Design
The design in which the electric kettle is decorated. In addition to
the classic design, nowadays there are more original styles, namely:
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Retro. Devices stylized antique — mainly for kitchen utensils of the 30s — 50s of the XX century. The degree of stylization in this case can be different: for example, some appliances are not different from ordinary kitchen kettles that are placed on the stove. Also note that almost all samovars are performed in retro style (see "Type"). But thermopots and teapots in this design are almost never produced. Anyway, a retro kettle will be indispensable for a kitchen in the same style, but it can also fit into a modern interior.
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Hi-tech. The devices that have a technological, sometimes even futuristic design — using unpainted metal, transparent glass, as well as a minimal amount (or even complete absence) of decorative details. At the same time, the design can be quite unusual: for example, there are models that taper upward and vaguely resemble laboratory flasks. Like the retro style, almost no other devices are produced in this style other than classic kettles.
When choosing a device in a specific design, note that the design inevitably affects the cost — sometimes quite noticeably, despite the fact that it usually does not provide functional advantages.
Volume
The nominal capacity of a kettle refers to the maximum amount of water that can be safely poured into it, and it is typically indicated by the water level indicator. In the case of brewing sets (see "Type"), the nominal capacity refers to the main kettle, while the capacity of the teapot is listed separately (see below).
The capacity of the electric kettle directly affects the amount of water that can be heated at once. A larger capacity allows for heating more water, but this also means the kettle will be larger and heavier. Additionally, heating a larger volume of water requires either more power or a longer time. Therefore, it is important to consider one's actual needs when choosing a kettle based on its capacity. For example,
mini-kettles for travelling (or for one person) have a volume of up to 1 liter. For home use in a family of 2 – 3 people, a 1,5 – 2 liter model is enough. Devices for
2 – 3 liters are already well suited for a small office or a similar situation. The most spacious electric kettles are designed to hold 10 liters or more, and are typically used in public places such as canteens and cafes for dispensing hot water.
Power consumption
The power consumed by the kettle during operation is actually the power of the heating element installed in the device.
Two working moments depend on this parameter: heating intensity and electricity consumption. On the one hand, the
high power of the heater allows you to quickly heat up a certain volume of water and saves time. On the other hand, the power consumption of such a device will also be appropriate. The wattage of a kettle's heater typically does not have a significant impact on electricity bills since the energy consumption required to heat a given volume of water remains the same regardless of the heater's power rating. However, there may be certain issues related to electrical connectivity. For example, if the wiring is weak or the fuses are improperly sized, the operation of a high-power heater may cause power outages. Additionally, devices with a power rating greater than 3500 W cannot be connected to a regular electrical outlet and require a specific power format. Consequently, even the largest thermal pots, which typically have a capacity of 10 L or more, are rarely equipped with heaters more powerful than 3000 W, since this power rating is sufficient for their intended use and can be connected to a standard electrical outlet.
Water level indicator
A device that allows you to estimate the amount of water in the kettle without opening its lid. Most often
the water level indicator has the form of a scale applied either to the transparent wall of the container, or to a transparent insert in an opaque wall. In any case, this function allows you to measure the volume of filled water quite accurately, and not just determine it “by eye”. This possibility is especially important for models with open coils (see "Heating element"), in such devices, a mark on the indicator is usually applied to the minimum allowable water level.
Thermostat
A device that allows you to set the temperature to which the water will be heated — the
thermostat monitors the temperature and automatically turns off the heating when the desired value is reached. In fact, water heated in a kettle does not always need to be boiled: for example, for brewing some types of tea, the optimum temperature is about 80 °C, and for preparing baby food — 60 °C. Thermopot are most often equipped with a thermostat, but there are also classic electric kettles with such a function.
Temperature adjustment
The temperature adjustment capabilities refer to the specific temperature values that can be programmed into the electric kettle. It's important to note that this refers to automatic adjustment, where the kettle turns off or switches to temperature maintenance mode once the desired temperature has been reached.
If this paragraph contains several options separated by commas (for example, “60 °С, 80 °С, 90 °С”), this means that this model has several fixed temperature options. However, there are also devices with
smooth adjustment, which allows you to adjust the temperature in steps of 5 °C, or even 1 °C; for such devices, the entire adjustment range is indicated here, for example, "60 — 100 °C".
The greater the number of temperature setting options available in an electric kettle, the more versatile it becomes, allowing for precise selection of the optimal brewing mode for various types of drinks. Here is a simple table of recommended temperatures:
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white tea — 60 °C;
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yellow tea -70 °C;
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green tea — 80 °C;
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black tea — 90 °C;
— rooibos, hibiscus — 100 °C (up to boiling);
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baby food — 40 °C.
Of course, there are exceptions to such rules — depending on the specific type of drink. For example, some
...varieties of green tea can be brewed at 90 °C.Thermometer
A device that displays the temperature of the water in the kettle. The presence of a
thermometer is useful if the water needs to be heated to a certain temperature. However, the thermometer does not automatically turn off the kettle, unlike a thermostat — this must be done manually. Also, the thermometer allows you to assess how much the heated water has cooled over time and whether it can be used without heating again.
Double-walled
Double-walled are found mainly among traditional electric kettles.
This design performs several functions at once. First of all, it significantly improves thermal insulation, allowing the kettle to retain heat longer and save energy when heating. Also, double-walled increase strength and reliability — it is more difficult to break through such a wall or noticeably damage it than a single one. And in some models, the outer side is made of plastic, and the inner side is made — of metal; this allows you to combine the advantages of both materials without a significant increase in cost.
Controller
The name of the controller installed in the device.
The controller is called an electronic circuit, which is directly responsible for managing the operation — primarily for turning off the heating when boiling or turning on without water. In our catalog, the name of such a circuit is specified if we are talking about an advanced controller that significantly exceeds most solutions on the market in terms of quality and reliability. At the same time, the specs indicate not a specific model, but a general brand — this is quite enough in this case.
The most reliable, durable and safe nowadays are the controllers of the British manufacturers Strix and Otter. There are no fundamental differences between these options in this regard, any of them is a sign of a quality kettle (even if the overall functionality of the device is rather modest). On the other hand, such equipment affects the price.
