These sleek kettles combine old-fashioned charm and eye-popping good looks with practical functionality.
Tea and coffee are at the top of the list of the world’s favorite drinks, bringing refreshment and comfort to people everywhere, in every season. And nothing beats the cosy, nostalgic feel of using a bubbling stovetop tea kettle to heat water for, or even brew, your cuppa.
There is an eye-watering range of beautiful, durable and highly functional stovetop tea kettles out there. But if you have a glass stovetop, you have to be careful about the cookware you use – the wrong cookware can permanently damage your stovetop.
In this article, we’re going to review 5 gorgeous stovetop tea pots that will be kind to your glass stovetop. We’ll analyze the features of each pot, and compare them to find out which ones are the best buys for your kitchen.
Best Glass Stovetop Kettle: Our Review
Willow & Everett Stainless Steel Whistling Pot
Price Point: Midrange
This shiny beauty marries sleek looks with well-designed convenience.
The kettle is crafted out of mirror-like stainless steel. It has an unusual, surprisingly pleasant shape: it’s widest at the base. It’s really easy to keep clean, and is wonderfully rust resistant. The tiny lid handle, and the comfortably curved pouring handle, are made from black silicone. This doesn’t heat up, and it doesn’t slip while you’re pouring (the pouring handle also has bevels for extra safety).
On top of that, there’s a lever on the pouring handle positioned for easy access from your index finger: this is for lifting the spout lid, and adds enormously the convenience of the kettle. It heats impressively fast. And, it comes with a gratuitous, high quality little loose leaf strainer, which is the perfect size for brewing up a fragrant cup for one.
There are some possible negatives to this kettle. It’s large: at 2.75 quarts, you could host a tea party for ten. If you plan on hosting a lot with the kettle, this will suit you perfectly. But if you’ll mostly be making tea for your family, or even just yourself, the size of the kettle makes it less efficient to heat than if it were smaller (though the huge base of close to 10 inches does balance this out somewhat). Plus, it’s really heavy and demands a rather high pouring angle. It only comes in one finish. And the whistle is gentle, which is ideal if you’ll be hanging out in the kitchen while you wait for it to boil, but not so perfect if you’re going to be waiting elsewhere in the house.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Comes with a free loose leaf strainer
Button on pouring handle for lifting spout cover Large size makes it great for hosting Non-slip, beveled handle Wide base looks good and heats faster |
Heavy
Large size makes it less energy efficient to heat Whistle a little subtle Needs high pouring angle Only comes in one finish |
POLIVIAR Stainless Steel Tea Pot
Price Point: Midrange
Aesthetically, this pot is just gorgeous. It’s available in a range of eye-catching finishes – including a glowing ombre blue and a speckled grey – but every option has a shiny stainless steel spout and mock wood (it’s silicone with a light wood pattern) handles. The contrast, together with the gently curved lines, is minimalist and classy, and looks more nature-inspired than the shiny Willow & Everett kettle.
Functionally, the kettle performs brilliantly too. The handles stay cool, and are a wonderful shape and texture for maintaining a safe grip. Plus, it’s light, and the pouring angle is not too excessive. There’s that happy little button by the index finger for easily lifting the spout cover… which you don’t have to hold, it opens with just one touch. It boils fast, doesn’t rust, and lets off a loud but surprisingly pleasant whistle. At 2.1 quarts, this model could provide enough hot water for a large family to enjoy tea together.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Light
Comes is several classy, unusual finishes Beautiful, nature-inspired aesthetic Button on handle for lifting spout cover requires just one touch Whistle demands attention but isn’t annoying Large enough for a family without being excessive |
Nothing here! |
Mr. Coffee Twining Tea Kettle
Price Point: Cheap
This kettle isn’t top quality… but it is pretty enough and perfectly functional at a steal of a price.
Let’s start with all its best aspects. It comes in a lovely color: a rich deep red with black and stainless-steel accents that will fit seamlessly into most kitchens. It’s a practical size at 2.1 quarts – enough for around 6 generous cups of tea. The handle folds down, making it convenient to fill up. It’s light to lift, it heats and cools fast, and the whistle is usually reliable as long as the whistle cap is closed.
Unfortunately, you do sacrifice a fair deal for the very agreeable price. The most significant problem with this kettle is that there’s no button on the handle for dropping the spout cap. You have to lift and hold it manually – a finicky, potentially dangerous task when the kettle going at a rolling boil and puffing out clouds of steam – and if you forget to drop it when you put it on the stove, the whistle won’t operate. Other problems are that the plastic handles – touted as “heat resistant” – can actually start to melt if they get too hot. And overall, the construction of this kettle feels a bit flimsy.
Nevertheless, if you’re looking for a pretty kettle at a really low price – especially if you don’t plan on using it that often – and are willing to be extra careful, this model will grace your kitchen while providing you with plentiful cups of soothing, hot beverages.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Cheap
It’s hard to find a good-looking kettle at this price point Handle folds down Light Heats and cools fast Practical size |
Plastic elements can melt if they overheat
Spout cap must be lifted manually Somewhat flimsy quality |
SUSTEAS Stovetop Tea Kettle
Price Point: Midrange
This is another stunning gem which boasts high quality and convenient functioning.
