because the heating elements were placed in separate chambers, these early kettles took 12 minutes to boil water, not much of an improvement from stovetop times.

About 30 years later, The Swan Company designed a new kettle with an element sealed in a metal tube so it could be placed in the water chamber, resulting in faster boiling.

British manufacturer Russell Hobbs revolutionized the industry in 1956 with the invention of the automatic electric kettle.

Once the technology was available to make kettles turn off based on thermostat readings, these appliances were well on their way to becoming the electric tea kettles we see on the market today.

The Science of Electric Kettles

Electric kettles function mostly thanks to two components—the heating element and the thermostat.

The heating element in an electric kettle is a resistor, or material which resists the flow of electricity. So, when electricity flows into the element, it turns into heat which quickly brings water to a boil.

Most modern electrical kettles, including the ones on this list, sit on a base which plugs into the wall and contains the heating element.

The thermostat controls the heating element through a switch called a transistor. Many kettles utilize a bimetallic thermostat which reacts to the steam from boiling water by cutting off the electric current.

For a simple animated explanation of the process, check out this video:

How to Choose the Best Electric Tea Kettle for You

Price Point

Electric tea kettles are available at several price points which vary based on brand name, materials, and functionality.

If you plan to use your kettle infrequently or keep it stored out of sight, you can make the price point your primary focus and consider affordable options.

On the other hand, if you are looking for a kettle to use daily and keep proudly on display, price point may need to take a backseat to design and materials.

Any appliance is an investment, and we’re confident all the kettles on our list would make an investment worthwhile but keep your own budget in mind as you browse these options.

Design and Materials

We have some unique kettles on this list along with a few classic, practical options.

You’ll want a kettle to match your kitchen aesthetic, whether it’s funky, retro, perfectly polished, or charmingly hodgepodge.

If you boil water mostly for tea, French press coffee, or food use, you have some flexibility to choose the design most appealing to you aesthetically and ergonomically.

If you are in search of an electric kettle because you just fell in love with pour-over brewing, you should probably consider a slow-pouring gooseneck model.

It’s also worth keeping in mind what type of materials you prefer in your kitchen appliances. We’ll point out which kettles contain some plastic parts and make note of the other materials used.

Capacity

Household electric kettles are typically a bit smaller than their stovetop counterparts, and the tea kettles on this list range from 0.8 to 1.7 liters in capacity, the difference between about three and seven cups.

If you’re only going to need enough water to make single cups of tea or coffee, or if you need every inch of counter space you have, check out the smaller models.

For households with multiple tea drinkers (or one who can put back a few cups at a time!), a kettle on the larger end will most likely be a better fit.

5 Top Picks for Electric Tea Kettles

Now you know how electric kettles work and hopefully have an idea of what kind would be the best fit for your lifestyle, let’s look at our top picks!

KitchenAid KEK1222SX Brushes Stainless Steel Electric Kettle

KitchenAid’s stainless steel electric kettle is a stylish and practical addition to any kitchen countertop.

Made from stainless steel with a smooth aluminum handle, this sleek and compact model pays homage to traditional stovetop kettles. A simple on/off switch gets the job done without distracting from the minimalist appearance.

With a capacity of 1.25 liters, this kettle can boil up to five cups of water in just minutes. The spout is built for convenient, controlled pouring and includes a removable limescale filter for easy cleaning.

This kettle is made in China and comes with a one-year limited warranty.

To see this electric kettle in action, check out this video from KitchenAid:

AICOK Electric Gooseneck Kettle

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AICOK’s electric gooseneck kettle combines elements of traditional tea kettle design with a convenient side handle and distinctive spout which slows pouring for superior precision.

The interior and body of the kettle are made from food-grade stainless steel with no plastic parts contacting the water. The ergonomic handle is made from BPA-free ABS material, a heat- and slip-resistant thermoplastic.

With a capacity of one liter, this kettle can boil four cups of water at a time. Boiling takes approximately four to five minutes.

VOSEN Electric Kettle with Auto Shut-Off & Boil Dry Protection

VOSEN’s electric kettle looks like a smaller version of a commercial kettle, and it’s ready to get to work in your kitchen.

Constructed primarily of stainless steel, this kettle contains a thermal insulation layer to help insulate the outer surface against heat, keeping it safe to touch even when water is boiling.

British Strix thermostat technology ensures the kettle will turn off automatically within 20 seconds of water boiling or evaporating to the point of emptiness.

This kettle can boil up to 1.7 liters, nearly eight cups, in six minutes or less.

This kettle is made in China and comes with a 12-month risk-free guarantee.

Russell Hobbs KE5550CRR Retro Style Electric Kettle

As the company responsible for the first automatic electric kettle, Russell Hobbs has some lofty expectations to live up to, and they deliver with this retro style electric kettle.

This kettle can hold 1.7 liters, about seven cups of water, and visible level markings make the kettle easy to fill when you want to quickly boil smaller amounts.

An external water temperature gauge lets you control the heat, and the kettle turns off automatically once water reaches its boiling point.

This durable retro kettle is made from stainless steel with a convenient pull-off lid, ergonomic cool-touch handle, and drip-free spout. A filter attaches behind the spout to keep out limescale and is removable for easy cleaning.

This kettle comes with a two-year limited warranty.

For a closer look at the retro kettle, check out this video from Russell Hobbs.

COSORI Electric Gooseneck Kettle

COSORI’s electric gooseneck kettle offers custom presets and a Hold Temp function to enhance your experience with a variety of hot beverages.

This stylish matte black kettle has specific temperature presets for white, green, oolong, and black tea as well as coffee. With the Hold Temp option, you can maintain the desired water temperature for up to an hour.

British Strix thermostat technology turns the kettle off automatically when the desired temperature is reached. The boil-dry safety feature makes sure it also turns off when there is no water inside.

With a capacity of 0.8 liters, this kettle holds about three cups of water and can bring the full volume to a boil in four to five minutes.

All interior parts of the kettle are made with stainless steel. The safe-touch handle and gooseneck spout work together to allow slow, precise pouring.

This kettle is made in China and comes with a one-year warranty.

Top Choice for the Best Electric Tea Kettle

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Each of these kettles have several great qualities, and only you can decide which one is the best fit for your kitchen. But for its budget-friendly pricing and functional styling, our top choice for the best electric tea kettle is the AICOK Electric Gooseneck Kettle.

Whether you’re making tea, French press or pour-over coffee, hot cocoa, oatmeal, or instant ramen, this kettle will make the process about as effortless as possible.

Just flip the switch, and you’ll have up to four cups of boiling water in minutes. With Strix thermostat technology, you never have to worry about remembering to shut the kettle off.

The positioning of the ergonomic handle coupled with the gooseneck spout make sure you are in control of every pour.

Whether you pick this model or another one from our list, we’re confident an electric tea kettle will add some convenience to your life!