Best Electric Tea Kettle 2020

Best Electric Tea Kettle TechnoBuffalo 2020

Resident tea snob here! Unlike many, I do not microwave water to make tea or a fancy French press coffee. I insist on an electric tea kettle after making the switch years ago. The model that's best for most is the AmazonBasics Kettle. It boils water quickly, doesn't get hot when in use, and it's affordable. This isn't the only kettle I recommend, though. Whether you're heating water for hot chocolate, making pour-over coffee, or brewing tea leaves, these are the best electric tea kettles around.

If boiling water is your only requirement for an electric tea kettle, this reasonably priced kitchen tech from AmazonBasics should slide up to the top of your wish list. The pot is all stainless steel but for the BPA-free plastic water gauge and handle. It's single-walled, so it does get hot to the touch. The plastic handle never gets warm, though, which is what matters.

This is a simple appliance. You fill the kettle with water to the 1-liter fill line, flip the switch to "on," and in less than one minute, your water is ready to pour. Yes, you read that right! It takes almost no time to bring the water temperature up to boiling. Nice!

This teapot automatically shuts itself off, so it will never boil over or continue to heat when empty. The power base of this model plugs into the wall, but the kettle itself is cord-free. There's also a mesh screen filter inside the spout to prevent hard water deposits from spilling over into your teacup. For coffee, hot chocolate, instant soups, or black teas, this is a fast, basic tea kettle that works great.

Best for All Teas: Cuisinart PerfecTemp

Teas and some coffees taste better when brewed at a specific temperature. The temperature settings on the Cuisinart PerfecTemp are one of the many standout features for me. There are six presets on the Cuisinart, so you never run the risk of burning or scalding delicate tea leaves. There's also a "keep warm" button that holds the kettle's water to the same temperature for 30-minutes.

This is a stainless steel pitcher-style pot that sits atop a warming plate. The pot is cord-free, so you can take it to the table for pouring without having to fuss with cords. This model isn't double-walled, and because of that, the outside of the tea kettle gets very hot. The handle stays cool but the lid and pitcher are far too warm to touch.

I love the wide mouth on the top of this kettle. You can open it and fill it fast, as opposed to going through the tiny spout. That feature also makes this model easier to clean. The internal, removable mesh filter keeps hard water deposits out of your beverage, and it pops out and back in for easy cleaning. The water level indicator is genius! It's backlit and works well in dark or brightly lit rooms, and it accurately displays the internal water levels. If you're a French Press user or tea lover, the Cuisinart PerfecTemp is a beautiful, functional electric tea kettle that deserves a spot on your kitchen counter.

Best Gooseneck: Willow & Everett

Pour-over coffee begs for the slow flow rate of a gooseneck kettle, and this one from Willow & Everett looks as good as it works. It's also one of our tried and true favorites. The unrivaled gooseneck spout allows for slow, spill-free pouring. This handsome gooseneck is crafted from food-grade brushed stainless steel and has zero Teflon or chemical linings. As such, the heated water that comes out of the spout on this pot tastes like water, not metal or plastic.

There are five temperature presets, a feature not usually found in gooseneck designs. That makes this the best possible electric tea kettle for coffee and tea lovers. Temperature controls are located on the heating base. It's a nice touch that slims the overall feel of this kettle. Temperatures are accurate, and the auto-shutoff kicks in, powering down the heating element to prevent boil overs, as soon as the water reaches your desired temp. Alternatively, you can use the "keep warm" function to hold water to a consistent temperature, so it's ready when you're up for a second cup.

Though it isn't hard to figure out how to operate this model, those who are directions-obsessed will be disappointed with the included manual. It's terrible! The instructions are unclear and far from thorough. If you can see beyond that, this is the best kettle on the market for those who imbibe in pour-over coffee or use tea leaves to get their caffeine fix.

Best Touch Panel Control: Miroco Stainless Kettle

It's a little thing, but the Miroco has a touch control panel rather than buttons to press when selecting the water temperature. A light touch is all you need, and I love it! There are six preset temperatures, including one for Fresh Press coffee. If you want a sleek, modern machine, the best electric tea kettle for you is Miroco.

Strix temperature control is an internal device that's beloved worldwide and touted as the most advanced way to regulate water temperature. It brings the water temp up quickly and maintains it with a "keep warm" setting for up to half an hour. The only shortcoming with this pot is that it automatically shuts off when water reaches your set temperature. If you want to use the "keep warm" function, you need to turn it on manually.

The Miroco is insulated well, and it often holds its temp for nearly an hour after it's turned off. There is a filter inside the pour spout to strain out calcium and other hard water deposits. The filter is made of BPA-free plastic and can be popped in and out in seconds for cleaning. With advanced features like auto shutoff and boil dry protection baked in, this is an excellent value pot with high-end features.

Best Glass Kettle: Mueller Premium

A product of Mueller Austria, this sleek electric tea kettle is constructed of heavy-duty yet lightweight Borosilicate glass and BPA-free plastic. The curved, smooth handle is comfortable to hold, and it has just one button, which is used to open and close the fill lid. The handle is heat-resistant and has an anti-slip grip that prevents even wet hands from sliding around.

The automatic shut-off mechanism on this tea kettle activates after the water has come to a boil, helping you to avoid boil overs. This is a minimalistic pot, and it lacks some of the advanced features of other models. There is no "keep warm" function, and temperature presets are nowhere to be found. In other words, this model only boils water to be used for coffee, tea, soups, oatmeal, pasta, etc.

I am in love with the internal LED lighting that casts a blue hue on the water as it heats. It lights up dark rooms and, let's face it, sometimes, it is fun to watch water boil. There is a filter under the pour spout to keep hard water deposits and other items out of your food and beverages. Since it's glass, this unit is a bit easier to clean than other models. If you need a cool-looking tea kettle for your office, dorm room, or home, this wallet-friendly offering from Mueller Austria is a worthy contender.

Bottom line

I don't keep much on my countertop, but the AmazonBasics Kettle has earned space there the last three years, and it is the best electric tea kettle your money can buy. This is a stainless steel kettle with a 1-liter capacity that sits on a warming base.

The cordless design makes it easy to fill the kettle with cool water and add hot water to coffee beans, tea leaves, or hot cocoa. The automatic shutoff works exactly as it should, ensuring boil-dry protection.

There's one thing I wish Amazon would change about this kettle, and that's adding a keep warm feature that would hold the water at a consistent temperature for a short while after coming to a boil. Other than that, this is one of the best electric tea kettles your money can buy, and it will suit the needs of most coffee and tea drinkers. If iced tea is more your thing, don't miss our list of the best iced tea makers.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Jodi Owan is a technology-loving tea snob. Find her on Instagram and her website