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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Lauren Cunningham

8 best temperature control kettles that promise to boil the perfect brew

Get the most out of tea and coffee, with the help of one of these kettles - (Lauren Cunningham/The Independent)

Most of us don’t think too hard about making a brew. Flick the kettle switch, wait for the rumble and pour boiling water over whatever bag happens to be in the mug. But if you’re drinking anything other than a robust builder’s tea – our pouring over coffee – you’re likely ruining the flavour before you’ve even taken a sip.

Whereas basic black teas, hot chocolate and chai can be blasted with boiling water at 100C, delicate teas like green, jasmine and matcha are easily scalded by temperatures above as low as 60C.

The solution is a temperature-controlled kettle. These clever appliances let you dial in the exact heat you need, from a lukewarm setting for baby formula to the precise temperature for a cafetière, ensuring you get the perfect extraction every time. I’ve put the top models to the test to find the ones that will revolutionise your morning routine.

Read more: 10 best kettles, tried and tested for a proper cuppa

The best temperature control kettles for 2025 are:

  • Best overall – Sage the smart 1.7l kettle: £99.99, Johnlewis.com
  • Best budget buy – Cookworks variable temperature glass kettle: £40, Argos.co.uk
  • Best luxury design – Smeg KLF04 temperature controlled kettle: £159, Johnlewis.com
  • Best hi-tech design – Ninja perfect temperature kettle: £79.99, Ninjakitchen.co.uk

How I tested

I selected a wide range of our favourite brews and got boiling – drinking mug after mug of tea, coffee and hot chocolate, to decide which kettles came out on top. Ease of use, price point, looks and sound were all key considerations when deciding which ones are the best to buy, and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with any that made it into my final line-up.

Read more: 19 best coffee machines for 2025, tried and tested

Sage the smart 1.7l kettle

Rating: 4.5/5

Best: For tea-lovers

Capacity: 1.7l

Temperature range: 80-100C, at five-degree intervals

Keeps warm for: 20 minutes

Dimensions: 22.8cm x 18.7cm x 27.5cm

Filter included: Yes, removable

Power: 2,400W

Weight: 2.1kg

Warranty: Three years

Matching appliances available: Yes

Why we love it

  • Clear settings
  • Auto shut-off function

Take note

  • On the heavier side

Sage is a household name for a reason, with a range of reliable appliances for any occasion, and this kettle is no exception. It’s great for tea-lovers, thanks to its five temperature option buttons that are actually named after each beverage – 80C is named green tea, 95C coffee, 100C black tea, and so on. So, you never need to remember which temperature is best for each brew – genius.

Looks-wise, it’s crisp and clean in standard stainless steel, and a front water window shows exactly how high you need to fill it up. It will keep warm for 30 minutes, so long as you press the button, and it has a clever auto shut-off, to help save energy too. The only slight downside I could spot was its 2.1kg weight, which is slightly heftier than some of our other options, so it may not be best for those who struggle to lift their arms, although the majority of people shouldn’t notice this at all.

Buy now £99.99, Johnlewis.com

Cookworks variable temperature glass kettle

Rating: 4.5/5

Best: Budget buy

Capacity: 1.7l

Temperature range: 70-100C, with 10-degree intervals

Keeps warm for: 30 minutes

Dimensions: 23.3cm x 16.7cm x 25.8cm

Filter included: Yes, removable

Power: 2,200W

Weight: 1.09kg

Warranty: One year

Matching appliances available: Yes

Why we love it

  • Automatic shut-off function

I think there’s something incredibly therapeutic about watching water boil, and a glass kettle can be the perfect option for those who agree. With a glass body and bright blue light, this kettle does make boiling a brew feel more like a science experiment, which I loved.

Four temperature options, from 70-100C, are available for accurate heating, and a clever function will automatically switch off the appliance if no water is inside, meaning you never have to worry about burning the bottom. Its low price is hard to argue with, making it a real bargain buy, and it’s also incredibly easy to use. So, for a fuss-free cuppa, you’ve come to the right place.

