Canstar Blue’s latest kettle review has seen Russell Hobbs, Sunbeam, Kambrook, Kmart, Target, Breville and DeLonghi compared on their boiling performance, functions & features, ease of use, quietness, design, value for money and overall satisfaction.
See our Ratings Methodology.
Russell Hobbs was again rated best in Canstar Blue’s second iteration of kettle reviews. It achieved five-star ratings for boiling performance, functions and features, ease of use, quietness, design and overall satisfaction
After a long, hard day, there’s nothing better than sitting down with a nice hot cuppa. Unless, of course, your kettle is on the fritz, which would leave many of us at boiling-point. While it may not seem like a kitchen without one, the humble kettle is often underrated in the modern home, with appliances such as smart fridges and dishwashers often taking the spotlight. Despite this, many of us still turn to the kettle for either a relaxing cup of tea, or an energising cup of coffee when we need it most.
While purchasing a kettle might not seem like a big financial investment, finding one that works for your needs, and kitchen aesthetics, warrants enough thought so that you don’t just grab the first one you find. So, which brand has ticked all the boxes for Aussie consumers?
In our second year of reviewing kettles, Russell Hobbs has once again come out on top. It achieved the only five-star rating for overall satisfaction, and earned full marks in the majority of categories surveyed, such as performance and functions and features. It also landed four stars for value for money.
Here are the best kettles in Australia, as rated by consumers in Canstar Blue’s latest review:
There were few five-star ratings poured in this year’s report, with Russell Hobbs being the only featured entry to achieve full marks for overall satisfaction, as well as most categories. Notably, Kmart was the only brand to get a five-star rating on value for money, beating this year’s winner in that category. Meanwhile, Sunbeam joined Russell Hobbs in receiving five stars for design.
Most brands landed four stars overall, including Sunbeam, Kambrook, Kmart and Target. The only exceptions were Breville and DeLonghi, which ended on three stars.
Read on to find out what each brand has to offer, plus some general buying tips if you’re on the lookout for your next kettle.
Offering a variety of modern style kettles, as well as vintage style kettles for those after that ‘old school’ aesthetic, Russell Hobbs is a well-known brand in the kitchen appliance market. It has a number of kettle series, giving you plenty of options to consider.
Available in a variety of designs, some kettles in the Russell Hobbs range include:
One of the latest series to hit the shelves is the Inspire series, which is available in chrome and brass designs to suit your kitchen aesthetics. The BPA-free model has a 1.7L capacity and comes with features such as Rapid Boil zone, perfect pour spout, a removable filter, indicator light and an easy view water window.
If you want a certain look for your kitchen, Russell Hobbs’ Brooklyn range might be an option to pour over. It offers two models with copper accents to bring elements of warmth to your kitchen, with a 1.7L capacity perfect for when you have guests over.
With one of the largest ranges available, Sunbeam has households sorted when it comes to hot drinks. Regardless of your needs or budget, Sunbeam will have a model for you, ranging from traditional models to stainless-steel and glass models.
The Gallerie Collection, available in a range of colours, comes with a stainless-steel finish to blend in with your whole kitchen. With a cordless base for easy use, the Gallerie kettle has a 1.7L capacity and a water window to keep an eye on the water level, and is powered by 2200W for quick boiling. For a budget buy, the Sunbeam Quantum Plus Kettle KE2360 is the cheapest you can get from the brand. The ‘fast boil’ kettle has a 1.5L capacity, which is said to be enough for creating seven standard cups of tea, and uses 2200W to boil in a short time.
For those after glass kettles, Sunbeam has a number of designs and models available, including the Maestro and Perfectly Pure Glass models, all retailing for under $100. All operating between 2200W and 2400W with a 1.7L capacity, the glass models contain quiet boil technology, in addition to their heat resistant glass for better safety. Some models also have a matching toaster available, perfect for those fitting out a kitchen.
Some models in Sunbeam’s wide range of kettles include:
Sunbeam’s kettle prices start from $24.95 and reach up to $169.
