It’s not hyperbole to say that finding the perfect coffee maker is key to the…
Sasha Pavlovich is a coffee expert with years of experience as a barista, and she knows quite a bit about caffeine and coffee. She manually curates every single page on CaffeineStats.com to make sure that you are getting the right information at your fingertips.
Sasha's expertise is backed by a strong foundation of credentials. She is a certified Coffee Roast Master, specializes in Green Coffee Analytics, and is a certified Sensory Cup Taster.
You’re probably here because you love coffee. And if you love coffee, you’ve probably heard of, if not tried, pour over coffee. When properly made, the pour over method enhances the aroma and flavor of the coffee. The best way to achieve a perfect pour over? With the best gooseneck kettle.
When I was three years old, I had a performance of “I’m a Little Teapot.” I had no idea how important “here is my handle and here is my spout” would become. Read on to learn just how much that spout matters.
If you want to make superior pour over coffee, finding the best pour over kettle is an essential element. This specially designed kettle controls the outflow of water and lets you aim precisely where you want the water to go.
Great coffee depends on even extraction. When using a regular kettle to make pour over, it’s hard to not fill the filter cone all the way. Why does this matter? As the water drains, the coffee grinds stick to the walls of the filter. The coffee high on the filter isn’t contributing to the flavor, so it’s basically wasted. And the grounds on the bottom are doing double duty. The grinds are exhausted and over-extracted, which leaves your coffee bitter.
Just like you don’t use a sledgehammer to mold tiny details in gold, don’t use a regular kettle to make pour over coffee.
If you’re new to the world of pour over coffee, you may wonder which features are important and why. Do I need one with all the bells and whistles? Here, we’ll talk about the most common features and how to decide if you need them or not.
This is the biggest decision to make. When heating water for pour over coffee, your best bet is likely the electric. They are often quicker than heating water on the stove. They’re also easy to use in places like your work office.
Another benefit of electric kettles is the ability to bring water to a precise temperature. While this isn’t absolutely critical it does make life easier.
But what if you already have a great, regular spout electric kettle? You may want to consider a less expensive stovetop kettle. You can heat the water in your electric kettle, then pour it into your gooseneck stovetop kettle to get the proper pouring technique.
Even if you don’t already have an electric kettle, you still might want a stovetop version. For starters, you won’t find an outlet when you’re camping. (I mean real camping, not tooling around in your RV.) Another thing about stovetop kettles is that you can reach a higher temperature than with an electric version. Also, with a stovetop kettle, you don’t have to worry about the electric and electronic components frying. Lastly, a stovetop kettle doesn’t take up valuable counter space.
Most electric gooseneck kettles will have some type of variable temperature setting. If you want to make minute adjustments to fine-tune your coffee preparation, look for a kettle that lets you set the temperature by a single degree.
If you’re not as picky, a number of electric gooseneck kettles only have temperature presets. This is convenient, especially if you also drink tea. White teas are brewed at a lower temperature than pour over coffee, and black tea is brewed at a higher temperature. Some kettles label the presets by what beverage that temperature is for.
When looking at stovetop gooseneck kettles, you might want one with a built-in thermometer. This can be incredibly helpful for getting the correct temperature, but it may cost a little more. If you want to replicate your perfect cup of coffee, knowing the temperature is important.
You can still make pour over coffee without a thermometer. The rule of thumb is to bring water to a boil, take it off the heat, and let it sit for 30 seconds. Of course, variables such as elevation and room temperature will make a difference, but you’ll usually get about the right temperature.
This is another big decision. Will you be mainly making coffee just for yourself? Are you making coffee for the family or frequent guests? If brewing mainly for yourself, you can get by with a 0.8-liter gooseneck kettle. If brewing several cups at a time, you’ll want 1.2 liters or larger.
Why so much? The best way to brew pour over is to pre-saturate the paper filter. This also preheats the dripper and the mug or carafe. While 0.8 liters may sound like a lot, you want your kettle to hold twice the amount of water as you need for your coffee. That way, you have enough to complete this preparatory step.
For the most part, when choosing a kettle for a pour over maker, you want one with a slow flow rate. Physically, this means a narrow spout. One exception may be if you plan to use your pour over kettle for other purposes. You’ll find the best pour over kettles with various spout widths. If you often make tea or other preparations, you might consider one with a faster flow rate.
This is about keeping your cool. Some handle designs get hot, especially if you’re heating water on a stove. You can look for handles made of wood or other material that does not conduct heat. You also don’t want your hand to touch the outside of the kettle. If you have larger hands, look for a kettle that has a handle that sticks out from the kettle.
