Rating: 4.5

Price: £££

Key Points

• 2 litre water capacity (8-9 cups of tea)
• boils water in 30 seconds
• water is never lukewarm
• simple to assemble and use
• improves on previous bottle, which has a set 250 ml cup size; allows you pick from 9 different cup sizes and has a manual stop button
• may need to be de-scaled from time to time

Increased Water Capacity

One area where the Breville VKJ318 really has improved on its predecessor is in its water capacity. The Breville VKJ142 Hot Cup had a 1.5 litre capacity that wasn’t quite large enough to suit some people. If you like to fill up the jug at the beginning of the day to have your water ready for multiple cups of tea or for a large pot for cooking then the 1.5 litres wasn’t quite sufficient. The new model has a 2 litre water capacity, allowing for around 8-9 cups of tea, a marked improvement on the 5 that most people could get out of the first Breville Hot Cup.

The water jug is also completely clear, allowing you to see how much water is in the Breville Hot Cup at any given time. Some of the other one cup kettles on the market don’t have this feature, which can make it difficult to take a look at how much water you have left before you boil.

Speedy Boiling

The Breville VKJ318 has also increased its speeds. While the previous model clocked in at about 50 seconds, this new product can heat your water up in as little as 30 seconds, making it super fast for the more impatient customers out there, and putting at the top of the market for speed even against more expensive devices.

High Heats

Some people find that the hot cup kettles out there don’t make their water quite as hot as they would like when compared with a standard kettle. The Breville VKJ318 certainly doesn’t have this problem. The water quickly heats to boiling point and is never lukewarm, giving you the perfect cup of tea without any trouble.

Convenience and Design

The Breville VKJ318 Hot Cup is simple to assemble and use, and is surprisingly compact, making it a good addition to your kitchen countertop and no more cumbersome than a kettle. It comes with a removable drip tray to prevent annoying spillage mess that you can detach if you want to fill something a bit bigger and don’t want the tray to get in the way. The design is clever, with a large opening for water filling and a design that looks modern and attractive. The tank also illuminates while the water heats, which is a nice aesthetic feature.

Customisation

The key areas of improvement from the first generation Breville Hot Cup is in the customisable features of the kettle. The main issues in the previous model revolved around the fact that you couldn’t adjust the flow of the water to allow for the right amount for your needs: it always measured out 250ml cups of water. This was okay for the average cup of tea, but not so great if you wanted more or less water at one time. The new Hot Cup from Breville has solved this problem, allowing you to pick your own volume with nine different cup sizes to choose from. The company has also added a manual stop button that allows you to interrupt the flow of water at any time if it’s going over the amount you need. This is a major improvement, and should win over many customers who were unsure about the previous Breville Hot Cup.

Maintenence

There have been some issues with the product in the amount of water being produced declining fairly quickly with use. This generally comes down to scale deposits. Once the Hot Cup is de-scaled it seems to go back to its normal, so if you do decide to go with this product, make sure you de-scale it frequently to avoid losing any quality. An instruction booklet comes with the Breville Hot Cup that explains in good detail how to do this, and the frequency will depend on the hardness of the water in your area.

Should You Buy It?

All in all, Breville have come leaps and bounds from their first generation one cup kettle, producing a product that should suit many people. The price is higher than the earlier model for obvious reasons, but given the savings you’ll make in your electricity bills by switching from a normal kettle, this should be a good investment for people in need of frequent boiling water. The Breville VKJ318 is easy to use, fast and convenient, and should be a great addition to your kitchen.

Rating: 3.5

Price: £££

Key Points

• combined alarm clock and one cup kettle
• makes 2 cups of boiling water at once
• boils water in 90 seconds, but it’s ready when you wake
• Dawn Simulator feature on alarm, waking you up gently by shining light into the room
• includes flask for milk storage to keep milk cold overnight, removable drip tray, and cord storage feature
• may produce water with unpleasant chemical taste, like many one cup kettles
• requires frequent descaling

Design

The Breville Wake Cup is designed to make two cups of a hot beverage at once, which is a great idea for couples, and solves the problem of who will be the one to get up and get the coffee or tea. The design looks cool and modern, and the device should look trendy sitting at anyone’s bedside.

