Glass Tea Kettles

How borosilicate glass behaves on a kettle

Borosilicate glass is the material used for the body of these kettles. It resists thermal shock from boiling water and lets you see the water level and the tea as it steeps. The glass carafe sits on a stainless steel base that holds the heating element and controls. Most models use a plastic or stainless steel lid and handle that stay cooler than the glass.

A double wall design adds a layer of air between two glass walls. That keeps the outside cooler to the touch and helps hold heat a little longer. Single wall glass gets hot on the outside, so you rely on the handle. Both types show the water clearly, which is the main reason to pick glass over metal.

Sizes and forms you find in glass

Glass electric kettles come in a few common capacities. The selection includes: 0.8l, 1l, 1.5l, 1.7l, 1.8l. The 1.7L and 1.8L sizes are the most common, good for filling several cups at once. Smaller 0.8L and 1L models suit one or two cups and take up less counter space.

Some glass kettles include a removable tea infuser that sits inside the carafe. That lets you brew loose leaf directly in the kettle and lift the infuser out when the tea is ready. Others are plain water boilers with no infuser. Colors on the base and handle include brown, gray, red, blue, black, green, and silver. The glass itself is clear.

What you trade off with glass

Glass shows every bit of scale and cloudiness from hard water, so you need to descale more often than with a stainless steel kettle. It is also heavier than a comparable stainless model because of the glass thickness. If you want a kettle that hides mineral buildup and takes knocks without worry, stainless steel is the more forgiving choice. Glass is for people who want to watch the boil and the brew.