An electric kettle is a must-have tool in the kitchen if you enjoy the taste of French press or pour over coffee, or if you prefer to brew your drip coffee manually. The best electric kettles for coffee are easy to use, can boil water faster than your stove, and offer an auto shut-off functionality for safety and convenience.
Your ideal electric kettle will primarily depend on which kind of coffee you’re preparing and how much control you'd like to have over the temperature of the water. French press and drip coffee are commonly brewed with water that ranges between 195 and 205 degrees. This temperature can be easily achieved with a kettle that has simple preset temperature options. If you’re not very particular about your coffee, however, a basic water boiler will suit your needs — just set the water to boil, then let it rest for a minute before pouring the water over your grounds.
If you’re making pour over coffee, though, you’ll need to be a bit more precise. It’s suggested that you use water that’s close to 205 degrees Fahrenheit, and that you pour the water slowly and consistently in a circular motion. If you’re intending to use your kettle for pour over, you should consider grabbing a model with a long and narrow (or gooseneck) spout that offers more control over the flow rate than a wider spout. A built-in timer is also helpful as it can help you maintain a slow and steady pour.
It’s helpful to note the wattage of an electric kettle, as it will give you a general sense of how quickly it can boil water. Most popular electric kettles in the United States use 1,500 watts — a kettle with a lower wattage will likely take longer to heat the water, which can be a pain during busy mornings. Kettles range widely in size too. In my research, I found kettles as small as half a liter and as large as 1.7 liters. If you prefer to brew big pots of coffee, opt for a larger kettle that will allow you to heat as much water as you need in one go.
From one-touch kettles to a temperature-precise option, here are some of the best electric kettles for coffee — all available on Amazon.
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