Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Kettle, Tested by Food & Wine

I figured my brother-in-law would have some questions while dogsitting at our house for the weekend earlier this year — I just didn’t think they’d be about my electric kettle. 

Almost immediately, he wanted to know where we got our Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Kettle, noting the kettle’s unique temperature-hold function, which keeps water hot for up to an hour. I was happy to gush about the kettle, which combines all the benefits of an electric kettle — including precise temperature control and a quick heating time — with those of a gooseneck kettle, which boasts a long, thin spout designed for the perfect pour. After receiving the kettle as a gift from my uncle last year, it’s quickly become one of my favorite pieces of kitchen equipment.

As a regular tea and coffee drinker, I decided to upgrade to a nicer electric kettle after a disappointing experience with a cheaper electric kettle that ended up malfunctioning after just a week of use. When researching the best electric kettles on the market, the Stagg EKG Electric Kettle came up time and time again, and I was curious if the higher price tag would be worth it. After over a year of near-daily use, I can confidently say yes — the Stagg EKG Electric Kettle has officially ruined me on all other kettles.

How I Use the Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Kettle

I’ve used the Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Kettle just about every day since my husband and I received it as a wedding gift last year. It’s stylish enough to leave out on the countertop — and doesn’t take up much space — and I find myself reaching for it multiple times throughout the day. I’m a regular tea drinker, and whether I’m starting the day with green tea or curling up with a cup of chamomile after work, this kettle makes brewing a perfect pot of tea a quick and easy affair. And thanks to its precise temperature control and skinny gooseneck spout, making pour-over coffee in my Chemex has never been easier. Tea and coffee are the obvious uses for the Stagg Electric Kettle, but its to-the-degree temperature control and quick heating time make it well-suited for other cooking projects, too. Since water temperature can make or break the process when proofing dough, I often use my kettle to heat water to the ideal temperature when making sourdough or focaccia.

What I Love About the Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Kettle

As an avid tea drinker, the precise temperature control on the Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Kettle is hard to beat. I can easily adjust the temperature to the exact degree recommended for steeping different types of tea, from lower temperatures for delicate Japanese green and white teas up to a full rolling boil for herbal teas. I love that this kettle can hold its temperature for up to an hour, allowing me to make multiple cups of tea from one round of brewing, and its 1,200-watt heating element ensures that it reaches the desired temperature quickly. 

Having previously used cheaper kettles with shorter, wider spouts, I was immediately impressed with the precise pour achieved by the Stagg EKG’s gooseneck spout, especially when brewing pour-over coffee. The spout doesn’t drip, and the kettle’s ergonomic handle ensures it won’t slip out of your hand when pouring. 

The kettle also boasts a built-in stopwatch to help you monitor your pouring rate to ensure the coffee grounds are evenly extracted. It’s easy to use and its sleek design — for a slightly higher price tag, you can choose from colors like stone blue, warm pink, and sweet cream with maple or walnut handles — doesn’t hurt, either. 

The Caveats

Unlike many other electric kettles, the Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Kettle doesn’t beep or make another sound when it reaches the desired temperature. Personally, that doesn’t bother me much since the kettle typically reaches that temperature pretty quickly — in my experience, it takes around 4 to 5 minutes to reach a full boil. With a boiling capacity of just under 1 liter, this kettle is also on the smaller side, though this size is standard for gooseneck kettles, which are designed for slow, stable pouring. If a kettle with a larger capacity is what you’re after, consider seeking out a non-gooseneck electric or stovetop kettle, which generally run a bit larger.

Tips and Tricks

• In addition to brewing tea and coffee, you can use an electric kettle to achieve a precise water temperature when proofing dough. 
• Over time, calcium can build up inside the gooseneck spout, slowing down pouring. If this happens, simply rinse the kettle with vinegar and soapy water.  
• The slightly more expensive Pro version of the Stagg EKG features a full-color LCD screen, adjustable temperature hold mode, scheduling, and a guide mode with preset temperatures for brewing different types of coffee and tea.
• Exclusive colors are available through Great Jones, like this vibrant broccoli color or this fun blueberry color featuring splashes of pink and yellow. 

How It Compares

Overall, the Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Kettle is our favorite electric gooseneck kettle on the market, but there are several other gooseneck kettles and electric kettles we’d recommend, too.

The Zwilling Enfinigy is one of our favorite electric kettles because it’s efficient and extremely accurate in temperature. It’s also easy to use — it has six preset temperatures for making different hot beverages, including coffee, tea, and cocoa. Its boil time is a bit longer than other electric kettles, but its keep-warm feature ensures you’ll have hot water for 30 minutes before it shuts off. With dual-walled insulation and a brushed stainless steel outer layer, it also stays cool to the touch.

If you’re looking for a gooseneck kettle to use on the stovetop, the Hario V60 Buono Drip Kettle boasts a long spout and 1.2-liter capacity for a fraction of the price. We found the stainless steel kettle held its temperature moderately well after boiling and was also easy to store and clean. That said, since it’s not an electric kettle, it lacks the variable temperature settings that will help you brew coffee or tea at a precise temperature.

The Verdict

The Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Kettle is a worthy investment if you’re a regular tea or coffee drinker, and I’d recommend it to any coffee lovers looking to up their pour-over game. It’s consistent, stylish, and takes the guesswork out of the brewing process with its precise temperature control and built-in stopwatch. 

Shipping/Warranty Info

My kettle was purchased as a gift through Crate & Barrel and shipped quickly. It’s also available on Amazon and the Fellow website with free shipping. It has a 1-year standard warranty, with the option of a 2-year warranty if registered.

Our Expertise

Heather Riske is a writer and editor with over a decade of experience in food and lifestyle content. For nearly eight years, she worked as an editor at Feast Magazine, a regional culinary publication covering the state of Missouri, southern Illinois, and eastern Kansas, where she was honored with a “Top Women in Media” award by Folio. She has dedicated much of her career to highlighting local chefs and restaurants and sharing helpful cooking knowledge for publications such as Better Homes & Gardens, Men’s Health, Feast Magazine, and St. Louis Magazine.