Handy Alarm Clock

The Breville Wake Cup comes with some nice alarm features. You simply programme the clock with the time that you want to wake up, and it will wake you up on schedule. You can even put a battery in if you want to be sure that the alarm will function in the event of a power outage.

The clock includes Dawn Simulator features, which help you wake more gently by slowly bringing light into the room for 90 seconds before the alarm is set to ring. This is certainly a pleasant way to start the day, especially in the winter when some of us have to wake in the dark. You can also set the alarm to go off separately from the water heating system if you don’t feel like a hot drink that day.

The Negatives

However, the clock itself has some irritating flaws. The main issue is in the brightness of the clock, which has an extremely strong LED light which even when dimmed, lights the room up more than you might like. For those people who struggle to sleep without a very dark room, this could be a frustrating feature.

Useful Features

There are some nice additions to the Breville Wake Cup, including a handy flask for milk storage to keep the milk cool overnight so that you can make your drink without having to get up at all. The device also comes with a removable drip tray to prevent spillage and mess, and a cord storage feature that prevents clutter and the risk of tripping on your way out of bed in the morning. There’s also a storage space for teabags and for the water jug to add more to the machine, which is a nice touch.

Taste Problems

There are a few issues with the Breville Wake Cup in its actual water heating system that prevent it from being the great product that it could be. While the idea of having a cup of tea in bed in the morning is a lovely one, nobody wants a drink with an unpleasant, chemical-like taste that lingers in the mouth. Sadly, the Breville Wake Cup often produces an odd flavour in the water that is difficult to get rid of even when you boil the water multiple times on first use, as the instructions suggest. You can try rinsing the machine with bio-carbonate of soda, but even then there’s sometimes a lingering taste and a strange smell. This flaw might not occur for everyone, but if it does it can really ruin what might have been a great gadget.

If you’re lucky enough not to get a Breville Wake Cup that comes with the unpleasant taste that many customers have experienced, you may still find that this problem crops up when the machine needs to be de-scaled. Like many one cup kettles on the market, frequent de-scaling is necessary to keep the device working well and to keep your drink tasting fresh. Just be aware that the Breville Wake Cup will need some maintenance in this sense, but if you love your coffee first thing in the morning, it may be worthwhile.

Customisation

Another less significant but still annoying feature is that you can’t customise the device to have it begin boiling the water for your drink before the alarm wakes you, so while Breville promises a cup of tea ready and waiting as you wake, this isn’t quite the case. This is certainly a more minor flaw, but one that might frustrate some people who misunderstood the product.

Should You Buy It?

Sadly, this is a good idea that doesn’t quite hit the spot. Hopefully Breville will take on board the criticisms its received over this product and produce an update that solves some of these issues, as with a little work it could be a really fun and convenient gadget. It’s not cheap, but if these flaws were ironed out then it could definitely be a good investment, especially when you consider the energy saving potential of not heating up full kettles. We’ll keep an eye out for an update to the Breville Wake Cup, and see if any progress is made.

Rating: 4.25

Price: ££££

Key Points

• capacity of 1.8 litres 
• boils water in 40 seconds
• comes with detachable drip tray
• equipped with a Brita filter
• doesn’t release the water until it’s 100°C
• offers 9 cup size options
• some consumers may notice a chemical taste to the water
• needs to be de-scaled frequently

Design

Something that really stands out about this new Hot Cup is its smart, stylish design. The product looks sophisticated and modern, and should impress even the most discerning kitchen appliance enthusiast. As with the earlier generation models from Breville, this Hot Cup’s tank glows blue while your hot drink is being boiled, which adds a nice aesthetic touch.

The Hot Cup comes with a handy detachable drip tray to collect any spillage that might occur, which makes the product easy to clean up and prevents mess from building up in your kitchen. It also comes with a cord storage feature around the base of the kettle, which will help reduce clutter and keep your counter top nice and clear.

Convenience

The whole unit is a little awkward to dissemble to take the tank to be refilled and can be quite heavy. You may find it easier to use a small jug to collect water from the tap to fill the one cup kettle with. This is also a good option for people who struggle to lift heavier objects. The tank has a large capacity and can hold up to 1.8 litres of water at one time. If you fill your Hot Cup up in the morning it should easily give you a solid day’s use.

