You need the right equipment to brew and serve the perfect cup of tea. In addition to a great electric kettle and stylish mug, the right teapot ensures precise temperature control and a smooth pour, especially when hosting brunch or dinner. When choosing the best teapot, there are many options, including classic ceramic models and clear, modern borosilicate designs.
To help determine which options are worthy of a spot in your kitchen, we tested 11 models from Bodum, CB2, Jono Pandolfi, and more to find the best teapots. Our tests noted temperature consistency, pour spout and infuser design, and heat retention. The result is a list of seven reliable and beautiful teapots that perform just as well as they look.
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With a modern stainless steel lid and clear body, this teapot makes brewing tea a show. With it, you can watch your water bubble and the brew bloom, thanks to a durable borosilicate glass body suitable for electric and gas stovetops. The ergonomic handle looks delicate but more than supports your pour, with a non-drip spout that makes serving steaming tea safe.
During testing, we were impressed by this teapot’s performance. The body felt durable and thick, with a removable mesh basket that reduced sediment and kept tea leaves separate from the water while infusing. While there are no extra seals on this piece for added heat retention, it still held its temperature well during our testing, dropping from 169°F to 147°F in about 20 minutes. The capacity also offers a great middle ground, allowing you to brew about three generous cups of tea at a time.
Material: Borosilicate glass | Capacity: 33 ounces | Dimensions: 5 x 5.3 x 9 inches | Includes Infuser: Yes | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes | Stovetop-Safe: Yes, on low heat
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This charming teapot comes in many shades, like classic white, zesty yellow, or trendy lilac.
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While you can use this teapot without the included infuser, the lid does not fit as snuggly on top without it in place, which can cause some spilling.
We recommend this teapot from Sweese for a classic style with several playful color options. Available in 27-ounce and 40-ounce capacities, it has an attractive round body and a roomy handle. It’s made from lead-free porcelain for added durability. The infuser — which features fine mesh for minimal debris — is completely removable, making it easy to clean.
While testing this teapot, we fell hard for its classic shape and effective design. The porcelain pot retained heat well, dropping 26 degrees in 20 minutes after brewing. We found that the 27-ounce size, which is the one we tested, brewed ample tea for two people, even if someone wanted a second cup. The removable infuser has flexible steel clips that lock it in place and a piece that extends over the handle, allowing you to hold it down while pouring and reducing any risk of splashing or spilling steeped leaves. This great timeless option produced an equally classic cup of tea.
Material: Porcelain | Capacity: 27 ounces | Dimensions: 6.13 x 7.41 x 5.98 inches | Includes Infuser: Yes | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes | Stovetop-Safe: No
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If you have a morning tea ritual ingrained into your daily life, it may be worth splurging on a teapot that will become a mainstay in your home for years. This chic and modern kettle from France-based Degrenne is just the statement piece you’re looking for, with a tailored shape and luxe add-ons (like a felt-lined stainless steel cover) that up its beauty and effectiveness.
In our search for the best teapot, this stunner quickly rose to the top of the pack thanks to its impressive heat retention and luxurious materials. The tall-sided shape feels more modern than most teapots, and we love that it comes in several chic shades to match any kitchen. Performance-wise, this piece was top-notch, with thick porcelain walls and a fine mesh infuser that nests perfectly atop the lip to keep all leaves from entering the water. There was so much to love about this design, but our favorite feature was undoubtedly the unique felt-lined stainless steel cover that slips over the teapot, locking in the heat for up to an hour.
Material: Porcelain, stainless steel | Capacity: 34 ounces | Dimensions: 11.81 x 7.68 x 9.45 inches | Includes Infuser: Yes | Dishwasher-Safe: No | Stovetop-Safe: No
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The infuser on this piece is larger than average, making it a great option for green tea, which is sensitive to crowding and over-steeping.
Green tea and matcha lovers know there’s an art to brewing the delicate blend, and this teapot from Japanese brand Hario will help you perfect your technique in no time. With a petite body and roomy infuser, it’s ideal for maintaining the moderate temperatures and delicate ecosystem many green teas prefer to brew properly, all while delivering a minimalist design. We also appreciate the approachable price, which allows you to score a quality pot under $25.
