Bodum Bistro Electric Water Kettle, 34 Ounce, 1 Liter, Black

Product Information

Stovetop kettles can take a beating, particularly for those who have open-flame gas burners. But this simple stainless steel kettle from Coffee Gator is up to any task, and it comes at an affordable price. In addition to being durable and affordable, the stand-out features include a temperature gauge, finger-groove handle, and a precise, reliable spout that you can depend on to up your coffee or tea game for years to come. The Lardera Smart Electric Kettle is a high-end option that fits any coffee lover's setup. And I mean "fit" literally because the kettle is compact and saves valuable counterspace. It measures 10 inches from spout to handle, and the base is about 6 inches on each side. The thermometer is fastened to the lid and has a shaded area over the optimal brewing temperature of 195 to 205 degrees. Customers add that the spout has a consistent flow rate and is easy to maneuver. There's also a great deal of praise for the handle, which is sturdy, ergonomic, and always stays cool to the touch. It's no surprise if you need help with choosing an electric kettle. In fact, I test appliances for a living and I’m surprised electric kettles aren’t more popular in the U.S. So, these appliances are a learning curve for most.

The only other significant area of criticism from long-term owners is one that many steel kettles face: rust. But some added TLC, like routine cleaning and towel drying, should stymie rust issues. Blooming is an important step in the brewing process where coffee grounds are lightly saturated with water before the rest of the water is poured. It makes the coffee release CO2, also known as "degassing," which leads to a purer taste. Aside from that, the Lardera Smart Electric Kettle offers its weight (light as that is) in style, performance, and quality of materials. It's also one of the smoothest-pouring kettles I've used.Capacity — The majority of kettles range from 30 ounces/ 0.9 liter to 61 ounces/ 1.8 liters. This difference in size impacts how many hot drinks you can make at once. So if you’ve got a larger household, it’s worth considering a kettle with a large capacity.

The temperature can be adjusted between 100 and 212 degrees. A downside to the manual buttons, however, is that you have to press them for every degree you want to change. For instance, if the kettle is set to 170 degrees but you want the water to be 200 degrees, you have to press the button 30 times. While this is more frustrating than using a dial, I've personally never had an issue with it after testing the kettle for a month. I primarily brew pour-over coffee between 198 and 203 degrees, so I don't need to adjust the temperature too often or too drastically. There have been times that I made matcha with 176-degree water, but even then it wasn't much of a hassle to adjust the temperature. I also consider this one of the easiest-to-use kettles that I've tested because the display is so intuitive. You can unbox the kettle and understand all the features right away, unlike some kettles that require a glance at the instruction manual first.Editorial Director Taysha Murtaugh received a sample to test and found the kettle easy to control, with a steady flow rate. "This kettle is comparable to my old Hario model, with one significant advantage: I love that I'm able to control the temperature of each drink, which is critical to my morning French press or pour-over," she says. "When heating up, it does create a louder 'whirring' sound than others I've tried, but if you can even call that a con, it's a small one for great coffee." Safety — Most electric kettles automatically shut off when the water boils, making them safer than stovetop options. But, for added peace of mind, some also have boil dry protection, which means they’ll shut off if there’s no water remaining. And if you want a kettle that doesn’t get too hot on the outside, look for one with a double wall or plastic construction. If you’re a fan of herbal tea, the Chefman 1.8 liter electric glass kettle is the one to get. With a removable tea infuser, you can add your tea leaves directly and brew straight from the kettle. And because the design focuses around tea, this is a variable temperature kettle with seven presets to choose from, ranging from 160-212°F. Plus, there’s a useful keep warm function which lasts for up to an hour once the water has reached its temperature.