The kettle is just as good-looking, with a handle that’s easy to grip and a light-up lever to show when it’s boiling. It’s also surprisingly light to carry around, so less of a struggle when full. A good-sized water window with multiple markings in litres means it’s simple to boil only as much water as required, while the minimum boil, though not marked, is an economical 250ml. In our tests, it performed well, boiling a litre of cold water in two minutes and 15 seconds. Not only that, its minimum fill is 250ml: ideal for a standard-sized mug. You may lose a little time taking off the lid to fill, though; there’s no convenient flip-top version here. We all covet KitchenAid gadgets. If you want a bit of the iconic KitchenAid style (in a range of colours) in your kitchen but can’t quite stretch to the stand mixer, this Artisan Kettle might fill a hole on your work surface and in your heart. A power element of 3kW is generally considered best for fast boiling and all of our top-scoring kettles have this wattage.

Weight: It’s also worth thinking about the weight of the kettle when full. Most of us have no problem lifting a full kettle, but if you suffer with arthritis or carpal tunnel, for example, lifting a heavy kettle can be really difficult and you'll want to go for a lightweight or smaller model. The appeal of the Kenwood Mesmerine 1.6L Kettle lies in its points of difference from others on the market. On the outside, its shimmering finish gives it a luxurious, design-led feel, while on the inside, it’s the plastic-free stainless-steel body that will make it easier to descale and give it a longer lifespan.

How much should I spend on the best kettle?

There are two main types of kettle: jug and dome. Jug kettles are taller, tend to have handles located on the side and will generally hold a larger volume of water. For kettles, we time how long it takes to boil a full kettle of cold water from the tap, as well as 1l for comparative purposes. Each litre of water was measured using the same jug, as it’s not uncommon for litre markings on a kettle to be incorrect or unavailable. Breville kettles also come highly recommended and, while none of them made our final cut, we also heard lots of good things about De’Longhi during our research process. Safety features: You might also want to go for a kettle with plastic rather than stainless steel casing so that the body of the kettle never gets too hot. An auto shut-off feature will stop the kettle from boiling if it's lifted from its base.

Most kettles have this clearly visible on the exterior but some are more awkwardly placed, such as behind the handle. Kettles with large viewing windows are best if you want to know exactly how much water is in the kettle at any time. In testing, the Mesmerine’s powerful 3kW element boiled a litre of water from cold in just 2mins 6secs, while the maximum of 1.6 litres took 3mins 3secs. That makes the Mesmerine as fast a kettle as you can expect. There’s a kettle for every kitchen style and budget, from traditional stove-top pots that whistle pleasingly when it’s time for tea, to smart kettles that switch themselves on before you’ve even decided you want a brew.

Whether you plump for bright colours or sleek design, these are the best toaster and kettle sets for highlighting your style credentials

Dome-shaped kettles look more like traditional stovetop models. Electric dome kettles often have lift-off lids, which can be a bit more fiddly than flip-top models to use, and these kettles usually have a smaller water capacity. Their handles are often located on top, too. It may look like an old-fashioned stove-top kettle but it’s got all the mod cons. The multiple temperature settings let you heat water from anywhere from 50 degrees up to 100 in 10-degree increments, and it also has a temperature gauge so you can see how hot the water is at any time, even when not on its base. Firstly, design — is it going to colour co-ord with your existing scheme? Secondly, speed, because we have *not* got time to hang around waiting for our brew, and finally, noise, because no one wants a kettle that sounds like it’s about to take off.

This set’s glossy faceted exterior with geometric shapes belies its modest price. Despite being one of the more affordable options in our roundup, it still has some premium features, such as a defrost option on the toaster and internal kettle illumination. The limescale filter is top-quality so it’s a good choice if you live in a hard water area, and it’s capable of boiling one cup to 1.5 litres of water. Smart features: The fanciest of kettles now have smart features, meaning you can switch on your kettle from your app or keep it warm so your cup of tea is only seconds away when you walk in the door. How much should I spend on the best kettle? This sturdy stainless steel and plastic cordless jug sits on a square base unit and offers four different temperature settings (100, 90, 80 and 70 degrees) and there’s a keep-warm function so you don’t have to reboil water. The kettle beeps when you turn it on and to let you know when it’s boiled too, just in case you forget. There are finer details to think about too, which can make a real difference when you’re using your kettle day in, day out:

The Kenwood Mesmerine is the best kettle for keeping your water hot

Fill it at the top and a blue light glows through the glass, getting brighter as it boils, which is a nice touch. It's relatively quiet when boiling too. Hard water can make your cup of tea taste a bit like pond water so if you live in a hard water area, you’ll want to choose the best kettle that counteracts that.