8 Picks Tested and Reviewed

The world of stovetop kettles may seem simple, but once you dig deep, you’ll see it’s anything but. Stainless steel, glass, and enamel are only some of the materials stovetop kettles are made of. You can choose between a whistle or whistle-free, removable or fixed handle, spout lever, or a kettle without a spout lever. And the list goes on… 

Here’s our view on the best stovetop kettle you’ll love using to make your teas and coffees.

The Best Stovetop Kettles of 2023

Here are our top eight stovetop kettles available right now. We’ve included an option for different styles and budgets. If you want a stovetop kettle as a coffee-making accessory or plan to drink teas every morning, any of the stovetop tea kettles below are a great choice.

Chantal Anniversary Enamel on Steel whistling tea kettle is our top choice for ease of use and pour. It has an ergonomic stay-cool curved handle design that makes it easy to get every last drop of water. The water never streams or splashes when pouring. Moreover, this is only a half handle, which makes it easier to take the lid on and off.

We also liked how easy it is to clean this whistling tea kettle due to its wide opening and round shape. It heats quickly, and the whistle is loud enough to be heard in other rooms but not so loud it’ll wake the dead (which you’ll appreciate first thing in the morning).

The manufacturer celebrated its 40th anniversary by making the tea kettle available in a wide array of colors, so it’s easy to find one that matches your kitchen decor. This best tea kettle is made of enamel on steel. The enamel is fired at a high temperature, which makes it extra durable. The glossy finish is easy to clean, and the paint doesn’t wear off as quickly as with other materials. Moreover, the interior is made of enamel as well, which resists hard water and mineral build-up. In other words, you’ll be able to use this kettle for years.

Overall, this is a perfect kettle for users who want a classic tea kettle with a shiny enamel exterior that works on all surfaces. It has a flat base, which allows maximum contact with the heat source for rapid boiling. This is one of the best kettles for gas stove, but you can use it on all stovetops, including induction.

2. OXO BREW Classic Tea Kettle – Best Build

Specifications

• Capacity: 1.7 quarts

• Material: Stainless steel, silicone
• Style: Classic
• Dimensions: 8 x 9.75 x 9.75 inches

OXO Brew Classic stovetop kettle may look like it’s made of tin foil which will dent easily, but the reality is very different. It’s one of the best stainless steel kettles on the market and incredibly well-built. OXO Brew Classic has a heat-resistant silicone grip on the handle, which means it’ll never become too hot for you to handle. The handle rotates and folds, which makes storage easy. The spout cover also has a silicone pad, so it’s safe to open. 

The tea kettle has a strong stream during poring. The slanted spout makes it easy to achieve the precise aim and fill up the mug quickly. However, you have to be careful not to tilt the stovetop tea kettle too far, or the water will come out too quickly and splash the cup and the outside area.

This stovetop kettle also heats water incredibly quickly. It comes up to temperature fast on a standard stovetop and retains heat well. Finally, it has a large opening, so it’s easy to fill up and clean — you can fit your whole hand inside and clean all the usually difficult-to-reach corners.

This is one of the lightest stovetop tea kettles you can find (it weighs only 1.14 pounds). It’s also one of the fastest kettles and the most affordable option on this list. It won’t last a lifetime, but you’ll get several years of use out of it.

This stovetop kettle has a straightforward design and nice clean lines that fit nicely into most kitchen decors. It tends to glug a little when you pour at half capacity, but the water comes out in a nice spiral.

Considering its extremely affordable price, we don’t have many qualms about it. The handle and stoppers are bakelite, a form of lightweight and durable plastic (1). A flip-up spout cover and a stay-cool trigger make the use safe, and it’s easy to open and close the spout.

This isn’t the fastest kettle, but the boiling process is fast, and you won’t wait long to have boiling water. There isn’t any metallic taste. However, it tends to lose temperature quickly when removed from the heat source.

The kettle produces a pleasant whistle that’s not too loud, and you can use it on any heat source, including induction. Overall, this is a solid pick if you’re on a strict budget or want a tea kettle for a dorm.

