If you’ve never ventured to the States, you might not be aware their method of brewing a cuppa is quite different from ours here in Britain.
Imagine you’re hankering for a hot cup of tea or a quick instant coffee. What’s your first move? Flick on the kettle, right? However, across the pond in America, they don’t utilise electric kettles as we do, and this revelation has left many gobsmacked.
One baffled woman took to X, previously known as Twitter, to voice her bewilderment, writing: “I’ve just been told Americans don’t use electric kettles. What?! A quick Google does not clarify the question at all. Do Americans use kettles? If not how do you make coffee or tea?”
She went on to say: “Looks like if I ever visit the US I’m going to have to pack a kettle and Nescafe!” In response, people were puzzled about her lack of knowledge, stating it had been “asked loads before” – but she was completely in the dark.
An American responded: “I’m sure this has been answered many different times but we have lower voltage so our electric kettles don’t boil water as fast as yours. Also we don’t all drink tea all the time. And for coffee many use dedicated drip coffee machines (or at least that used to be the norm). Some people have stovetop kettles.
“My parents always had an electric kettle and I have a gooseneck one with multiple temperature settings, so some of us do and a lot of Americans heat up water in the microwave,” he explained, acknowledging that “Brits may scoff at this”, but for him, it made sense.
Another individual responded, saying: “People who have tea kettles usually have the kind you put on the stove.”
Meanwhile, a Canadian chimed in: “We use electric kettles. Our voltage is the same as in the U.S. Americans don’t use them because they don’t know how much easier it is to use a kettle. I tried boiling water on the stove when my old kettle stopped working and found it so dangerous. Got a new kettle right away. Much quicker, more energy efficient, and safer.”
A different person contributed: “SUCH an interesting question! I use an electric kettle after I was introduced to one on travels to UK. Most Americans either (a) boil water in a pot they have to watch (b) boil water in a kettle that whistles when done or (c) stick their mug of water in the microwave.”
One woman commented on the cultural differences, noting: “Most aren’t big tea drinkers, but there are many who are. When we say ‘kettle’ we aren’t usually thinking tea. We’re thinking ‘boiling water’ for anything from ramen to instant oatmeal.”