Aesthetically, this competes with the POLIVIAR for top place in the looks department. With its matte finish (available in three classic colors), blackened, coppery accents, and decorative metal plate – complete with mock rivets – it has an old-fashioned, industrial-type appeal. The shape is quintessentially teapot, rounder and less bottom heavy than the POLIVIAR’s lines.
It functions to match. It feels like excellent quality. It heats fast and cleans fast. There’s that handy button on the handle which lifts the whistle cap.
Sadly (because I love its pretty looks) there are some potential downsides to this kettle. At 2.64 quarts, it’s big and heavy, though if you frequently need to serve out 10 medium sized cups of hot water, you won’t find this a problem. The whistle is shockingly loud – which some people do prefer. And while the plastic back half of the handle’s curve is thoroughly heat resistant, the front half is metal… and that’s where the spout cap’s button is located. To neutralize this problem, a free, high quality silicone pinch mitt is included in the package. The less complicated the process, and the less cluttered my kitchen, the better, though, so I feel this is still not as practical as the handles on the POLIVIAR and Willow & Everett.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Beautiful, vintage aesthetic
Comes in three colors Good quality Button on pouring handle for lifting spout cover Large size makes it great for hosting Whistle demands attention Free silicone pinch mitt included |
Location of spout cap a potential safety hazard
Heavy Large size makes it less energy efficient to heat Whistle disturbingly loud for some |
Le Creuset Enamel-On-Steel Demi Kettle
Price Point: Expensive
This lovely little kettle is the perfect size for one or two people.
It’s the smallest kettle here. It can heat up to four cups of water, and is the most energy efficient kettle on this list.
It also looks adorable. It’s available in the typical Le Creuset range of vintage, crayon box colors. The slightly elaborate shape is typical of Le Creuset, too.
Functionally, there are both pros and cons to this kettle. Unlike most the models on this list, the handle folds, which is wonderfully convenient for filling it up. However, the handle’s grip is high and straight, instead of curved like every other handle here. You have to get some good wrist action going in order to pour out a cup. The enamel casing looks cute and vintage, but you need to be more careful with it – no banging this kettle down, and no restocking with cold water while it’s still hot. The whistle is also very quiet… in fact, I would say that they could have left it off altogether.
One of the biggest problems with this kettle has to be the fact that the spout cap is lifted manually. Again, this increases the risk of painful accidents. Considering that this model is the most expensive one on this list, while being the smallest, I’m surprised they couldn’t afford to add a spout cap button to the design. Although it is decent quality, I get the feeling you’re paying mostly for the name here. However, this kettle is still a cute, practical purchase if you’ll generally just be serving tea to one or two people.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Comes in a range of cheery colors
Decorative shape Handle folds down Small size practical for smaller households |
Handle potentially uncomfortable for pouring
Small size won’t serve larger households Enamel coating requires extra care No button for spout cap Quiet whistle Expensive |
Choosing the Best Glass Stovetop Tea Kettle: How to Avoid Damaging your Glass Stovetop
Glass stovetops look sleek and are generally hassle free to clean. However, they can also get scratched. Damage in the form of scuffs and scratches reduces their efficiency and ruins their shiny looks.
Here are some materials that are safe to use on your glass stove top:
- Stainless steel
- Heavyweight aluminum
- Cookware with copper bases (if this leaves a residue, clean it off immediately to avoid permanent marks)
- Porcelain and enamel if the cookware has a thick, flat bottom
- Carbon steel if the cookware has a smooth, flat bottom
These materials can damage your glass stovetop:
- Glass
- Ceramic
- Cast iron
- Stoneware
Stovetop Kettles have Loads of Advantages over their Electric Counterparts
Electric kettles are quick and automatic. However, there are many aspects to stovetop kettles that thrash an electric kettle any day in the versatility and functionality departments.
Here’s why we love stovetop kettles:
- They can bring water to a rolling boil, essentially making it hotter than an electric kettle can. This is ideal for those who love a hot cuppa, but also can’t get enough of the powerful flavors created by leaving tea and coffee to steep for a few minutes.
- They are more energy efficient, as it takes less power to heat a kettle on a stovetop than with an element like the ones on electric kettles.
- Gently simmering your tea on the stove can bring out some intensely delicious flavors. Stovetop tea kettles are, of course, a default option for simmering your tea leaves.
- I use boiling water all the time when I’m cooking… and I just hate it when I need to add water from my electric kettle to a pot, but it’s cooled down more than I’d like. Having a stovetop kettle simmering on a back plate is ideal for keeping water hot when you’re cooking up tasty dishes that require lashings of hot water (think risottos, soups, oatmeal and gravies).
- Stovetop kettles are way easier to clean. You can submerge them in water, and make sure that soapy wash gets into every nook and cranny. If you have a stovetop kettle, you can kiss time-consuming wiping and shining goodbye.
- Stovetop kettles have a romantic, nostalgic charm to them. They add a gorgeous, homely touch to kitchen décor, and if you use yours to whip up a comforting cup for your friends when they drop by… there’s no doubt they’ll be impressed.
