In terms of appearance, the Cooks Professional Electric Instant Hot Water Dispenser strikes us as having a bit of a 1960s vibe but even if you’re not into the vintage look we think most people will still be happy enough to have it on their counter. Naturally, aside from the metallic feel of the main casing, the rest of the components are basically plastic, but that makes it relatively low-maintenance and you can wipe it over from time to time with a damp cloth. The front of the unit is where you place your cup, plus there’s a guide line for minimum and maximum levels if that’s not obvious enough. You place your cup on the small shelf and water is poured from the nozzle above.

When your goal is to serve no one but yourself the perfect cuppa, this affordable instant kettle calls out for your consideration. It’s a simple design really, boiling the entirety of its 300mL capacity in 30 seconds or less with its robust 3000w heating element. In other words, one cup goes in cold, one cup comes ready to greet your afternoon tea with piping hot water.This hot water dispenser is ideal for frequent coffee drinkers or households with several endlessly thirsty family members. Compared to running a standard 2,500W kettle 5 times per day from cold to boil, the Perma Therm hot water dispenser would consume 68% less energy. It’s just that good. Secondly, the Breville Brita HotCup hot water dispenser guarantees a true boil of 100° C –a feat which many other units only vaguely promise (most produce near-boiling water of ~95° C). Once again, Breville offers superior energy efficiency by boiling just enough water to fill your cup. The Breville VKT124 has the sort of appearance you’re either going to love or hate. Stylistically it could look rather out of place in a traditional or rustic kitchen, but could be absolutely great in a minimalist or industrial one. Its headline feature is the fact that the drip tray moves up and down on a magnet so as to make it easier to fill cups and mugs of different sizes without creating drips. In fact the drip tray can be removed completely for the very largest mugs (or to clean it, it’s dishwasher-safe). Oyu by Yum Asia is a sizeable and very white instant kettle that has to be one of the easiest to use on the market. It’s also got the benefit of a large water container, 4 litres no less, which means you’ll spend less time filling it and more time enjoying its charms. Depending on the model, some hot water dispensers may have myriad settings, the likes of temperature control, timer, etc. Meanwhile, others are brilliantly simple, boasting nothing but a power button.

Other people appreciate instant hot water dispensers for their economy and corresponding environmental benefits. When you use an instant hot water dispenser it’s much easier to heat only what you need and thus reduce the amount of electricity you use. It’s of medium weight at 2.72kg, features a removable drip tray, and boasts BPA-free plastic construction. What’s more, simplicity of design yields a certain durability that you can truly rely on. And if something does go awry, VonShef offers a 2-year warranty on this hot water dispenser.This time, however, you have a manual stop switch to assert full control over the quantity of water dispensed — leave just the right amount for cream and sugar, every time. Or, if you’d rather let the machine handle it, you can dial in your cup size from 9 settings, and the Brita technology toting HotCup will fill only the specified amount and not a drop more. We also like the simple-but-effective design of the water tank, which illuminates so you can keep a beady eye on how your water levels are faring. We’re also keen on the streamlined design, which makes cleaning the Breville HotCup Hot Water Dispenser a doddle. We also really like the adjustable height of the drip tray, which lets you accommodate multiple sizes of receptacles. There’s no fancy filters or automatic measuring, but you have full control to start and stop its standard dispensing amount, which is just enough to fill a cup. Next up after looking at the category and the average prices, we thought it would be good to take a look at the brand, Breville. The VonShef Hot Water Dispenser Instant Kettle is currently offered in two colours, which could be handy if you’re struggling to find a larger instant hot water dispenser, which also fits with your kitchen style. It has a capacious 2.5L water tank, which can be removed for cleaning or filling, although we would suggest that you’d probably find it easier to fill it with a jug or bottle. The opening is wide enough for this to be done easily.