Filtration Features

The key upgrade from the last, second generation Breville Hot Cup model is in the addition of a Brita filter to the kettle. The Brita filter takes care of any bacteria, chlorine, heavy metals and hardness in your water to give you the cleanest, purest refreshment. The filter works well and should ensure that your water is always at its most hygienic, while improving the overall taste of your drink.

Speedy Boiling and High Temperatures

The Breville Brita Filter Hot Cup is definitely one of the fastest on the market. Depending on the size of the cup you’re brewing, it can get your water hot and ready to go in about 40 seconds. This is faster than other premium one cup kettles, and is definitely an improvement on the earlier generation Breville Hot Cups.

Another strong feature from this product is the temperatures you’ll get from it. There have been complaints with other similar products that the water isn’t quite hot enough for some customers, as the kettles tend to heat up without properly reaching boiling point. This new generation model doesn’t release the water until it’s hit 100 degrees, ensuring that your mug of tea will always be steaming out, and never lukewarm.

Customisation

As with the second generation Breville Hot Cup, this new model gives you a range of cup sizes, nine in total, to choose from, a major improvement on the 250ml-only capability of the first generation. Some people may be frustrated that the cup size still doesn’t go up to a large enough amount to boil, say, a large pot of water for cooking. You’ll still need to use your normal kettle for those kinds of tasks, as this product is really designed for one cup use only. You’ll also probably still need to use a standard kettle if you have guests over and need to make multiple cups of tea or coffee, but for just yourself or a couple, this product will definitely offer a convenient, energy-saving solution.

One feature that would have been a nice addition would be the option to choose your water temperature. There are other prodjucts on the market that allow you to adjust the temperature to the heat you like, while also allowing you to get ambient filtered water from the dispenser. The Breville Brita Filter Hot Cup doesn’t give you quite so many options, but for your tea drinking needs it should certainly fit the bill.

Taste and De-Scaling

A major issue with the Breville Brita Filter Hot Cup is the same one that effects many of the one cup kettles out there. A strange chemical taste seems to plague these products that you don’t really find with normal kettles. Breville hasn’t managed to completely solve this problem on its new generation model. You’ll still need to dump the first few lots of water that you boil to rinse the machine out.

Like other one cup kettles, the Breville Brita Filter Hot Cup needs to be de-scaled frequently, so be aware of this before making your purchase. Maintenance is fairly easy and straightforward so this shouldn’t put off too many people, but if frequent limescale build up bothers you then you may want to consider sticking with a normal kettle.

Should You Buy It?

Overall, Breville has give us another positive set of improvements with this newest one cup kettle. The addition of the filtration system is a really useful feature that does set this Hot Cup apart from other similar products on the market. This isn’t a cheap gadget, but if you enjoy making plenty of cups of tea or coffee throughout the day then it could save you a little money on your electricity bills, while bringing a smart and stylish new addition to your kitchen counter.

Rating: 3.75

Price: ££

Key Points

• boils water in 30 seconds
• built for single use: holds only 150-300 ml at a time
• lightweight, compact design
• water produces isn’t piping hot but will suit most people
• reviewers have occasionally noted issues with leaking, and the smell and taste of the water.
• somewhat high maintenance: requires frequent de-scaling

Super Fast Speeds

This one cup kettle is seriously speedy: it can make you a mug of boiling hot water in as little as 30 seconds, so it’s perfect for people hoping to get a cup of coffee in a hurry. However, it has its limitations. The built in water jug only holds 150-300ml of water at a time, so this is definitely a one cup kettle for single use. There’s no denying that the Morphy Richards Accents One Cup will save you some money on your electricity bills. It uses just the energy needed to speedily heat up a cup, rather than wasting time and electricity boiling a whole kettle at once for just one person. This way, you can get fresh water each time you want to enjoy a hot drink.

Convenience and Design

One highlight of the Morphy Richards Accent One Cup 43930 is its convenience and simplicity. The device itself is small and neat. It will hardly take up any space on your counter top, helping you to reduce clutter and clear space. All you have to do is pour a cup of water into the dispenser, switch it on and within 30 seconds you’ll be ready to drink. The Morphy Richards Accents One Cup 43930 is also easy to clean, and its lightweight, compact design will make it ideal for elderly or disabled people who struggle with heavier, more cumbersome kettles.

