Testing Electric Gooseneck Kettles

A few important design factors separated the good kettles from the bad in our tests. First: spouts. Most of the kettles’ thin spouts dispensed water slowly and precisely, but a few were a challenge to use. One model had a sliding door that covered the entrance to the spout and allowed users to choose between three pouring speeds. Two of the settings resulted in flows that were heavy and fast—helpful for tasks that require less precision but too imprecise for pour-over coffee. Selecting the slowest speed was tough: The door was too difficult to adjust and got stuck easily. Additionally, the curved spouts of a few kettles were too straight, causing us to spill water if we accidentally tilted them even a bit. We liked spouts with sharper curves, which were easier to control.

Second, we liked kettles that were large yet lightweight. The capacities of the kettles in our lineup ranged from 27 to about 34 fluid ounces. Our two favorite models each held about 34 fluid ounces but only weighed about 1½ pounds when empty. We liked that they held enough water to make at least four 8-ounce servings of coffee and were light enough that they didn’t tire our hands as we poured from them. We also liked kettles with capacity lines that could be read at a glance. Some kettles’ internal capacity lines were positioned near their handles, making us crane our necks and squint into the kettles’ depths as we filled them. We preferred clear internal markings positioned opposite the handles, which we were able to view easily as we held kettles underneath the faucet.

Third, we preferred kettles with handles that were comfortable to hold and maneuver when slowly dispensing water. Some handles weren’t cushioned, with bumps or ridges that forced our fingers into specific and uncomfortable positions. Handles made from softer, grippier material without bumps or ridges fit our hands better and made for easy pouring. 

Finally, the designs of the kettles’ lids mattered. We preferred lids that were easy to remove and replace. Some lids scraped against the sides of kettles’ openings and had to be wrenched off. The positions and sizes of the lids’ knobs were also important. Some lid knobs didn’t sit high enough above the lids, positioning our fingers dangerously close to the lids’ steam vents. We preferred knobs that stuck out from lids by ½ inch or more.

Nobody wants to wait around endlessly for water to boil, so testing kettles’ heating speeds was essential. We started by timing how long the kettles took to boil water when filled to capacity. Then, for a clearer comparison across models, we repeated the timed test with a standardized volume of 3 cups. We conducted both tests multiple times to establish an average time range for each kettle. On average, the boil-only kettles took longer to boil: It took an average of about 5.5 minutes for the slowest boil-only kettle to boil 3 cups of water. Meanwhile, one superfast adjustable kettle blazed past its competitors, routinely boiling water in a little less than 3 minutes.

For both styles of kettle, we preferred controls that were easy to operate. To start each boil-only kettle, we simply flipped a small switch on its base. Two adjustable kettles were almost as easy to use: Each had a large knob on its base that we twisted to select custom temperatures and then pressed down to activate. We preferred these knobs to the remaining adjustable kettles’ controls, which included multiple buttons that were in some cases too confusing to master quickly.

It was also important to be able to tell when the kettles were finished heating. The boil-only kettles didn’t emit beeps or other sounds to alert users that they were done heating, but they all had indicator lights that were illuminated when the kettles were in use. We preferred indicator lights that lit up vibrantly, with bright, powerful bulbs that were easy to view even from across the room. And while two adjustable kettles emitted loud beeps when they reached the desired temperatures, the remaining two offered no easily discernible indication that their heating cycles were finished. This forced us to hover over them as they heated, staring at their temperature displays, or risk missing the perfect temperatures we’d selected.

All the adjustable kettles can also hold their contents’ temperatures steady for at least 30 minutes after they’re finished heating (or up to an hour for some models). Two models activated this hold function automatically, but the remaining two required us to press another button at the beginning of the heating process to turn on the hold function. If we forgot, we had to heat the water again, defeating the purpose of the hold function.

The whole point of an adjustable kettle is to heat water to precise temperatures specific to certain types of teas or coffee brewing methods, rather than boiling and waiting for it to cool down, so we thoroughly tested the adjustable kettles’ accuracy. One model had four preset temperature options, and the three remaining adjustable kettles could be set to any temperature (two from 140 to 212 degrees, the other from 135 to 212 degrees). We tested the accuracies of the first kettle’s four preset temperatures and tested the others at five temperatures from 175 degrees to boiling. We measured the water temperatures throughout with our winning instant-read thermometer.

Most of the kettles consistently heated water to temperatures that were between 2 and 5 degrees under their set temperatures. But one kettle was always either perfectly at temperature or only 1 degree off. The same kettle performed best when we tested the kettles’ hold functions: After heating water in each kettle and activating its hold feature, we measured the water’s temperature at regular intervals until the hold setting ended. The best kettle held its water within 1 degree for its entire 30-minute temperature hold.

The ideal kettle should stand up to years of everyday use. To test durability, we repeatedly washed the kettles, removed and replaced their lids, and detached them from and reattached them to their bases, all dozens of times. We knocked them over on the counter once to see if they would dent, and—most important—we boiled 50 batches of water in each kettle. We even boiled water 365 times in our favorites, simulating a year of daily use. The good news: All the kettles held up to this abuse just fine.

Which kettle style is right for you? If you’re interested in the simplest experience and are looking to only boil water, we think a boil-only kettle is just fine. Adjustable kettles are generally more expensive, but they offer a few advantages, including allowing you to set precise temperatures rather than waiting for your water to cool down after you’ve boiled it and holding those temperatures in case you want another cup. In the end, we picked a winner in each style. Both the Bodum Bistro Gooseneck Electric Water Kettle and the OXO Brew Adjustable Temperature Pour-Over Kettle are lightweight and have large capacities, easy-to-read capacity lines, and comfortable handles. They boiled water the quickest out of all the kettles in their respective categories. The Bodum model’s on-off switch lights up in a bright electric blue that we couldn’t miss, even from across the kitchen. The OXO model’s single knob couldn’t be simpler to operate, and it was the most accurate adjustable model in our lineup. Its automatic 30-minute hold function consistently kept water within 1 degree of the target temperature for the promised half-hour. Depending on your needs, either kettle could help streamline your morning routine.