Kettles vs Teapots: The Difference Explained

Do you know the difference between kettles and teapots? If not, you're certainly not alone. The confusion between teapots and kettles often arises from their similar association with making tea, but they serve distinct purposes. Additionally, some kettles resemble the shape of teapots, which can create further confusion. This article explores the key differences between teapots and kettles, their unique roles in tea preparation, and the various materials used to craft them.

Kettles: Purposes and Types

A kettle is a vessel designed specifically for heating water. Unlike teapots, which are used to brew tea, kettles are solely intended for boiling water and should not be used for tea leaves, tea bags, or any liquid other than plain water. Built for efficiency, kettles are typically larger than teapots, with the capacity to heat 1–2 liters of water, depending on their size. They come in two main types: electric kettles, which are powered by electricity, and stovetop kettles, which are heated on a burner.

Electric Kettles

The first has an outlet base, into which you plug the kettle and turn it on to start heating. Kettles are usually made of stainless steel, but plastic, glass, and ceramic are also common. The basic model heats water till boiling point, while you can set the temperature with other models with an internal thermometer. Some of these kettles usually have safety features, like automatic shutoff and boil-dry protection features. This means the device will automatically turn off when it reaches the temperature, or you accidentally turn it on while empty. 

Stovetop Kettles

These are the classic types of kettles that you put on a heat source, such as gas, electric, or, in many cases, induction cooktops. Nowadays, most stovetop kettles are generally made of stainless steel, but modern glass models are also available. The more traditional ones are made of stoneware, cast iron, copper, brass, or bronze. Some luxurious items are made of silver and gold. These kettles don't have the same safety features as electric kettles, but usually, when the water has reached the boiling point, they whistle, reminding you to turn off the heat.

A Modern Shape: The Gooseneck Kettle

Kettles come in various shapes, but one style that has gained popularity in recent years is the gooseneck kettle. As the name implies, this kettle features a narrow, long spout resembling a goose's neck. This design provides excellent control over water pouring, allowing for precision in both speed and placement. While it because initially popular among coffee lovers to prepare pour-over coffee, it is now widely used by tea lovers. You can find it in both electric and stovetop versions.

Teapots: Purposes and Types

Teapots are vessels used for steeping tea. They come in countless shapes and designs; the primary materials used to craft them are ceramic (glazed and unglazed), glass, and silver. Unlike kettles, teapots are smaller and not meant to be heated by a heat source. They are also less robust; if you heat them, you could damage the decoration patterns and even break them. Teapots are just for steeping tea.

Some of the most iconic teapots are:

• Chinese Yixing teapot
• Japanese Kyusu
• English Brown Betty
• Moroccan silver teapot (differently from the other teapots, this one is also used for heating tea on a heating source in the Moroccan tea style)

Kettle vs Teapot: Which One Is a Must-Have?

Tea lovers usually have both, as their purposes are entirely different. But if you are new to tea and want to buy just the basic stuff to prepare a good cup, we recommend purchasing a kettle. Although beautiful and essential for Chinese gongfu and British tea, teapots can be easily replaced with mugs and strainers. You could consider teapots as an upgrade in your tea journey.

On the other hand, kettles are non-negotiable, as you have to heat water to make tea. Of course, you can use a saucepan or a small pot to heat water, but kettles are more manageable and safer. Pouring hot water from a pan into a tea cup is undoubtedly more challenging than using a kettle designed for such purpose!

Kettle vs Teapot: Best Material

When choosing the best material for teapots and kettles, several aspects must be considered. If you are concerned about chemical leaching from metal teaware, we suggest you read our blog post about it.

Here, we will summarise the material's main characteristics and consider their pros and cons.

Glass: for Teapots and Kettles

Glass is one of the safest materials, easy to clean, and low-maintenance. It's also neutral to water and doesn’t affect its taste. The Glass teapots and kettles market is vibrant, with many choices for any price tag. Electric glass kettles usually have a glass body and a base of stainless steel or other metal. Stovetop kettles are less common, but they are usually entirely made of glass with a thicker bottom.

However, glass has low heat retention and does not distribute heat well or maintain temperature over time. Glass kettles and teapots may not be the best choice if you indulge in long tea sessions. Fragility is another downside of this material. Be sure to buy only borosilicate glass teaware, which is heat resistant.

Glass teapots and kettles are good choices if you like to watch the water boil or the tea leaves unfurl into the water. Thanks to their neutral quality, they are also a good choice if you are concerned about possible chemicals leaching into the water.

Stainless Steel: Only for Kettles

Stainless steel is the most common metal for kettles, both stovetop and electric. These kettles are lighter than ceramic and cast iron ones, durable, rust-resistant, and acid-resistant. They are also very easy to clean. A little vinegar can easily descale the kettle in a few minutes. On the downside, some kettles may release an unpleasant metal taste into your water at first, but it should disappear over time. Surely, stainless steel kettles are the best choice if you want a low-maintenance, affordable, and durable item.

Ceramic: Stoneware for Kettles

Ceramic kettles are usually electric and have a stoneware body and metal bottom, but there are also a few full ceramic stovetop kettles on the market. The main downside of these items is their weight. Compared to stainless steel kettles, ceramic kettles are heavier and less easy to handle. The weight increases even more if you want to avoid metal and plastic components and have a 100% whole ceramic kettle (usually stovetop).

Having said that, like glass, ceramic doesn’t affect the taste of water. This avoids the unpleasant metallic taste that some metal kettles may leave in your water. Moreover, if you value the aesthetic appeal, ceramic kettles can be a valuable choice to display on your kitchen shelf. The decorations and glazing are various and for anyone's taste.

Ceramic: Stoneware and Porcelain for Teapots

Ceramic is the primary material used for teapots. There are several types of ceramic, and at least another blog article is needed to cover the world of ceramic teapots. But here, we mention the general characteristics of the main product you can find on the market:

• Glazed stoneware teapots are the most common type. Depending on the clay mix used, these teapots retain heat well and are durable. With low maintenance, several stoneware teapots are dishwasher safe.

• Unglazed stoneware teapots: The most famous unglazed stoneware teapots are the Chinese Yixing teapots. Unglazed teapots may absorb tea aromas and, over time, enhance tea quality (we are speaking of subtle changes). Thus, it’s better to avoid steeping completely different teas in the same teapot. You don’t want your green tea to have earthy notes from the ripe pu erh you steeped before.

• Porcelain: Made of kaolin, porcelain is durable and strong. It is less prone to chipping and cracking and is highly resistant to thermal shock. It's thinner and lighter than average stoneware. The only downside? Genuine porcelain is pricey.

Cast Iron: for Teapots and Kettles

Cast iron is a very good material for kettles. It is hardy, durable, and has excellent heat retention. While Western-style cast iron kettles are generally enameled, famous Japanese tetsubins aren’t, so rust is unavoidable. However, they can change water properties, and for some tea aficionados, this aspect can overcome any other downside, like heaviness and high maintenance.

Western cast iron teapots, on the other hand, are always enameled. This means they don’t affect tea taste and are easier to clean. However, managing temperature and steeping time can be tricky. Moreover, you always have to preheat the teapot to avoid microcracking.

Copper: Only for Kettles

Kettles made out of this metal are aesthetically pleasing and have a retro touch. Copper has good heat retention and can also change water properties, making it softer. On the other hand, copper items are pricy and can potentially leach metal particles. We wouldn’t suggest copper kettles for clumsy people, as they easily chip and damage.