The Morphy Richards Accents One Cup 43930 is certainly easy on the eye. It comes in a fun, bright red colour that makes for a fresh and modern look, and is also available in black for those who prefer something a little more subtle. The product also comes with a two year warrantee, so you’re guaranteed to get your hot cup dispenser repaired or replaced if something happens to go wrong.

What’s Wrong With It?

There are some downsides to the Morphy Richards Accents One Cup 43930. The first is its obvious limitations in terms of its size: this isn’t the product for people who want to be able to make tea for a group of people or fill their pot for cooking. However this should be obvious at purchase and wouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. The product also has quite a short lead, which can be an annoyance if your outlet is in an inconvenient spot in your kitchen.

Some Annoying Flaws

The water dispensed by the device also isn’t piping hot, so if you prefer your coffee very hot you’ll be disappointed, but it should suit most people’s tastes. There have also been some complaints of leaking from this product. This isn’t a common occurrence but could definitely put people off making this purchase instead of going for a larger, sturdier one cup kettle. The two year warrantee should serve as some comfort, though, as any leakage issues can be repaired or replaced at no additional cost.

Taste Issues

Occasionally, the Morphy Richards Accents One Cup 43930 has been known to have some issues with smell and taste. The Inside of the product can have an odd sort of chemical taste that can then seep into your tea. This won’t do you any harm but it’s not ideal for an enjoyable drink. If you experience this, it can help to clean the One Cup with baking soda to give it a fresher smell and taste.

The Morphy Richards Accents One Cup 43930 also requires frequent de-scaling, which may irritate some customers. Due to the small size of the product, de-scaling isn’t a huge process but it can be a hassle and may make you long for your more low maintenance kettle. This is an issue for many of the one cup kettle products on the market, but seems to be more of a problem with the Morphy Richards Accents One Cup.

Should You Buy It?

This certainly isn’t a perfect product, it has its shortcomings, but for those hoping to find a convenient and highly portable one cup kettle, it could be a good choice. The Morphy Richards Accents One Cup 43930 also comes with a very reasonable price tag, making it far cheaper than some of the other hot cup kettles available at the moment, especially if it’s only going to be used by one person. For the savings you’ll see in your energy bills, it could be a worthwhile investment, but be sure to shop around if you’re concerned about maintenance or if the 150-300ml limit doesn’t appeal.

Electricity prices are rising, so the product’s claim–that it uses up to 70% less energy than your kettle–is a tempting one. If you’re the type of person who makes multiple cups of tea and coffee throughout the day to keep you going, then you could be wasting a great deal of money and energy boiling your kettle. The hot cup solution is a good one, but many similar products have pitfalls. There are plenty of hot cup kettles on the market that don’t get your water up to the right temperature, add an odd taste to your tea or don’t allow you to adjust the volume to get the correct amount boiled. The Morphy Richards Accent manages to solve these issues with all round great quality.

Rating: 4.5

Price: £££

Key Points

• claims to use 70% less energy than a regular kettle
• boils water in 45 seconds
• lets you select your own volume of water to boil
• 1.8 litre capacity
• 2 year warranty
• sleek red-accented design

Stylish Design

As hot cup kettles go, the Morphy Richards Accent does look great. It has a cool red design that adds a touch of class to your kitchen, and looks more like a high-end espresso machine with a modern, polished finish than a bog standard kettle. The kettle also matches the other products in the Morphy Richards Accent line, so it’s ideal for those who already have items in this design and like to match.

Decent Speeds

The speed is good, clocking in at about 45 seconds to hit boiling point, so there’s very little waiting around compared to your average kettle. These speeds are about the same as other one cup kettles, however, so this isn’t where the Morphy Richards Accent One Cup sets itself apart. Where the product really stands out is in its customisable features, which allow customers to use it exactly as needed.

Customisation

There are other one cup kettles on the market that do the job, but don’t allow you to select the amount of volume you need to boil at one time, measuring out set cup volumes that can lead to mess and over-spilling or a cup not big enough to suit your needs. The Morphy Richards product lets you select your own volume, so you can have a big cup of coffee when you need it, or boil enough for a pot of pasta, while also being able to produce smaller amounts for a teacup. A stop button allows you to halt the flow at any point if your cup is threatening to overflow, without wasting any water.