Another veteran of the kitchen appliance market, Kambrook offers a variety of kettles for all budgets, with a range of glass and stainless-steel models available. Kambrook’s most basic and cheapest kettle is the Pour with Ease model. It has a 1.7L capacity and, like all other Kambrook kettles, is BPA free. The model includes features such as Dual Water Windows, a removable scale filter, one touch pop up lid, illuminated power light and a multi-directional swivel base.
The most expensive kettle from Kambrook includes many of these same features, plus more. Although it has slightly less capacity at 1.5L, despite costing more than double the price. The Glass Kettle is cord-free and contains a removable and washable filter to reduce impurities. It also has a concealed element for easy cleaning and boil dry protection.
Kambrook’s kettle range includes:
Prices for Kambrook’s kettles start from $34.95 and reach up to $84.95, offering a model to suit different budgets.
Kmart offers many cheap and cheerful kettles, with more than 10 options on offer at the time of writing. It boasts quality, value and contemporary designs across its full range. Expect 1.7L capacities and a wide range of colours, from stainless-steel and black, to ombre and clear class. It’s most basic and cheapest model, the 1.7L Cordless Kettle, has a maximum power of 2200W and is designed with an external water level indicator. Pricier models, such as the 1.7L Stainless Steel Kettle, comes in multiple colours and has extra features including dry boil protection, 360-degree rotation and a concealed heating element.
Some kettles from Kmart’s range include:
Prices start from $7.50 for the 1.7L cordless white kettle and max out at about $60 for the more modern 1.7L Glass Kettle with variable temperature settings. Kmart offers a 12-month warranty on most kettles.
When it comes to variety, Target hits the spot with a wide range of options from different brands such as Bellini, Breville, Delonghi, Russell Hobbs and Sunbeam. The department chain also has its own affordable range of kettles, with nothing costing more than $30.
For a stylish design without the hefty price tag, you might want to pop into your local store to check out the 1.7L Adela Kettle. Similar to pricier models from other brands, this model comes with boil-dry protection, overheat protection, water gauge and a 360 degree rotational concealed heating plate. It also has a removable water filter.
Otherwise, there’s Target’s 1.7L Stainless Steel Kettle. This particular model also comes with a 360° rotational concealed heating plate and is available in blue or red.
Target’s small selection of kettles includes:
Despite having a small number of its own brand of kettles to choose from, Target still stocks a variety of other brands and styles to choose from, including traditional gooseneck kettles, an option many of the brands featured in this year’s ratings don’t offer.
With plenty of kitchen appliances available, it’s no surprise that Breville has a wide variety of kettles to choose from. Whether you’re after a simple model, a stainless-steel model or a kettle with a tea infuser built in, Breville likely has you covered.
Breville’s basic models include the popular Soft Top model, with the classic design coming with a 1.7L capacity, as well as a removable scale filter and plastic housing that reduces noise while heating, handy for those early morning starts. If you’re after something a bit fancier, Breville also provides glass kettles, including the Crystal Clear model, built with DURAGlass for safety. The Crystal Clear comes with auto shut off with boil dry protection to limit the risk of burns.
For those after the latest in kettle technology, Breville offers the Smart Kettle. Constructed with stainless steel and BPA free materials, the Smart Kettle uses five pre-programmed temperature settings to tell users which to use for certain types of drinks. The Smart Kettle also preserves hot water for up to 20 minutes, which can help save that cup of tea that you forgot.
Some Breville kettles include:
Prices usually range between $69.95 and $269.95.
Italian brand DeLonghi has a range of kettles to suit your household style and size, with plenty of kettles to choose from. Many of DeLonghi’s kettles fit in with modern and vintage aesthetics, making the brand a viable option for many households.
The Distinta Flair range, which comes in silver, blue, green and red varieties, has a 1.7L capacity and an independent base for cordless operation. With its removable anti-scale filter, the Distinta range has a three-level safety protection feature, which includes an auto shut-off for when the water is boiled, a thermal cut-off and another auto cut-off when the kettle is removed from the base for safety.
