Menu
Author:
Jessica Simms
If you plan to do pour-over brewing at home, a gooseneck kettle is an absolute necessity. These kettles give you a greater amount of control over the flow of water and come in both electric and stovetop versions, making them a very versatile tool to have.
We’ve reviewed our favorite kettles from both styles, along with giving you some handy tips on how to choose the best kettle and best practices for using them to brew pour-over coffee.
The Hario Buono Gooseneck Kettle is designed for use with V60 pour-over drippers. Professional baristas often use Hario gooseneck kettles because the slender spout and comfortable handle make it easy to control the volume and flow speed of the water. The secure lid locks itself into place when it heats up, keeping your water at its ideal temperature and preventing spills or leaks.
The Fellow Stagg EKG is the best gooseneck for entertaining because it combines advanced functionality with a beautiful aesthetic design. A variable temperature control lets you bring water to an exact temperature between 135°F and 212°F, then keeps the water at that temperature for up to an hour.
We also appreciate the counterbalanced handle on the Fellow Stagg EKG. This shifts the weight as you pour so it’s more comfortable and you can pour more slowly, perfect for pour-overs and other manual brewing. While it’s a bit pricey for a kettle, the Stagg EKG is worth it if you’re looking for maximum precision.
This stovetop gooseneck kettle from Coffee Gator has a thermometer built right into the lid so you can easily heat water to the optimal temperature for your coffee or tea. An angled, ridged handle makes it comfortable to pour and keeps you from burning your fingers. This is a versatile kettle, too, thanks to the reinforced base. You can use it on gas or electric stovetops, induction burners, or even campfires, making it a great option for both travelers and home kitchens.
This Bonavita kettle is a budget-friendly gooseneck kettle with temperature control. You’d expect to pay twice as much for the features it offers, which includes programming the temperature in 1-degree increments and a hold function to keep it hot for 60 minutes. The handle design is a bit clunky and it’s not the most comfortable kettle to pour. That said, it’s still an excellent value at the price.
Speaking of affordable, here’s another stovetop gooseneck kettle that’s great for budget-conscious coffee geeks. The Bean Envy Gooseneck Pour Over Kettle has a glass lid with a thermometer set in for heating water to a precise temperature. It’s also comfortable to pour and easy to control the flow for manual brewing like pour-over.
The only thing we don’t like is that the larger mouth and glass lid aren’t great for heat retention. The water starts to cool down quickly after it’s removed from the heat. That said, the larger kettle opening also makes it easier to fill and clean, so it’s not necessarily a negative.
Here’s another great stovetop gooseneck kettle for home baristas. We particularly like the design of the spout on this kettle from Barista Warrior. The water flows smoothly over the grinds and it’s easy to control both its direction and its speed. This is a sturdy kettle, too, with both the lid and kettle made of rust-resistant stainless steel. The only part that’s prone to damage is the thermometer, which can get water trapped inside if you’re not careful when you’re cleaning it.
While you can take any stovetop kettle with you camping, the Coffee Gator True Brew is a particularly good option for travelers because it’s rugged and compact. The lid is attached and flips open for filling, so it can’t get lost and it’s easy to fill one-handed. We also love how easy this kettle is to use. The thermometer swivels for easy reading and the comfortable handle makes precision pouring a breeze.
Since it has a reinforced base, you can use the Coffee Gator True Brew on any heat source, including induction burners, so it’s a great option for home use, too. The removable insulated jacket helps keep your water at the right temperature until you’re ready to use it, which combined with the larger capacity makes it a great choice for entertaining.
Don’t want to wait for your water to boil? You’ll never have to with the Willow & Everett Electric Kettle. The kettle uses a unique tapered shape, with a high-wattage heating base that gets it to temperature in under a minute. In addition, it’s programmable, both heating your water to a precise temperature and holding it there until you’re ready to use it.
We like the handle design for pouring. Though the spout is a bit short, you can still get a controlled pour for manual brewing with this fast-heating, sturdy Willow & Everett kettle.
You can get a smart everything these days, and that includes your water kettle thanks to the Fellow Stagg EKG+. It’s compatible with a range of apps for iOS and Android so you can control the kettle wirelessly.
This model has the same impressive stats as far as programmability and pouring ease as the regular Stagg EKG above. It’s up to you whether the addition of smart features is worth the extra investment. The Fellow Stagg EKG+ is one of the pricier gooseneck kettles you’re likely to see out there.
The Bodum Melior is a compact and affordable electric gooseneck kettle with a unique, quirky design that will look great in modern kitchens. The handle is comfortable, though it’s not the sturdiest—the slender metal connection to the kettle does feel prone to bending or breaking. You’ll also need to use caution when cleaning that you don’t let the cork soak up too much water. That said, the kettle itself feels sturdy, with an all stainless steel construction. it’s comfortable, easy to use, and a good value for the price.
The larger capacity of this Bonavita gooseneck kettle is one reason we love it for entertaining. The heat and hold function is another helpful feature. Set the exact temperature you want your water to reach and it will maintain that temperature for up to an hour.
Our only issue with this Bonavita kettle is that it’s not the most comfortable to pour. It can be a bit tricky to control, which may make it frustrating for use with pour-overs. Having said that, it’s a great choice for larger Chemex brewers or tea service.
