If you're on the hunt for an appliance that will help you make the perfect single cup of tea or coffee, having the best one-cup kettle in your kitchen can be a game-changer. They're designed to be sleek and compact, ensuring you boil just enough water to fill your cup. These types of kettles are the best kettles for small households that love a good cuppa but only require water for just a single cup at a time.
As the best one-cup kettles are designed to heat only the amount of water needed for a single serving, they're a great option for an energy-efficient kettle compared to more traditional kettles that heat large quantities of water at a time. Not only that, but these kettles excel in speed. As only a small amount of water is inside, one-cup kettles are able to rapidly boil that water so you'll get your cuppa more quickly than you would with the average kettle. Perfect for those mornings when you need that caffeine hit fast and your tea or coffee in your hand pronto.
Best one-cup kettles at a glance:
Best overall: Breville HotCup Hot Water Dispenser [VKJ142] – view on Amazon UK
Best one-cup kettle for versatility: LAICA Dual Flo Electric Kettle – view on Amazon UK
Best stainless steel one-cup kettle: Breville VKJ367 Brita Filter Hot Cup – view on John Lewis
Along with all the energy-saving and environmentally friendly factors, one of the best things about a one-cup kettle is its compact size. As you'd imagine from a kettle that has the capacity for a cup-load of water, they're fairly small in size. Whether you opt for a stainless steel kettle or a plastic one, it won't take up loads of room on your countertops.
If it sounds like you need one in your life, we've searched the web to bring you all the best one-cup kettles, taking into consideration all the features that make them great, as well as reviews from real-life customers to make sure we're recommending you kettles that come highly rated.
Best one-cup kettles
Best overall
Description
With over 20,000 reviews, the Breville HotCup Hot Water Dispenser [VKJ142] is a popular choice
Pros
- Quick boil
- Removable easy-to-clean drip tray
- Permanent limescale filter
Cons
- Reviewers have said it is very noisy
Best one-cup kettle for versatility
Description
You'll get the perfect amount of water for your cup every time using the LAICA Dual Flo Electric
Pros
- Quick and efficient boil
- Lightweight design
- Hands-free water dispenser
Cons
- Water occasionally weeps from the lid when filled
Best stainless steel one-cup kettle
www.johnlewis.com
Description
Speedy, slick and simple, with just the touch of a button, the Breville VKJ367 Brita Filter Hot
Pros
- Brita filter technology
- Choose from nine different cup sizes to fill
- Manual stop button
Cons
- Some reviewers found it is easy to overfill
Best small one-cup kettle
www.sageappliances.com
Description
Although not technically made to be a one-cup kettle, The Compact Glass Kettle from Sage has just
Pros
- Modern glass design
- Soft open lid
- Easy to see and clean
Cons
- Some reviewers have reported it cracks easily
Best one-cup kettle for travel
www.lakeland.co.uk
Description
If you're wanting to whip up a quick cuppa when you're away from home, you need the Lakeland 0.5L
Pros
- Compact size
- Easy to store
- Includes all the accessories you need to make hot drinks when travelling
Cons
- Metal can get hot
Best for style
Description
Enjoy your morning brew in style with the Cooks Professional Electric Instant Hot Water Dispenser.
Pros
- Manual stop function
- Sleek design
- Removable drip tray
Cons
- Bit leaky
Best for convenience
www.currys.co.uk
Description
Last but by no means least on our list of the best one-cup kettles is another option from
Pros
- Faster than traditional electric kettles
- Dispenses up to 250ml of water at a time
- Non-slip feet
Cons
- Some may find it heavy to hold under the tap to fill it
FAQs
Are one-cup kettles any good?
Whether you find a one-cup kettle any good for your household will all depend on your specific needs and preferences. If you regularly need to make more than one hot drink at a time, say if you have a larger household or often have friends and family pop in for a catch-up over tea and coffee, or you need to boil big quantities of water at once, a one cup kettle might not be the right choice for you.
However, the best one-cup kettles are an excellent choice if you want to speedily heat up small amounts of water to make a quick cuppa as they offer convenience, speed, and energy efficiency. As these tend to be not as big as the average kettle, they're a good option for smaller kitchens with limited counter or storage space as they don't take up a lot of room.
Are one-cup kettles energy efficient?
One-cup kettles are very energy efficient due to their smaller size and quick heating capabilities that make sure you’re only boiling what you need. As you’re only heating up as much water as you need, these kettles stop you from wasting water as well as saving energy, making them a great eco-friendly option.
These types of kettles are designed to have rapid boiling. This means they're not the quietest kettles, but as they are on for a shorter duration compared to the average kettle, it reduces the overall amount of energy it consumes. The best one-cup kettles come equipped with features such as automatic shut-off, which will prevent them from using excess energy once the water inside has reached boiling point.
Rosie Floyd is a Pets, Homes and Garden Product Writer for Yours, specialising in home appliances, décor and furnishings, as well as all things dogs. After completing her Journalism & Media degree from Coventry University back in 2015, she started her career writing about must-visit holiday destinations, moving on to creating content around outdoor living and garden buildings, before joining the team at Bauer.
