A kettle’s not just a kettle – we wanted to have a look at the different options around and give you our guide to the best kettles for making coffee.
A kettle’s there to boil water, right? Wrong. We’re not looking to sterilise something, we’re looking to warm water to the perfect temperature to make the best coffee possible – and that’s not done with water at 100’C.
Whether you’re looking for a stove top kettle, or an electric kettle, if you’re looking for a kettle for brewing coffee we think you should be looking at a gooseneck kettle. Realistically if you’re using a kettle to make your coffee then you’re not using an espresso machine or a bean to cup machine – they’ll do the heating up for you, you need a kettle for pour over or filter coffee – and that’s about precision. A gooseneck kettle will allow you to control the flow of water, ensuring that all of the grounds are treated exactly as you want them to be.
Back to the temperature – traditionally we think of a kettle boiling water, hearing that click or whistle when 100’C has been reached, but if you’re making coffee with boiling water, you’re burning the beans you lovingly chose and probably ground to the perfect coarseness. No-one wants that. What you need is the option to regulate the temperature or your water – and that’s possible with a wide range of readily available gooseneck coffee kettles. Seeing a gooseneck kettle on someone’s kitchen counter top is a sure sign they can offer you a decent coffee too!
When looking for a kettle there are a few things you should be aware of – obviously you want it to look good, or I do anyway but that’s not what we’re talking about.
– Capacity – how many cups of coffee are you likely to be making on a regular basis, there’s a big difference in the amount of water needed to brew a single cup to regularly making coffee to fill a 6 cup Chemex. You don’t want to be filling a kettle multiple times for one round of drinks.
– Speed – how quickly does your kettle reach temperature, you don’t want to be waiting around for an age once you’ve decided it’s time for a brew. Speed is definitely something to consider when buying your kettle
-Features – what does it actually do – yes it heats water(!) but some will allow you to select specific temperatures, hold water at that temperature and even allow you to time your pour. So have a think about what you’re looking for your kettle to do.
Dualit Pour Over Kettle, Matt Black
Dualit are no stranger to kitchen appliances and they’ve created a really accessible gooseneck electric kettle. The thin, gooseneck spout of the Dualit Pour Over Kettle controls the flow of water for a slow and accurate pour over ground coffee – ensuring maximum flavour and aroma extraction every time. It allows you to really personalise the temperature – by the degree (and view it in Celsius or Fahrenheit). You can also choose to hold that temperature for a designated period, up to five minutes.
It’s an easy to use take on a classic design, with a non-drop spout, allowing you to direct your pour with great accuracy. Holding up to 800ml of coffee you’re able to brew for more than just yourself – the only drawback we’ve found is that it’s not the quickest of kettles. We’d recommend the Dualit Pour Over Kettle for a brand that you know and can trust, and the ease of really personalising the temperature.
Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Kettle
There’s no denying that the Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Kettle is a stylish addition to any kitchen with simplistic, nordic stylings. With variable heat settings (displayed in Celsius or Fahrenheit). You can see the goal temperature as well as the current temperature, and then that goal is hit, it will hold that temperature for up to an hour – which with its 900ml capacity is pretty useful. There’s also a built-in brew stopwatch to help you time your pour to the second – great if you’re really looking to perfect your pour over. It’s really quick to boil and can even come with bluetooth capability. It’s not the cheapest electric pour over kettle on the market but the Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Kettle is worth it.
Barista Warrior
The first non-electric kettle on the list is the Barista Warrior – you’ll need your hob or stove top to use this one – it’s compatible with all including induction; with its thermometer incorporated into the lid, it’s just as easy to make sure you’re hitting the temperature you’re looking for – it even has the ideal range already marked up for you. With its max brewing capacity of 1L you can heat your water for more than one cup at a time. Without the electric aspect you get a lower price option – but the Barista Warrior doesn’t feel like the budget option. It’s not something that you can just set to go and walk away from but it’s a great option if you’re looking for a stove top gooseneck coffee kettle.
Coffee Gator True Brew Gooseneck Kettle
With its insulating silicon jacket the Coffee Gator True Brew Gooseneck Kettle is yet another stylish option when looking for a gooseneck kettle. Another non-electric option and at 1.6L it’s the largest option on our list so far – it’s suitable for any stove top – including induction . The innovative design of the flip lid means that you can see the temperature of the water even with the lid open – allowing you to add more water to adjust the temperature to exact standards, although it does take a little while to heat up due to the capacity. The handle is comfortable to use – which is great news as it’s a heavy item at full capacity – and it allows a really steady flow – ideal for pour over coffee making. If you’re looking for a larger stove top kettle, the Coffee Gator True Brew Gooseneck Kettle is a really great option.
We’re more than convinced that to brew the best pour over coffee you need a kettle with adjustable temperature settings – and if we’re completely honest, we prefer a kettle you don’t have to watch – although the Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Kettle gives you something to watch – willing the temperature to hit its goal. Obviously that’s not our only point of recommendation but it definitely helps make it our favourite gooseneck coffee kettle on the market right now.