Breville IQ Review

The Breville IQ is one of the few pitcher style kettles that has adjustable temperature settings. Although not as free-form as some models only having preset temperature options at 175, 185, 195, 200 F and boiling, this accounts for pretty much every use case imaginable. The stainless steel kettle and base combo stand out from the competition of almost entirely black bases. The handle, however, is just silvery plastic brushed to match the look. This design choice might be so that the handle is insulated from the body of the kettle. The kettle boils water fast, which we love from an efficiency standpoint. Overall the Breville IQ is a jack of all trades, master of some. Those some being looks, capacity, and boiling speed.

Boiling Speed

The Breville IQ impresses with its quick boiling capabilities. Leveraging its robust 1500-watt heating element, it consistently brings 500 mL of room temperature water to a rolling boil in just under the 3-minute mark in our tests. This level of speed is a significant advantage, especially for busy mornings or when needing hot water quickly for cooking. While not necessarily the absolute fastest on the market, it's highly competitive and translates to tangible time savings over the lifespan of the kettle — potentially hours saved annually compared to slower models or stovetop methods. Efficiency matters, and the IQ delivers respectably here.

The speed remains consistent even when boiling larger volumes, scaling predictably with the amount of water added.

Temperature Accuracy for Green Tea

When tested against its 175°F preset, ideal for delicate green and white teas, the Breville IQ demonstrated exceptional accuracy. On average, the final water temperature was a mere 0.6°F off the target. This level of precision is truly commendable and reflects careful engineering by Breville.

Such remarkable temperature control ensures that users can extract the optimal flavor from sensitive tea leaves without scorching them, a common pitfall with less precise kettles. Tea aficionados brewing varieties that benefit from specific sub-boiling temperatures can trust the IQ to consistently hit the mark, preserving the intended taste profile.

Temperature Accuracy for Coffee

Assessing the kettle's performance at the 200°F setting, often recommended for black tea or certain coffee brewing methods like pour over, reveals a different story. In this specific test, the Breville IQ consistently undershot the target temperature, averaging nearly 5°F below the 200°F set point. While still within a reasonable range, this was the least accurate result among the kettles we tested in this specific temperature bracket.

This deviation becomes more problematic due to the kettle's preset-only nature. Since the water consistently lands around 195°F when set to 200°F, and the next highest setting is a full Boil (212°F), there's no way to nudge the temperature up slightly to achieve a true 200°F or the 205°F some pour-over coffee enthusiasts prefer. Kettles with fully variable temperature control allow users to compensate for such tendencies by setting a slightly higher target. With the Breville IQ, users needing precisely 200°F water are out of luck.

Pour Feel

Ergonomics and handling present a mixed experience with the Breville IQ, which is a subjective but important factor. The kettle's premium stainless steel construction contributes to a noticeable heft. When lifting the full kettle straight off the base, the curved handle tends to concentrate the weight onto the area between the thumb and index finger, which some may find less comfortable or secure compared to more traditionally shaped handles.

Furthermore, the handle itself is quite thick. Individuals with smaller hands might find it challenging to achieve a firm grip. However, during the actual act of pouring, the handle's curve can feel more natural, allowing the kettle to rest somewhat in the cradle of the fingers, permitting a slightly looser, more relaxed grip during the pour itself.

Ease of Use

In terms of general operation, the Breville IQ scores well. The control panel on the base features clearly labelled buttons for each temperature preset, helpfully including suggested uses (e.g., “Green Tea”, "French Press") alongside the temperatures. These buttons light up upon selection, providing clear visual feedback. The base unit is substantial and equipped with rubber feet, ensuring stability on the countertop. A thoughtful design touch is the inclusion of a finger loop on the power plug, making it easier to unplug from a wall outlet — a minor but appreciated detail for those who might move or store their kettle frequently.

A notable drawback encountered with our test unit, however, involves the lid release mechanism. The button intended to pop the lid open for filling proved inconsistent, often requiring multiple presses to engage successfully — working on the first try only about 30% of the time. This finickiness seems potentially related to the kettle's soft-opening lid feature, which is designed to prevent hot water splashes but adds mechanical complexity. As is often the case, increased complexity can introduce additional points of failure.

Precision Pouring

This is where the Breville IQ encounters its most significant limitation, particularly for specific brewing methods like pour-over coffee. The kettle's spout design does not facilitate a highly precise, controlled pour. Just a few inches below the spout, the water stream tends to lose cohesion, breaking into larger drops rather than maintaining a smooth, continuous flow. This characteristic hinders the ability to perform the slow, targeted pouring patterns required for optimal saturation and agitation of coffee grounds in pour-over brewing.

When looking at the kettle itself you can see that the spout is very rounded compared to other pitcher kettles, where the tip of the spout comes to more of a V. This wider, less defined spout appears to contribute directly to the stream's lack of cohesion, preventing the kind of laminar flow desirable for controlled brewing techniques.

Should You Buy the Breville IQ?

The Breville IQ electric kettle presents a compelling option for certain users. If your primary needs involve boiling water quickly for various teas (especially those requiring precise sub-boiling temperatures like green or white tea), French press coffee, or general kitchen tasks like preparing instant noodles or oatmeal, and you value a stylish, large-capacity kettle, then the IQ is a strong contender. Its aesthetic appeal and rapid boiling are definite pluses. However, if you are a dedicated pour-over coffee enthusiast seeking maximum control and precision during the brewing process, this kettle is not the ideal choice. The combination of its temperature inaccuracy at the higher coffee setting and, more critically, its imprecise pouring spout makes it ill-suited for achieving the best results with that method.

What Other Electric Kettle Should You Consider?

The Amazon Basics Electric Kettle offers a similar large capacity and boasts even faster boiling times, but it's a basic model lacking any adjustable temperature settings. It's a budget-friendly workhorse for simply boiling water. The Fellow Stagg EKG represents a similarly premium investment but is a gooseneck kettle specifically designed for pour-over coffee. It offers precise temperature control and exceptional pouring accuracy, making it a favorite among coffee lovers. The Cuisinart PerfecTemp is another pitcher-style kettle featuring multiple temperature presets, much like the Breville. It offers comparable functionality but generally has a less premium feel and appearance compared to the IQ.

Value

Positioned at a premium price point, the Breville IQ's value proposition depends heavily on user priorities. The cost reflects its durable stainless steel construction, sophisticated appearance, brand reputation, and convenient preset temperature functionality combined with fast boiling. For users who highly value these specific attributes — style, speed, capacity, and accurate temperatures for tea — the price may feel justified. However, considering the noted issues with pour precision and the slight temperature inaccuracy at the 200°F setting, dedicated coffee aficionados might find better value in kettles specifically tailored to their brewing needs, even if it means sacrificing some aesthetic elements or capacity. The occasional finickiness of the lid mechanism also slightly detracts from the overall premium value perception.

Conclusion

The Breville IQ Electric Kettle successfully fulfills its role as a versatile, high-performance kettle for many common household uses. Its strengths lie in its attractive stainless steel design, generous 1.7-liter capacity, rapid boiling speed, and excellent temperature accuracy at lower settings ideal for various teas. The clearly labelled presets and stable base contribute to its ease of use. However, it falls short in areas crucial for pour-over coffee enthusiasts: its pouring spout lacks precision, and its accuracy at the 200°F setting is less reliable. Furthermore, the handle ergonomics may not suit all users, and the lid release on our unit was inconsistent. Ultimately, the Breville IQ excels as a stylish, fast, and tea-friendly kettle but is less suited for those demanding the utmost pouring control for specialty coffee brewing, embodying the “jack of all trades, master of some” assessment.