Good Heat Levels

For those that like their cup of tea steaming hot, the temperature may not be quite as piping as from a standard kettle, but the difference really is barely noticeable and any hotter would probably be difficult to drink. It’s definitely more consistent in its ability to reach its boiling point than other cheaper one cup kettles, and there should be very few complaints on that front.

Large Water Capacity

The Morphy Richards Accent has a substantial 1.8 litre capacity, so it’s perfect for boiling bigger quantities quickly. It also comes with a handy removable drip tray that prevents annoying mess on your counter and makes the whole product easy to clean, while ensuring that your kitchen always looks its best.

Design Issues

One minor quibble with the Morphy Richards Accent One Cup is in its design. Although, as mentioned before, it looks stylish, the slightly clouded water tank can sometimes make it a bit difficult to see just how much water is currently in the kettle. This shouldn’t be a major issue for most people, but as these products are currently become more popular amongst the elderly population for their ease of use without heavy lifting, a more transparent glass would be a good finishing touch.

Should You Buy It?

The price tag is higher than you might expect when compared with other one cup kettles, but if you’re happy to spend a little more you really do get a better quality product than many others on the market. The Morphy Richards Accent also comes with a two year warranty, which is useful for dealing with any manufacturing issues that you might come across. It does seem very sturdy though, and isn’t likely to fall apart or have technical glitches like other one cup kettles.

Rating: 4.1

Price: ££

Key Points

• boiling water ready in 35-50 seconds
• dispenses exactly 250 ml of water–may be a hassle if you want to fill a larger or smaller mug
• releases water at exactly 100°C
• holds up to 1.5 litres of water (a 5 cup capacity)
• easy to clean
• the small capacity and boiling and dispensing of exactly 250ml of water each time means the product is best suited for those making single cups of tea or coffee, and not those serving large groups or boiling water for cooking

Convenient Use

The Breville VKJ142 comes with an instruction booklet to help you get it set up and going (although the process isn’t at all complicated), and a one year manufacturer’s warranty, so keep hold of this to make sure you can get any repairs made if problems arise.

The Hot Cup is run by a fast boil 3 kilowatt element to give you speedy hot water, but it works similarly to a kettle, so it’s not at all confusing to use for newcomers to the one cup kettle game. It also features a useful drip tray at its base so any spillages can be easily cleaned up without making a big mess on your countertop.

Set Cup And Temperature Size

When you load up the Breville Hot Cup, it dispenses exactly 250ml cups of boiling water, which should suit most people’s preferences, although some may prefer a bigger mug at a time. It has the added benefit of producing a perfectly hot cup at exactly 100 degrees Celsius, with the water being dispensed as soon as it hits boiling point.

Decent Speeds

You can fill the kettle up with up to 1.5 litres of water at a time and then simply switch it on whenever you want your cup for a quick refreshment. The kettle stays off until you’re ready for your cuppa. You then just stick your mug under the Hot Cup’s spout and wait for the boil. It isn’t quite as instant as the product description would have you believe: it tends to take around 50 seconds to hit boiling point, but this is certainly faster than the average kettle.

Good Heat Results

Some of the model’s competitors have problems with the temperature reached for each cup of water, with slightly lukewarm results, but this hot cup consistently reaches a nice hot temperature, so you won’t be disappointed on that front. You can also be sure that the water will be boiled rather than just heated up, creating a safer and more hygienic drink.

Customisation Issues

One complaint I’d have about the Breville VKJ142 Hot Cup is the lack of options when it comes to the amount of water dispensed. Although 250ml is a pretty average size for your mug, if you’re using a teacup or any smaller cup, there’s no way of stopping the flow of the machine to fit your mug. This can be fairly irritating when you’re buying the product to prevent water wastage- as the excess ends up in the spill tray rather than in your cup. It’s a minor quibble, but for those that prefer smaller cups of tea or coffee it can be an issue.

People that like to have plenty of coffee on the go during their day may also struggle with the 5 cup capacity, as the kettle has to be refilled again once you’ve finished your 1.5 litres of water. Having a larger capacity and an option of how much boiling water you want dispensed at any given time would also make the product more useful for cooking, as you’d be able to boil water instantly to fill a pot. Additionally, if you want to make a group of people refreshments then the hot cup isn’t such a great choice, as you’ll have to stand and wait for each cup to boil rather than doing multiple drinks at once. The hot cup is really the product to buy if you frequently make quick cups of tea or coffee alone, but not if you need to boil a substantial amount at once.

