The Best Kettle in Australia for 2022
Or how to feed your at-home caffeine needs.
For some people, enjoying a cup of tea or coffee is a regular ritual that borders on the obsessive. Forget whether it was the chicken or the egg that came first, does the milk go in first or last? For others, it’s a rushed grab-it-and-go thing - the daily jolt of caffeine to kickstart the morning. Whichever camp you fall in, you’ll need a kettle.
A kettle is a (let’s face it) boring but essential piece of kitchen kit, like a toaster. The best electric kettle quickly and reliably boils water. It’s super simple to use, and ideally to clean too. We’ve spent hours trawling the web for the best kettles in Australia that suit every tech, budget and home style. They’ve been informed by expert testing and real Aussie opinions.
How we picked
We started with CHOICE, Australia’s leading consumer advocacy group, to see which kettles they tested. This gave us an idea of how some kettles performed in a lab environment. We then weeded out the ones that are no longer available and headed to ProductReview.com.au, Australia’s first consumer opinion website.
We wanted to see which kettles are loved in Australian kitchens. We read hundreds of reviews to understand the good, the bad and the ugly. We also considered Canstar Blue’s, an Australian customer satisfaction research and ratings business, recent kettle brands survey. This let us know which kettle brands are highly rated by Aussies.
From there, we began to narrow down our list by focusing on providing a range of different budget and functionality options. We wanted both glass and BPA-free plastic kettles, to appeal to different buyers. We considered some features essential, like a removable, washable filter, and a hinged lid – a non-hinged lid is just one more thing to lose on a busy morning.
We had a quick look for gooseneck kettles. These thin, angled spout kettles help with a slow, controlled pour – ideal for coffee connoisseurs. But they’re also quite a niche item in Australia so we were quite limited in our choice. We also only chose electric kettles, rather than stovetop ones, because c’mon, we exist for your convenience.
And there we had it – the best electric kettles in Australia.
The best quiet kettle
For a peaceful morning cuppa, meet the Dualit Classic 72790. It’s the quietest kettle Dualit has designed. It has Whisper Boil technology to reduce unwanted boiling noise. Marketing claims aside, it’s earned the Quiet Mark - the international mark of approval from the Noise Abatement Society.
Looking cafe-worthy, especially with its silver and copper accents, it’s a seriously good-looking kettle. It’s got good but limited consumer reviews, and it’s also been tested by CHOICE. It has a large silicon covered grip for easy handling and a self-proclaimed ‘non-drip spout’. The lid is hinged, and it comes with a 2-year warranty. Anti-wobble feet keep it stable on your benchtop and it has the standard features: removable, washable filter; 360° base; and boil dry protection.
It also has a replaceable element which Dualit reckons lengthens its lifespan considerably. Although Dualit is an UK-based company, so we’re not sure how easy it is to find replacement parts over here.
The best for on trend looks
Normally, if you’re after looks, you need to pay for them. Not so with the Russell Hobbs Brooklyn, which has a RRP of under $100. Its copper accents ensure it looks bang on trend. As well as good looks, it’s packing quiet boil technology (although we still think the best quiet kettle is the Dualit Classic), a push open button lid and an illuminated blue water window. This lets you see the water level easily.
There’s a removable and washable anti-scale filter and it comes with a 2-year warranty. It has great, but limited, consumer reviews. It’s also been reviewed by CHOICE. Russell Hobbs has been named Canstar’s Blue most satisfied customers for kettles in 2019 and 2020. Aussies give them 5 stars for boiling performance, functions and features, ease of use, quietness, design and overall satisfaction.
The best for tea drinkers
If you’re looking for the best kettle for tea, look no further than the Cuisinart PerfecTemp Programmable. Its biggest selling point for tea lovers is its 6 preset water temperatures for different types of tea (and 1 coffee). It runs from 75° for delicate teas through to 100° for black tea, swinging by the ideal temperatures for green, white, oolong and French press along the way. Each of its 1-touch labelled buttons have blue LED indicators so you know what you’ve selected.
