If you're fussy about how brown it gets (hey, no judgement here), look for machines with adjustable shade settings.

The cord is a good length at 71cm and there’s storage in the base if you don’t need it all. Despite its compact size, it is quite a heavy kettle, weighing 1,167g when empty and 2,746g when full — this is heavier than the average kettle in spite of its smaller capacity.

Charley has an MA in Journalism & Media Studies and undertook an internship at a travel magazine in Iceland. She still writes occasional travel and lifestyle stories when the inspiration strikes now, with work published in Cosmopolitan, Stylist, ELLE and Women’s Health, among others. Most kettles have removable, washable anti-scale water filters that sit at the base of the spout. These collect pieces of limescale from the water to prevent them from being poured into your drink, and they stop scum forming on the surface, making them a must for hard water areas. 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. For every millilitre of water you add to your kettle, an extra gram is added to its overall weight, meaning they can get quite heavy. If lifting may be an issue, look for a model that weighs no more than a kilogram when empty.

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.As a mum of two, she’s always on the lookout for products that make life easier at home and loves putting gadgets and appliances to the test to highlight best buys for families. Why you can trust us Bagels are best toasted in a model with v ariable width slots that won't squish them, while a high lift function does what you'd expect, meaning no burnt fingers. Do your kettle and toaster have to match? Whatever your cup of tea (or coffee), we’ve done the hard work for you, scouring the Mumsnet forums and beyond to find the best kettle. And while there are plenty of kettles that can boil water effectively, it can be worth investing in extra features to make your tea breaks as pleasant as possible. If you live in a hard water area, built-in filters can help to soften water to improve your brews and lessen the impact of limescale. Quiet kettles are great for small spaces, especially if you're brewing up near a napping baby. And energy-efficient kettles can help you save money on your monthly bills. We think the best kettle is the Bosch Styline TWK8633GB Cordless Kettle for its brilliant safety features and added extras that make it a real pleasure to use.

Energy efficiency: One-cup or eco-friendly kettles are better for the environment and will use much less energy than standard kettles. An auto shut-off feature will also help to save energy. It's double-walled so it’s never too hot to touch - a boon in a kitchen with children about, and its safety credentials are top-notch. It’s got cord storage, a 360-degree, non-slip base and a soft-touch handle that won’t slip in your hands. With five years’ experience as a homes writer, Charley now writes for Good Housekeeping, Country Living and House Beautiful but has also previously worked in print for an architecture magazine.

The kettle’s stainless steel body is more of a benefit inside, where it should make descaling easier. Even the kettle’s internal minimum and maximum markers are made from steel – although, disappointingly, they’re the only water markers the kettle has, and the minimum is hard to see while filling. The Russell Hobbs Structure Kettle is easier to fill thanks to its rear window. It scored well in terms of insulation, with the water temperature still measuring 71.6°C an hour after boiling — so you could return later for a second cup of tea if you wanted. It’s easy to pour a small amount of water out of the spout without any dribbling, and the accuracy is easy to control too. We noticed that if you remove the lid soon after boiling, you can catch and burn your hand on the steel parts, however. Kenwood Mesmerine Jug Kettle review: Ease of use and manual First we put our kettle on to see how long it took to make a cuppa – and because we just think more clearly with a mug of tea in our hands. 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.