Test house

More than an essential appliance in your kitchen, the kettle has also become a statement piece. We made many cups of tea in an effort to find the ones that are both stylish and functional.

KEY ELEMENTS

CONCEALED ELEMENT: This allows you to boil small quantities of water. CORD STORAGE: Excess cord winds into the base. DUAL WATER GAUGE: It’s easier to see the water level with a gauge on both sides.

FILTER: A removable plastic or metal mesh that fits in the spout to strain scale particles.

LOCKABLE LID: This prevents the lid coming off when you’re pouring water or if the kettle falls over.

360° BASE: It allows the kettle to stand on the base, facing any direction. VARIABLE TEMPERATURE: So you can choose the temperature the water is heated to. Some hot drinks are best made with water at about 90˚C.

KEEP-WARM

FUNCTION: Keeps the water in the kettle warm, so you can re-boil it quickly.

SIZE AND WEIGHT: A kettle is likely to be used every day, and kettles that are heavy and poorly balanced can be a strain to hold.

EASE OF USE: If you can refill through the spout, you won’t need to keep opening the lid. Some lids have an easy-to-press button release and the handle should also be comfortable to grip and hold while keeping your hand clear of any steam that might rise from the spout.

ENERGY: Your kettle isn’t nearly as power-hungry as larger kitchen appliances but investing in an efficient kettle can save you time and energy whenever you boil water.