John Lewis Anyday Kettle 1.5l review: A solid everyday performer

There are kettles available nowadays that offer variable temperature settings, touchscreens, voice-activation, hands-free designs and more; but if you’re simply after a kettle that boils water without any frills or fuss, then the John Lewis Anyday is the perfect option. Solidly built, efficient and, most importantly, cheaper than any other model we’ve tested, this straightforward kettle is an excellent budget buy.

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John Lewis Anyday Kettle 1.5l review: What do you get for the money?

At a budget-friendly £20, what you see with the Anyday is pretty much what you get. The kettle sports a simple design, it’s made from hard plastic, and is available in two colours: white and grey. It can hold 1.5l at maximum and measures 22 x 23 x 15cm (WDH) with a weight of 750g. Other notable physical features include its 360° swivel base, 3,000W power supply, and a clear viewing window with measurement markings.

In terms of competitors, we haven’t tested any kettle that beats the John Lewis Anyday on price. Furthermore, we generally wouldn’t recommend going below its £20 price tag when buying a kettle, since you’re likely to encounter appliances with very poor build quality and design. However, if you’re willing to stretch your budget a little further, then there are some very solid options available that may turn your head. The Kenwood Abbey (£30) is a sleek, quick-boiling kettle that’s well insulated, while the Kenwood Dusk (£50) is similarly efficient and offers a slightly larger 1.7l capacity, making it suitable for busy households.

If you’re looking for standout design or more features and functions, there are several premium options with price tags to match. Closing in on the £100 mark, the Bosch Styline (£65) has four temperature settings and dual-wall insulation; the Russell Hobbs Attentiv (£70) offers precise temperature settings, a clear glass construction and a removable tea infuser basket; while the Swan Alexa Smart Kettle (£99) boasts Alexa compatibility, allowing for tea-making by voice command. Go up a notch still and there’s Zwilling’s Enfinigy Pro (£129), which offers ultra-modern design, multiple temperature settings and a touch control base, while the KitchenAid Artisan (£195) – the most expensive kettle we’ve tested – impresses with its classic look, exterior temperature gauge and luxury feel.

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John Lewis Anyday Kettle 1.5l review: What’s good about it?

While the margins between various 3,000W models are admittedly thin, the John Lewis Anyday still managed to match the performance of more expensive kettles in our group test. Taking 2mins 25secs to boil 1l of water, with a boil rate of 0.53°C/s, the Anyday wasn’t too far behind the best performer, the Kenwood Abbey, with its time of 2mins 15secs and a boil rate of 0.57°C/s. In our heat-retention test, the Anyday was once again a decent mid-level performer, retaining a water temperature of 91.9°C five minutes after being brought to a boil.

In a welcome surprise for such a cheap kettle, the John Lewis Anyday actually feels reasonably well-put-together. Whether picking up the kettle, popping open the lid, or tilting it to pour, the Anyday kettle feels solidly built and pleasant to use. Although solid, it’s also nicely light and compact: compare its smaller stature and 750g weight to the hefty 2.5kg of the KitchenAid Artisan, for example, and it looks like an eminently practical option for smaller kitchens and everyday use.

Of course, all that said, the main positive of the kettle is its price. Boiling just as quickly as most of the other kettles on test while costing a fraction of their price, the Anyday is hard to look past for anyone seeking a straightforward, efficient kettle.

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John Lewis Anyday Kettle 1.5l review: What could be better?

The build quality of the John Lewis Anyday is surprisingly solid given its budget price; however, I did notice that it sits a little unevenly on its base. In use, the kettle tends to shake towards the end of its boil and in general doesn’t ever feel as secure on its base as I’d like. Other flaws that cropped up in testing include the notably high exterior temperature – 74.8°C, so mind those fingers – and the noise, with its 55dBA being noticeably loud; although, admittedly, it wasn’t among the worst offenders.

John Lewis Anyday Kettle 1.5l review: Should I buy it?

The John Lewis Anyday Kettle offers a good capacity, solid build quality and is light and compact to boot. It’s also nearly as efficient a boiler as the other kettles we’ve tested in terms of speed and energy (thanks to the laws of thermodynamics and their limits). It does have its flaws, sitting a tad unevenly on its base and lacking some interior insulation; but if you’re simply looking for a kettle that gets the job done, then the Anyday delivers – without even denting the bank, let alone breaking it.

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