Tea Kettles

Choosing Tea Kettles For Your Kitchen

Whether you're a tea connoisseur or are just looking for a quick way to heat up water for your favorite warm beverage, take a gander at our kettles. Crate & Barrel has everything from electric kettles to standard tea kettles and stovetop kettles to whistling kettles. Not sure which is which as you shop? Continue reading to learn more.

What is A Kettle?

Kettles are simply a vessel used for boiling water. Typically made from conductive materials, like stainless steel or glass, water kettles do their jobs best when placed over an open flame or electric stovetop—heating the liquid contents until a boiling point is reached. Once this happens, most modern kettles will whistle, which is your cue to remove the kettle pot from its heat source and pour the hot water into a teapot, mug or teacup for brewing and serving.

Types of Tea Kettles

Electric Tea Kettles: Featuring a built-in heating mechanism that allows users to plug the machine into an outlet, Electric kettles provide a quick and easy way to warm water for coffee, tea and other hot drinks. Some models offer controls for temperature, a keep-warm function and automatic shut off, while others have settings for specific types of tea and coffee as well as cord storage for when the kettle isn't in use. Cup measurements allow for easy filling, too.

Mini Electric Tea Kettles: A type of small electric tea kettle, these "miniature" versions have all the same functionalities as their larger counterparts. Typically featuring a capacity of about 3 cups, small tea kettles are ideal for when you only need to warm water for yourself or have limited counter space in your kitchen.

Stovetop Tea Kettles: A more traditional tea kettle, stovetop tea kettles are either placed on your stove (as the name implies) or over an open flame. Ideal for those who enjoy the entire process of making tea or coffee, and not just drinking it, stovetop kettles take longer to boil their contents—think 10-20 minutes—and whistle once done.

Gooseneck Tea Kettles: A type of pour-over kettle, gooseneck kettles feature a narrow, elongated spout that allows for precise pouring, and therefore, results in a well-balanced warm beverage. Most commonly used for pour-over coffee makers, this version of a hot water kettle can also be used to make an array of other hot drinks like a French press coffee.

Tea Kettle Materials

Stainless Steel Tea Kettles: Durable, rust-resistant and lightweight, stainless steel kettles are a popular choice for those who want to enhance their kitchen's polished and contemporary aesthetic. Not only are they difficult to scratch, crack or even break but stainless steel electric kettles and stainless steel stove top kettles are most renowned for their long-lasting nature and ability to stand up to everyday use.

Ceramic Tea Kettles: Known for their visual appeal, ceramic kettles often come in a variety of eye-catching colors that stand out in your kitchen. Due to its natural ability to retain heat, ceramic electric kettles and ceramic stove top kettles are some of the best options if you're looking to keep your water warm, even if it's no longer actively boiling. As an added benefit, ceramic is also corrosion-resistant.

Glass Tea Kettles: Adding an elegant look to your countertop, glass kettles make it easy for you to watch your water as it boils. They tend to be easier to clean since glass doesn't attract as much residue as other materials, and some models are dishwasher safe. Neither glass electric kettles nor glass stove top kettles will rust or oxidize due to the nature of the material.

Tea Kettle Brands

Le Creuset Tea Kettles: Streamlined with an appearance that matches the look of your Le Creuset cookware, these Le Creuset stove top kettles are made of a durable stainless steel that's topped with enameled glaze.

OXO Tea Kettles: Also made with sleek stainless steel, OXO electric kettles and OXO stove top kettles feature a timeless design that's versatile enough to fit into the aesthetic of any kitchen. The stove top models feature an easy-open spout, while the electric models allow you to choose the temperature of the water and hold that temperature for up to 30 minutes.

SMEG Tea Kettles: Known for their retro-inspired electric tea kettles and mini electric tea kettles, SMEG kettles bring an authentically old-school look to post-dinner tea time. Bold colors and practical functionality are added benefits.

Fellow Tea Kettles: Inspired by Scandinavian design and made with high-quality materials, Fellow electric kettles have quick-heating technology that can boil water in under five minutes. A gooseneck spout makes these ideal for pour-over coffee drinkers and a built-in thermometer lets you know when your water has reached its optimum temperature.

What's more: water heaters for tea make for a thoughtful wedding gift. Feel free to purchase tea accessories for a loved one once they've sent out their wedding registry. Also, whether you're a registrant or a wedding guest, be sure to peruse our wedding gift guides that include, Wedding Gift Etiquette Rules Guide, Bridal Shower Gift Etiquette Rules Guide and The Top 10 Things I Wish I Put on My Registry.