Swan Nordic Jug Kettle review: a budget-friendly choice for lovers of Scandi style

Price on writing: £36 | Buy now from Amazon

Our verdict

• Features: 4/5

• Design: 4.5/5

• Ease of use: 4.5/5

• Ease of cleaning: 4/5

• Value for money: 4/5

Looking to add some Scandinavian style to your kitchen without spending a small fortune? While it may be basic in functionality, the looks of the Swan Nordic Jug Kettle are anything but.

With a matte finish exterior and a wooden-look handle (that's surprisingly made from rubber), it has a clean, sleek design that makes it one of our best kettles for style. The only reason I docked half a mark for the design is because the water gauge is obscured slightly by the handle, but this was only a mild inconvenience during testing. It was also easy to use and boiled fairly quickly; four cups took less than two-and-a-half minutes to boil.

On the flip side, while the matte finish was fairly easy to keep clean overall, the removable limescale filter was fiddly to detach. And while I saw no obvious wear and tear during testing, some consumers did experience faults over time, so it may not be the best option on the market for longevity. That being said, it does reassuringly come with a two-year guarantee if you need extra peace of mind.

What is the Swan Nordic Jug Kettle?

I've tested out a few Swan appliances for Mumsnet and one thing you can always guarantee from the brand is big style at a relatively low cost, and the Nordic Jug Kettle is no exception.

Sitting on a 360-degree base, the Nordic Jug is a 1.7-litre kettle that brews up to eight cups of water, so it's a great option for large families or homes that have guests frequently. And while it may not offer the functionality that you'd typically get with a more expensive kettle, what it does, it does well.

It can be bought on its own for £36 or as part of a bundle containing the matching four-slice toaster for £91. However, I found the kettle much more sturdy and robust than the toaster, so you may wish to purchase the kettle separately.

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What is the Swan Nordic Jug Kettle like to use?

Setting up the Swan Nordic Jug Kettle was a breeze. Once unboxed, I simply placed the kettle on its base, filled it with the maximum capacity of water, and set it to boil - a fairly standard process for a brand new kettle. Then, after discarding the boiled water, it was all set for proper brewing.

When it comes to functionality, there's no denying that this is a basic kettle; there's no variable temperature controls or a keep warm setting like you get with the high-tech (and much more expensive) Sage The Smart Kettle. The beauty of the Swan lies in its simplicity, however, and the one-switch operation fits in with its minimalist style.

While I did take time to give the Nordic Jug's instructions a thorough read-through, operating the kettle was extremely intuitive. It was just a case of removing the lid fully (pictured below), filling the jug with water, placing it back on its base, and flicking the on switch down. When it was on, the switch illuminated with a blue light, a nice visual indicator that the kettle was on.

One gripe I did have was that there's no clear indicator of a 'minimum fill level' on the water gauge. The lowest marker is 'four cups' so I treated this as a minimum level during testing. It wasn't an issue when the house was full, but on days when I was the only person working from home, it did feel uneconomical to boil four mugs' worth of water every time I wanted just one cuppa.

That said, it was quite speedy so I wasn't waiting around for too long for my caffeine hit - it took around two minutes and ten seconds to boil four cups. In terms of noise levels, it was pretty standard; as with most kettles, there's an audible roar as it heats up, but it wasn't too loud or annoying.

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Swan Nordic Jug Kettle: design and style

It's already evident that I'm a big fan of the Nordic Jug's design. With a sleek minimalist aesthetic and a contrasting faux-wood handle, it's definitely a great choice if you want to embrace Scandi style this year. The only downside to the design is the water gauge placement - it's hard to see it behind the handle.

I love that it comes in a choice of colours; I tested the dark grey, but also had my eye on the blue and green variations. The price can vary between shades on Amazon, however - something to bear in mind when you're making your colour choice!

How easy is the Swan Nordic Jug Kettle to keep clean?

It was fairly easy to keep the Nordic Jug clean - thankfully, the matte finish of the kettle means it's not as prone to water marks compared to stainless steel exteriors. The lid did show fingerprints easily, but this was soon sorted with a quick wipe.

The removable limescale filter was fiddly though. It's quite small, and on my initial attempt at detaching it, it fell back into the water. If, like me, you live in a hard water area and will be cleaning the filter regularly, you may be better opting for one of our best kettle for hard water picks. If you live in a soft water area, however, this shouldn't be too much of an issue.

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Price: does the Swan Nordic Jug Kettle offer value for money?

You can currently snap up the Swan Nordic Jug Kettle for £36 from Amazon. At that price, I certainly think it offers great value for money.

Judging by consumer reviews, it's not a kettle that will last you for years and years to come, but it does feel robust, has a two-year guarantee, and is far cheaper than Sage, Dualit and other brands renowned for their longevity.

At the full RRP of £55, however, it is quite expensive for a kettle with basic functions, so I'd suggest shopping around to find the best deal or buying it on offer.

How we tested

I tested the Swan Nordic Jug Kettle in my north London home. During testing, I 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 I've tried out for Mumsnet.

• Tested in a four-person household over a two-week period

• Used daily for a range of hot drinks, including coffee, regular tea, and herbal tea

• Cleaned regularly during testing

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About the author

Natasha Gregson is an Affiliate 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 (read: essential) coffee and herbal tea, so she's recently been on a mission to find the best kettles for Mumsnetters, investigating and testing out different models and brands (along with their complementary toasters). She's also worked extensively on other kitchen content for Mumsnet, including researching and writing about the best tea towels, vacuum sealers, and slow cookers, 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.

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