Russell Hobbs 23211 Luna Quiet Boil Electric Kettle, Stainless Steel, 3000 W, 1.7 Litre, Grey

Product Information

Boil-dry technology comes as standard (as with many on our list) and a 360 degree base increases it’s ease of use. Matching its appearance, the Kenwood’s test results were equally calm, with a peak loudness measurement of just 53.3dB. Its 3,000W heating element also didn’t disappoint, recording a time of 2 mins 20 secs in our one litre boil speed test. What’s more, its peak exterior temperature in use was just 54.6°C, which sits firmly in the warm-but-safe range, meaning no burnt fingers. Other benefits of the Dusk include its 1.7l capacity and wide, smooth-pouring spout. With a capacity of 1.7 litres like most on our list, there’ll be plenty of water for a round of teas and coffee for the family and visitors. Fancy something a little different? The Russell Hobbs Illuminating Glass Kettle stands out thanks to its unique physical design, as well as a few clever design elements. In use, the Illuminating Kettle, as its name would suggest, lights up its body and the water inside with a row of pleasant blue LEDs. The kettle is also capacious at 1.7l, has a one-button pop-up lid and bears a clear green marker on its body, which indicates how much water is needed for a single cup, helping you avoid water and energy waste. Thanks to its 3,000W heating element, it also proved itself a speedy boiler in our group test, matching other similarly powerful models with its one litre boil time of 2 mins 20 secs. Rounding things out with a handsome, sturdy glass and stainless construction, the Attentiv won top marks from us.

In addition to saving energy, it also features many of the standard features people have come to expect from modern kettles in recent years. For example, boil dry protection in case the kettle is turned on without water, or the water is left by mistake and boils away. It also has a removable and washable water filter meaning there is some defence against limescale and natural metals present in hard water. Similar to the Fearne by Swan, the 20460 comes with a 360 degree base making it ideal for left or right handed people. I’m a lefty myself so that’s a big plus for me… anything that makes moving boiling water easier is always good. Equipped with three choices of colours; grey, red and copper… the 23211 Luna is a well designed kettle. We went for the stylish moonlight grey option. There is also an option to buy a matching toaster and coffee maker but we left those out for now.To add one caveat, it should be noted that the Zwilling Enfinigy Pro has an 1,850W heating coil, unlike many of the other kettles on our list, which tend to have 3,000W elements. This means it is naturally slower to boil than its rivals. If you tend to get impatient for your morning cup of tea or coffee, the 3 mins 45 secs it takes the Enfinigy Pro to boil a litre of water may prove a tad too long for your liking. Finally, think about noise. The difference between our quietest and loudest kettles, which measured in at 52 and 63 decibels, is considerable, although everyone’s tolerance to noise is different. One of the more expensive kettles on our list, the Zwilling Enfinigy Pro justifies its lofty price tag with an ultra-modern design, commendable suite of features and solid performance. This sleek, space age kettle placed highly in both our exterior temperature and heat retention tests. Its peerless dual-wall insulation helped it maintain an outside temperature of just 29.4°C in use, while keeping the water inside at 94.6°C five minutes after boiling. In terms of functionality, the Enfinigy Pro boasts variable temperature settings ranging from 40°C to 100°C and a 30-minute keep warm function, all programmable via the touch buttons on its base. Made from quiet material– Material is a big deal for me. I hate scratchy and cold metal on a kettle, so I look for smooth material like glass. This can also depend on the style you’re looking for. Rapid Boil Zone - Utilising modern rapid boil technology, it can boil 1 cup (around about 235ml) in 45 seconds.

KitchenAid’s Artisan kettle comes in as the most expensive model on our list, but we found it to be worth every penny of its premium price tag. Its sleek, matte finish and general design are beautiful and the range of colours available make it easy to tailor its look to suit your kitchen.Kettles aren’t the most high-tech of kitchen items, but it’s worth looking out for safety features such as an auto shut-off function – should you accidentally put too little water in the kettle, this will stop it boiling dry. Aesthetics aside, the Artisan also proved itself in our tests. It took just 2 mins 22 secs to boil 1l of water, which is on par with the rest of the 3,000W models tested. It also excels when it comes to keeping the noise down. During boiling, it only reached a maximum of 52.2dB, making it the quietest kettle on our list. What’s more, once the water’s boiled, there’s no worrying about burning your fingers on the sides. The outside of the Artisan reached an exterior temperature of just 33°C, owing to its dual-walled insulation. The 21888 tests up to 70% quieter than other kettles without quiet boil, and rapid boil allows a cup to be boiled in around 45 seconds, similar to other Russell Hobbs with the same technology.

One very basic thing to look out for is how a kettle is filled: a button-operated flip-top lid is worth having as it means you don’t need to put your hand anywhere near the spout (or any steam coming out of it) when you’re refilling it. Equipped with a 3KW replaceable element, this kettle will last as long as you need. Simply replace with element to prolong it’s life. It also comes with a measuring scale at either side, so whichever way you have it faced, you’ll know exactly how much water you’ve added. We’re also big fans of the old-fashioned temperature gauge on the front, which proved both charming and practical. We also like the smooth-acting temperature setting lever on the bottom, which allows you to heat water to between 50°C and 100°C, in 10°C increments, ideal for a variety of drinks. Once set in action, the kettle emits a soft white light and a calming low beep – it might sound silly, but the Artisan gives boiling water a truly luxurious feel thanks to deft design touches like these. Next up is useability. We test how easy the kettle is to fill, hold and pour, its weight and whether the fill lines are easy to read. If the kettle has any additional features beyond boiling water, we also look at how useful these are. Finally, we take into consideration each kettle’s build quality and design, and whether these reflect its price. And we would avoid buying any cheap kettle that has a mains cable connected directly to the jug itself, as the slot-in stand design of most modern kettles is far safer.Overall, there is no better value for money than the 23211 Luna. It not as high-end as our #2 choice, but comparing price, style and dB level… there really isn’t a better choice. Being able to brew one cup in 45 seconds, this kettle is anything but slow. Boiling one cup at a time also “saves up to 66% energy” compared to a full boil. A few reviewers have mentioned a “chemical taste” when using this kettle. I’ve personally experienced the same but after a few days of boils it eventually dissipates.

Coming #2 in quiet kettle list is the fabulously shiny Dualit 72815. Hailed as Dualit’s quietest kettle they’ve released, we think it lives up to the hype. Our top recommendation is the Russell Hobbs 23211 Luna, followed closely by the Dualit 72815. Both equipped with style and range of features anyone would be happy with, it’s a no brainer.

Boasting rapid boil, simply fill the kettle enough for one cup and it’ll be ready in 45 seconds… not too shabby! Stovetop kettle: This is the most basic kind of kettle, which you simply put on the stove and heat up. When the water is boiling, it will whistle to let you know. They can be (although are not always) the cheapest kind of kettle, as well as having an aesthetic, retro appeal. They are less susceptible to damage caused by mineral deposits than electric kettles and require neither a mains plug nor space on your work surface. Are rapid boiling kettles actually faster than normal ones?