The 5 Best Variable Temperature Kettles August, 2018 (And 13 Other Models)
The water kettle has come a long way from the stovetop model your grand'ma used and the basic electric kettle your parents thought was state-of-the-art. Modern variable temperature elctric kettles are the wave of the future because water temperature is critical in bringing out the best qualities of tea and coffee. Coffee must be brewed at 200F and most tea varieties require brew temperatures lower than the boiling point of 212F. For instance, according to inpursuitoftea.com, white tea best brews at 165F while black tea requires 205F or more.
Aside from preset or programmable temperature settings, variable temperature models commonly have several other advanced features. They often have a keep-warm timer -- to keep the water at the set temperature for a given amount of time -- or programmable auto-start timers. Tea-centric models also have a tea basket and a tea-steeping countdown timer.
So if you are not kidding with the quality of your tea or coffee, make sure your next electric kettle has variable temperature settings.
The List:
Considering this electric kettle's aggregate ranking of 90%, we are confident that the Hamilton Beach 41020 is, as of now, Alphachooser's best variable temperature kettle 2018. Furthermore, we think that our 54 reviews sampled from our sources give us a high confidence level (more on confidence levels) that pushes us to label it a "no-brainer best choice."
Temperature range: 160 to 200 (F)
BESTEK LD-K3013 Variable Temperature Kettle
The BESTEK LD-K3013's five temperature presets seem to be enough for many consumers to proclaim it as a great variable-temperature stainless steel kettle. Other good points we have seen while browsing through its 142 customer reviews include how fast it gets water to boil and how easy it is to keep clean.
Bestek's decision to stick to a stainless steel design has also paid off as consumers generally appreciate it for being easy to match with the rest of their kitchen appliances. The controls being located on the base instead of on the kettle itself also earned it many approvals. Reviewers also mentioned how accessible and easy to read the water gauge is compared to other electric kettles they've tried .
On the other hand, the absence of an end-of-cycle alarm has been noted as one of its few disadvantages. Other reviewers have also reported that this stainless steel kettle gives off a plastic-y smell (probably due to the plastic window frame), but one reviewer has helpfully volunteered that boiling white vinegar inside the kettle makes this problem go away. However, we do have a list of the best stainless steel electric kettles on AlphaChooser, which can give you plastic-free options.
This BESTEK programmable kettle seems to be a fuss-free option that does its job well. And its 4-star average rating from its customers has merited it the place of Alphachooser's second best variable temperature kettle 2018 (Learn how we rank items) on this list of the top 5 models.
Amazon ranks the best electric kettles by shopper's choices... Check today's ranking
Gourmia GPK720 Variable Kettle
The Gourmia GPK720's ability to have its temperature settings adjusted in 2-degree increments (This is in Fahrenheit) definitely got highly-particular consumers excited. For a small minority, however, this has also been a bit taxing as it meant navigating along temperatures would necessitate more button-pushing. As a stainless steel variable temperature kettle, it seems to have earned the favor of customers who are adamant in ensuring that no plastic parts are to touch the water for beverages like tea, as this apparently "ruins" the beverage by imparting a plastic-y taste. BTW, if you want to explore other models with this same qualification, we have a list of the best stainless steel kettles here on AlphaChooser.
Customers also enjoy how the beeping feature lets them know that the ongoing heating cycle is over, without being excessively-loud or annoying. Another advantage it has over many of its competitors is that it remembers the settings used the last time it was run, which eliminates the need to program it again and again with every use -- a great thing if you belong to the bunch who like to enjoy the same brew most days.
While some consumers may find its 1-liter capacity too limiting (For context, the current average capacity for variable-temperature kettles such as this one is 1.7L), another group of people are pleased with it -- as it makes the kettle easy to bring to the office. For cases like this, the smaller footprint also translates to a less-invasive presence in office desk spaces. Moving on, another gripe we've seen concerns the lid, which apparently has to be opened manually. This had some reviewers raising concerns about being more vulnerable to burns (especially since the metal body reportedly gets hot), and a few have suggested that installing a push button for automatically opening the lid would be great for future installments from Gourmia . Some have also pointed out that it overshoots the desired temperature by a few degrees -- something that can be compensated for by choosing a setting that's a bit lower than your actual target temperature.
With all things considered, we have come into the conclusion that this 4-star programmable temperature kettle is an Alphachooser good choice.
Comfee MK-17G01B-E5 Variable Temp Kettle
The Comfee MK-17G01B-E5, which has earned a combined rating of 4 stars from the 67 reviews that our system had analyzed, can be programmed in 10-degree increments. This may not be as precise as a few other models in this subcategory (which can accommodate five-degree increments), but most of its buyers nonetheless seem very pleased with how it works. The programmable warm-keeping function is a highly-raved about feature, as well.
One of the first things that impressed many of its customers is the glass pot which, along with the overall construction, reportedly felt durable and well-made. The tea infuser being placed optimally for water contact is a nice bonus for tea-drinkers, as well. Also, if you would like to narrow your search to electric teapots, we have a page here on AlphaChooser that's dedicated for the top electric tea kettles.
Some people have reported having some trouble with the user manual, saying that the instructions therein seem to have been written by someone who's not very versed with the English language. Specifically, certain reviewers have had a hard time understanding the instructions regarding how to turn the kettle off, so they usually remedy this by simply unplugging it after the desired boiling and keep-warm time had elapsed. However, this issue proved to be very small compared to the positive characteristics of this variable temperature electric teapot -- with one reviewer mentioning that with only the above-mentioned issue to worry about, this Comfee kettle still ends up better than all the other models she's tried .
This programmable electric kettle has obviously been a hit for an overwhelmingly-large portion of its consumers, which in turn merits it the title of an Alphachooser good choice on this top 5 ranking.
KitchenAid Pro Line Variable Temperature Electric Kettle
The Pro Line comes with four colors with funny names, including frosted pearl white and onyx black...
Watts: 1440 watts
More variable temperature kettles, sorted by the latest model first:
This variable-temperature stainless steel kettle earned a (rating temporarily unavailable)-star rating from a total of reviews, based on the analysis made by our system scanner. With its 6-temperature feature, majority of its verified users (most of them are tea enthusiasts) are satisfied alongside the keep-warm function, which holds the desired temperature for up to 2 hours.
Most of the reviewers who have ditched their old-yet-indispensable kettles, have purchased it for its resemblance to their old ones. Apparently, follow-up reviews of these users confirm that form follows function, adding its attractive vibe to their kitchen counters. One user mentioned that "it is lightweight," which benefits those who struggle to lift heavy appliances. Other compliments go on its cool-touch handle and its claim as a fast-boil kettle.
From another viewpoint, some of the buyers (who use the same temperature setting everyday) are disappointed about not having the option to save the last programmed temperature. This may be a shout-out to Epica (just in case they plan to do an upgraded version), since majority of these buyers still ended up with good recommendation. As we move on to the real drawbacks, dissatisfied users complain that its stainless steel jar gets way too hot after boiling. Although it has been mentioned that the handle remains cool, this is a major downside for a household of elderly people with potentially burn-prone thin skin. A considerable number of users whine about the lack of a beeping sound when the boiling is done, but some early-bird folks are equally happy for not having one (to avoid waking up everyone else).
The rest of the reviews talk about its water-level measurement showing "liters," compared to the usual liter-and-cup markings, while few others wish that the lid is removable for easy-reach cleaning. Based on our comprehensive review, this kettle did not earn any special rank.
Electrolux ELKT17D8PS Expressionist Variable Temperature Control Kettle
Temperature range: 122 to 212 (F)
