Russell Hobbs Luna Copper Kettle Review: a quick, quiet kettle that looks good on the counter

I’ve been using the Russell Hobbs Luna Stainless Steel & Copper 1.7L kettle at home for a few weeks, making three to five boils a day between tea, coffee and the odd pot of pasta. I’m not a collector of fancy kettles, I just want something that boils quickly, doesn’t sound like a jet engine, and doesn’t dribble boiling water down the side. This one sits in that category: everyday kettle, but dressed up a bit with the copper touches.

From the start, the thing that stood out was the quiet boil compared to my old cheap plastic kettle. It’s not silent, you still hear it, but it’s more of a low hum than a loud roar. The 3 kW power means it heats water fast, especially if you use the little rapid-boil markings inside for 1–3 cups. For a single mug, it’s roughly the 45 seconds they claim, give or take a few seconds depending on water temperature.

In terms of use, it’s very straightforward: fill, click onto the 360° base, flip the switch, done. The so‑called Perfect Pour spout actually works pretty well: I’m not getting drips on the worktop like I did with my last kettle. Small detail, but when you make drinks all day, that stuff matters. The flip‑up lid with the push button is also handy when you’re half awake in the morning.

It’s not perfect though. It’s heavier than a basic plastic kettle, and the stainless steel body gets hot on the outside after a full boil. The auto‑off also takes a few seconds after it hits rolling boil, which some people noticed in the reviews and I’ve seen too. Overall, it’s a solid, decent kettle with a bit of style, but you’re paying a bit extra for the looks and brand name.

Price-wise, this kettle often sits around the £35–£40 mark, which is definitely not the cheapest option out there. You can get a basic 1.7 L plastic kettle for half that. So the real question is: are you getting enough extra for the money? In my view, you’re mainly paying for three things: faster boiling (3 kW), quieter operation, and the stainless steel + copper look.

In daily use, the fast boil and quietness do make a difference. If you make a lot of hot drinks, shaving a minute off each boil and not having to listen to a loud roar is pretty nice. The build also feels more solid than the really cheap ones, and the 2+1 year warranty adds some peace of mind. The lack of leaks, clean pour, and easy lid are all things that make it less annoying to live with.

On the other hand, if you don’t care how your kettle looks and you’re fine with a bit more noise, you can definitely find cheaper kettles that still boil water just fine. This one is more for someone who wants something that looks decent on the worktop and doesn’t feel flimsy. Also, the polished metal showing fingerprints and the heavier weight are the kind of small downsides you don’t get with a basic plastic model.

So in terms of value, I’d say it’s good but not outstanding. You’re getting a solid, good-performing kettle from a known brand, with a nicer design than the budget stuff. If you’re willing to spend around £35 on a kettle, this is a pretty solid choice. If you just want the cheapest thing that boils water, this is probably more than you need.

Design-wise, this kettle is clearly made to look good on a countertop. The polished stainless steel body with copper accents around the base and lid does give it a bit of a premium feel compared to plain plastic kettles. If you’ve got other copper or stainless appliances, it blends in well. It’s not tiny, but it doesn’t feel oversized either; it’s a standard full-size 1.7 L jug shape. The water level window is on the front, not hidden behind the handle, which is actually very practical when filling at the sink.

The Perfect Pour spout is one of the better design points. On a lot of kettles, when you pour slowly, water tends to creep around the lip and drip down. Here, even when pouring gently into a small mug or a cafetière, I’m not getting annoying dribbles. For me, that’s a big plus. The push-button lid on the top opens cleanly and doesn’t slam back down. You can open it one-handed while holding the kettle under the tap, which is exactly what you want when you’re half asleep in the morning.

On the downside, the polished finish is a bit of a fingerprint magnet. If you like your appliances spotless, you’ll be wiping it fairly often. Also, being mostly metal, the body gets quite hot after boiling. It’s not insulated like some of the chunkier kettles, so you don’t want to grab it anywhere except the handle. The handle itself is comfortable enough, but when the kettle is full, the combination of metal body and 1.7 L of water makes it feel heavier than some plastic alternatives.

Another small quirk: the kettle doesn’t snap off the second it boils. It hits full boil, then takes around 8–10 seconds to click off. It’s not a huge problem, but if you’re used to instant cut-off, you’ll notice it. Overall, the design is attractive and fairly practical, but you’re trading a cooler-touch body and lighter feel for the nicer look and metal build.

The kettle is mainly stainless steel with some plastic components (handle, lid mechanism, base). The stainless steel has a polished finish which looks good but, as mentioned, shows fingerprints and water spots quite easily. The copper accents are purely cosmetic, but they do give it a bit of character compared to a plain steel jug. Overall, it feels sturdy in the hand, not flimsy or thin.

At about 1.5 kg before adding water, it’s definitely heavier than basic plastic kettles. Once it’s full, you’re lifting a fair bit of weight. If you have weak wrists or arthritis, this is something to think about. A couple of reviewers mentioned it, and I’d agree: it’s not outrageously heavy, but it’s not the easiest kettle to swing around when full. The handle, though, is well-shaped and doesn’t flex, so at least the grip feels secure.

