The best electric kettles: Essential kitchen tools for more than coffee and tea

An electric kettle is a staple of modern kitchen accessories. These self-contained cookers are safer to use because they don’t require an open flame. Plus, they offer more precise temperature control and even boil water quicker than their stove-reliant counterparts—making them essential kitchen tools.

While there are several styles from which to choose, the best electric kettles have a gooseneck spout allows for precision pouring. This is useful for brewing more delicate coffees where a heavier-flow kettle might over-agitate the grinds. Here are some hot options that fit the bill.

A True Classic: Bonavita Electric Kettle

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This 1000-watt Bonavita 1-liter kettle is a cafe staple. If you walk into most coffee shops, you’ll see this best electric kettle sitting on the countertop. It features a real-time temperature display and built-in timer. The kettle also lets you keep your hot water at your precise specifications—between 140°-212°F—for up to 60 minutes.

Upgraded Option: Bonavita Interurban Electric Tea Kettle

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Bonavita launched an updated Interurban 1-liter electric tea kettle in more colors than they’ve previously offered. Options include matte black, matte white, and a gloss graphite. The 1000-watt kettle features preset temperature options, but also offers manual controls for adjusting temperature in one-degree increments. The Hold Button lets you maintain a temperature for an hour between 140°-208°F. If you don’t need surgical precision, the new electric tea kettle model adds a simple boil button. The gooseneck spout still provides a controlled pour, which is integral for some coffee brewing methods like pour overs.

Sleek kitchenware: Stagg EKG+ Electric Pour-over Kettle

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For a higher-tech option, Fellow’s 1,200-watt Stagg EKG+ pour-over kettle is another great choice of kitchen accessories. It’s the most expensive of the bunch, but comes with some sweet features including Bluetooth connectivity so you can start a boil from bed. The minimal design employs a single knob on the base to control all the functionality and temperature settings of this kitchenware. The spout is designed to prevent drip-back, help control the speed of your pour, and provide a steady flow of water. The kettle’s variable temperature control allows you to set the temp to a specific degree—between 135°F to 212°F—and hold it at that temperature for an hour. An inlaid LCD screen lets you track the temperature, set a stopwatch to keep track of your coffee brewing. You can easily switch between Fahrenheit and Celsius. It comes in Matte Black or polished chrome.

Lastly, according to Fellow, the Kettle also features an Easter Egg game. If you take the kettle off the base and switch back and forth between Celsius and Fahrenheit, a game called “Wormy”—similar to Snake—will show up on the LCD screen.

Great electric kettle grip: Bodum Melior Gooseneck Electric Water Kettle

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Bodum’s gooseneck electric water kettle is one of the prettier—and more affordable—devices on the list, due to its sustainable cork on the handle and lid. The cork gives you a comfortable hold on the appliance while you’re pouring or removing the lid. The 27-ounce electric kettle doesn’t let you choose a specific temperature, and is fairly basic when it comes to features, but if you want an attractive appliance that heats water, this is a good choice.

Easy-to-read option: Cosori Gooseneck Electric Tea Kettle

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The stainless steel Cosori Kettle has a powerful heating element that can get a full pot of water to temperature in just five minutes. Select one of five preset temps for common teas and coffees by pressing a button on the base. The handle has a place for your thumb to help balance the electric tea kettle while you pour. That control is crucial when pouring water over your coffee grinds for pour-overs.

Electric kettles are the kitchen accessories you didn’t know you needed

The best electric kettles will help you to achieve a precise boil safely. Whether you’re using one to make coffee, a cup of tea, or something else, this modern kitchenware heats water more efficiently and quickly than their previous stove-top counterparts. They’re essential kitchen tools for every home—and now you know exactly what to look for in one.