Culture

Everyone’s Fighting Over Kettles Because Americans Just Discovered They Exist

Don't be shy, do human rights next!

by Michelle Rennex  10 December 2020
kettle america

Want more Junkee in your life? Sign up to our newsletter, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook so you always know where to find us.

Despite America technically being the most-powerful country in the world, it sure does seem to be lacking in some basic necessities like, you know, universal healthcare, human rights, and, apparently, kettles.

Yep, even though it seems like we have this conversation every year, in 2020 Americans are still discovering that electric kettles exist — and they’re drinking shitloads of tea to celebrate.

And I know what you’re thinking: How the hell do they make themselves a hot drink?

Well, those who fall into the chaotic evil category tend to just straight up microwave mugs of water whenever they feel like a hot beverage. But for the most part, stove-top kettles are more common than the electric ones in the US.

Stove-top kettles are basically just a pourable pot that is heated by a burner, with a valve that whistles after enough steam is generated. This is why the generic “kettle whistling” sound in pop culture is, well, a whistle.

But stove-top kettles are shit. In terms of energy efficiency, using a stove-top wastes so much more energy than the electric counterpart. Electric kettles have an auto shutoff and only heats the kettle directly, whereas stove-top ones heat the entire area around the kettle and only switch off when you decide to grab it.

Thankfully, Americans are now coming to their senses and are finally getting into electric kettles as they are “tired of warming water on the stove like [their] ancestors”.

Along with discovering kettles exist, some are also learning that kettles don’t have to be reserved for just tea or coffee. People are actually pre-boiling the water they need to make pasta to speed up the process, too. Crazy! Wild! Innovation to the highest degree!

In America’s defence, apparently the lack electric kettles comes down to voltage issues.

According to Mr Reid, a physicist and science teacher, homes in the US work on 100 to 127 volts, while places like Australia and the UK have 220 to 240 volts.

However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that electric kettles can’t be used in the US — after all, stores like Target definitely sell them. This just means water takes slightly longer to boil, but I doubt that an extra minute or two is worse than the whole set up required to boil your water on the stove.

Plus, tea culture isn’t really that big in America either. The US love coffee, and you’re probably way more likely to find a standalone coffee machine with disposable pods in an American home over an electric kettle.

But the whole electric kettle thing has caused some serious divide between the US and the UK, with each side throwing jabs at each other now wherever possible — even over the names of lollies and the choice to call a kettle a “water boiler”.

People have even made mock kettle conversations on voice-based chatroom app, Clubhouse, to get insight into how kettles feel about getting wrapped up in the latest culture war.

Honestly though, I don’t really care how you decide to boil your water, just don’t call it a “water boiler” and we’re good.