When it comes to having the perfect cup of tea, nothing beats an old-fashioned kettle. With its distinctive whistling noise and distinctive hissing sound, the kettle is practically a sign that someone has arrived home. The best part? Kettles are pretty simple to operate, which makes them ideal for anyone who isn’t quite so keen on technology (and perhaps just wants to relax for a minute). It’s not just having a cup of tea that makes a good kettle – it’s having the perfect cup every time. To find out what sets apart the average kettle from the best, we took an in-depth look at some of the most popular models currently available on the market and assessed their performance based on four major categories: ease of use, design, boiling, and cleaning.