Smart Design

In terms of design, the Breville VKJ142 is pretty sleek: it’s compact and looks good on a countertop, and the illuminating water tank glows blue when your water is heating up. You can see exactly how much water you’re loading through the clear tank, and it’s straightforward and easy to clean. The kettle also comes with a cord storage feature, which makes tidying up easier and reduces clutter.

Should You Buy It?

All in all, this isn’t the best hot cup you’ll find but it definitely does the job well enough, and all at a very reasonable price, making this the perfect product for those looking for a speedy cup of coffee without any substantial expense.

Rating: 4.25

Price: ££££

Key Points

• top of the market price
• 2 litre capacity
• built-in Brita filter reservoir
• heats water to 70°, 80°, and 90°C and can also dispense ambient water
• allows you to adjust the volume of water dispensed and the height of the dispenser, allowing you to fill any sized cup comfortably
• heats water in about 1 minute
• child-locking feature
• nearly soundless boiling process
• claims to use 80% less energy than a standard kettle

High Price Tag

On first glance, the price is the main thing that stands out about the Bosch Filtrino II. While the Bosch name has long been associated with high quality kitchen appliances, this latest offering from the company might seem a little too pricey for those who are used to using their regular old kettle. However, when you consider the ease of use, convenience and energy saving capabilities of the Filtrino II, this could be a solid investment for your kitchen.

Design

In terms of looks and design, the Bosch Filtrino II is definitely a winner. The design is modern and sleek, and would bring a premium look to any environment, from your office to your home. The simplicity of the design and trendy silver and black aesthetic also means that it will fit in well with any interior without looking garish or silly.

Filtration Features

The Bosch Filtrino II comes with a built-in Brita filter reservoir, a feature lacking on many other hot water dispensers on the market. This means that your water will always be clean and fresh, and taste great too. This could also save you a little extra money, especially if you live in an area where the quality of the tap water isn’t great. If you tend to buy filtering products frequently to keep your water fresh, the Bosch Filtrino II will do the job for you, adding additional convenience and making your life a little easier.

Large Water Capacity

If you’re planning to use your hot cup kettle to make multiple cups of tea and coffee throughout the day for several people and need plenty of water ready to go, the Bosch Filtrino II is a good choice. It has a large water capacity of 2 litres, so you won’t have to run back and forth to fill it back up.

Customisation

This one cup kettle is notable for its impressive customisation features. While other similar products don’t allow you to adjust the volume of hot water coming out at one time, or pick what temperature you want the water heated up to, the Bosch Filtrino allows you to make the product work perfectly for you. You can choose from 70, 80, or 90 degrees depending on how hot you like your drink or what your needs are, and the machine can also dispense ambient water if you’re not in the mood for a hot beverage. The dispenser can also be adjusted to suit the size of the cup you’re using, allowing you to change the height so that any mug or glass can be used with the product.

Decent Speeds

The speeds you’ll see with the Bosch Filtrino II are not as fast as with some other one cup hot water dispensers on the market. It takes about one minute to heat up your mug, so this is something to take into consideration if you’re looking for a top speed device. However, its other positive features more than make up for this shortcoming.

Family Friendly

One feature that I particularly liked was its childproofing features. While standard kettles and other one cup heating kettles come with some risk of burns and accidents, the Bosch Filtrino II can be child-locked to prevent any hot water from being dispensed while still allowing for the flow of ambient water. For customers with children, this could be a major selling point.

“Whisper Quiet” Technology

Bosch makes quite a show of the sound produced by the Filtrino II. Other one cup kettles are known to be fairly noisy and unpleasant, but this product really is very quiet. Bosch’s engineering allows for a virtually soundless boiling process that’s perfect for those who like a bit of peace and quiet while they wait for their brew.

Should You Buy It?

If you’re looking for a higher end one cup kettle with added customisation features to let you adjust your temperature and flow, along with a product that looks especially stylish on your counter top, then the Bosch Filtrino II is definitely well worth a look.. It comes with a fairly hefty price tag but it certainly lives up to its promises of great quality and premium design.