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.
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.
Removable lid
The ability to completely remove the lid of the kettle. Such a possibility is not of particular importance during regular use, however, it provides additional convenience if the kettle needs to be washed from the inside — a
removable lid, unlike a traditional non-removable one, will not hang on the fixture, hit your hands and create other discomforts. On the other hand, there is a certain risk of losing this lid, so this feature is not common.
Water supply
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Water supply button. The electric pump button is used to control the built-in pump in the kettle, which is responsible for supplying water to the spout. It is considered to be the most advanced method of water supply as it requires no manual effort from the user, can work with any container, and allows for accurate measurement of the required volume. Some models even provide automatic dosing where the electric pump dispenses a strictly defined volume of liquid with just the touch of a button. However, these supply systems are more expensive and require a power supply, which can be a disadvantage for some users.
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Hand pump. The mechanical pump with a manual drive is integrated into the lid of the thermopot and is operated by a large button. This type of pump is simple, inexpensive, and does not require electricity to function, which is beneficial in case of power outages. However, it is not very convenient since multiple presses are required to fill even a small cup, and it is difficult to accurately measure the amount of water dispensed. As a result, it is typically used in conjunction with more advanced systems rather than being the sole method of dispensing water.
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Cup pressing. This method is also known as the "cup-activated dispensing system". It uses an electric pump, similar to the button systems described earlier, but the switch for the pump
...is located near the spout and is activated by the cup's edge instead of by hand. This makes it easy to dispense water by simply bringing the cup to the spout and pressing the switch with the cup's edge. However, this method is not suitable for certain types of cups such as soft plastic or paper cups, and holding the cup while dispensing can be inconvenient as the hot water can burn one's hand through the walls of the cup. Therefore, this method is often combined with a traditional serving button to provide users with the most convenient option for their situation.Display
The own
display noticeably simplifies and facilitates the use of the kettle. Most often, this is the simplest single-colour screen, capable of displaying 2 — 3 figures and possibly the individual special symbols — however, in this case, more is not required. The display is especially convenient when selecting and controlling the heating temperature — after all, it is much more convenient to navigate by specific numbers than by simpler devices like colour indicators. Actually, the presence of a screen almost 100% guarantees that this model is also equipped with a thermostat.