If you’ve boiled your water but aren’t ready to use it, there’s a 30-minute keep warm function. It also has a memory feature. This means if you lift the kettle of its base before it’s finished, it’ll remember where it was in the brewing process when you put it back down.
The water window has a blue backlight for easy viewing, and it has a 360° swivel base. It comes with a 3-year warranty. Although it hasn’t been reviewed by CHOICE, it’s one of the most-loved kettles in Australia according to ProductReview.com.au: it gets over 3 stars from almost 70 reviews.
The best stovetop kettle
For the look of a stovetop kettle, which is actually an electric one, meet the Morphy Richards Accents Traditional. Coming in a range of colours, including black, red, white and plum, this triangular shaped kettle is all about the looks.
It has a locking lid, although it’s a little tricky to get off as it’s underneath the handle, and the standard features like a 360° base, water level window, removable filter and boil dry protection.
It does have an optional whistle on boil, for that authentic stovetop kettle experience. It comes with a 2-year warranty and an approx. $150 price tag. Although it has a great number of consumer reviews, they’re middling.
The best for coffee lovers
True coffee lovers need a pour over / gooseneck kettle. We reckon we’ve found the best one: the Coffee Gator Pour Over Kettle.
Its built-in temperature gauge and precision-flow spout ensures the perfect water temp and the evenness of your pour. Both of which can lead to barista-quality coffee. The thermometer is built into the lid, and it has a shaded area to show you the optimum brewing temp (that’s 195 - 205 degrees).
The ergonomic handle is cool-touch for easy handling and it holds up to 1.2L of water. Made of premium grade stainless steel, it has a triple-layer base that works on all cooktops (including induction) and helps it stay rust-free for longer.
Still not convinced? It gets over 2,000 positive ratings on Amazon and is a top pick of plenty of international guides. (Turns out pour over coffee isn’t really a thing here. Yet.)
The best kettle and toaster combination
If you’re all about matching looks, consider the DeLonghi Brillante. The unique faceted finish is available on a kettle and a 4-slice toaster.
For RRP $129, you’re getting glam styling, plus a 360 degree swivel base that’s detachable for cord-free convenience. There’s a water level indicator, removable and washable limescale filter and 3 levels of safety protection.
Tested by CHOICE, it gets over 3 stars from a decent number of consumers on ProductReview.com.au.
The best for retro looks
Fan of the 50s? You’ll love the Smeg KLFO3. Its rounded edges, 3D Smeg badge, lever with ball and pastel colours scream retro vibes. The biggest selling point of the Smeg KLF03 is its vintage looks. There’s a range of matching products available too, including toasters, blenders, coffee machines and even fridges.
Beyond that, it’s a pretty basic kettle. There’s a water level indicator, soft opening push button lid, removable and washable limescale filter and 360 degree swivel base. It also has a safety switch off once the water temp reaches 100℃ and anti-slip feet.
It comes in over $200 and with a 2-year warranty. It racks up over 4 stars from a good number of reviews on ProductReview.com.au.
The best glass kettle
Want to see what your water is up to? Watch it bubble away with the Sunbeam Maestro Glass Kettle. It features Sunbeam’s Dual Shield Protection, which they reckon helps it resist knocks and bumps better. It also has Dual Shield Insulation for water that’s hotter for longer. Finally, Dual Shield Heat Resistance reduces the external surface temperature making it cool to touch.
Another fancy, but wholly unnecessary feature, is the blue glow which illuminates the base of the kettle while it’s working. Cup measurements are on the side of the kettle and it has everything you’d expect, including a 360° base. It comes with a 12-month warranty and a RRP of $99.95. Because it’s glass, you’ll need to clean it thoroughly and regularly to avoid a visible build-up of limescale.
Although this version hasn’t been reviewed by CHOICE, an older version has. Sunbeam is also Canstar Blue’s 5th most popular kettle brand. It currently has 1 review on ProductReview.com.au.
The best value kettle
If what you’re looking for in a kettle is one that’ll quickly and reliably boil some water, then we reckon the Kmart 1.7L Euro Kettle is Australia’s best no-frills kettle.