When looking for the best stovetop or electric gooseneck kettle, you may be surprised by the sheer variety. They each have their own aesthetics, size, and features. This review is to help you sort through what’s out there and choose the kettle that will work best for you.
Gooseneck electric kettles can simplify your morning routine. They vary in features and price. Here are reviews of several electric kettles, what they offer, and their drawbacks. No single kettle will be perfect for everyone.
This is a newer brand on the coffee scene, but it's already got people talking. In fact, it's been used in numerous barista competitions across the U.S. It gets huge style and function points with its small, square, minimalist base. The Bluetooth version is available in matte black, but the standard electric gooseneck kettle comes in seven color options. These include copper, white, matte black, and pink. The matte black kettle is also available with either a maple wood or walnut wood handle and lid pull. It's one of the best gooseneck kettles available on the market
The controls on this electric gooseneck kettle are easy to use, and it features an LCD screen that displays both the desired and actual temperatures. You can set the temperature anywhere from 135 to 212 degrees Fahrenheit. The precise controls let you fine-tune the temperature by single degrees. This high-powered kettle heats the water faster than most other electric kettles. A simple button lets the kettle hold the temperature for an hour. That's great for when you want more than a single cup of coffee in the morning.
They designed this kettle to give the perfect, smooth pour and to prevent unwanted agitation of the coffee grounds. The ergonomic handle gives a counter-balance to make a slow pour easy. It also has a built-in stopwatch to time your brewing more accurately.
The innovation doesn't stop there. For about a hundred dollars more, you can get the Bluetooth-enabled version. With the Stag EKG+ app, you can remotely turn the electric gooseneck kettle on or off and set the temperature. That means you can have the water hot the moment you get out of bed. You can also use the app to track your coffee recipes.
Affordability combined with top-rated features makes this a popular electric gooseneck kettle among coffee connoisseurs. It's also highly recommended for someone just learning about the wonderful world of pour over coffee.
The gooseneck spout is designed for exceptional flow control. It also has a notch in the handle that makes it easy to make minute adjustments in the flow. This means it's ideal for brewers like the Chemex that require precise control. Another helpful feature is the timer that helps you track the brew time.
The settings on this electric gooseneck kettle are straightforward. A set of buttons allows you to adjust the desired temperature. The digital display tracks the rising temperature in real-time. A simple button lets you use Fahrenheit or Celsius degrees. Like the Fellow Stagg EKG kettle, you can adjust the temperature by single degrees. This allows for the most precise control, and the temperature range accommodates any type of coffee or tea.
A simple button allows the kettle to hold the desired temperature for an hour. No more waiting for the water to heat up when you want a second (or third) cuppa.
One drawback of this kettle is that it is prone to rust. To prevent that, it's best to empty the kettle completely and leave the lid off so the inside can dry completely.
This high-style electric gooseneck kettle offers some impressive features. It offers precise temperature control to a single degree. A nice feature is that this gooseneck kettle remembers the last temperature you dialed. It will automatically heat to that temperature when you turn it on, even if it was unplugged.
Once you figure out what all the pictures on the buttons mean, then it is easy to use. But the icons are not intuitive. You'll definitely want to refer to the manual first. The manual also lists the ideal temperature for different teas, hot chocolate, hot cereal, and coffee.
This electric gooseneck kettle comes in seven color combinations, including a white iridescent model. Several models include wood at the bottom of the kettle and the handle. The wood on the bottom stays cool, and this may be helpful when pouring. The ergonomic handle also helps with pouring. The spout design allows for a precise, slow pour.
While this kettle does not get as hot as other kettles, it has an impressive temperature range. One of the preset temperatures is 104 degrees Fahrenheit, and it goes up to 212 degrees Fahrenheit. You can also press the Fast Boil button to have the kettle quickly come to a boil. If you prefer, you can change the temperature to the Celsius scale.
Personally, I really like the look of this Electric Gooseneck Kettle. The fan display of the silver-toned control buttons on the base light up blue when on. This makes a nice contrast to the matte black kettle.
The interior of this kettle is 304 stainless steel. The lid and spout are also stainless steel. It does not have any Teflon or other chemical coating to ruin the taste. The high-grade steel makes this electric gooseneck kettle durable. The spout is laser welded, which prevents leaks.
While this is a variable temperature kettle, you don't have unlimited control. You can choose one of five pre-sets, four tea settings, and a 205-degrees setting for coffee. These buttons are clearly labeled on the base with what the temperature is for. This makes it a great beginner's kettle, but the lack of control may be a drawback for more experienced brewers.