This classy little gooseneck kettle from Willow & Everett is a straightforward, simple way to brew pour-over coffee. Its simple toggle-on start is easy to use, and the indicator light on the heating base tells you when it’s finished. The lid is airtight to trap heat and locks securely into place to prevent spills during pouring. We also like how much control you get when pouring. The spout and handle designs are made with precision in mind, making it a great choice for any home barista.
Here’s a simpler electric kettle design from Bonavita. It’s similar to the model reviewed above but removes the variable temperature control, making it a more affordable option for budget-conscious buyers. While we have the same quibbles with the handle design, the smaller size makes it easier to pour with precision, so it’s suitable for all styles of manual brewing. The swiveling base and automatic shutoff make it one of the most user-friendly gooseneck kettles.
The Chefbar Tea Kettle is our top pick if you’re looking for a gooseneck kettle in the ultra-budget category. We will say the spout is a bit short, and it can be tricky to use it for pour-overs. It does have an integrated thermometer in the lid, though, so it’s perfect for tea lovers. It’s durable, too, made of similar rust-resistant stainless steel to what you’ll find on pricier kettles.
Last but not least, this OPUX Gooseneck Kettle is one of the most affordable ways to make delicious pour-over coffee. The locking lid has a thermometer in it for tracking water temperature. As for the handle and spout design, they’re very similar to what you’ll see on Hario kettles. It’s comfortable to hold with a nice long spout so you can control the flow. Overall, an exceptional value, especially considering it’s versatile enough to use with any heating element style.
The gooseneck kettle is named for its distinctive spout. Starting near the base of the kettle, the thin spout curves before ending in an angled tip. This slows down the flow of the water and gives the person pouring it more control over the flow than you get with traditional tea kettles.
Gooseneck kettles also use an angled handle design so they’re more comfortable to pour for a longer period of time. That’s another reason they’re great for pour-over, which calls for the barista to pour in increments for 2-3 straight minutes.
The first question you have to answer when shopping for gooseneck kettles is whether you want an electric or stovetop model. Both styles have pros and cons to consider. Read through the advantages of each style to help you decide which one suits your needs.
Advantages of Stovetop Kettles
Advantages of Electric Kettles
Next to espresso, pour-over brewing is surrounded by the most mystique. The truth is, though, you don’t need to be a professional barista to brew great pour-over. All it takes is a bit of time and patience once you know the right technique.
A gooseneck kettle is a necessity for pour-over. Along with that, all you’ll need is a pour-over dripper, paper filters to line it, and a mug to brew into (and if you use a Chemex brewer, you don’t even technically need that). A kitchen timer is also helpful for timing your pours.
Pour-over brewing doesn’t take any longer than French press or drip, but it does require your constant attention throughout the process. Let’s go through the steps:
One reason people love manual brewing is that it gives you a lot of control over the taste of your coffee. If your coffee tastes too weak, use a slightly finer grind or increase the ratio of coffee to water. If it tastes too bitter, use a coarser grind or cooler water. The more pour-over brewing you do, the better you’ll be able to trouble-shoot the process and perfect the flavor of your brew.
A gooseneck kettle isn’t a necessity for manual brewing methods like AeroPress, French press, or clever brewers. That doesn’t mean you won’t find it helpful to have one, though. A gooseneck kettle can be a helpful tool in any brewing method that doesn’t heat the water for you.
Gooseneck Kettles for Immersion Brewing
French press is the most common immersion brewing method. You don’t need any special kettle to pour the water into a French press. Most have fairly wide openings that don’t need much precision, and you’ll be agitating the grounds anyway so pouring speed isn’t an issue.
The main advantage of gooseneck kettles for French press is temperature control. Gooseneck kettles with heat and hold functions can be programmed to heat water to exactly the right temperature for your beans.
Stovetop models with thermometers save you time, too. Rather than bringing the water fully to a boil then waiting 30 seconds for it to cool down, just remove it from the heat when it reaches the 195°-205°F range.
As a side note, this is an even bigger advantage for tea lovers. Delicate white, yellow, and green teas lose a lot of their subtle flavor notes if steeped at temperatures over 185°F. For a true tea lover, the precise temperature control you get with a gooseneck kettle is well worth the investment.
Gooseneck Kettles for AeroPress
Temperature control is as helpful for AeroPress brewing as it is for French press. The controlled pour of a gooseneck kettle is nice for AeroPress, too. There’s not a lot of space at the top of an AeroPress to pour and it’s very easy to overfill with a standard kettle.
The same is true for manual espresso machines and Vietnamese coffee makers. You can get great tasting coffee from them no matter how you heat the water, but you’re much less likely to spill (or burn yourself with boiling water) when you’re using a gooseneck kettle.
Gooseneck kettles don’t need a lot of cleaning or maintenance. As long as you make sure to empty it between uses, you should be able to go months without giving it any special attention.
Over time, hard water scale can build up on the inside of the kettle. If you see a white, chalky residue on the inside of the kettle, it’s time to clean it. The good news is, you can do this in just a few minutes, using only vinegar.
Wiping the kettle should get rid of any left-over vinegar as well as scale traces. Even so, it’s a good idea to do a cleaning boil of plain water before you use the kettle again to brew coffee.
