Waiting 10 to 15 minutes for your water to heat up in a traditional tea kettle? Ain’t nobody got time for that. For busy men like us, we need our water heated at lightning speed so we can enjoy a piping hot of green tea (or oolong tea, whatever floats your boat) before facing the hustles and bustles of life.
Enter the electric tea kettle, a must-have kitchen essential. Electric tea kettles not only boil water faster, but they are also more precise than conventional ones, thanks to the former’s preset or programmable temperature settings. Hopefully, our 2021 roundup of the best electric tea kettles — ranging from goosenecks to warmers — will help narrow down your options.
Best Overall: Aicook 1.7L Electric Tea Kettle
If you’re a tea, coffee, or plain hot water connoisseur, the Aicook Electric Tea Kettle is a must-have. This kettle comes with nine preset temperature settings for different types of drinks (even baby formula). Plus, there’s a precision knob if you’re ODC demands that it be exactly 193 degrees. It warms for up to 120 minutes and has audible alerts (that can be silenced) for everything. The wide mouth and stainless steel design make for easy cleanup. With a two-year warranty and lifetime phone support, you can’t beat this kettle.
Best Value: Stariver Electric Kettle 2-Liter
This Stariver electric kettle doesn’t have all the others’ fancy features but gets the job done. Its 360-degree swivel base and auto shut-off features enhance its primary function of giving you boiling water fast. Plus, the LED light feature adds a cool touch to your morning routine.
Best Large-Capacity: Zojirushi 5-Liter Water Boiler and Warmer
If there’s anyone we trust with tea technology, it’s the Japanese (they drink a lot of tea). If you’re in a house full of tea drinkers, then this Zojirushi 5-liter Hybrid Boiler and Warmer is perfect. Its vacuum-insulated, non-electric warming technology makes it very energy efficient.
Best Pour-Over: Cosori Electric Gooseneck Kettle
If you’re a self-proclaimed pour-over tea snob, you’ll want this Cosori kettle with a precision-pour spout. Its variable temperature setting prevents you from ever burning another tea leaf. Plus, its sleek design makes it look great on your countertop.
Best Splurge: Breville Tea Maker
If you need an electric tea kettle that does everything for you, then the Breville BTM800XL is where it’s at. This kettle comes with five preset temperature settings and allows you to program your own. It even steeps your tea for you by automatically lowering and raising the basket. The standard Breville brushed-steel design also makes it an elegant addition to your kitchen appliances.
Best Retro: KitchenAid 1.25-Liter Electric Kettle
Maybe you just want hot water without all the bells and whistles. This kettle combines modern-day convenience with the nostalgia of grandma’s house. Plus, you can’t go wrong when adding the trusted name of KitchenAid to your appliance arsenal.
Best Digital Kettle: Krups Smart Temp Digital Kettle
What sets the Krups electric kettle apart from the rest is the sizable digital temperature display and the cool-touch technology that prevents you from burning yourself. Both are great features if you’re notoriously clumsy or in need of a gift for your parents — or both.
Best for Travel: Loutytuo Foldable Silicone Kettle
It’s not weird at all to travel with a tea kettle, despite what anyone says! This handy-dandy kettle can fit in your coat pocket. Besides, who’ll be one laughing when you’re drinking a premium cup of tea at the airport, gym, or doctor’s office?
Best Time-Saving Kettle: Mueller Premium Electric Kettle with SpeedBoil Tech
The people have spoken (19,935 times) and have collectively given this European engineered Mueller kettle a 4.5-star rating. If you need an affordable kettle to boil your water instantly, this one’s for you. At 1,500 watts, your water will be boiling before you can get out your tea bags.
Best Quiet Kettle: Smeg Electric Kettle
Some electric tea kettles can be surprisingly noisy. This Smeg kettle, with its soft-opening lid, comes with a simple on-off switch. It politely heats your water so you can choose between Earl Gray and chamomile in peace. The beautiful design and hide-able cord feature are also very nice.
If choosing which electric tea kettle is best for you has gotten you stressed, check out the five best CBD teas and then breathe. Whoosah.