KEttles Buyers Guide

Small appliances, big mistakes

It all comes down to boiling water; however, it's the time and the energy usage that deserves special attention along with the looks while buying a kettle. But looks can be deceiving; therefore, before deciding upon the shape, color and style, it's essential to check the technicalities as well as the budget.

Deciding on the type

This is what one needs to consider before stepping into an appliances shop. While jug kettles are the tall ones with a handle attached at the side, the traditional ones are round-ish, squat and come with a handle on top. The first type is difficult to lift and carry while the second type facilitates an even distribution of the weight. However, jug kettles allow for boiling small amounts of water and saving on electricity, a factor that stays absent in most of the traditional ones.

The material Factor

Jug kettles are mostly made of plastic, while the traditional kettles are mostly metal and therefore, more expensive. They also tend to grow very hot and extra safety measures are a must.

Connectivity modes

With cord, or a cordless kettle? It is the first decision that requires to be made, since all models do not offer both the options. Attached cords that push directly into the jug or the ones that sit on a plate holding the cord, both roughly works the same way; it is a person's aesthetic sense that comes into play.

The Heating Element

As evident from the name itself, this is a steel-made apparatus that stays at the bottom of the kettle. Periodical de-scaling is a must and this proves the importance of concealed elements with flat surfaces.

Power

Consumed in watts, an average kettle shall require 2500 watts to make the water boil. 3000 watts and above are termed as the rapid boil variety; however, a sane option if noise is not a cause of botheration to the buyer.

Capacity

The measuring unit is liters; it signifies the amount of liquid that can be safely accommodated by the kettle. For travel kettles, one liter is considered ok; for standard kettles, a capacity between 1.5 and 1.7 liters is sufficient.

Filter

It comes with most of the kettles; the filter is a plastic mesh across the spout on the inside. Its main job is to prevent unwanted particles from being transferred with the liquid being poured. Specialized filters provide a higher level of filtration; though frequent changes and the ongoing cost needs to be considered.

Extras

• Water Gauge: Meant for determining the water level inside without taking the lid off.
  
• 360-degree swivel base: Makes a kettle usable by both right and people.
  
• Insulated Handle: The insulation on the handle (mostly bakelite and fiber-glass) makes dealing with hot stuff a lot easier.
  
• Large Spout: Enables filling without removing the lid.
  
• Safety Cut Out: A sort of a timer, it prevents the kettle from boiling dry.
  

Key Features

Key Features   Capacity   Power   Concealed Element		With over 600 kettles on the market, key features such as Capacity, Power & Concealed Element are important factors when buying. These features not only effect the performane and quality of the kettle you choose, but also the price. Shown below are price guides for a selection of kettles focusing on the key features: Capacity, Power & Concealed Element.

Capacity 0.85 Liter £14.00 1.25 Liter £24.00 2 Liter £34.00 2.5 Liter £47.00 1.4 Liter £115.00 * 1.7 Liter £34.00

Power 1000 W £14.00 900 W £18.00 3100 W £33.00 1800 W £45.00 2400 W £68.00 * 3000 W £34.00

Concealed Element Without Concealed Element £32.00 With Concealed Element £36.00 * With Concealed Element £36.00

* Taking into account all current kettles on the market the most desirable would be a kettle with 1.7 Liter Capacity, 3000 W Power and With Concealed Element Concealed Element.

Price Guide

Min    £9.97 Avg    £34.89 Max    £115.00		KEttles cost anywhere from £9.97 for a basic kettle with few features to around £115.00 for a fully featured kettle.

Brand Guide

Popular Brands     Breville     Morphy Richards     Kenwood     RUSSELL HOBBS     HADEN     Prestige		The most popular kettles brand is Breville. The most expensive kettles brand is Alessi. If you're looking for a bargain then look out for Cookworks branded kettles as generally they offer the cheapest kettles.