We Tested the Best Electric Kettles for Hot Water in a Flash

Best Overall

Cuisinart PerfecTemp Electric Kettle

$120 $110 at Amazon $74 at Walmart $130 at Wayfair

After testing Cuisinart's PerfectTemp Electric Kettle firsthand, we found it exceptionally convenient and user-friendly. The buttons clearly indicate the six temperature settings, each calibrated to a different type of tea. It suits everything from delicate infusions at 160 degrees Fahrenheit to black tea at 212 degrees. The cordless feature lets users remove the kettle from the base to pour water anywhere. However, the kettle must be returned to the base within 2 minutes or it shuts off.

The PerfecTemp took just over 5 minutes to bring a full pot to the boil in our testing, which made it slower than average, but only by a few seconds. It was also accurate in three of our four temperature tests and in holding heat for over 30 minutes on keep-warm, though it strangely ran hotter when set to 175 than when set to 185. The steel pot has subpar insulation, as it dropped in temperature more than other models after sitting for 30 minutes with the heat shut off. None of these negatives outweigh the excellent performance, features, and convenience the PerfecTemp delivers, especially considering its reasonable price.

Capacity: 57.5 ounces | Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.1 x 9.7 inches | Weight: 2 pounds | Temperature Settings: 6 | Power: 1,500 watts

Best Overall, Runner-Up

Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Gooseneck Kettle

$170 at Amazon $165 at Williams Sonoma $165 at Fellowproducts.com

Gooseneck kettles offer greater pouring control, which is especially important when brewing pour-over coffee. Yet, we consider the Fellow Stagg EKG an all-purpose appliance because it provides pinpoint accuracy not only in pouring but also in water temperature. Users can set the machine anywhere between 135 and 212 degrees Fahrenheit, right down to the individual degree. In testing, the water ended up at the exact temperature we selected all four times.

The Stagg EKG takes slightly longer to boil than comparable models, clocking in just over 7 minutes. It's not far behind the average time, but it's disappointing considering this model holds about half as much as many competitors. The steel kettle body isn't insulated and gets very hot, though we had no trouble using the heatproof handle to carry it.

This kettle is quite expensive, largely due to its advanced temperature controls, but some of that is because of its lovely minimalist design, which is available in over 10 colorways. Overall, the kettle blends style and accuracy better than any option we tested, making it one of our most recommended picks, as long as it falls within your budget.

Capacity: 30.4 ounces | Dimensions: 11.5 x 6.7 x 8 inches | Weight: 4.3 pounds | Temperature Range: 135 to 212 degrees | Power: 1,200 watts

Best Gooseneck

Cosori Electric Gooseneck Kettle

$70 at Amazon $78 at Wayfair $78 at Home Depot

The Cosori Electric Gooseneck Kettle is good for anybody who likes variety in their caffeinated beverages, as its five settings correspond to the optimal temperatures for brewing white tea, green tea, oolong tea, coffee, and black tea. The temperature is consistently accurate. Among our four tests, there was only a single instance where the selected temperature was off, and that was just by one degree. It also has a "hold temp" button that keeps the water at a set point for up to 60 minutes, so you can pour a second mug. This worked perfectly in testing, staying at exactly 202 degrees Fahrenheit the whole time. The tapered gooseneck spout creates a sleek look and offers the functional benefit of precise pouring.

Considering its average price, the Cosori's features are both extensive and effective. Unfortunately, it can't brew very much coffee or tea at a time. It holds just 27 ounces of liquid, making it the smallest machine on this list. It's probably a better choice for a solo sipper or an office desk rather than a crowded kitchen. Also, like most non-insulated kettles, it gets quite hot in use. The handle is still heatproof, but the body of this model seemed especially scorching for errant fingers.

Capacity: 27 ounces | Dimensions: 11.6 x 9 x 7.7 inches | Weight: 3.5 pounds | Temperature Settings: 5 | Power: 1,200 watts

Best Budget

Amazon Basics Stainless Steel Electric Kettle

$19 at Amazon View on Woot.com

Despite being a "basic" electric kettle, it's impressively speedy. It brings water to a boil in 3 minutes and 50 seconds, making it the fastest kettle in our testing process. This is partially because of the kettle's compact design. It only holds one liter of water, so you might find yourself refilling it multiple times a day. That said, it packs 1,500 watts of power into a small, lightweight frame. Plus, it has a lift-off cordless carafe you can carry anywhere.

Another downside is that the kettle doesn't provide any functions beyond boiling; there's no temperature control or keep-warm mode. But, at this low price, we don't expect a very versatile appliance. The Amazon Basics model could be great for a dorm room, desk, camper van, or anywhere else you need reliable hot water without much fuss.

