Russell Hobbs Brita Purity Filter Plastic Kettle review: "not a trace of limescale"

Price on writing: £30 | Buy now from Amazon

Our verdict

I have to admit, initially I was a little sceptical about having a see-through kettle living in such a hard water area. As much as I love city life, one of the downsides to living in London is the limescale in my home, which seems to be everywhere.

I previously had a glass kettle, but the unsightly residue at the bottom was enough to make me stow it away in a cupboard a few years ago. However, the Russell Hobbs Purity was different; with a Brita Maxtra+ Cartridge included that easily slotted into the kettle, it filtered water as it boiled, which helped me avoid limescale deposits ending up in my essential morning brew. In fact, after nearly a month of testing, I'm yet to find a trace of limescale residue.

Granted, it's not the prettiest kettle out there, and you do need to be careful you don't tip it too far when pouring, otherwise you may find that the Brita cartridge ends up in your mug! That being said, I do think it's a great option if you're looking for one of the best kettles for hard water and don't want to break the budget. Just bear in mind that you will need to factor in the replacement Brita cartridges (each one lasts a month).

What is Russell Hobbs' Brita Purity Filter Plastic Kettle?

There are two models in the Russell Hobbs Brita Purity Filter range: the glass kettle and the plastic kettle. While the glass one is objectively more stylish, it retails at around £55. The plastic model, on the other hand, is a far more pocket-friendly £30.

They're very similar in functionality; both contain a slot to add a Brita cartridge and excel in tackling hard water. The only noticeable difference is the design and the cost, and while the glass model took the top spot on our best kettles for hard water page, the plastic version got an honourable mention as our budget filter pick, so which one you opt for really comes down to your budget and aesthetic requirements.

What is the Russell Hobbs Brita Purity Plastic Kettle like to use?

On my first use of the Russell Hobbs Brita, there was more set-up involved than other kettles I've tested out. It came with one Brita Maxtra+ Cartridge, which needed to be submerged in a bowl of cold water and given a good shake to expel the air from it.

Next, it was time to 'flush' the cartridge out. Essentially this was just a case of pushing the cartridge into its position in the kettle, and letting enough water run through it until the 'max' level was reached (this took two refills of the funnel). Then, I discarded the water and repeated this process again.

This will need doing every time you replace the cartridge (about once a month), but I found it to be a simple, straightforward process with clear instructions. There's also a handy indicator that shows you when it's time to replace the current cartridge. The only thing to note is the cartridge can fall out if you tilt the kettle too much when pouring - I found this out the hard way when discarding the 'flushed' water the first time round!

In terms of everyday use, it was easy to get to grips with thanks to the intuitive on/off switch. You can boil and filter water at the same time, which was handy, and I also loved how quiet it was.

The boil time when the funnel was filled up once (around 500ml of water) was just under one minute, so it was fairly speedy. However, if I wanted to boil larger quantities to the max level, I'd have to fill the funnel, wait for the water to filter down and refill the funnel again, which slowed the process down.

All in all though, the Brita system is fantastic. After almost a month of daily use, there was no limescale at the bottom (I've tested a lot of kettles out and all of them have residue by the end of week one). To further test the effectiveness of the cartridge, I removed the mesh limescale filter from the spout and poured a mug of water. I was extremely impressed to see there wasn't a single trace of limescale.

Related: The best dishwashers for efficient cleaning

Russell Hobbs Brita Purity Filter Plastic Kettle: design and style

While the overall design of the Brita filtration system is very clever, when it comes to style, the Russell Hobbs Purity Plastic Kettle isn't my top pick. It has a fairly basic design that features both brand logos and is made from plastic, which gives it a cheaper look than glass or stainless steel options. During testing there was also condensation on the sides of the kettle most of the time so it had a cloudy appearance.

I was also disappointed that there was no minimum capacity level (luckily, it has boil-dry protection), and the water gauge only shows the max level so you can't accurately fill it to precisely how many cups you need. Larger families may struggle with the capacity too; there's only space for one litre due to the funnel.

It's not all bad news though; the kettle felt pleasingly sturdy and robust (the two-year guarantee gives extra peace of mind that this is built to last), and I loved the blue light that illuminates the kettle when it's on.

Related: The best American fridge freezer for family homes

How easy is the Russell Hobbs Brita Purity Plastic Kettle to keep clean?

Very easy. Thanks to the Brita system, there were no visible signs of limescale residue, and the removable filter on the spout was easy to pop out and give a quick clean.

As with most kettles in hard water areas, there were a few visible watermarks, but these were only on the rim and the metal panel at the bottom. A quick wipe easily sorted them out.

Related: The best integrated dishwashers for a neat kitchen

Price: does the Russell Hobbs Brita Purity Plastic Kettle offer value for money?

I think the Russell Hobbs Brita Purity offers great value for money. At just £30, it's one of the cheapest kettles I've reviewed, plus it feels hard-wearing and built to last.

There is, of course, the ongoing cost of the Brita cartridges to factor in - this currently works out at around £4 per month (a six-month supply costs £23 on Amazon), but I'd recommend keeping your eyes peeled during sales periods like Black Friday - buying in bulk may be a more efficient way to stock up in the long run.

How we tested

MNHQ editor Natasha tested the Russell Hobbs Brita Filter Purity Plastic Kettle in her north London home, which is a very hard water area. During testing, she carefully rated it on its features, ease of use, ease of cleaning, design, and value for money, evaluating how it performed in a real-life kitchen setting in comparison to other kettles she's used.

• Tested in a four-person household over four weeks

• Used daily for a range of hot drinks

• Assessed the effectiveness of the Brita cartridge

• Cleaned regularly during testing

About the author

Natasha Gregson is a Senior Content Editor at Mumsnet and oversees all home and kitchen content on the website. With numerous years of editorial experience under her belt, her work has also been featured in prestigious national publications like The i Paper and Stylist Magazine, and she's written on a wide range of topics.

Natasha can't get through the day without her trusty coffee and herbal tea, so she's recently been on a mission to find the best kettle and toaster sets for Mumsnetters, investigating and testing out different models and brands. She's also worked extensively on other kitchen content for Mumsnet, including researching and writing about the best tea towels, vacuum sealers, and air fryers, to name a few.

When she’s not busy seeking out the best buys and advice for Mumsnetters, you can find her searching for the next best restaurant, watching live music, curling up with a good book, cross-stitching, or enjoying a good hike or swim.

About Mumsnet Reviews

All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real people after extensive research and testing. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.

Read next: The best four-slice toasters for families