Hot water dispenser that's 'quicker than a kettle' saves on energy bills

It feels like a betrayal to say it, but our trusty kettles aren't the most efficient bunch. It's tough to only boil the water you need, thereby wasting energy, time, and water any time you fancy a cuppa, and they're rarely quick to boil.

The Breville HotCup stands to right these wrongs, with a locked-on 250ml boil that is rapid, efficient, and only dispenses the volume you need for a hot drink, a Pot Noodle, or a cup of miso soup. at Amazon, now is a great time to upgrade your kettle and make a start on those incremental savings on water, energy, and time.

Breville estimates that boiling a cup of water with the HotCup is 60% cheaper than boiling a traditional kettle. With a 1.5L capacity that will dispense six 250ml cups, a simple push-button lid for easy refills, and a built-in limescale filter, the is a convenient, low-fuss device. It looks the part, too, with a stainless steel trim, a blue operating light that glows from inside the boiling jug, and a black design that will sit comfortably in any kitchen.

Something to bear in mind is that the HotCup dispenses the water as soon as it's ready, so don't forget to put a mug in place beneath the spout when you set it to boil. It's a bona fide bestseller, with 23,000 Amazon user reviews averaging out at a 4.4/5 rating. "It is easy to use and an excellent product if you have any dexterity issues. The water boils quickly and it is definitely boiling. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend," said one five-star review.

This user vouches for the rapid boil time: "So overall really happy with this, it boils and dispenses a normal sized cup's worth of water in 20-30 seconds - way faster and cheaper than a normal kettle." Another said it's replaced their classic kettle, saying: "This is neater, faster and water is boiling hot straight into the cup."

Some have trouble with its rigidity in dispensing 250ml: "It fills most of my mugs to the top. No room to add milk so I have to pour some out. Could do with means of adjusting this," said one customer.

Another three-star review highlighted its noisy operation: "It does heat water fairly quickly, but it is also very noisy and the final bit of steam that comes out is at such a pressure that it shakes the whole unit."

If you're interested in other high-tech kettles, the is a great option with a tonne of features and easy integration into smart home setups. This is another strong pick, with multiple boiling settings and a keep-warm feature.