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The best-performing kettle and toaster combos

They may look good on your kitchen bench, but which matching pairs deliver the best performance?

best matching kettle and toaster combos
Last updated: 15 August 2025

They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so a good toaster and kettle are important purchases. 

A breakfast of burnt toast and tepid tea isn't exactly the best way to get going in the morning. 

While there are plenty of individual toasters and kettles that'll start your day off right, you can take your kitchen appliance game to the next level with a matching pair – purchased either as a set, or individually from the same collection. 

Is it better to mix and match brands to find the best performers? Or is a matching set going to bring balance to your kitchen? 

We'll talk you through the pros and cons of buying aesthetically pleasing kitchen appliances. Plus, exclusively for CHOICE members, we'll tell you which matching toaster and kettle pairs performed the best in our tests.

If you just want to see the best products, you can jump straight to the results now.

Do you need to buy a matching pair at all?

If you opt for classic styles, you might find that you can find a way to approximately match your kettle and toaster while still having the freedom to buy the brand and model you prefer. 

"Stainless steel items are usually similar looking so you needn't worry too much about having the same brand," says CHOICE appliance expert Kim Gilmour

"You may be more inclined to stick with matching products if they have very distinctive patterns (eg, a 'diamond' design on a kettle) or unique colours or metallic shades to go with your kitchen. 

"You could get different branded appliances that are inspired by the same look but are cheaper and/or better performing."

If a toaster looks good but doesn't rate well, are you prepared to sacrifice style for functionality?

Kim Gilmour, CHOICE appliance expert

Some brands will have different size options within the same range, for instance, you can choose your style of kettle and a two- or four-slice toaster."Think of quality as well," says Kim. 

"If a toaster looks good but doesn't rate well, are you prepared to sacrifice style for functionality?"

Appliance purists will be inclined to choose performance over prettiness. "Performance is the most important thing to me," says
CHOICE expert tester Adrian Lini

"I would always aim to get a simple design like stainless steel or black so that it'll match with everything."

delonghi brillante exclusive kbjx2001bk

Appliances with distinctive patterns are probably better as a matching pair.

The pros of buying a matching toaster and kettle

  • Discounts: Because you're buying two products at once, you might receive a discount off the RRP that you won't get if you purchase separately. 
  • Exclusivity: Some brands will sell products in a bundle that aren't sold separately. 
  • Aesthetics: This is an obvious one! Matching appliances can really lift the look of your kitchen and complement your interior design. For aesthetes, this is more than worth spending a little extra money on. 
  • Fewer options: For the indecisive among us, this can actually make life easier. When you have your heart set on a matching pair, that will rule out a fair chunk of the market – which will make it easier for you to choose. (Well, as easy as these things get for those who struggle to make decisions!)

The cons of buying a matching toaster and kettle

  • The trade-off: To buy the kettle of your dreams in a set, you might need to settle for a less-than-perfect toaster – or vice versa. The chances of finding the perfect kettle and toaster in the same set are slim, but not impossible. 
  • Changing fashions: That matching retro pastel set with rose gold finishes might be fashionable now, but what about in a few years' time? You don't want to have to replace your appliances every couple of years to keep up with trends. 
  • Availability: If one appliance dies before the other, it could be difficult to find a replacement, especially if they were sold as a set. You also might not find the same model if that particular series is discontinued. 
  • Less choice: If you're committing to buying from a particular brand or range, then that limits your options. If, for instance, you really love that Smeg kettle and you're committed to having a matching set, then that will significantly decrease the pool you have to choose from. Whereas if you're happy to just go with a kettle and toaster that are approximately the same style, then you'll be spoilt for choice and can find exactly the right appliance for your needs. Of course, that does mean you'll have to do more research!

Questions to ask yourself

  • What size do you really need? Don't buy the bigger set if you don't really need it – a four-slice toaster for a two-person household might just be overkill. Some brands will offer a two-slice and a four-slice toaster in the same range, so you can choose whichever one works best for your situation. 
  • What's most important to you? If you're a coffee or tea nerd, then buying a kettle with special features should be high on your list of priorities – but perhaps a toaster is less important to you. If you're just using your kettle to make basic cups of tea throughout the day, but you have a family of six to feed every morning for breakfast, then a good toaster is probably more useful. 
  • How important is it to have a matching set? So important that you'd sacrifice performance for aesthetics? (No judgement – it's a totally valid choice.) Or would you be happy with a kettle and toaster that are similar enough that you probably won't notice in a week or two? Or do you just want the best performing kettle and toaster, regardless of whether they match?

The best-performing kettle and toaster combinations

We independently test and review dozens of new kitchen appliances each year in our labs, and our experts know exactly what to look for to help you find the best product.

Our detailed kettle and toaster reviews include information about each model's performance, safety, toasting or boiling time and features – all important factors to also consider when purchasing a kettle or toaster.

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The best matching pairs

breville the tempest kettle powder blue

Breville TempSet and ToastSet

Kettle: Breville The TempSet Kettle LKE842

  • CHOICE Expert Rating: 74%
  • RRP: $160

Toaster: Breville The ToastSet 4 Slice Toaster LTA842DKB

  • CHOICE Expert Rating: 77% (Recommended)
  • RRP: $170
breville the tempest toaster powder blue

With their retro-esque designs and pastel colour options, these well-priced Breville kitchen twins are an affordable alternative to other retro-styled appliances such as Smeg.

And given that they perform better than their exxy European rivals, they're well worth considering for your kitchen bench.

The toaster is the second highest-scoring model in our test, and the kettle is just one percentage point off being recommended by our experts, so you could say they're a power couple. 

