Tea Blog

While electric kettles are commonplace in the United Kingdom, many people in the United States don’t have one. But true tea lovers know that the fastest, easiest way to get your cuppa is to have one of these gadgets for your very own. Here are a few things to consider when selecting an electric kettle:

1. Kettle Size

Electric kettles come in several different sizes so that you can select the size you need according to the amount of water you typically need to boil. Some kettles have transparent sides printed with a measuring gauge so that you can see how much water is actually in your kettle. The nifty thing about this is that if you only need to boil a cup of water, you can easily do so and cut down on the time it takes to heat your water.

2. Temperature Settings

If you are a big fan of green and white teas, you  may want to find a kettle with variable temperature settings so you don’t have to wait for freshly boiled water to cool down enough to be used with more delicate teas.

3. Corded vs Cordless Kettles

Some electric kettles are cordless: They sit on a base to which a power cord is connected, and you can just lift up the kettle, pour your hot water and return the kettle to its stand. This is a more convenient and elegant way of pouring water and you don’t risk accidentally pulling the cord out of the wall if you absentmindedly walk off with the kettle without unplugging it first.

4. Reboil Feature

The reboil feature keeps you in hot water during teatime. After you initially boil your water and pour it into your cup or brewing vessel, a kettle with reboil will periodically, and automatically, reheat your water for you. This can be a nice feature if you drink a lot of tea during the day, but may not be necessary if you only make one pot of tea per day or prefer to use fresh water for each boil.

5. Handle Position

Some tea kettles feature handles that curve over the top of the kettle, while other kettles are designed with handles that are gripped from the back. I personally prefer the later handle position, as I feel that it gives me more control over the flow of the water which is always good when preparing tea in the gong-fu style and is probably safer as well. However, you may find that you prefer the top-position for your kettle handle, so you may want to try both handle types to see which you prefer.

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