Best temperature control kettles for 2026: tried and tested

Temperature control kettles are designed to boil water at variable temperatures for drinks that need less-than-boiling water, such as herbal teas or coffee. Here we reveal our top picks, so you can enjoy a perfectly brewed cuppa every time. 

Whether you prefer a cup of green, white or black tea, or a mug of coffee, our recommended kettles will heat quickly and be energy efficient and easy to use, as well as giving you the option to heat to lower temperatures than boiling point. 

See more Which? recommended models in our guide to the best kettles.

Best temperature control kettles for 2026

Only logged-in Which? members can view our recommendations. If you're not yet a member, join Which? to get instant access to all our reviews.

Don't Buy temperature control kettle

Pick the wrong kettle and you'll end up with unnecessary hassle at break time, wasted energy and a long wait for your brew.

We recently found a poor multi-temperature kettle we recommend you steer clear of.

To see all the temperature control kettles we've reviewed, visit our kettle reviews and use the 'multiple temperature settings' filter.

How to buy the best temperature control kettle

These are the key features to consider when choosing a multi-temperature kettle:

• Range of temperature settings Not all temperature control kettles will have every temperature setting you need, so check the options before you buy. If you want a wide variety of beverages then five options should be plenty. Some kettles will also hold the desired temperature for a while, which can be useful if you have a busy lifestyle. 
• Location of temperature controls Some temperature-control kettles have the controls built into the handle of the kettle, while others have them on the base. This can affect how heavy the kettle is and how easy it is to select your settings.
• Temperature indicator These are either digital or consist of a retro-looking dial on the front of the kettle. The dial can be easier to read from afar, but a digital one may be more accurate.
• Tea-making function Some kettles go the extra mile and actually brew the tea for you, using a special cage for your tea leaves that sit inside the kettle.

Are temperature control kettles worth it?

A kettle with variable temperatures is definitely worth it if you are a fan of tea. That's because water temperature is a critical factor in bringing out the best qualities of tea.

If the water temperature is too hot, the tea will be too bitter; if the water temperature is too cool, the full flavour contained in the leaves will not be extracted.

Over or under-brewing can also affect the taste of your tea. Plus, if you’re using loose tea, you may need to adjust times for different quantities.

What is the best temperature for brewing tea?

Black tea/English breakfast tea 80-100°C, brew for 2-5 minutes

Chamomile tea 90-100°C, brew for 5 minutes

Green tea 65-75°C, brew for 1-2 minutes

Peppermint tea 90-100°C, brew for 5 minutes

Rooibos tea 100°C, brew for 4-6 minutes

White tea 75-85°C, brew for 4-6 minutes

Don't let limescale ruin your tea. See our guide to the best kettles for hard water.

What's the best temperature for brewing coffee?

This depends on the type of coffee you are making.

Instant coffee tends to be hotter, while espresso or filter coffee is brewed at lower temperatures.

Instant coffee 80-85°C

Filter coffee 50-60°C

Espresso 90-96°C

Let a machine do all the work with our guide to the best coffee machines.

What temperature does water boil at?

We were all taught in school that water boils at 100 degrees Celsius, and while this is true for the most part, it can actually depend on where you are in the country.

For example, if you live at sea level (or very close to it) your kettle will boil at almost exactly 100°C. However, if you were to boil it on top of Ben Nevis, for example, it would boil at 95.6°C.

This is less to do with elevation and more to do with atmospheric pressure. At more than 1,345 metres above sea level, Ben Nevis is the highest point in the UK. When you're at an altitude, the atmospheric pressure is lower, which means that water doesn't have to reach such a high temperature in order to boil.

So if you were ever to pop a thermometer in your kettle and find that it doesn't quite reach 100°C before switching off, not to worry; it's likely just related to where you live.

If you like the idea of boiling hot water at the touch of a button, see our guide to the best boiling water taps.

How we find the best temperature control kettles

We test kettles more thoroughly than anyone else. Plus, we put all models through the same stringent assessments, so you can easily compare models on an equal footing.

We check how quickly each kettle boils water. We give top marks to kettles that are fast to heat up and won’t make a racket boiling. We also assess how easy each kettle is to use, and whether it wastes energy by overboiling or having a high minimum fill level.

Find out more about how we test kettles.