People finally discover real reason Americans never use electric kettles at home

A woman was left flabbergasted to learn many Americans do not use an electric kettle in the same way that us Brits do - but the explanations as to why seems to vary a lot...

If you've never been to America, you may not realise they make brews in a completely different way to us Brits.

But if you're craving a cup of tea or instant coffee, what's the first thing you'd do? Pop on the kettle, right? But in America, they don't use electric kettles like we do here – and people are blown away.

One woman took to X, formerly Twitter, to express her confusion, penning: "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 continued: "Looks like if I ever visit the US I’m going to have to pack a kettle and Nescafé!" In the replies, people were confused about how she "didn't know", saying it had been "asked loads before" - but she had no clue.

One American replied: "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 said some "Brits may scoff at this", however, but he thought it made sense.

Someone else answered: "People who have tea kettles usually have the kind you put on the stove." A Canadian penned: "Canadians 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."

Another shared: "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 said many American's don't drink tea like us Brits, writing: "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."