Electric Tea Kettles

Quick-heating plug-in tea kettles

Electric tea kettles are made of stainless steel, plastic or glass. Most use a 1,500-watt heating element located on a base that is detachable from the kettle, making them cordless because you don't have to fool with a swinging cord when you pour water. Overall, these kettles are fast, many preparing the water in fewer than five minutes. Many are also equipped with water gauges and, in some cases, markings that let you know the minimum amount of water needed for a safe boil. Another common feature is an automatic shut-off; this type of tea kettle won't turn on when there isn't enough water in the chamber to be safely heated. Be aware that some of the least expensive electric tea kettles, made of plastic that may be flammable, lack this feature and present a potential safety hazard.

Other qualities to look for in electric tea kettles are wide pouring spouts, insulated walls that keep the kettle cool to the touch, filters that catch minerals and prevent clogging of the machine and (although not very common) variable temperature settings. Although tea is typically made with boiling water (212 degrees Fahrenheit), some specialty teas, including green tea, brew best at lower temperatures. Variable-temperature kettles may also be used to make powdered coffee drinks and hot chocolate that require hot, though not boiling, water. This type of electric tea kettle commonly has a warm setting as well.

The Capresso H2O Plus tea kettle (*Est. $60) has all of the important features in an electric tea kettle and a striking design, and it's a speedy boiler, reviewers say. Made of a glass pitcher that rests on a stainless steel heating element mounted to a base, this is one pot users say they don't mind watching boil. Little bubbles dance above the orb-like heating element, and the attractive, stainless lid stays cool to the touch. The Capresso H2O has a six-cup capacity, about average for electric tea kettles, and it boiled a quart of water in four minutes and 39 seconds in testing. The H2O kettle has a 39-inch cord that stores in the unit's detachable base. It shuts off automatically and features an anti-slip handle, as well as ounce and cup measurements on the pitcher. The silver dome lid is available in either a shiny or matte finish. It comes with a one-year limited warranty that does not cover glass breakage.

We did find some criticisms of the Capresso H2O electric kettle, although on the whole it received fewer negative remarks than other models. A handful of users on Amazon.com say the kettle emitted a foul chemical smell when first turned on. The maker is apparently aware of this, as the machine's manual suggests boiling water with vinegar when the machine is new, but one user said this didn't help. The vast majority of users had very positive things to say about the Capresso H2O, however.

Although not as stylish as the Capresso electric tea kettle, the Bodum Ibis Electric Tea Kettle (*Est. $40) wins for its popularity, performance and price. The Ibis kettle is made of plastic, is available in white or black and has a generous seven-cup capacity with an automatic shut-off feature. It's also a fast heater. When filled to capacity, the Bodum tea kettle boils in fewer than five minutes. The Ibis is Slate.com reviewer Seth Stevenson's top pick among seven kettles he tests. In addition to its speed, Stevenson likes the kettle's handle, which stays cool to the touch, its "superaccurate" pour spout and low price. These qualities are echoed in praise for the Ibis at About.com and from owners at Cooking.com. This electric kettle has a scale filter, a feature not included with the Capresso kettle. The Ibis also comes with a one-year limited warranty.

The Ibis and its sister model, the Bodum Mini Ibis Electric Water Kettle (*Est. $30), garner favorable reviews on consumer websites. Several owners say the kettle lasts just a few years, but overall, users like the Ibis for its ability to boil water quickly and easily (one Amazon.com user says she's even boiled eggs in the Ibis). Judging from the number of reviews, the Mini Ibis is even more popular among owners. Its capacity is about half that of the regular model, and the Mini doesn't have a removable base. Rather, its heating element is housed in the kettle pitcher. Because of its smaller size, Bodum says the Mini must be filled to capacity to operate. It has an auto shut-off feature. Reviews for the Mini are much like those for the full-size Ibis tea kettle. Users on Amazon.com and Target.com praise its sleek design and love its speed and price, but some say it's not built to last. Several owners at Cooking.com say they wish it didn't have a cord. This kettle also comes with a one-year limited warranty.