However, despite its muted colours the kettle is quite noisy, in terms of both boiling and when lifted off the base – it makes an irritating beep each time, whether or not you're using it. And its temperature settings aren't very accurate, so it's probably not one for people who value precision.

Overall, though, they're good options for a good price, and they'll add to your kitchen aesthetic without taking too much away from your wallet.

kitchenaid kettle pistachio

KitchenAid

Kettle: KitchenAid Electric Kettle 1.7L 5KEK1701AAC

  • CHOICE Expert Rating: 77% (Recommended)
  • RRP: $239

Toaster: KitchenAid 4 Slice Toaster 5KMT4109APT

  • CHOICE Expert Rating: 73%
  • RRP: $279
kitchenaid toaster pistachio

Both rated as 'Good' by CHOICE experts, these two KitchenAid appliances are solid performers. The kettle in particular impressed our experts, who didn't experience any drawbacks to its performance in our testing.

Depending on your decor, you can select from a range of colours, including a metallic dark green, stainless steel, textured black, gloss cream and pale green, and a satin-finish white. (Matte black and gloss red were out of stock at the time of writing.)

This toaster, unfortunately, didn't make the cut to be recommended by our experts, but it wasn't far off: we recommend toasters with a CHOICE Expert Rating of 75% and above.

They're not cheap, but if you're looking for a matching set that delivers on performance and aesthetics, they're a good option

We tested the four-slice toaster, but KitchenAid also makes a two-slice model that we haven't tested. However, a number of KitchenAid toasters have performed well in our tests in the past, with four of the seven models we've tested over the years being recommended by our experts.

At $239 for the kettle and $279 for the toaster, they're not cheap, but if you're looking for a matching set that delivers on performance and aesthetics, then this is a good option.

(At the time of writing, the KitchenAid website was advertising the kettle and four-slice toaster as a bundle for $440.30, down from $518.)

sunbeam new york jug kettle ke4430kb
sunbeam new york collection 4 slice toaster black bronze ta4440kb

Sunbeam New York

Kettle: Sunbeam New York Jug Kettle

  • CHOICE Expert Rating: 74%
  • RRP: $179

Toaster: Sunbeam New York Collection 4 Slice Toaster

  • CHOICE Expert Rating: 74%
  • RRP: $179

Another mid-price performer, this combo is very on-trend with its retro styling and rose-gold finishes. 

Both appliances only just missed out on being recommended by our experts, but 74% is still considered "good" in our books.

They're a good buy that'll jazz up your kitchen at a good price

If you're a fan of multigrain bread and peace and quiet, you might not love these though: our experts marked them down on these tests.

Both priced at $179, they're a good buy that'll jazz up your kitchen at a good price. 

russell hobbs addison digital rhk510
russell hobbs addison 4 slice toaster rht514blk

Russell Hobbs Addison

Kettle: Russell Hobbs Addison Digital RHK510

  • CHOICE Expert Rating: 69%
  • RRP: $90

Toaster: Russell Hobbs Addison 4 Slice Toaster

  • CHOICE Expert Rating: 78% (Recommended)
  • RRP: $100

This reasonably-priced set probably won't win any style awards, but its simple, straightforward design means it won't go out of fashion.

And neither will the price: for less than $200 you'll have your breakfast set sorted. (We tested the black toaster and stainless steel kettle, but both appliances are available in these two colours.)

This set probably won't win any design awards, but its simple, straightforward design means it won't go out of style

The $100 toaster is definitely the star of this duo, and is recommended by our experts, but the $90 kettle lets the team down somewhat. You could always pair the toaster with a different Russell Hobbs kettle if you wanted to stick with the same brand. 

The Russell Hobbs Montana Kettle and the Russell Hobbs Quiet Kettle, for instance, both scored 81% and cost just $70 and $60 respectively. However, if you just want to boil some water, then the Addison will do the job. 

smeg klf03crau
Smeg TSF01PBAU

Smeg 50s style

Kettle: Smeg KLF03CRAU

  • CHOICE Expert Rating: 72%
  • RRP: $299

Toaster: Smeg TSF01PBAU

  • CHOICE Expert Rating: 73%
  • RRP: $269

Scores in the low 70s aren't terrible, but they're also not amazing. 

However, if the aesthetics have won you over and you simply must have a Smeg kettle and toaster, we suggest you go for the slightly cheaper versions available. The more expensive models either performed worse (the kettle) or only fractionally better (the toaster) than the cheaper ones. 

So enjoy the retro look, but save your money.

The more expensive models either performed worse or only fractionally better than the cheaper ones

We've also tested the Smeg 50s Style variable temperature KLF04 kettle. It's $329, but you certainly won't get $30 worth of extra value from it – in fact, it scored lower than the cheaper Smeg model.

For small households, the Smeg Mini Kettle could be worth a look. It only has a 0.8L capacity compared to the 1.7L you'll get with the larger models, but it's priced at $199 so you'll save yourself at least $100.

The more expensive toaster is similarly not worth the extra money. For an extra $30, the Smeg TSF02BLAU toaster only scores one percentage point higher than the TSF01PBAU – hardly worth the extra cash.

While it performed reasonably well in our tests, it didn't fare so well in the opinion of a number of CHOICE members, with some saying it's "unreliable", "rubbish quality", "stylish landfill" and reporting that it broke after a year or two of use.

And if you're thinking of sizing up, we suggest avoiding the Smeg 50s style four-slice toaster: it received a CHOICE Expert Rating of just 64% and delivered disappointing results on a number of tests.

If you're still keen on the brand, here are the Smeg best buys and products to avoid.

Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.