About Canstar's Most Satisfied Customers Kettles Award
Canstar's Most Satisfied Customers Kettles Award reveals the kettle brand that delivers the best consumer satisfaction to its customers.
We ask Kiwi kettle owners to rate their satisfaction with their choice of kettle brand by Overall Satisfaction, as well as important criteria such as Design, Performance and Value for Money.
Numbers crunched by Canstar's researchers:
- 1141 Customers Surveyed
- 11 Brands Assessed
- 9 Brands Shortlisted
- 1 Award Winner
The best kettle brands in NZ
The brands rated are listed below in order of best overall satisfaction.
1. Russell Hobbs
This year Russell Hobbs has achieved a kitchen double-header by taking home Canstar's Awards for Kettles and Toasters.
And Russell Hobbs wins our Kettles Award with a near-perfect set of ratings from its customers. Across five of our six award categories, it earns top 5-Star ratings from its kettle customers. And for Value for Money it achieves a great 4-Star score.
Founded in England in 1952, Russell Hobbs offers a range of kitchen staples, including 19 kettle models. All designs are cordless and models include illuminated glass kettles, a quiet-boil model and metallic jugs in striking designs. Russell Hobbs's top-of-the-range Addison Digital Kettle has five variable heat settings and a keep-warm function.
2. Anko
Anko is Kmart's house brand that delivers affordable products and appliances. It retails 17 kettle models in a range of stylish designs, and all but one are priced under $50.
Its top-of-the-range model is a glass kettle, priced at $72, that has variable temperature settings, while for $10 you can get a basic, white, plastic kettle that features a cordless design.
3. Living & Co
Distributed by The Warehouse, Living & Co offers a range of 12 affordable kettles, all under $50. Living & Co's cheapest kettle is just $10, and most have a 360-swivel base. The kettles are available in a range of colours and styles, including a stainless-steel model and a glass kettle.
4. Sunbeam
Sunbeam retails 19 kettles, including models that pair with matching toasters, plus classic stainless-steel, glass and sleek designer models that come in a range of colours and complement Sunbeam's other small kitchen appliances.
5. Zip
Zip kettles are sold through Briscoes. There are eight models available, in a range of colours and styles.
6. Smeg
Smeg is a premium appliance brand that has built a reputation for delivering great style as well as performance. Its appliances are designed and built in Italy.
Smeg offers two kettles: a standard one, and a variable-temperature kettle. All models feature the same 1950s-inspired design, and come in a range of colours, including pastel shades.
7. Brabantia
Brabantia is another brand that's available at Briscoes. There are six cordless models to choose from, all with swivel bases. Brabantia kettles come in glass, stainless steel and black models.
8. Breville
Breville is a global brand that was established in Sydney in 1932. In NZ, it retails eight kettles that include glass models, smart kettles with variable temperature settings and a fast-boiling kettle. All of Breville's kettles are cordless and feature 360-swivel bases.
9. De'Longhi
De'Longhi is known for its well-designed, quality home appliances. Its stylish range of 13 kettles encompasses the Diadema, Distinta, Eclettica and Icona models, which come in a range of fashionable colours.
De'Longhi kettles boast features including: cordless jug designs, washable anti-scale mesh filters for water purity, 360-degree swivel bases.
Choosing the right kettle for you
Whether you pay $10 for your kettle, or over $300, its job is to heat water to boiling point. But that doesn't mean all kettles are created equal. A lot of things can affect your satisfaction with your kettle, from its noise and speed of boil, to its design, which importantly includes how quick and easy it is to fill the kettle with cold water, and pour out the hot water once it has boiled.
For our Kettle Award we spoke to over 1141 Kiwi consumers, and over a third (37%) said kettle performance was the biggest driver of their satisfaction, followed by a fifth (20%) who said Value for Money was their No.1 concern.
Here's the full rundown of what the Kiwis in our survey said were the main things they considered when rating their kettle picks:
- Performance 37%
- Design: 17%
- Value for Money: 20%
- Features & Functions: 13%
- Ease of Use: 13%
Glass vs stainless steel kettle: which is best?
Electric kettles are a staple in most households. Stainless steel kettles are the most widely used, but there are also some devilishly stylish glass kettles on the market. Which type of kettle is better?
Glass kettles
Glass kettles are made from tempered glass or borosilicate glass – both of which are heat-resistant materials that can handle high temperatures of up to 170°C. Most electric kettles will only usually boil at slightly over 100°C. Tempered glass and borosilicate glass don't rust or oxidize either.
Glass kettles are the most stylish kettles available on the market, thanks to their modern designs and transparent glass bodies. However, they're not as widely available as plastic or stainless steel kettles, and only select retailers stock them. Besides often taking pride of place on modern benchtops, glass kettles are also easier to keep clean than stainless steel or plastic kettles, since glass isn't sticky and tends to attract less residue.
Advantages of glass kettles
- Easy to check water levels through glass
- Easier to clean with less limescale build-up
- Sophisticated, minimalist design
Cons of glass kettles
- Heavier than stainless steel kettles
- Prone to breaking if dropped or knocked
- Typically more expensive
Stainless steel kettles
As the name suggests, stainless steel kettles have a body (mainly the jug & handle) made of stainless steel, which is highly durable and resistant to corrosion. These are the most affordable and popular types of kettles available on the market (besides plastic kettles). You can buy them from most appliance retailers and department stores. Stainless steel kettles come in various designs, sizes, colours, and capacities to suit most households.
Advantages of stainless steel kettles
- More durable (less likelihood of breaking)
- Lightweight
- More designs and models available
Cons of stainless steel kettles
- Can feel hot on the exterior, even with a double-walled design
- No transparent body to check water levels
- Require regular rinsing to avoid residue sitting on the bottom
Which is safest?
Glass kettles can't rust and are free from metal residue. This means they don't have the associated problems of metallic taste, rusting, and releasing heavy metals into boiling water − many people consider them better for your health and the environment. Glass versions are also better for tea brewing and can be safely used in the microwave. On the other hand, stainless steel is still being lauded as the safest material for a kettle. Either way, make sure that any kettle you buy is free of plastic parts.
Which has more features?
Glass and stainless steel kettles may be different on the exterior, but share similar specs and safety features. Some to look out for include an auto-off switch, a water level indicator, a 360° swivel base, a push-button lid release, and an anti-scale filter. Most kettles also come with auto shut-off and thermal cut-off safety protection. Glass kettles also typically feature an illumination LED light.
Which is more durable?
Stainless steel kettles are more durable than glass kettles in the long run. This is because a) stainless steel is virtually indestructible and b) because it has a longer life cycle than glass and most other materials, especially under high or extreme temperatures. Stainless steel has superior long-life properties that don't diminish over time or with use.
Which is cheaper?
Stainless steel kettles are much cheaper to buy than glass kettles, with prices starting from around $30 for basic models from The Warehouse or Kmart. On the other hand, most glass kettles cost upwards of $75. Be aware that there are some glass kettles available for closer to $50, however, they are typically a combination of glass, stainless steel and plastic, meaning you'll lose some of the benefits mentioned above.
Which is better?
Stainless steel kettles are tough to beat when it comes to durability, affordability, and all-around functionality. They also come in a wide range of designs, colours, and sizes to suit all households. However, glass remains the safest material for heating water since it keeps the water pure and does not leech.