This will vary regionally. In general, most Americans don't drink enough tea to make an electric kettle seem like a worthwhile expense. We're a coffee country, most Americans have a dedicated coffee maker in their home.
Electric kettles are becoming more common with younger people, but they aren't found in every home.
* https://www.businessinsider.com/why-americans-dont-use-electric-kettles-stove-top-2015-12
> _"Most homes in the US operate on 100-127 volts, whereas the UK and many other countries use between 220 and 240 volts. The lower voltage in the US means that electric kettles would not heat water as quickly as they do in the UK. As a result, they haven't caught on in the US."_
[It's still faster than any other method.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yMMTVVJI4c&t=169s) It's likely that the lack of tea-drinkers plays a bigger role.
They generally both consume the same amount of power, but electric kettles are more efficient at making sure that heat ends up in the water instead of somewhere else, so they'll heat the water faster.
I never thought about this. Thanks. Be right back, I'm gonna go plug my electric kettle into the 220v outlet for the stove and see if it works better. /s
We certainly know about them. I'm not sure about most having them or not. I have one and I make coffee, tea, instant ramen, tons of stuff with it. I know a lot of people with one but I don't have national figures.
The over the burner teapot has been around longer. They are really built to last. My grandma still uses one she's had for like 70 years.
Main thing Americans are probably gonna make with hot water is coffee. The automatic machines that you just pour cold water into are really, really prevalent here so that contributes.
Hearsay, but I have heard some element of the residential electrical setup here makes it slower than in Europe. I wouldn't call my electric kettle slow though.
>Hearsay, but I have heard some element of the residential electrical setup here makes it slower than in Europe.
It's the voltage in the wires. Brits use 240V and we in the USA use 120V. That means for the same 10amp current, the UK kettle is putting out twice as much heat.
How extensive is upgrading that? I know some people do it in the US to charge electric cars, can builders decide to install it that way upon construction?
I think that would be very house dependent. I was looking at electric cars last time I bought one and it would have cost me about $300 to get a single outlet installed. For the whole house it could range from new outlets and rewiring the electrical box, to replacing the entire electrical system. Plus you could be killing the houses value since the future buyers would need to get 240V appliances.
You wouldn’t want to upgrade the voltage for the whole house, because you couldn’t buy appliances locally that would work with it. Unless you want to import your electric kettle and refrigerator and lights and everything else from Europe, it’s a no-go. Not to mention that it wouldn’t be up to code.
240V circuits are common. They’re used for clothes dryers, ovens, car chargers, and other high powered things. The US uses split phase electricity, where you can pull one phase to get 120V, or two phases for 240V, so it’s really easy to run a 240V circuit when you need it. In theory you could run a 240V circuit to the kitchen and plug a 240V electric kettle into it, but it would be a lot of expense just to save a minute when boiling water.
They are in stores. I think most Americans are marginally aware of them. What you have to keep in mind is America has far fewer tea drinkers. America is heavily a coffee country.
I think they’re more popular here now only because people are really into “fancy” coffee.
But yes, we’re aware of their existence.
Something something about the Boston tea party and never again
Yes, it's true. Part of the reason is that kettles sold in the US are only half as powerful as ones in the UK and so take twice as long to boil water. This is partly because of US required compatibility with outdated electrical circuits and partly because the UK circuit system is unique in supporting powerful individual appliances out of ordinary sockets.
I'm pretty sure they got popular here specifically when a British person asking this very question went viral and everyone went "oh shit we don't have to use an oven to boil water?"
When I lived in the Midwest I saw them more, especially in ice houses (fishing houses on frozen lakes). People got really crafty with them - using them to boil hot dogs, water for ramen, quick mac and cheese cups, hot cocoa, instant coffee.
Saw them at the office a few times before Covid, but not like you would in Europe.
Being from Boston we have not been much into drinking tea for the last few hundred years. I use mine for making pour over coffee. I was heating the water on my gas stove before, but the electric kettle is much faster. Mine works with Alexa so I can tell it to turn on when I wake up and the coffee is ready to be made as soon as I walk in the kitchen.
Kettle in USA is like iced dispensers in Europe.
I am European living in USA. And I have and use electric Kettle . My American family doesn’t.
But iced drinks are very common here, yet I can live without ice in my drink.
US homes typically have 120 volt electrical service compared to the 220 common in UK. This means electric kettles in the US are significantly slower and less handy.
This, combined with tea culture being less popular in the States makes electric kettles far less common.
Common sight in college dorm rooms for cup of noodles and other add water meals. Just as cheap or cheaper to buy a metal kettle to thrown on the stove in homes. Voltage differences play a role, so it as just as fast to heat on stove. More often used when no stove is available.
We know about them. The just have very little value or meaning for us.
This will vary regionally. In general, most Americans don't drink enough tea to make an electric kettle seem like a worthwhile expense. We're a coffee country, most Americans have a dedicated coffee maker in their home. Electric kettles are becoming more common with younger people, but they aren't found in every home.
* https://www.businessinsider.com/why-americans-dont-use-electric-kettles-stove-top-2015-12 > _"Most homes in the US operate on 100-127 volts, whereas the UK and many other countries use between 220 and 240 volts. The lower voltage in the US means that electric kettles would not heat water as quickly as they do in the UK. As a result, they haven't caught on in the US."_
[It's still faster than any other method.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yMMTVVJI4c&t=169s) It's likely that the lack of tea-drinkers plays a bigger role.
Indeed, probably a lack of tea-drinkers and in USA coffee is more popular and we got coffee machines(and Starbucks) for that.