The concealed heating element means the bottom of the inside is a flat metal plate, which is easier to descale and wipe than the old exposed coils. The anti-scale filter in the spout is a fine mesh piece of plastic with a metal mesh insert that you can pull out and rinse under the tap. After two weeks in a limescale-prone area, the filter already had some white crust on it, which it caught before it went into my mug. That’s exactly what it’s there for.

The base and switch feel decent, no wobble or cheap creaking sounds when you place the kettle on or off. The 360° base works from any angle, so you don’t have to line it up perfectly. Overall, the materials feel durable and made to last a few years, not like something that’ll crack or split in six months. You are trading that durability for weight and a hotter exterior, so it depends what matters more to you.

In terms of durability, you can’t fully judge it in a few weeks, but there are a few signs to look at. The stainless steel body feels rigid, not thin or tinny, and the handle is firmly attached with no flex or wobble. The lid mechanism opens cleanly every time and doesn’t feel like it’s about to loosen or jam. These are the parts that usually show weakness first on cheaper kettles, and so far this one seems more solid than the budget models I’ve had.

The main long-term enemy for any kettle is limescale. The concealed element and removable filter help with this. If you live somewhere with hard water, you’ll still need to descale every so often, but at least the flat base makes it easier: a bit of descaler or vinegar, let it soak, rinse, and you’re fine. After a couple of weeks of normal use, I can already see some light scaling on the base, which is normal. The filter clips in and out without bending or looking like it’ll snap, which is good because you’ll be handling it a lot over the years.

The polished metal exterior will pick up small scratches and marks over time, especially if you keep it near other appliances or knock it against cupboard doors. It’s cosmetic, not structural, but if you’re picky about looks, expect some wear. The copper accents are coloured rather than solid copper, so they might dull or scratch if you’re rough with cleaning. I’ve just been wiping it with a soft cloth, no abrasives, and it still looks basically new.

There’s a 2-year warranty plus 1 year if you register online, which is reassuring. Brands don’t usually offer that if they expect lots of early failures. I’ve seen plenty of cheaper kettles die in under a year from switch problems or leaks, and this one does feel a notch above those in build. I’d still keep an eye on the switch and lid after heavy daily use, but overall, it gives the impression it should handle regular family use without falling apart quickly.

In day-to-day use, the performance is the main strong point of this kettle. With its 3000 W element and concealed heater, it boils water quickly. Using the rapid boil markings, a single 235 ml cup from cold tap water is around 40–50 seconds in my kitchen, which lines up with the 45 seconds they claim. A half-full kettle is usually done in around 2 minutes, and a full 1.7 L is roughly in the 3–4 minute range, depending on starting water temperature.

Noise-wise, it’s quieter than the cheap kettles I’ve used before. It still makes a sound obviously, but it’s more of a low whoosh rather than a harsh, rattling boil. If someone’s asleep in the next room with the door open, they’ll probably still hear it, but in a normal kitchen-living room setup it’s not annoying. The power light indicator is clear, and the switch has a firm click, so you know it’s on. I haven’t had any issues with it failing to start or randomly shutting off early.

The auto shut-off does work reliably, but like a couple of Amazon reviewers said, it takes a few seconds after it hits a rolling boil before it actually switches off. For me, that’s more of a minor annoyance than a real problem, but it does mean the kettle is boiling harder for a bit longer than strictly needed. The Perfect Pour spout helps a lot when it comes to actually using that hot water: you can pour slowly into narrow openings without splashing everywhere.

One thing I noticed: if you keep boiling small amounts (like one cup) back-to-back, the outside gets hot pretty quickly and stays that way. Also, in a hard water area, you’ll start to see scale building up on the base and the filter within a couple of weeks if you don’t descale regularly, but that’s normal for any kettle. Overall, performance is solid: fast boil, reasonably quiet, and no weird behaviour so far, just that slightly delayed switch-off.

Out of the box, you get the kettle itself, the 360° swivel base with cord storage, a simple paper manual, and that’s about it. No fancy accessories, no pointless extras, which is fine for a kettle. The unit I got is the copper and polished stainless steel version, model 24280, which is the one you’ll see all over Amazon. Capacity is 1.7 litres, so enough for a small family or a round of drinks when friends come over.

Specs-wise, it runs at 3000 W and 240 V, which is standard for a UK kettle. The power cord is about 0.9 m long, which is okay but not long; you’ll want a socket reasonably close to where you keep it. The base has cord storage underneath, so you can hide the extra length if your plug is right next to it. The kettle itself is cordless once you lift it off the base, which is normal these days but still worth mentioning if you’re upgrading from something ancient.

Inside, there’s a rapid boil zone marked for 1, 2, and 3 cups, based on a 235 ml cup. That’s useful if you’re trying to save a bit on energy and don’t want to boil a full kettle for just one drink. There’s also a removable, washable anti-scale filter at the spout, which clips in and out easily. I’m in a medium‑hard water area, and after a couple of weeks I can already see a bit of limescale collecting on it, so it’s actually doing something.

The manual is simple but clear: rinse, boil twice and discard the water before first use. I followed that and didn’t get any weird plasticky taste. Overall, the presentation is basic but functional. It feels like a mid-range product: not luxury, not bargain basement. You can tell they’ve put the money into the power, the materials, and a bit of design rather than fancy packaging or gimmicks.