Costing $39, you’re getting everything you need. It has a removable lid (no fancy 1-touch button here), a water level indication and an illuminated on / off switch. So, it’s super simple to use.
Its mesh filter is removable and washable for easy care and it has boil-dry protection. The cord is stored in the base and it has a 360° non-locking base. Which makes it great for both right-and left-handed users.
Its textured surface looks a little retro and it comes in black or almond. It has great (but limited) consumer reviews and it’s been tested by CHOICE too. The recent Canstar Blue survey also named Kmart as Aussies’ 4th favourite kettle brand.
Features to consider
Honestly, kettles are pretty simple appliances. They literally just boil water. So, you’ll find a lot of kettles pack the same features, like the ones below.
Visible water level
Whether you call it a water level or window, it does the same thing – shows you how much water is in your kettle. Look for dual water windows. This means you can see the water level whichever side of the kettle you’re looking at. You can also get backlit water levels, which can make them easier to view.
We think cups is a more user-friendly measurement than ml – we don’t know how many ml are in a standard cup of tea, but maybe you do?
Removable filter
The filter keeps any sediment from the water, including limescale, from getting into your tea. To help keep the filter clean, make sure you can remove and wash it.
Cord storage
For an uncluttered bench top, and a safe one (no dangling cords for little hands to pull), most kettles have cord storage in their base.
360° power base
This allows the kettle to swivel on its base, rather than being locked into position. Which means you can easily pick it up, and return it, from anywhere on the base. It’s also easier for left-handed people.
Boil dry protection
Once the water’s boiling, all kettles should automatically stop. This prevents the kettle from boiling dry and posing a safety risk.
Cool touch
Whether they claim to in their marketing or not, all kettles should be cool to touch and handle. This avoids burnt fingers and hands when picking up a just-boiled kettle.
Comfortable handles
Handles should be wide and comfortable to hold – you’ll be picking up a potentially heavy object full of boiling water. The handle should also keep your fingers away from the kettle’s body.
Hinged lid
Opt for a hinged lid over a removable one, as then you won’t lose it. Only one of the kettles we reviewed, the Morphy Richards Accents Traditional, has a non-hinged lid.
Wide spout
If opening the lid to fill the kettle with water seems like too much hard work, look for a wide spout. This means you can fill the kettle directly into the spout.
What you get if you spend more
Rather than necessarily counting these features as ones you pay more for, it’s easier to think of kettles as having standard and non-standard features, with these being non-standard. CHOICE sums it up best: “Price is no indicator of performance, as far as kettles are concerned.”
Soft opening lid
To reduce the chance of hot water splashing out, some kettles have a soft opening lid.
Electric gooseneck kettle
If you’re serious about coffee, you might consider buying an electric gooseneck kettle. The thin angled spout is specially designed for pour-overs. It allows you to precisely control how much water you’re pouring, how fast it comes out and where you direct it. Gooseneck kettles are pretty niche in Australia currently.
Better looks and matching products
To match a specific theme in your kitchen, you can pay more for a bigger range of colours and finishes, like matte or textured looks. With these more designer models, you’ll probably be able to buy a matching toaster too.
Different temperature settings
Know the taste difference between an oolong and green tea? You’ll love different temperature settings, which provide water temperatures for specific tea types, or coffee.
Glass
See what your kettle is up to by choosing a glass one. Whether it’s to be able to see the water boil or an appearance thing, you’ll pay more to get a glass kettle. However, glass kettles need more maintenance and cleaning than a non-glass one. That’s because you can see the build-up of brown limescale.
Keep warm function
Just boiled the kettle and now your phone’s ringing? A keep warm function keeps your water at a decent temperature for when you’re ready to use it. These functions normally last up to 30 minutes.
Audio boil reminder
Long gone are the days of a whistling kettle. These days it’s all about the quiet kettle. Which means it can be difficult to know when the thing is actually done. Look for an audible noise reminder, whether it’s a click or a ding.
Sources
- "How to buy the best kettle for your kitchen", CHOICE
- "Kettles", ProductReview.com.au
- "Kettle Reviews & Ratings", Canstar Blue
- "Warranty policy", Cuisinart
