Morphy Richards Signature 1.5L Jug Kettle review: “lovely to look at, but a bit too style-first”

RRP at time of testing: £90 | Check price at Amazon or Morphy Richards directly

My verdict

There’s a moment, somewhere between your third cup of tea and wiping down the kitchen sides for the hundredth time, when you realise you’d quite like your appliances to look nice as well as function properly.

That’s exactly where this Morphy Richards Signature kettle positions itself. It’s clearly designed to be seen, with its matt finish and curved jug shape. It’s the sort of kettle you don’t feel the need to hide when someone pops round. And to be fair, it does look good. Really good.

But once you start using it properly, not just admiring it on the worktop, it becomes clear this is a kettle that leans heavily on its looks. It boils quickly, it’s easy enough to get on with and there are a couple of genuinely nice touches, particularly the soft-close lid and the unfussy cable tidy.

The cable tidy is easy to use, but the hidden water gauge is tedious when trying to see how much is in the kettle

Then the little irritations start to creep in. The water gauge is tucked behind the handle, the minimum fill is higher than you’d like and it’s not the quietest when boiling. None of these are major issues on their own, but they do add up.

If you’re usually making several drinks at once and want something that looks the part, it’ll do the job perfectly well. If you just want a no-nonsense kettle for quick solo cups, there are easier options to live with.

If you’re still weighing it up against the rest of the market, it’s also worth reading our guide to the best kettles. And if you’re buying for looks as much as function, our round-up of the best kettle and toaster sets is a useful place to start.

How I’ve tested the Morphy Richards Signature Kettle

I’ve used this kettle as you would in a normal household for the last month. Multiple boils a day, quick solo cups, family drinks, topping up pasta water, all the usual kitchen chaos.

I’ve focused on the things that matter once the novelty wears off. How easy it is to live with, how it feels when you’re distracted, and whether any of the design choices actually make life easier or just look nice.

Setup is pretty straightforward, as you'd expect with a kettle

How quickly does the Morphy Richards Signature kettle boil? 

Boiling speed is one of its stronger points. With a 3kW element, it’s at the faster end of what you’d expect from a standard kettle, and it shows. Even when it’s close to full (1.5 litres), you’re not left hanging around. It keeps up well if you’re making drinks back to back.

The higher minimum fill (around 500ml, just under a third of the total capacity) does take the edge off slightly. If you’re just making one cup, you’ll usually end up boiling more water than you need. It’s fair to call this a two-drinks-minimum kettle.

How well made is the Signature kettle by Morphy Richards? 

It feels solid and reasonably well made for a 1kg kettle at this price. The matt-coated metal body gives it a more premium feel than cheaper plastic options, and it sits securely on its 360° base without wobbling.

The lid is one of the better details. It’s fully removable rather than hinged and goes back on smoothly, without that clunky feel you sometimes get.

The trade-off is the finish. It looks great, but it does show fingerprints and smudges, so it needs the occasional wipe if you want it to stay looking smart.

The removable limescale filter is easy to slot in and out of place, as shown

How easy is the Morphy Richards Signature kettle to use?

Mostly easy, with a couple of quirks. You can fill it through the lid or the spout, which is handy when you’re in a rush. The cable tidy underneath is also refreshingly easy to adjust, no forcing or fiddling required.

The blue indicator light built into the switch is a nice touch. Subtle, but useful.

The main frustration is the water gauge. It sits behind the handle rather than on the side, which keeps the design clean but makes it harder to read. You do end up angling it just to check the level, which gets old fairly quickly.

There are also no variable temperature settings here, so if that matters to you for coffee or herbal teas, our guide to the best temperature control kettles is worth a look.

Is the Signature kettle by Morphy Richards safe to use? 

Yes, it includes the standard safety features you’d expect.

There’s automatic shut-off once the water reaches boiling point, and it switches off promptly rather than continuing to rumble on. It also has a concealed heating element, which helps reduce limescale build-up.

As with most kettles, you’re advised not to open the lid while boiling and to stick within the minimum and maximum fill lines.

The minimum fill is 500ml for this kettle - making it more of a two cup kettle than a one cup kettle

Is the Morphy Richards Signature kettle easy to clean?

Fairly easy, but not completely low-maintenance.

The exterior just needs a wipe with a damp cloth, and the removable limescale filter can be taken out and rinsed when needed. Regular descaling is recommended, especially if you live in a hard water area.

The matt finish does show marks more than a shinier kettle, though, so you may find yourself giving it a quick wipe more often.

If you live in a hard water area and you’re tired of descaling appliances every five minutes, it’s worth looking at our guide to the best kettles for hard water too.

Is the Morphy Richards Signature kettle good value for money?

This really depends on what you pay. At full RRP (around £90), it feels a bit steep given the small usability niggles. At closer to £45, it makes more sense as a stylish, mid-range kettle that works well enough but isn’t perfect. You’re paying as much for how it looks as how it performs.

Wanting a matching set? If you’re trying to coordinate the worktop, our guide to the best toasters is worth a browse.

Side by side comparison: Morphy Richards kettles

Final verdict: is this the right kettle for your home? 

This is a kettle that looks better than it behaves.

It’s quick to boil, easy enough to use and has a couple of genuinely nice details, particularly the lid and cable tidy. But it’s not quite as effortless to live with as you might hope.

The hidden water gauge, higher minimum fill (around 500ml) and noticeable noise all chip away at it. For quieter options, take a look at our guide to the best quiet kettles.

If you want something that looks good and you’re usually making more than one drink at a time, it’ll suit you. If you just want a simple, fuss-free kettle, this probably isn’t the one.

About the author

Rebecca Roberts (aka Beccy) is our resident lifestyle expert with a practical focus on sleep, wellness and everyday comfort. She’s equally at home tackling frank, NSFW‑adjacent topics as she is road‑testing kitchen appliances, mattresses and vacuums that work for real parents. A former editor of LJMU’s Looprevil Press, she cut her teeth in journalism in 2010, earned a post‑grad diploma in Journalism and later led editorial at ExpatWoman in Dubai before joining Mumsnet. As a mum of two, she writes with the time‑poor, sleep‑deprived in mind - honest product reviews, realistic routines and products that make parents’ lives easier.

When she’s not at her desk, she’s probably product‑testing with her two helpers, corralling a PTA or walking her two dogs up and down country lanes.

About Mumsnet reviews

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All prices are correct at the time of writing.

Read next: Our guide to the best kettles