Capacity: 33.8 ounces | Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 7.9 inches | Weight: 1.7 pounds | Temperature Settings: 1 | Power: 1,500 watts

Best Glass

OXO Brew Cordless Glass Electric Kettle

$84 at Amazon $84 at Oxo

The Oxo Brew Cordless Glass Electric Kettle is a sleek appliance that fits any modern kitchen. It's made of super-strong borosilicate glass and has an effectively heatproof handle. We found the measurements on the side of the glass helpful and easy to read. The kettle's 1.75-liter capacity is on the larger end, yet it reaches a boil faster than average at well under 5 minutes. It also comes off its base for convenient cordless pouring.

The downside of the lovely transparent glass is that it isn't insulated and gets hot to the touch, so you'll have to make sure to keep your fingers on the handle only. On top of that, there are no temperature settings beyond boil—we'd expect a machine that's above the budget price level to have a few more bells and whistles.

Capacity: 59.2 ounces | Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 11.2 inches | Weight: 4.3 pounds | Temperature Settings: 1 | Power: 1,500 watts

Best Large Capacity

Zojirushi Ve Hybrid Water Boiler and Warmer

$245 $182 at Amazon $260 at Williams Sonoma View on Zojirushi.com

Zojirushi might be known best for its high-end rice cookers, but the brand also makes a variety of small appliances, including coffee makers, bread machines, and this water boiler. It's different in design than other electric kettles: a self-contained vacuum-insulated cylinder heats water to the temperature you select, then holds it there and dispenses however much you want at the push of a button.

The capacity is a little over a gallon, making it a good choice for offices or large families. The push-to-pour function is also a good way to fill anything from a single mug to a full-size French press with little risk of splashing or spilling scalding water. There's also a "cafe drip" mode that slows the speed of the water flow so you can make pour-over directly from the machine. It has a timer, too, so you can set it to turn on ahead of time and wake up ready to brew.

The temperature was very accurate in our tests, hitting its targets exactly. The initial heating is quite slow—it needs 13 minutes to boil—but after that, you have a lot of hot water on demand. We found this model confusing on first use, so you'll definitely need the manual to figure it out. It gets easier over time but isn't exactly user-friendly. It's also pretty expensive, though that's made up for by how much water it holds.

Capacity: 135.3 ounces | Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.8 x 13.9 inches | Weight: 7 pounds | Temperature Settings: 4 | Power: 840 watts

Best Splurge

Fellow Corvo EKG Pro Studio Edition

$230 $205 at Amazon View on Crate & Barrel

With its combination of style and performance, the Fellow Corvo EKG Pro Studio Edition is one of the best electric kettles you can buy. It's equipped with an array of features–like a built-in stopwatch and temperature holding up to one hour, just to name a couple—yet the item remains intuitive and easy to use. We've used the kettle for over two years, and the item shows no signs of slowing down.

It excels in the key areas: heats quickly, pours smoothly, and the handle stays cool to touch. We timed the kettle and found it takes just over five minutes to bring a full pot to a 212-degree Fahrenheit boil, which is faster than average. Its capacity is on the smaller side at 0.9 liters, however. Another possible drawback to consider before buying is that Fellow makes two other Corvo models at lower price points. The EKG Pro Studio Edition is the most advanced (and expensive) model, so if you don't mind splurging this is the one to buy. But the only difference between this option and the one a tier lower, simply known as the EKG Pro, is that it uses slightly nicer materials. Other than that, both kettles have the same features.

Two extra features we appreciate are that users can schedule the kettle to boil up to 24 hours in advance, and there are recommended water temperatures for different drinks, including coffee and tea. All in all, the Corvo EKG Pro Studio Edition is an outstanding kettle you can count on.

Capacity: 30 ounce | Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.8 x 7.7 inches | Temperature Range: 104 to 212 degrees | Weight: 3.85 pounds (including base) | Power: 1,200 watts

Best Quiet

Aarke Electric Kettle

$250 at Amazon $250 at Williams Sonoma View on Aarke.us

One of the first details that impressed us about the Aarke Kettle was the lack of noise as it boiled. It's among the quietest kettles we tested. There are other bright spots, too. It heats quickly; the full capacity of 40 ounces reaches 212 degrees Fahrenheit in just over 5 minutes. The Aarke Kettle is also durable and easy to use. We were able to understand it right out of the box thanks to its simple, intuitive design.

Unfortunately, the Aarke Kettle doesn’t have a ton of settings, which is surprising considering its high price. The temperature can only be set to five specific options rather than being adjusted by single degrees. It doesn’t have a live temperature display either. Both features are common in kettles If you’re looking for a well-built and efficient kettle, though, this is an excellent option.

Capacity: 40 ounces | Dimensions: 5.5 x 7.5 x 10.6 inches | Temperature Settings: 5 | Weight: 3.52 pounds | Power: 1,500 watts