The Brillante Exclusive Kettle collection might be worth considering if you’re shopping for a kettle with a different aesthetic (pictured). Available in silver or black, the Brillante Exclusive Kettle comes with 1.7L capacity and a detachable base for cord-free convenience. It also contains three-level safety protection, which includes auto shut-off once water starts to boil, thermal cut-off, and auto shut-off when the body is lifted from the base.
The biggest series in the DeLonghi range, the Icona kettle, comes in a multitude of varieties, with a colour scheme and design for any kitchen. Priced at over $100, the Icona range may not be ideal for those on a budget, but may be worth it for those looking for variety. With a 1.7L capacity and 220-240 voltage, the Icona range comes with a detachable lid and a removable pouring filter for easy cleaning. The brand offers a 12-month warranty on all kettles.
DeLonghi’s kettle range includes models such as:
DeLonghi kettles typically cost between $79 and $169.
While seven brands featured in this year’s ratings, there are also others on the market that are worth checking out.
ALDI has seen a number of different kettles appear throughout the year for its Special Buys, one of which is a 1.5L kettle. It’s available in two colour options – white or black (pictured). Its design features include a concealed heating element, a push-button lid, water level indicator and a 360° cordless base with cord storage for ease of use. As with most ALDI Special Buys, this kettle retails at a low of $39.99.
Another kettle that has appeared in its Special Buys previously is the 1.7L Digital Kettle, usually available for $49.99. It’s boasted for having a digital base with four pre-set temperature settings, plus a keep warm function and concealed heating element. It also features a stainless-steel look with a black handle. ALDI offers a three-year warranty on all of its kettles. But to get your hands on an ALDI model, you’ll have to keep an eye out on its catalogue.
ALDI’s kettle range includes these models:
In addition to finding out which brands Aussies love most, we asked survey respondents to tell us about the main purchase decision behind their kettle of choice.
Price was certainly a priority for almost half of survey respondents. On average, Aussies spent $45 on their new kettles. Only 7% said they wish they had spent more money on a better kettle, suggesting most consumers are satisfied with what they got for their money. We also asked how long consumers had owned their previous kettle for, with the average life expectancy found to be nearly seven years.
Size and style came in second place in order of importance. Our survey revealed one in three people (37%) opt for the modern cordless kettle, still making the traditional corded alternative the most popular type by far. With traditional plastic, stainless-steel and glass kettles available, consumers are even more spoilt for choice. In addition, making a kettle the statement piece of your kitchen is easy with the abundance of different colour options on offer.
While a kitchen essential, finding a kettle that suits your lifestyle and your drink preferences can be tricky, with plenty of options available, making it difficult to narrow down. While most popular brands have similar capacities, additional features such as auto shut-off, cord storage and quick boil functions are all factors you will have to be aware of when browsing the shelves.
With plenty of options available, it’s always best to do your research before reaching for your wallet, as some brands or styles may fit your personal preference or household better than others, with a reliable kettle just as good as a cup of tea when you really need it.
This report was written by Canstar Blue’s home & lifestyle journalist, Tahnee-Jae Lopez-Vito. She’s an expert on household appliances, grooming products and all things grocery and shopping. In addition to translating our expert research into consumer-friendly ratings reports, Tahnee spends her time helping consumers make better-informed purchase decisions on all manner of consumer goods and services, while highlighting the best deals and anything you need to be aware of.
Picture credits: Tyler Nix / Unsplash.com
Here is a list of kettle brands available to buy in Australia:
Canstar Blue surveyed 3,000 Australian adults across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction, via ISO 26362 accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics. The outcomes reported are the results from customers within the survey group who have purchased and used a new electric kettle in the last two years – in this case, 1,096 people.
Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included. Results are comparative and it should be noted that brands receiving three stars have still achieved a satisfaction measure of at least six out of 10. Not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The ratings table is first sorted by star ratings and then by mean overall satisfaction. A rated brand may receive a ‘N/A’ (Not Applicable) rating if it does not receive the minimum number of responses for that criteria.
2019
