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Accept & closeIsabella Forgione, small appliance expert at AO, explains how to choose the right kettle
Whether you're a tea lover, coffee connoisseur, or just need a quick cuppa to kickstart your day, your kettle plays a bigger role than you might think. From energy efficiency to boiling speed, there’s more to consider than just the colour or style. Isabella Forgione, small appliance expert at AO, explains everything you need to know when choosing the perfect kettle.
There are lots of variables including whether you boil a full kettle or the temperature of the water you’re boiling. To save money, only boil the amount of water you need.
Kettles with a quick boil functionality mean that less energy will be used when making that perfect hot drink so that’s the first thing to look out for. Another feature to consider is a kettle that retains the heat and keeps the water warm, so you eliminate the need to boil again and waste unnecessary energy.
Most modern kettles now have ‘Rapid Boil’ which is a kettle with a power rating of 3000 watts. If you’re really thirsty, the Ninja Perfect Temperature KT201UK Kettle makes one cup in under 50 seconds.
These kettles are designed with a mechanism to heat your water to variable temperatures for your drink of choice. This is ideal for drinks that may need less-than-boiling water, such as herbal teas or coffee.
The answer behind why a kettle is noisy comes down to science and the way that the heat is being transferred into the water. Put simply, the heat is passed through the kettle which results in the water molecules having more energy bubbling around inside the kettle. This is what creates that familiar noise. In fact, some models like the Russell Hobbs Quiet Boil Kettle have a quiet boil feature, which is perfect for when you don’t want to wake up the rest of the house when making a hot drink.
If you live in a hardwater area, you’ll find that limescale can build up in your kettle quite quickly. This is since your water supply contains high amounts of calcium and magnesium. The most important thing to look out for if you live in one of these areas is a kettle with a good limescale filter to avoid any impurities.
The Breville Bold Kettle is an excellent reliable kettle that is also affordable. It can make up to seven cups of tea and coffee and also has 3000 Watts of power, meaning that it wont take long to boil. It’s also a simple design so a perfect addition to any kitchen.
Although pricier, the Smeg 50’s Retro Kettle is an excellent statement piece for your kitchen. As well as looking the part with its infamous design, it also boasts a range of fantastic features. You’ll never be waiting long for your perfect beverage, thanks to the impressive rapid boil. But if you’re more of a specialist beverage maker, there are also multiple temperature settings to choose from.
When looking for the right kettle for you, it is important to think about what key features you would like. Whether that be a fast boil or a kettle with varying temperatures. When looking online, any key features will be listed on the product pages making it really easy to pick the perfect kettle for you.