Mark MorphewIf you’re serious about brewing the best coffee you can at home, you need to have the right tools at your disposal. A good gooseneck coffee kettle like the Soulhand is one of those items every coffee enthusiast should have in their coffee brewing arsenal.
Sure, you can probably get by using a regular kettle, but a spouted pour-over kettle will make your life a whole lot easier, and it’s going to be essential if you’re looking for hand drip perfection.
If you see your daily coffee as a bit of a ritual, investing in a pour-over kettle is totally worth it. It’s a small expense that will let you elevate your coffee brewing to a whole new level.
In this review, I will be taking a closer look at the Soulhand kettle. Their coffee kettle ticks all of the right boxes.
So, Let’s find out if it performs as well as it looks.
Soulhand Kettle At A Glance
The Soulhand kettle is perfect for anyone on a budget who’s wanting to get their hands on their first pour-over style kettle.
Compared to the competition, it’s priced reasonably well, and the design has been modeled on other similar iconic kettles like the Hario Buono.
It’s a solid, well-made kettle with a decent-sized capacity that will be an integral part of any home coffee brewing kit.
This kettle is compatible with a multitude of stovetops, including induction, halogen, gas, or electric.
Personally, with kettles like this, I prefer to boil my water in a regular kettle, then transfer that water over and use the gooseneck for the steady pouring.
It’s just a habit I’ve come accustomed to, and I also find that it preserves the beauty of the coffee kettle for longer.
Let’s take a closer look.
Design And Aesthetics
The complete body of the Soulhand kettle has been crafted from surgical-grade premium 18/8 stainless steel, which has then been powder coated in a modern deep matt black finish.
It looks beautiful, and the overall design makes this kettle a definite eye-catcher.
Where many of these kettles often fail is on the base.
More often than not, I find that the base is not durable enough to be used on the naked flame of a stovetop. So it was a pleasant surprise to find that the Soulhand kettle has an impressive triple-layered, anti-rust base.
It looks and feels solid, and I anticipate that it will last for many years; it’s definitely one of the best bases I’ve seen compared to other similar kettles in this price bracket.
One of the essential features of any handheld kettle is how much water it can hold.
You don’t want one that’s too large because once it’s full, it’s going to be cumbersome to hold, and trying to pour with a steady hand will be a challenge.
The Soulhand kettle in this review holds up to 1 liter (32 ounces), which is perfect, in my opinion.
They do sell a larger size at 1.2 liters, but for most of you reading this, the 1 liter will be a perfect size for using with the Hario V60 or Kalita wave.
A neat feature of this coffee kettle is the built-in thermometer that has been incorporated into the lid design.
It’s perfect for giving you a quick, clear indication that your water is at the required optimum temperature of 195F-205F.
Unfortunately, many coffee kettles don’t include a thermometer nowadays.
The vast majority of kettles cannot measure and regulate water temperatures, which is vital for achieving optimal brewing conditions. It’s an excellent feature to have, so a thumbs up to Soulhand for adding it.
The handle on the Soulhand is easy to hold, the ergonomic design provides a superior grip, and the phenol resin material is heat resistant, which is a bonus.
But when it comes to a good gooseneck kettle, it’s all about how well it pours.
Let’s find out.
How Well Does The Soulhand Gooseneck Kettle Pour?
The good news is that the Soulhand coffee kettle excels in this department.
The angular design of the gooseneck spout and the tapered tip ensures that you have complete control of the water flow over the coffee bed.
The spout design enables you to speed up or slow down quickly, giving you complete control over your pour, which you can’t do with a regular kettle.
Paired with the comfortable palmed-sized handle, you have a very precise pour, and you can drop small amounts of water exactly where you need to.
All in all, I’m pretty happy with the performance of the Soulhand kettle.
I’ve used many coffee kettles over the years, and the Soulhand now sits among a small selection of my personal favorites.
But it’s not all rosy. There are a few things I’m not too keen on.
Drawbacks: Some Things I Don’t Like
Even though the kettle can hold up to 1 liter of water, filling it to a max of 0.8 liters is more practical.
Why? When full, you don’t have complete control over the pour; the water comes out far too fast.
This isn’t a deal-breaker for me as 0.8 liters is suitable for my needs when brewing coffee for one.
But if you need the additional water, I recommend that you look at the next size up.
As I have mentioned previously, the kettle body has been manufactured from high-quality steel. Still, compared to other premium kettles like the Hario Buono or Stagg Kettle, it does feel a bit thin.
If you don’t intend to leave the kettle sitting with hot water for an extended period, this should not be a big issue, and remember you have a built-in thermometer to see if your water temp is where it needs to be.
On the plus side, the heavy-duty base is exceptional and outshines almost any other kettle in this style that I have used previously.
These are just two tiny gripes that are more of a personal preference than design flaws.
Soulhand Kettle Versus The Competition
I’m not going to beat around the bush. The marketplace is loaded with coffee kettles, just like the Soulhand.
But what makes the Soulhand kettle stand out from the competition in this price bracket is the quality of the craftsmanship.
As soon as you unbox this kettle, you know it’s a well-made piece of gear.
I’ve compared the Soulhand kettle against its competitors, and it came out on top.
Other brands like the Coffee Gator look very similar, I also own the Coffee Gator, and I will tell you that the Soulhand version beats it hands down in the quality department; it’s on a whole other level.
The Verdict Is It Worth A Buy?
The Soulhand kettle has everything right, and it ticks every box for a perfect pour-over kettle.
It is well-built, durable, and crafted from quality materials, and let’s not forget that it also has an integrated thermometer.
The well-angled gooseneck spout enables a slow and steady pour, and the phenol resin handle provides an excellent grip.
What’s more, it looks good sitting on a kitchen shelf too.
If you are a coffee lover and you typically brew pour-over every day, you owe it to yourself to get this gooseneck kettle.
It is a fantastic little thing that will definitely elevate your homebrewing game instantly.
What We Love
- Comes with a built-in thermometer.
- Heavy, durable base.
- Excellent slow and steady pour.
- It can be used on a wide range of stovetops and even campfires.
Take Note
- Hard to control at full capacity.
- The black coating can chip with aggressive cleaning.
When he's not fiddling around with a new coffee gadget, you'll find him busy doing DIY projects around the home and taking his German Shepherd for a walk, who funnily enough is called Kona!
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Since the creation of the Bean Ground coffee blog in 2014, Mark and a small circle of coffee hobbyists have rigorously tested, reviewed, and researched coffee gear. In most cases, they have purchased the items themselves with the sole intention of rating and evaluating.
In that time, they have built up a list of quality points to look for and what makes specific equipment better than others. They cut through the noise and marketing hype that often surrounds products to give you their unbiased opinions so you can make clear decisions on your next purchase.