Buy now £40, Argos.co.uk

Haden Dorchester grey 1.7l digital variable temperature kettle

Rating: 4/5

Best: To hold

Capacity: 1.7l

Temperature range: 40-100C, at five-degree intervals

Keeps warm for: 40 minutes

Dimensions: 16cm x 23cm x 26cm

Filter included: Yes (removable) and spare included

Power: 3,000W

Weight: 1.05kg

Warranty: Two years

Matching appliances available: Yes

Why we love it

  • Easy to grip
  • Lighter than some other kettles we tested
  • Can keep boiled water warm for up to 40 minutes

For anyone who struggles to hold on to their kettle, this Haden option may be the perfect pick. With a faux-wood, plastic handle, it’s incredibly easy to grip, and the kettle itself is much lighter than some of our other options. It has a sleek design, with the techy temperature bits only on the handle, which boasts both the control buttons and a temperature dial.

The 3,000W power helps it heats up quite rapidly, and the five-degree intervals on the temperature dial mean you can get specific with how hot you want your water. It can also keep warm for up to 40 minutes, making it one of the best options for anyone looking to go for a quick jog, walk or even on the school run and return to an already-boiled brew.

Buy now £70, Asda.com

Dualit pour-over kettle

Rating: 4/5

Best: Small temperature control kettle

Capacity: 800ml

Temperature range: 38-100C, at one-degree intervals

Keeps warm for: Five minutes

Dimensions: 21.1cm x 22.7cm x 29.3cm

Filter included: No

Power: 1,100W

Weight: 1.3kg

Warranty: One year

Matching appliances available: Yes

Why we love it

  • Elegant design
  • You can adjust the temperature by 1C increments

This temperature control kettle is best for small households or those living alone, thanks to its small size and elegant design. It was also in the running to be named the best-looking model, thanks to its standout style, which I loved. The gooseneck spout isn’t purely stylish, though – it actually works wonders over ground coffee, with a slow and long pour that really aids the aroma extraction (according to the experts).

You can alter the temperature to show in either Celsius or Fahrenheit but the best feature of this kettle is that you can change the temperature by one degree at a time, thanks to a handy dial, making it perfect for those who like things precise. So, coffee-lovers, this may be one for you, especially if you live alone or with just one other person.

Buy now £90.99, Robertdyas.co.uk

Smeg KLF04 temperature-controlled kettle

Rating: 4.5/5

Best: Luxury design

Capacity: 1.7l

Temperature range: 50-100C, at 10-degree intervals

Keeps warm for: 20 minutes

Dimensions: 22.6cm x 17.1cm x 27.5cm

Filter included: Yes, removable

Power: 3,000W

Weight: 1.8kg

Warranty: Two years

Matching appliances available: No

Why we love it

  • Chic design
  • Easy to use

Take note

  • Not everyone will appreciate the loud jingle that plays when the kettle is up to temperature

Smeg appliances are a fan-favourite, thanks to their chic designs and classy look, and this kettle is no exception. Incredibly easy to use, one small lever at the base of the side adjusts the temperature by 10C between 50-100C. To add a touch more tech, each temperature marker lights up as soon as it’s been reached, so you can see how fast it really is boiling.

The one downside I found was there is a rather loud jingle that plays when the set temperature is reached, which is delightful in the day, but if you are in close living quarters, it may wake your family or housemates up if you have different sleep schedules – night workers, consider yourself warned. Although this is only an issue for a specific group of people, so I’m sure anyone else would be delighted with this crisp and clean-looking kettle.

Buy now £159, Johnlewis.com

Ninja perfect temperature kettle

Rating: 4.5/5

Best: Hi-tech design

Capacity: 1.7l

Temperature range: 40-100C, with five-degree intervals and pre-set temperatures for tea and coffee

Keeps warm for: 30 minutes

Dimensions: 19cm x 20.5cm x 24.2cm

Filter included: Yes

Power: 3,000W

Weight: 1.24kg

Warranty: One year

Matching appliances available: Yes

Why we love it

  • Comes with a hot drink recipe book

Take note

  • Can take a little while to get to grips with it

Ninja appliances are a hot commodity, often selling out at record speed, leaving us eagerly awaiting another drop, and this kettle seems to be no exception. I will stress that it may be a bit scary at first sight for anyone not too confident with tech but, after a little bit of practice, it is actually incredibly easy to use, and you will get used to the number of buttons, so just take time to study it before jumping ship.

