takes for Cuisinart's electric teapot to boil a liter of water. In addition to this blistering performance, the PerfecTemp offers a host of other highlights: the widest range of preset temperatures (six options, from 160 degrees to boiling), an easily accessed control panel built into the handle, and the ability to keep water warm longer than any other kettle we tested (30 minutes).

WIRED Blazing fast. Baseplate is so streamlined you can't tell it's there when the teapot is on it. Manual contains a brief history of tea. Awwww.

TIRED Overshoots selected temperatures by an average of 3 degrees. (We survived.) Tough to get your hand inside for a good scrubbing.

$100, cuisinart.com

2. Breville Variable Temperature Kettle

Breville made a serious run for best in class with this fast, easy-to-use little number. The control panel on the base displays five levels of heat, ranging from 175 degrees (green tea) to a full-on boil (get your English breakfast here! ). And this thing is unmistakably high-end, with solid construction, illuminated buttons, and blue-green-tinted acrylic windows. But you pay a premium for all that: The Breville was the most expensive in our group.

WIRED Easy to clean, easy to use, easy on the eyes. Averaged 5:09 in our liter-boil event. Labeled buttons tell you which temperature suits which beverage. Gets within an average of 1.2 degrees of your selected setting.

TIRED Keep Warm function stays on for only 20 minutes. Large-ish footprint. Spendy.

$150, brevilleusa.com

3. Krups BW4000

If all you want to do is quickly boil a large quantity of water without mussing your minimalist decor, Krups' die-cast kettle is a solid choice. Operation is dead simple—just hit the switch and wait. The bane side of that boon: You don't get any of the advanced features you'll find in similarly priced competitors.

WIRED Two-quart capacity is the largest in our group, while its 56-square-inch footprint saves space. Boils a liter of water in about five minutes—our silver medalist. Wide mouth makes it easy to get your hand inside come cleaning time.

TIRED The class pig at 4.1 pounds. Except for the soft clicking sound of the switch flipping itself off, there is no audible indication that your water has boiled. Pricey for a one-trick pony.

$100, krups.com

4. Chef's Choice SmartKettle 688

With its homely looks, incessant beeping reminders, and ability to dial in any temperature from 122 degrees to 212, the SmartKettle is a bit of a nerd. True to form, it was also slow, taking last in our 1-liter boilathon. It averaged a tortoiselike six minutes, 25 seconds. But if you're finicky about your tea temp and not in a hurry, the 688's math-class precision may be worth waiting for.

WIRED Superlight: just a hair over 2 pounds. Hits specified temperatures to the degree. Speaks both Celsius and Fahrenheit.

TIRED Sloooooow. LED display never turns off. Won't heat less than 16 ounces of water. Be prepared to scratch your hand when you stick it inside to clean the thing.

$100, chefschoice.com

• Manufacturer: Roundup:
• Price: $150

Authors: Joe Brown

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