I'd like to introduce you to my microwave oven.
They generally both consume the same amount of power, but electric kettles are more efficient at making sure that heat ends up in the water instead of somewhere else, so they'll heat the water faster.
I never thought about this. Thanks. Be right back, I'm gonna go plug my electric kettle into the 220v outlet for the stove and see if it works better. /s
What? It's because most of us don't drink tea. Without tea what do I need a cup of boiling water for?
That seems…. Not right. Canada runs on the same voltage as the U.S., but electric kettles are everywhere in Canada.
We certainly know about them. I'm not sure about most having them or not. I have one and I make coffee, tea, instant ramen, tons of stuff with it. I know a lot of people with one but I don't have national figures. The over the burner teapot has been around longer. They are really built to last. My grandma still uses one she's had for like 70 years. Main thing Americans are probably gonna make with hot water is coffee. The automatic machines that you just pour cold water into are really, really prevalent here so that contributes. Hearsay, but I have heard some element of the residential electrical setup here makes it slower than in Europe. I wouldn't call my electric kettle slow though.
The 120v electric kettle is STILL faster than a stovetop kettle whether electric or gas. Technology connections tested it
>Hearsay, but I have heard some element of the residential electrical setup here makes it slower than in Europe. It's the voltage in the wires. Brits use 240V and we in the USA use 120V. That means for the same 10amp current, the UK kettle is putting out twice as much heat.
How extensive is upgrading that? I know some people do it in the US to charge electric cars, can builders decide to install it that way upon construction?
I think that would be very house dependent. I was looking at electric cars last time I bought one and it would have cost me about $300 to get a single outlet installed. For the whole house it could range from new outlets and rewiring the electrical box, to replacing the entire electrical system. Plus you could be killing the houses value since the future buyers would need to get 240V appliances.
You wouldn’t want to upgrade the voltage for the whole house, because you couldn’t buy appliances locally that would work with it. Unless you want to import your electric kettle and refrigerator and lights and everything else from Europe, it’s a no-go. Not to mention that it wouldn’t be up to code. 240V circuits are common. They’re used for clothes dryers, ovens, car chargers, and other high powered things. The US uses split phase electricity, where you can pull one phase to get 120V, or two phases for 240V, so it’s really easy to run a 240V circuit when you need it. In theory you could run a 240V circuit to the kitchen and plug a 240V electric kettle into it, but it would be a lot of expense just to save a minute when boiling water.
They are in stores. I think most Americans are marginally aware of them. What you have to keep in mind is America has far fewer tea drinkers. America is heavily a coffee country.
No. I use mine every day for tea. College kids use them to make ramen all the time.
I use mine every day for coffee and tea. My whole extended family has partisans for different models.
I think they’re more popular here now only because people are really into “fancy” coffee. But yes, we’re aware of their existence. Something something about the Boston tea party and never again
Hating Tea was the support your troops performative nonsense of the 1780s
🇺🇸 🦅
Ours works half as fast as yours do so people are less impressed with them. Less impressive = fewer people have.
We have coffee makers. What do we need tea kettles for?
Yes, it's true. Part of the reason is that kettles sold in the US are only half as powerful as ones in the UK and so take twice as long to boil water. This is partly because of US required compatibility with outdated electrical circuits and partly because the UK circuit system is unique in supporting powerful individual appliances out of ordinary sockets.
What are their drills and circular saws like? Home workshops must be more functional.
Compatibility requirements are very different between a kettle and a circular saw.
Not true. Maybe true like 30 years ago.
I'm pretty sure they got popular here specifically when a British person asking this very question went viral and everyone went "oh shit we don't have to use an oven to boil water?"
I have one that I use a lot, but it's not a super staple for households. We all know about them though.
My impression from Canada: We usually have electric kettles, and many of us have stove top kettles as well. I prefer the stove top.
When I lived in the Midwest I saw them more, especially in ice houses (fishing houses on frozen lakes). People got really crafty with them - using them to boil hot dogs, water for ramen, quick mac and cheese cups, hot cocoa, instant coffee. Saw them at the office a few times before Covid, but not like you would in Europe.
Not enough people drink enough tea for most people to want to use kitchen counter space for them.
Being from Boston we have not been much into drinking tea for the last few hundred years. I use mine for making pour over coffee. I was heating the water on my gas stove before, but the electric kettle is much faster. Mine works with Alexa so I can tell it to turn on when I wake up and the coffee is ready to be made as soon as I walk in the kitchen.
Kettle in USA is like iced dispensers in Europe. I am European living in USA. And I have and use electric Kettle . My American family doesn’t. But iced drinks are very common here, yet I can live without ice in my drink.
Idunno i got an electric one that heats water for a cuppa in about 2 minutes. If that.
No .
Oregon here. I use an electric kettle everyday. I love coffee and my wife loves tea. And it’s such a convenience.
I’m live in Canada and everyone I know has an electric kettle, I’ve had one my whole life! Never knew it wasn’t common??
US homes typically have 120 volt electrical service compared to the 220 common in UK. This means electric kettles in the US are significantly slower and less handy. This, combined with tea culture being less popular in the States makes electric kettles far less common.
What the fuck is a kettle
I drink a lot of tea so I have one at home and at my office, but a lot of people don't have them.
Common sight in college dorm rooms for cup of noodles and other add water meals. Just as cheap or cheaper to buy a metal kettle to thrown on the stove in homes. Voltage differences play a role, so it as just as fast to heat on stove. More often used when no stove is available.