Water Kettle

A water kettle is an essential tool for coffee lovers, providing hot water quickly and efficiently for coffee making and preparation. Learn more about its benefits and how to choose the right one for your brewing needs.   

  If you are using any of the coffee brewing methods that require you to manually heat up the water ahead of the brewing (Aeropress, french press, manual pour-over) then you may find it convenient to use an electric kettle.  I have found that a goose neck style gives me more control over the pour than just dumping it from a pot.  The electric kettles typically heat up the water quicker than a stove will.  Some kettle styles allow you to heat up the water on the stove, or fire for people who want an old-fashioned way to make coffee.

    Probably the most common reason for using an electric kettle is the speed bonus.  You definitely want to consider how long a kettle takes to get to the temperature before making a purchase.  These should all be less than five minutes, but every second you have to wait for your coffee could seem like forever.

    One feature to look at is temperature control.  For coffee, the ideal is around 200 degrees, or just below boiling.  Some kettles allow you to set the temperature, and among those, some have a greater range than others.  Mine does not have that, I just push the lever and wait for it to get to a boil and then wait about thirty seconds for it to cool.  The biggest key to quality coffee is consistency however you make it happen.

    Capacity is the next item on your list to look at.  Some smaller ones may not be large enough to make enough coffee at one time, totally not cool.  Larger ones may have a minimum fill line that is way more than you want to use.  The latter is less of a problem when you just let the water cool and then pour it into the reservoir of your standard coffee maker, so it is there waiting for its next use.

    Thermal insulation may be a problem for some people.  I like to set my kettle on the counter near my coffee station and require at least the bottom to be cool, so it doesn't mess up the countertop.  I also like NOT burning my arm on accident too.

    The last thing I will be mentioning is appearance.  Aesthetics are becoming more important in the kitchen with color-coordinating appliances and styles.  This may not matter if you plan on storing it away between uses, but just leaving it out as a decoration is also an option.

    If you have a favorite kettle please be sure to tell us about it in a comment and why you like it.

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