4. Le Creuset Whistling Tea Kettle – Best Boiling Speed

Specifications

• Capacity: 5 quarts

• Material: Stainless steel
• Style: Classic
• Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 6 inches

If boiling speed is your main requirement, this is the best whistling kettle for you. It has one of the shortest boiling point times we’ve seen, almost on par with electric kettles. This comes in handy if you plan to use it as a coffee kettle and want a quick caffeine fix.

Le Creuset has a traditional handle, but it folds down in one direction. It’s stable enough, so the tea kettle doesn’t swing when you pour. The handle tends to get hot when boiling water for longer, but not so hot you can’t hold it. The 3/4-inch spout produces a steady stream without making the water splash.

This is one of the largest stovetop kettles on the list. On the one hand, it can heat more water, and the body covers the whole burner, which minimizes the flames damaging the exterior. But, the large size means it’s not the easiest tea kettle to store. Plus, it’s very heavy when completely full.

You need to handwash the stovetop kettle, but the opening is sufficiently large to fit a hand and sponge into the chamber. The build is solid, with chip-resistant enamel. The inner black clamber hides watermarks and stains, and the exterior is easy to clean.

5. Cuisinart CTK-SS17N Aura – Best Handle

Specifications

• Capacity: 2 quarts

• Material: Stainless steel
• Style: Aura
• Dimensions: 9 x 8.8 x 7.4 inches

The best feature of the Cuisinart Aura 2 tea kettle is the handle. We loved the trigger on the handle, which you use to open the pour spout with one hand. The body of this stovetop kettle gets very hot, but the heat-resistant handle remains comfortable to the touch, thanks to the rubber coating. Moreover, the handle lever also has a rubber tip, so you don’t accidentally chip your cup.

The Cuisinart Aura 2 looks nice on any stove. The exterior is stainless steel with brushed nickel which ensures the kettle dries without any watermarks or discoloration. The interior is non-reactive and corrosion-proof.

It’s easy to hear the whistling tea kettle from anywhere in the home, thanks to the clean and loud whistle. Luckily, it’s not too loud when you’re standing right next to it.

The only thing we wish was better is the top opening, which is somewhat small. Plus, it’s located close to the handle, so it can be difficult to fill it with water from the tap, and you need to maneuver the kettle in the right position.

6. Poliviar Tea Kettle – Best for Design Lovers

Specifications

• Capacity: 2.7 quarts

• Material: Food-grade stainless steel
• Style: Classic, ergonomic
• Dimensions: 7.8 x 7.8 x 9 inches

The Poliviar stovetop kettle is the best stovetop kettle if you want a modern design kettle that makes your kitchen pop. It’s a combination of modern design and striking colors, topped with a wood handle that provides a stark contrast to the modern body.

The handle isn’t actually wood but silicone. The silicone handle provides excellent heat protection. Plus, there’s a lever for opening and closing the spout with one hand, which makes the use extra convenient. The lever is also coated in silicone, so you don’t have to worry you’ll get burned. The spout has a built-in whistle, that isn’t very loud, so you have to keep an eye on the kettle. The spout does a good job and doesn’t shoot scalding hot water when you push the pour trigger, but the water comes out in a nice stream.

Overall, the tea kettle has a great design, which includes a large base for more heat contact and a self-sealing lid, which provides fast boiling time. The only thing that’s hard to get on and off is the cover. It needs more pull to get off and push to get it on. Also, the spout is located very high on the tea kettle, so you need to almost turn it upside down to get the last of the water out.

Hario V60 Buono tea kettle is loved by professional baristas and home coffee enthusiasts. This is the best pour-over gooseneck kettle if you want to make filter coffee or pour-over coffee. This small tea kettle has a gooseneck spout for precise pouring. That being said, you’ll need to practice pouring to find the right angle for a slow, steady pour.

Buono is a stylish little tea kettle with a beehive design, which fits great with other Hario coffee products. Even if you don’t have any other Hario products, it’s a stylish addition to the kitchen.

This tea kettle is on the smaller side, so storage is easy. However, it doesn’t take up the whole burner, which means flames can shoot out from the sides on high-heat gas stovetops. You should use it on medium or low heat. Still, it has even heat distribution and holds the heat well after you remove it from the burner.

The top opening is small, and you can’t fit your whole hand inside to clean. Luckily, drying overnight doesn’t leave stains inside the kettle. Finally, this isn’t a whistling tea kettle, and it doesn’t have a fill line marked, so you need to be careful not to overfill it, or it’ll boil over.