This is a powerful gooseneck kettle that heats the water quickly. Also, the 1200 watts means that the kettle will keep a steady temperature when you press the Hold Temp button. For safety, this kettle detects when the kettle is dry and will switch off.
A nice feature of this kettle is that it has an audible, three-beep signal when your desired temperature is reached. If this annoys you, you can turn this ready signal off. I tend to forget that I put water on, so this signal is very helpful.
While electric kettles allow precise temperature control and can often keep the water hot for a period of time, stovetop kettles have their own advantages. Here are some popular stovetop kettles and some of their features.
The biggest advantage of this stovetop kettle is the built-in thermometer. The thermometer is set in the top of the lid, so you can easily bring your water to the desired temperature. The thermometer has a green area to highlight the temperature range for pour over coffee.
The official capacity of this gooseneck kettle is a full liter. But the instructions clearly state that you should only fill this two-thirds of the way full. That means you'll only get two or three cups at a time. And remember, you need enough water to pre-wet the filter. If you're only brewing for yourself, the small size shouldn't be a problem.
Premium stainless steel makes up the body of this little kettle. The curvy, brushed steel exterior has a classic look. There are some complaints about rust, but rust can be avoided with proper care.
The spout on this kettle has an angular, tapered tip. This allows for precision control for the perfect pour over.
This is where it all started. Many consider Hario to be the origin of gooseneck kettles. It makes sense because the Hario V60 was the innovative dripper many still use for pour over coffee. The elegant Japanese style is evident in these products.
This gooseneck kettle is one of the largest gooseneck kettles out there. It's perfect for people who make coffee for several people at a time. If you're only making coffee for yourself, you might want a smaller version of this kettle.
Despite the larger size, it is still lightweight. While sturdy and durable, the metal is thin. The downside to this is that the water cools faster than with other brands of gooseneck kettles.
In appearance and price, this gooseneck kettle is very similar to the Coffee Gator kettle. But there is one notable disadvantage. The Hario kettle does not have a built-in thermometer. You either need to use an external thermometer or guesswork. The latter may not produce consistent results. But there is something to be said for going with the original vs. the copycat. Another consideration is the fact that the Coffee Gator is made in China while the Hario is made in Japan.
Kalita is another Japanese brand that produces high-quality coffee-brewing gooseneck kettles. This stainless-steel gooseneck kettle has a timeless, regal design. It features a wood handle that is comfortable and stays cool. The body and lid are stainless steel and the bottom is chrome. This kettle is good for gas and electric stoves.
The neck on the spout is wider than most gooseneck kettles. This means it will have a faster flow rate than other kettles. You'll want to be careful until you get a feel for it. Despite that, this kettle has a predictable pour to target the exact area you need to saturate.
This gooseneck kettle has a taller profile with a smaller base. Be careful when placing it on the burner because it may not sit evenly on some burners, increasing the risk to tip over.
The metal is thicker than on the Hario kettle. Because of that, it retains the heat a bit longer. It is a solid choice if you don't need the built-in thermometer.
It’s all about control. To get the best pour over coffee, you need to pour the water slowly and be able to control where the water goes. Using a regular kettle for pour over coffee sets you up for uneven extraction and bitter coffee. The capacity is large enough for most home baristas, and it heats up so fast that you can have another batch of hot water in a few minutes.
A gooseneck electric kettle lets you precisely control the water temperature. Many can also maintain that temperature for a period of time. Some stovetop models have a built-in thermometer, but it requires constant monitoring to get the right temperature.
For best results, empty the kettle after each use and allow the inside to dry. Even with these precautions, you may notice deposits on the bottom. When you do notice a buildup of minerals, you can descale by using lemon juice or vinegar. You can also use a commercial descaler.
Technically, yes. But you won’t get as good of a result. It will not give you a precise pour. It also has a stronger flow. This can cause extra turbulence, leading to over-extracted coffee.
Top all-around honors go to the Fellow Stagg EKG, electric pour-over kettle. It’s a reliable electric kettle that offers precise temperature control. The spout design offers precision for even the pickiest pour-over coffee brewers.
In the stovetop category of best gooseneck kettle, our top choice is the Coffee Gator gooseneck kettle. The built-in thermometer makes it stand head and shoulders above the rest. The triple-layer base means it works great for gas and all types of electric stoves. The handle stays cool, and we like the control the spout gives.
If you haven’t already, we strongly encourage you to venture into the world of gourmet pour over coffee. The rick flavor will win you over. And now you’re armed with the knowledge to get in the game with the right kettle.
