A simple yet effective kettle

Small kitchen appliance brand Sage has topped several of our recent kitchen tests. And no, it hasn’t paid to be there. Categories are often tested by different experts, yet the brand has still been named as the purveyor of our best toastie maker, best sparkling water maker and, of course, our highest rated coffee machine.

Many of the brand’s appliances are well-finished in stainless steel, bringing a quality to your kitchen that can’t be found at lower prices. Still, when food writer and kettle and toaster tester, Imogen Hope named Sage’s £119 Soft Top Luxe Kettle her best kettle, we decided it was worth further investigation.

Here, Imogen sets out exactly why she thinks it’s worth spending this on a kettle, while I, Recommended’s home and garden editor, explain why I would reach for her value buy, instead.

What you need to know about Sage’s The Soft Top Luxe Kettle

Before we dive into the pros and cons, here’s what £120 of kettle will buy you.

Hope tested the stainless steel iteration (colours from pink to burgundy are also available) and was impressed with the build quality, free of any flimsy plastic. Surprisingly, though, it’s a simple kettle. You will find no variable temperature settings, touchscreen or keep-warm function here. But you won’t need to read a manual to decipher its two buttons either (one for the lid and one to boil), and thoughtful details like a transparent side panel and lid make it easy to see how much water is inside and if it is close to boiling.

The ergonomic handle is comfortable, and there are clear markers from between two and seven cups to show how much water it contains. Its most notable feature is a soft-close lid (hence the name), which slowly and smoothly opens to give plenty of access for filling, and prevents any risk of hot water splashing should you need to open the lid right after boiling.