On the base are six set temperature buttons for tea, coffee and boiling water, along with a hold temperature and start-stop button. For more precise temperature settings, there’s another window on the base that allows you to set a specific temperature in five-degree increments from 40-100C. So, if you’re somebody who likes a lot of options, you’re sure to love this Ninja find. It looks rather swanky too, and comes with its own hot drink recipe book, so prepare to become the master of making brews.

Buy now £79.99, Ninjakitchen.co.uk

Bosch sky TWK7203GB jug kettle

Rating: 4/5

Best: For ease of use

Capacity: 1.7l

Temperature range: 70-100C, at five-degree intervals

Keeps warm for: 30 minutes

Dimensions: 15.8cm x 23.8cm x 25.8cm

Filter included: Yes

Power: 3,000W

Weight: 1.8kg

Warranty: Two years

Matching appliances available: Yes

Why we love it

  • Easy to use
  • Can keep boiled water warm for up to 30 minutes

Temperature control kettles can be rather daunting. With swanky features, numerous buttons and a whole host of different settings, even I had to take a minute to work out some of these other options. This Bosch model, however, was the easiest to use, with a handy touchscreen display that enables you to determine the temperature almost effortlessly, thanks to its sleek and sophisticated design.

It is quite large, compared with some of my other options, but a soft close lid, easy-to-see water window, and soft sound signal only add to the design and simplicity of use. It can also keep water warm for up to 30 minutes, and the double-walled stainless steel helps to keep it toasty for a little bit longer as well. If you’re after something relatively easy to use, we don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Buy now £79.99, Currys.co.uk

Zwilling enfinigy kettle pro

Rating: 4.5/5

Best: For new parents

Capacity: 1.5l

Temperature range: 40-100C (six set temperatures)

Keeps warm for: 30 minutes

Dimensions: 22.3cm x 15.2cm x 24.4cm

Filter included: Yes

Power: 1,850W

Weight: 1.7kg

Warranty: Five years (registration needed)

Matching appliances available: Yes

Why we love it

  • Bottle-warming function
  • Easy to use

Take note

  • It doesn’t have a water-level window

Zwilling appliances have racked up a huge number of fans, thanks to their sleek, chic and streamlined design, and this temperature control kettle follows suit. I’ve dubbed it best for new parents, thanks to one very handy feature it has that the others do not: a baby-bottle-warming function. So, new parents rejoice, as, by simply popping a bottle inside the kettle and filling it with water, you’ll have a baby-ready bottle in just 30 minutes. Even better, you can use the 100C setting to sterilise bottles and dummies, too, so, it truly is a multi-tasking product.

Baby bits aside, this kettle is still rather impressive with an all-black outer that looks incredibly clean and cool and is straightforward and simple to use. It doesn’t have a water window, so be sure to look inside to see just how much water you’re adding in, and the sharp jingle will let you know when your temperature has been reached. It really couldn’t be easier.

Buy now £139, Zwilling.com

Your temperature control kettle questions answered

What is the best temperature control kettle?

If you aren’t quite convinced you need to trade in your old trusty kettle for one of these modern temperature control options, I promise I felt the same but, after giving them a go, it’s safe to say I won’t be going back to standard kettle models.

While each of these options had it’s own selling points, the Sage kettle did just nick the top spot, thanks to its smart design and simple functionality.

For those looking for a bargain buy, the Cookworks variable temperature glass kettle is what you want. While it doesn’t have the fancy features of some of our other options, it’s cheap, cheerful and does the job just fine.

If you truly feel like splashing the cash, however, you can’t go wrong with the swanky Smeg KLF04 temperature-controlled kettle or the Zwilling enfinigy kettle pro. Your brews will never have tasted better.

Why you can trust IndyBest reviews

Lauren Cunningham is an IndyBest contributor with a keen eye for quality and a love of a good brew. When selecting the best temperature control kettles, she prioritised accuracy and ease of use, putting a range of models through their paces to see which could deliver the perfect temperature for delicate green teas and artisan coffee.

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