Aussies love a good cuppa, but there's more to a kettle than just boiling water.
Increasingly, there are more sophisticated models on the market with features such as temperature control, constant boil and noise reduction, plus a range of pretty finishes and vivid colours.
Tea time and testing at CHOICE.
But if a kettle drips and dribbles, is too loud or just hard to hold, all the bells and whistles in the world won't make your tea break the relaxing ritual it should be.
Of course it's impossible to know just by looking at one instore or online.
That's why our lab experts put more than 60 popular models through a range of tough tests – from boil time to noise levels, to ease of use and more – to ensure you get the best cuppa you can.
Our tests found some great kettles, both budget and high-end, alongside some really mediocre models that were truly off the boil, ranging in price from $40 to a whopping $645.
We don't want you to end up with a dud buy, so here are the products that scored lowest in our lab tests. Consider becoming a CHOICE member to see the best performers.
All style, no substance: the Bugatti Jackie kettle.
Bugatti Jackie 02-JKCRNU
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 65%
- Price: $645
No, that's not a typo: this kettle costs more than SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS.
And what does your money get you? A kettle that looks like one of those 90s handbags that have come back into fashion. But it's noisy and is a pain to use.
This Bugatti isn't from the makers of the wildly expensive car brand (it's an entirely different company, apparently), but it's certainly priced as though it is.
And what does your money get you? A kettle that looks like one of those 90s handbags that have come back into fashion
In case you thought this was the most expensive kettle you've ever seen, think again. This is the cheaper version; the more formally-named Jaqueline sells for more than $800.
It doesn't look vastly different to the Jackie but connects to a Bugatti app, so you can set it to boil for every tea break you have through the day.
The Bugatti Jackie kettle is awkward to use.
But back to the 'cheap' version. Why did it receive such a low rating from our experts?
First of all, it's noisy: it registered at 62 decibels when we measured it from 50cm away. By comparison, the quietest kettles we tested boil at around 50 decibels.
It might not seem like much difference, but you'd hope that a kettle this expensive would be whisper-quiet.
Or maybe you'd actually want it to make a racket so guests can't help but pay attention to your swanky new appliance!
Aside from bringing the noise, our experts noted that it's difficult to see the indicator light, and strangely the water level markings are inside the kettle, rather than on the outside, so you need to remove the lid to see how much water is inside.
And in a clear case of form over function, despite the Jackie's supposedly sophisticated design, it's actually quite awkward to use: the kettle only fits into the base in two configurations, so you need to line it up before you put it back on the base.
You could buy an entire coffee machine, not just a kettle, for the price
Considering that you could buy an entire coffee machine, not just a kettle, for the price, we think it's very much not worth your money. (You should also avoid the Bugatti Volo toaster for similar reasons.)
Check out the best coffee machines for less than $600 or if you're curious, read the full Bugatti Jackie review.
Quantum kettle, quantum noise.
Sunbeam Quantum KE6310
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 66%
- Price: $80
Like your peace and quiet? Then don't buy this kettle, which boils very loudly at 65.3 decibels.
When it comes to ease of use (which makes up 40% of our CHOICE Expert Rating), it's a mixed bag.
Like your peace and quiet? Then don't buy this kettle
On the upside, it's easy to pour and you don't have to tilt it much at the end, so it's easy on the wrist.
On the downside, the water level markers are difficult to see and the indicator light is quite faint, which makes it hard to see in a bright room.
Our testing found Sunbeam makes some great kettles – this just isn't one of them. See the full Sunbeam Quantum review.
The DeLonghi Argento prioritises style over substance.
DeLonghi Argento KBX2016.W1
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 66%
- Price: $139
It might have the style, but unfortunately this DeLonghi doesn't back it up with substance.
Our testers found it awkward to use: from removing the lid to pouring water to checking the water level and replacing the filter, it isn't a great experience.
It might have the style, but this DeLonghi doesn't back it up with substance
If you're not irritated by those aspects, the noise will probably get to you. Our experts classify its 65dB mid-boil reading as "Very noisy".
Read the full DeLonghi Argento review.
Full kettle racket: The DeLonghi Icona.
DeLonghi Icona KBO2001.S
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 67%
- Price: $109
Another model that needs a volume switch! At over 65 decibels, the Icona promises a full kettle racket when it boils.
It also has other curious quirks – among them, the water level isn't indicated below 1000mL and both the detachable lid and filter are fiddly to remove.
Not one of DeLonghi's best models
On the flipside, it offers good handle comfort and doesn't need much tilting to get the last of the water out. Not one of DeLonghi's best models, though.
Check our full kettle reviews if you're looking for a better DeLonghi.
Cheap, but far from a bargain: the Sunbeam Rise Up kettle.
Sunbeam Rise Up KEP0007WH
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 68%
- Price: $40
It may be cheap and cheerful compared to some of the high-end kettles we've reviewed, but this Sunbeam kettle was outperformed even by $25 models, so if you're looking for a bargain this isn't it.
Like many of the kettles in this list of poor performers, it's noisy and has a few frustrating features – an indicator light that's not very bright or obvious, water level markings that are difficult to see, and a lid that requires extra effort to open fully.
This kettle was outperformed even by $25 models, so if you're looking for a bargain this isn't it
It also takes an agonising 3m37s to boil, and since time is money, what you'll save on buying the kettle you'll lose in the long minutes spent waiting for it to boil.
If you're looking for a good boil on a budget, you can find one in our detailed kettle reviews.
Fashionably flawed: The Smeg 50s Style kettle.
Smeg 50s Style KLF04
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 68%
- Price: $269
This expensive kettle oozes retro style (and comes in a range of colours), but it'll prove troublesome come tea time.
It's bottom-heavy, sports an uncomfortable handle and the water level is hard to see. It's also notably noisy.
This expensive kettle oozes retro style, but it'll prove troublesome come tea time
On the plus side, it packs handy features such as an audio boil finish reminder, a soft-opening lid and a "keep warm" function.
It also has seven preset boil temperatures, which would be great, except our tests found six of them were wrong by 1–8°C. Oops!
Read the full Smeg 50s Style kettle review.
It's crystal clear: The water filter is a great idea that doesn't work.
Russell Hobbs Brita Glass Kettle RHK550
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 68%
- Price: $80
Yet another noisy boiler, this glass number from Russell Hobbs has an inbuilt water filter – a feature that's a great idea in theory, but not so much in practice.
Using filtered water in your kettle sounds clever – except that it'll take you 2–3 minutes to fill the kettle because the water has to filter through first.
The inbuilt water filter is a great idea in theory, but not so much in practice
And then you'll have to wait a further 3 minutes 45 seconds for the kettle to boil, so you'd want to hope you're not already desperate for that cuppa!
Read the full Russell Hobbs Brita Glass Kettle review.
Dishonourable mention
Breville's The Smart Kettle BKE825
Despite performing well in our tests at first, this model has received an overwhelming amount of complaints about long-term reliability after one to two years of use, so beware.
See the full review of Breville's The Smart Kettle BKE 825 and complaints.
Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