The Chef's Choice International Deluxe 685 Cordless Teakettle (*Est. $50) is the top-rated kettle in testing at the Los Angeles Times by Cindy Dorn and Laurie Winer. It costs more, but this is an attractive stainless-steel electric kettle. Among five electric kettles and four stovetop models in the test, the Deluxe 685 is the overall winner based on time to boil, design, workmanship and value. Its boiling time is the second-fastest of the kettles tested, plus it has an especially comfortable handle that stays cool. The Deluxe 685 kettle has a dripless spout. Most of the 65 reviews for this kettle on Amazon.com are very positive, but a few people say that it is too loud and it imparts a metallic taste to water. Chef's Choice kettles come with a limited one-year warranty.

In testing by Real Simple, the Krups 54-Ounce FLF3 Electric Kettle (*Est. $70) boils four cups of water in three minutes and "delivers a tasty brew." It is a Real Simple pick, based on nice-tasting tea, quick boil time, automatic shutoff and water level window. This Krups kettle is also cited on About.com for being "a good, all-round kettle." The reviewer especially likes the trigger-controlled spout cover, which prevents spilling. Although owners at Amazon.com and Cooking.com give this kettle mixed reviews, many are impressed by how quickly it heats water. However, several say they received defective units, including ones with lids that stick or won't close properly and broken on/off switches. The FLF3 has a brushed stainless-steel body. It is also available in a black or white cool-touch body as the FLF2 (*Est. $60). (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

Overall, no electric kettle gets perfect reviews. They all receive some complaints about durability, difficulty pouring or other issues. Ultimately, we chose to include the Capresso H2O and the less-expensive Bodum Ibis in our Best Reviewed section.

Automatic tea brewers

Machines that brew tea as they heat water are a relatively new alternative. These electric machines operate much like coffee makers, with a basket where bagged or loose-leaf tea resides while water filters through. Unlike coffee makers, these aren't drip machines; rather, the basket allows the tea to steep until the set temperature is reached. With some models, that temperature can be adjusted according to the type of tea used.

Adagio Teas TriniTea (*Est. $100) is an electric tea maker for use with loose tea leaves. It has a double-decker design that looks a bit like a coffee maker: The tea steeps in a top carafe and then drips into a bottom carafe for pouring. It makes up to four 8-ounce cups at a time and keeps the tea warm for hours. The water temperature can be set at 212 degrees Fahrenheit (for black and herbal tea) or 185 degrees Fahrenheit (for all other teas). Steeping time can be set for two to eight minutes. At SeriousEats.com, Matthew Amster-Burton tries the Adagio Teas TriniTea and finds that it doesn't work that well with green tea, which he says requires a lower temperature than that offered by the TriniTea. At the Adagio website, more than 100 owners give the Adagio Teas TriniTea a nearly perfect score. People rave about the quality of the tea and the convenience of this machine, which beeps when the tea is ready and keeps it hot all day. One fairly common complaint is that the carafe is tricky to pour without spilling. It's also expensive.

The Adagio Teas ingenuiTea (*Est. $15) is a single-cup loose-tea brewer. You add hot water to it or put it in the microwave. In a test by one professional testing organization, the ingenuiTea is the only highly recommended one. Its mesh strainer keeps loose leaves under control, and it is easy to clean. The Adagio website allows owners to post reviews about their products; More than 450 reviewers give the ingenuiTea a nearly perfect score. Owners say it is easy to use and brews a great cup of tea. About 40 reviewers on Amazon.com are equally enthusiastic, though they seem to agree that the ingenuiTea should be replaced fairly often, as it tends to take on the taste of the tea.

On the whole, these tea machines seem fine for those who aren't too demanding. But for others, they don't allow enough control over steeping time or temperature. The most pointed criticism we found in all our tea kettle research was directed at one of these automatic tea makers, the Sunbeam Tea Drop Tea Maker Rob Beschizza of Wired magazine said it made lukewarm and un-tasty tea. The model Beschizza reviewed has been discontinued, replaced by two more expensive models, the Tea Drop HTM3 and the HTM5 hot tea makers (*Est. $47). (The only difference between the two is that the HTM5 has brushed chrome accents.) Both of these models receive nearly perfect rating from Amazon.com users, but a few tea purists note that these machines do not steep the tea; instead, hot (not boiling) water drips on and through the tea leaves and then into the pot.