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Every tea lover has their go-to kettle. Whether it’s electric or a traditional one that heats up on the stove, it’s a tried-and-true tool that boils water to the perfect temperature for a nice, warm cup of Oolong or chamomile. Of course, there are plenty of people that haven’t yet found their tea kettle match. Related Real Estate Mogul Craig Robins on Life in Miami, Collecting Art, and Learning to Calm Down Is It Really Better to Give Than It Is to Receive? The No-Drama, Stress-Free, Delegate-Everything Guide to the Holidays
There’s no time like the present. Tea, after all, is the preferred beverage for many, a favorite since travelers from ancient China began experimenting with it all those centuries ago: They would often boil water to remove contaminants, and, in the process, mix some herbs in to give some extra flavor. In fact, its history extends back to the Mesopotamian era, when some of the earliest pots were made of bronze.
Now, there are more options than ever before, from ones made of chrome and stainless steel to others made of enamel. This includes the electric varieties, which was invented in 1891 by Carpenter Electric Company. These will typically boil your water faster but don’t whistle like stovetop kettles do. Both are solid options, but regardless of your preference, it’s important that you invest in a durable, well-rounded tea kettle that you’ll want to use over and over again for years to come. Here are the best in that regard.
When the idea of a tea kettle comes to mind, something out of a Victorian novel, something classic, it most likely looks like this option, the Simplex Buckingham, a celebrated design from Newey & Bloome. But aside from the heirloom quality of its appearance and use of traditional copper, the kettle’s copper-wire base, which harness heat efficiently, is completely modern.
Buy Now on Williams Sonoma: $420
The beauty of this tea kettle from Balmuda (aside from its sleek shape) is the ease it provides. First, it’s electric and compact, meaning it can be situated just about anywhere. It’s also lightweight and utterly uncomplicated; the design makes it so that the handle is practically effortless to hold and the spout allows for a precision pour. Last but last least, it heats water quickly, so you don’t have to wait long for a piping hot cup.
When it comes to kitchen tools with polish, with presence, but that isn’t flashy in the least; kitchen tools that are extremely durable and won’t fail you, Caraway is the name to know. And a shining example is this tea kettle—made of ceramic-coated stainless steel and cast in a range of colorways—that’ll add pizazz to any stovetop and emit a clear whistle when water is at its boiling point. Indeed, it sounds as good as it looks.
Le Creuset makes some of the best cookware out there, so it’s no surprise that the French manufacturer’s tea kettle makes our list. The pot is made of steel and coated in enamel, so it’s plenty sturdy, and the ergonomic handle is heat resistant for risk-free pouring. You can use it on gas, electric, or halogen ovens; a high-pitched whistle will indicate when the contents have reached their boiling point. And it comes in a rainbow of other color options as well.
Buy Now on Bloomingdale’s: $115
This kettle has a bit of retro flair to it and looks like the kind of thing that got used regularly at a busy diner circa 1950. All to say it’s a bit more stylish than your average kitchen appliance and will stand out among the workaday coffee machine and crockpot on the counter. It’s made of stainless steel and, like any good electric kettle, will automatically switch off when it reaches a set temperature.
Buy Now on Bloomingdale’s: $190
KitchenAid’s kettle has a bit more of an industrial look, which may not be for everyone, but functionally it’s one of the very best out there. It has a dual-wall construction that keeps the exterior warm and the interior cool, and a gauge that lets you keep tabs on the water temperature. If the bright-red, candy-apple color is too in your face, it comes in more neutral, metallic finishes as well.
Buy Now on Bloomingdale’s: $200
Not all electric kettles have to look flashy. Dualit’s take has a sleek, chrome finish, with a copper band around the base. A cutout on the side indicates how much water you’re boiling, and the base can swivel 360 degrees, so it’s easy to maneuver. Best of all, it’s not overly loud like the classic teapot, and will shut off on its own once it’s reached a certain temp.
Buy Now on Saks Fifth Avenue: $199
Cosori’s kettle is for the coffee purist in your life, though it will whip up a solid cup of tea as well. Any pour-over coffee lover will tell you that a gooseneck pot is ideal for making the tasty drink, as it generates a controlled flow of hot water, allowing the grounds to slowly drip through the glass carafe you’re brewing it in. The kettle also has all the advantages one would expect from an electric pot: You can choose from five different temperature presets so you don’t burn your coffee or tea, and it can keep water at the same temperature for up to 60 minutes. Of course, if you’re someone who prefers a more traditional looking kettle, this may not be a fit.
Electric kettles are great, but many will prefer the more traditional charm of a stovetop tea pot. Susteas’s is just that: A high-grade stainless-steel kettle with a three-layer bottom that makes boiling water fast and easy. Plus, it can hold up to three liters at a time, which makes it a great option if you live with a family of tea drinkers. Keep in mind that it’s heavier than electric kettles or other teapots—particularly if you fill it up to max capacity.
If you’re just dipping your toes into the world of tea and, subsequently, tea kettles, then HadinEEon’s electric offering is a good place to start. It can boil 1.5 liters of water in just five minutes and has six different temperature presets, which is ideal for the many varieties of teas you’ll be sampling. Plus, it will automatically shut off once it’s done brewing, so you won’t have to worry about the messes that result from leaving a stovetop kettle unattended for too long. Or, if you’d prefer, you can keep water at the same temperature for up to four hours. Either way, the kettle emits a blue LED light when it’s on, which will stop you from grabbing it while it’s too hot.
Helena Madden is a staff writer at Robb Report. She covers real estate and design for the magazine and the website. Her work ranges from polling interior experts on how to create the perfect game…
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