I like this kettle about as much as I dislike its name "Enfinigy," which is to say a whole lot. Branding misfire aside, the Zwilling kettle totally rocks. This model may not have as many bells and whistles as some of the others on our list, but for me, it's a perfect size (1.5 liters) with a sturdy build and simple, eye-pleasing design.

It also has a cool-touch exterior so the outside stays cool even as the liquid boils inside. Speaking of which, the Zwilling kettle was right on par with some of the fastest boilers in the bunch, taking only 2 minutes and 40 seconds to get to temp. 

It's not the cheapest kettle we tried by any means, but $80 is a fair price considering the quality and the added assurance that comes with a top kitchen brand like Zwilling. So with that, (ugh, don't make me say it again) the Enfinigy gets the top slot overall in our tea kettle smackdown.

While the Zwilling was my favorite overall, I would place Oxo's electric kettle right up there with the rest of the elite models. If you prefer a glass kettle to always know how much water is inside or keep a visual eye on boiling progress and kettle cleanliness, this is the one to grab. 

The Oxo Brew was actually the fastest and most consistent of any in the boil test, reaching 212 degrees F in under 2 minutes and 30 seconds in all three tests I ran. It also has a sleek and sturdy build and would fit nicely with any kitchen motif.

If you haven't heard, the child actor turned adult actor turned daytime talk show host is now making kitchen appliances. And the B (stands for beautiful) electric kettle is a rather good one. 

This 1.7-liter kettle comes in at just $40 but looks, feels and operates on the level of much pricier models. It heated water in just 2 minutes and 32 seconds -- about as fast as any other -- and held the temperature most consistently. It's made from sturdy matte plastic and is one of only a few cool-touch kettles I tested, meaning the outside never gets hot. This is something a careless klutz such as myself appreciates. This kettle also has specialized tea settings including ones for black tea, green tea and oolong. 

Everything is controlled through a sleek digital interface, but it's worth noting that there's always a risk it will short out or malfunction over time. That said, at $40 this kettle was still the clear budget pick for me.

The $100 Oxo is another standout from our previous kettle testing and because of its gooseneck spout, is a particularly appealing kettle for pour-over or other manual coffee-making setups that require a steady, controlled pour. 

We also like that the Oxo electric gooseneck kettle has a temperature hold function, making it possible to keep your water at 200 degrees Fahrenheit. When the temperature begins to drop, the kettle turns itself back on, reheating your water. 

It has a smaller 34-ounce capacity, perfect for just over 4 cups of water. This gooseneck kettle shuts off automatically after 30 minutes.