More Good Kettles
We’ve tested dozens of kettles, but not every model deserves a top spot above. Here are a few others that work well, but aren’t standouts.
Cuisinart PerfecTemp Cordless for $100: This Cuisinart is reliable, efficient, durable, and a long-time favorite of former WIRED director Jeffrey Van Camp. It’s a good kettle, and it’s been lauded by a number of sources over the years. But its features haven’t kept up with the best newer kettles on this list, nor the Beautiful kettle in a similar price range. And the alarm when it reaches temperature is, well, alarming. As in it’s loud and long, and you have to take the kettle apart to disable it, which you probably shouldn’t do.
Kitchen-Aid 1.5L Pro Line for $200: This retro-kettle looks fabulous in candy red with its old-school analog temperature gauge, and a temp dial that’s pretty much just a lever. The kettle’s dual-layer construction means it boils quietly and stays quite cool. But Fahrenheit isn’t an option and neither is precision. And though it’s priced high, the kettle’s retro styling extends to the lack of modern features.
Smeg Retro Kettle for $190: Looks matter, and if you want a stylish kettle in your kitchen, look no further than Smeg. But while we liked the fun, bright pop of Smeg’s colors, this kettle is a bit on the heavier side, and at its price range it offers fewer options than other modern electric kettles, such as precise temperature sets and alerts when it’s reached temp. It’s just a cute, spendy, and reliable electric kettle. There is a slightly pricier Smeg ($220) with some of those features, including preset temperature settings and a keep-warm function, but we haven’t tested it yet.
Aarke Stainless Steel Electric Kettle for $250: This kettle is fancy. It comes with an Aarke-branded microfiber cloth. Like other Aarke coffee gear, its crisp, modernist, stainless-steel design looks like something you’d see in Architectural Digest. But at its price, the features are a bit bare bones and fiddly, with a single button rotating through temperature settings. It also gets a bit hot toward its top. That said, it’s quiet and it’s beautiful.
Art and Cook Electric Glass Kettle for $43: When I first unboxed Art and Cook’s electric glass kettle, there was one red flag: typos on both the box and the instruction manual. That made me a little hesitant, but my experience over the past six months has been perfectly fine. There’s no LED light as on the Cosori to indicate when it’s boiling, but it holds slightly more water (1.8 liters as opposed to 1.7). It has an automatic shutoff feature, but overall, I found it a little slower to boil.
Bonavita Digital for $130: This kettle is similar to the Stagg EKG I tested but slightly less expensive. It has a gooseneck spout for precise pouring, a temperature dial, a display, and a 0.9-liter capacity. You’ll have the option to program up to five presets for your most-used temps.
The Bistro Tile x Haden 1.7 Liter Electric Kettle for $128: This kettle is gorgeous, with two options of tile-style exterior that makes it feel like you’re in a Parisian coffee shop. There’s a single power switch and a temperature gauge on the front to let you know how hot the water is. You can’t control it as much as other electric kettles, and it doesn’t retain heat as well as double-walled options, but it’s very design-forward. —Nena Farrell
Try These Tea Accessories
Oxo Brew Tea Infuser Basket for $15: This is our go-to accessory for brewing loose-leaf tea. The stainless steel is durable and doesn’t impart any flavor to the brewing process, and the hole pattern does a solid job of keeping most of the tiny particles out of the hot water. We particularly love that the lid not only retains heat but also doubles as a drip tray.
Kotubuki Matcha Tea Whisk for $24: If you’re a fan of matcha, this is a great whisk to have on hand. Equipped with 80 bamboo bristles, it’ll help to create a nice froth that brings out all the bright, grassy notes for a delicious cup of matcha.
East Fork the Mug for $44: These mugs are expensive, but they’re consciously crafted. WIRED product reviewer Jaina Grey says they “feel sturdy, with a gently sloping grip that’s big enough for most hands and feels smooth and balanced when you pick it up.” They also come in various fun colors (seasonal options included). You can buy a single mug or a four-pack for $150.
The Tea Spot Sipping Cup Tea Subscription for $20 (Monthly): This is a great subscription for new tea drinkers. Each box includes whole leaf teas harvested from tea estates around the world.