By: The Caffeinated Gear Team
When it comes to precision temperature control for brewing the perfect cup, the Sage Smart Kettle stands in a class of its own. After putting numerous premium kettles through their paces in our testing lab, this sleek powerhouse continues to impress our team of coffee professionals.
What sets Sage apart is their commitment to innovative engineering, which we’ve witnessed firsthand across their product range. From the sophisticated Sage Smart Grinder Pro to the professional-grade Sage Oracle, the Sage Barista Express, and the compact yet mighty Sage Bambino Plus, each machine showcases their dedication to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in home brewing equipment.
The Smart Kettle exemplifies this innovative spirit brilliantly. Its brushed stainless steel finish brings a touch of sophistication to any kitchen counter, but its true beauty lies in its cutting-edge functionality. Unlike standard kettles that simply boil water, this intelligent appliance offers precise temperature control that coffee connoisseurs will appreciate.
Our initial assessment of the Sage Smart Kettle left us impressed, but what truly matters is long-term performance. Now, after more than three years of daily use in our test kitchen, we can confidently say this kettle hasn’t just met our expectations—it’s exceeded them. The build quality has proven exceptional, with all features functioning as perfectly as day one.
Let’s be crystal clear from the start – while this kettle offers brilliant temperature control, it’s not designed as a gooseneck kettle.
If you’re hunting for a specialised pourover coffee kettle, this might not tick all your boxes.
This kettle shines as a versatile kitchen companion rather than a dedicated coffee brewing tool.
For those specifically seeking a temperature-controlled gooseneck option, we recommend checking out the Brewista Gooseneck.
Our history with Sage’s premium kitchen equipment runs deep.
We’ve extensively tested their flagship espresso machine Sage the Oracle, and it left us thoroughly impressed with its innovative features and robust build quality.
Our team’s confidence in Sage grew stronger after putting their Smart Grinder Pro through its paces.
A year of daily use later, this grinder continues to deliver exceptional performance with its user-friendly interface and precise grinding capabilities.
When we discovered Sage produced a smart kettle, our expectations were naturally high.
Given their track record of excellence (they’re known as Breville outside the UK), we anticipated something far beyond an ordinary kettle.
After thorough testing, we’re ready to share our detailed findings.
Let’s examine the manufacturer’s specifications before diving into our hands-on assessment.
“Coffee and tea release lots of bitter compounds if they’re put into water that’s too hot.”
This insight drove the development of a kettle that delivers precise temperature control for different beverages.
The five temperature settings are carefully calibrated for green, white, oolong and black tea, as well as coffee. These preset options remove any uncertainty from the brewing process. The kettle also features rapid boiling capability and a temperature maintenance function that works for up to 20 minutes.
Heston’s Tip: When it comes to brewing, the less oxidised teas like green and white teas release their tannins at a lower temperature. If you brew too hot, the bitter flavours overpower the tea. Conversely, if you brew too cold you don’t release enough flavour from the leaf. The right balance is all about the right temperature.
Each tea variety requires specific temperatures to unlock its subtle flavours. This kettle eliminates the need for separate thermometers.
The five pre-programmed temperature buttons clearly indicate the ideal setting for each tea type. The kettle heats water to your chosen temperature, switches off automatically, and can maintain that temperature for 20 minutes if desired. Notable features include a gentle-opening lid to prevent splashing, a generous 1.7L cordless design, hidden heating element, and built-in scale filter.
The kettle that knows the ideal temperature for tea or coffee
Different teas demand different temperatures for optimal brewing. Select from multiple temperature settings. The kettle offers automatic shutoff and temperature maintenance features.
The push-button lid opens gradually, preventing hot water splashes and controlling steam release.
Crystal-clear water windows on both sides ensure quick and precise filling.
Built-in pressure sensors trigger automatic shutdown after boiling or when the kettle runs dry.
This kettle has genuinely impressed us. It stands out as the finest kettle we’ve tested, and we’re about to break down exactly why:
The Sage Smart Kettle immediately caught our eye with its sleek, modern design.
But what truly impressed our testing team was its precise temperature control system.
When brewing with our V60 or Aeropress, we’d traditionally boil water and wait for it to cool.
While some coffee enthusiasts might use thermometers, our experience shows this isn’t practical for daily brewing.
The Smart Kettle solves this problem brilliantly with its pre-set temperature buttons.
You’ll find five temperature settings: 80°C, 85°C, 90°C, 95°C, and 100°C.
Simply press your desired temperature, and the kettle remembers this setting until you change it.
Through our extensive testing, we’ve found these pre-sets align perfectly with most brewing needs.
Take Aeropress brewing, for instance – the manufacturer suggests 80°C for medium/dark roasts and 85°C for light roasts.
Looking at championship brewing techniques reinforces these temperature choices.
At the World Aeropress Championships, winner Lukas Zahradnik used 79°C, silver medallist Nick Hatch chose 85°C, and bronze winner Kaye Joy Ong opted for 79°C.
For V60 brewing, our testing confirms optimal temperatures between 91-96°C.
The same range works brilliantly for cafetiere brewing, making these pre-sets incredibly practical.
A standout feature we discovered is the keep-warm function.
It maintains your chosen temperature (95°C and below) for 20 minutes.
While we can’t precisely measure the energy efficiency without a smart meter, this feature proves invaluable during busy morning brewing sessions.
The keep-warm function particularly shines when brewing with Aeropress at 80°C.
If you’re not ready when the kettle signals, simply activate keep-warm to maintain the perfect temperature.
For temperatures between the pre-sets, we recommend letting the water cool naturally instead.
Our testing revealed impressive heating speeds:
These times significantly outperform standard kettles, which often take 4+ minutes to boil.
The push-button lid mechanism operates with remarkable smoothness.
While this might seem minor, it adds a touch of quality to the daily brewing experience.
Our team particularly appreciates the clear water level window.
It eliminates guesswork when filling, ensuring precise water measurements for your brew.
We found one discrepancy worth noting.
While the manufacturer claims the kettle detects and shuts off when empty, our testing showed it initially heating without water.
We didn’t risk prolonged testing of this feature, but it’s worth mentioning.
At an RRP of £99.99, with occasional online discounts (check current Amazon price), this kettle sits in the premium category.
However, its build quality and precision features justify the investment.
We’ve researched cheaper alternatives but found their quality questionable at best.
After thorough testing, we can confidently say this is an exceptional kettle.
However, “best” depends on individual needs and preferences.
For a dedicated coffee kettle, we’d suggest considering the Brewista Gooseneck instead.
But for a premium all-purpose kitchen kettle with precise temperature control, the Sage Smart Kettle stands among the finest options available in the UK market.
Caffeinatedgear.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.co.uk.
© 2025 Caffeinated Gear.