The manufacturer claims this is a Lamborghini of the tea kettle world. We don’t know if we would go that far, but we are fans of this kettle for a few reasons.

The main reason thousands of customers, including us, love it is that this is a stovetop kettle with a thermometer. It ensures the coffee beans or tea leaves are never burnt, so you always get maximum flavor. The thermometer has a scale marked with a green zone, which means you’re in the ideal brewing range. While this isn’t the most advanced thermometer we’ve seen, it’s a nice feature to have, especially as thermometers are a sorely lacking feature in the tea kettle world.

The gooseneck spout provides a smooth, steady flow and makes it easy to achieve pour-over coffee. You can speed up or slow down the pour as needed. Keep in mind this is a little kettle, but the smaller capacity isn’t an issue unless you plan to have over three cups of coffee at once.

This coffee kettle has a triple-layer, anti-rust base made from aluminum and stainless steel, and you can use it on gas stoves, ceramic, induction, and even camping stoves.

Buying Guide for the Best Stovetop Kettle

Here’s everything to keep in mind when shopping for the best stovetop kettle for you.

How much water do you need to boil?

The first thing you should think about when choosing stovetop kettles is the capacity, i.e., how much water a kettle can hold. Stovetop kettles range from 1 to 2 quarts to 6 quarts or larger. The key is knowing what’s the best fit for you. A beautiful kettle won’t mean much if it can’t boil enough water. Generally, 2 quarts is a good size for an average user.

Keep in mind larger kettles need more time to boil and more storage space. These aren’t the best for small needs. If you only drink a cup or two of tea a day or fill a small French Press, go for a smaller kettle. But, if you have a large family who loves to drink teas and coffees, scale up as needed.

What stove do you have?

Tea kettles usually live on top of your stove, so you probably want one that matches your kitchen decor. This comes down to the material. More importantly, the material also affects the kettle’s functionality. So it’s crucial to know which material works best with your stovetop surface.

You can choose between these materials:

• Stainless steel — Is the most common material for electric kettles and stovetop kettles. It’s durable, affordable, and low maintenance. It heats the water quickly and holds heat well.
• Enamel — Provides a shiny finish. Enamel kettles come in various designs and colors and have a whistle. Enamel tends to fade, peel, or rust, but some kettles are a combo of stainless steel and enamel finish, which gives the whistling tea kettle a colorful look and makes it more durable.
• Glass — Is a lightweight and affordable option. These stovetop kettles are easy to maneuver and care for. They have an attractive design. However, glass isn’t as durable as stainless steel. Glass kettles come to a boil quickly but also quickly lose heat. Also, these don’t work on an induction top.
• Cast iron — Takes a long time to heat but has excellent heat retention properties. Cast iron kettles usually have a striking appearance but are on the expensive side. Also, they need to be cared for carefully or tend to rust (2).

How agile do you need to be with using the kettle?

Boiling water requires careful handling, which is why the kettle’s spout is important. Best stovetop kettles have a long, tapered, or spout that comes to a point at the end instead of staying rounded. Gooseneck kettles fill all three of these criteria, as they have long, narrow spouts. They provide precise and accurate pouring, best for pour-over coffee.

However, keep in mind this is a generalization, and there are many kettles that have large short spouts that don’t splash or drip. It’s best to check other user reviews to check how effective the spout is.

Is it easy to clean?

Water builds up the scale and mineral residue over time, so kettles need to be cleaned. The most important cleaning factor is being able to access the inside of the kettle. Look for kettles with a large opening that fits your whole hand inside, so you can scrub with a sponge.

Generally, glass kettles make it easy to assess how dirty the kettle is, while metal ones are harder to examine. You should also check if the stovetop kettle is dishwasher safe or hand wash only before making a purchase.

The Verdict

A good kettle is easy to choose for true tea or coffee lovers. Go for the Chantal Anniversary Enamel on Steel if you want the best pick. Here’s why we loved it:

• It provides excellent design and ease of use for a reasonable price.
• The stay-cool ergonomic handle makes getting to every last drop of water easy.
• The wide opening makes cleaning easy.
• A loud whistle lets you know water is ready wherever in the house you are.
• Durable design available in many colors.