While testing this teapot, we quickly came to appreciate its more petite size, which holds just enough tea for two people and caters more to the small-batch nature of green tea. The glass body was surprisingly thin but durable, and we enjoyed how easy it made it to clock the exact color of the brew, helping us nail the steeping time for green tea, which is generally quicker than other types (steeping it too long can result in a bitter brew). The spout on this design is much shorter than the others we tested but still resulted in very few drips, and the pointed end allowed for precise pouring.
Material: Borosilicate glass | Capacity: 24 ounces | Dimensions: 5.2 x 6.81 x 4.25 inches | Includes Infuser: Yes | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes | Stovetop-Safe: No
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Similar to cast iron cookware, this piece will require extra maintenance, including handwashing and the removal of rust.
If you’re familiar with cast iron cookware throughout the rest of your kitchen, you know the material can be excellent at conducting and maintaining heat. Cast iron is a great option for lazy tea drinkers who want to be able to return to a warm pot hour after hour. This traditional Japanese cast iron teapot is suitable for use on the stove and off, with a timeless pebbled body and jute-wrapped bamboo handle that lets you easily pour.
Perhaps the most unique of all the teapots we tested, this piece earned rave reviews for its epic heat retention. The body of this teapot gets and stays exceedingly hot, which is great for any slow sippers or tea fans who enjoy a few cups throughout the morning. That said, you can easily burn yourself on the exterior of this vessel, and the handle is not as prominent or intuitive to hold as other models we tested. Beyond that, this produced a great cup of tea, and we appreciated the convenience of being able to boil and brew all in the same pot.
Material: Cast iron | Capacity: 22 ounces | Dimensions: 6.3 x 5.1 x 6.7 inches | Includes Infuser: Yes | Dishwasher-Safe: No | Stovetop-Safe: Yes
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On a quest to set a beautiful tabletop for Mother’s Day or Easter brunch? You’ll want to click add to cart on this stunning stoneware teapot from Crate and Barrel ASAP. A stunning showpiece, it’s made in Portugal and designed to complement other stoneware dinnerware with organic lines and a subtle patina that gives it an artisanal vibe.
In our tests, we noted how hefty and high-quality this piece felt, especially when full. It did a good job keeping the tea warm, dropping an average of 20 degrees in 20 minutes, which was on par with many other options. What this piece lacks in frills (there’s no infuser, plunger, or non-slip bottom), it makes up for in aesthetics — it’s a great option for the occasional tea drinker who tends to sip more while entertaining.
Material: Stoneware | Capacity: 32 ounces | Dimensions: 4 x 6 inches | Includes Infuser: No | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes | Stovetop-Safe: No
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Gifting a passionate tea lover is no easy task, especially if their kitchen is already stocked with gadgets and gear. Your best bet? Finding them a teapot that is both functional and aesthetically unique. This sienna-colored stoneware teapot from Tea Forte is designed in collaboration with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation with a graphic interpretation of the architectural master’s sketches etched into the body.
Aesthetics aside, this standout piece also performed beautifully in our tests, delivering notable heat retention and an extra-fine infuser in a gleaming gold that looks stunning in person. The size felt perfect for a one- to two-person tea household, and overall, the piece was more compact than others we tested, thanks to its mid-century modern-inspired shape. Snag a matching cup and saucer to make a memorable gift for tea lovers.
Material: Stoneware | Capacity: 20 ounces | Dimensions: 3.1 x 3.1 x 2.5 inches | Includes Infuser: Yes | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes | Stovetop-Safe: No
Our Favorite Teapot
We tested 11 teapots for this piece, giving our top honors to only seven, including Hiware’s Glass Teapot, Sweese’s Porcelain Teapot, and Degrenne’s Insulated Teapot. While they’re all geared toward slightly different needs, each teapot on our list of winners has superior heat retention, an ergonomic body, and quality materials for an expertly brewed cup of tea.
How We Tested Teapots
We tested 11 teapots for this piece, which varied in style, size, and material. Each teapot was used repeatedly to make multiple batches of green, black, and herbal tea. The teapots we tested were used and examined extensively and rated in the below categories:
- Materials: During testing, we noted what material each teapot was made from and how it contributed to its functionality and appearance. Most of the pots on our list were made from porcelain or heat-resistant glass, though some winners incorporated cast iron and stoneware. We also noted whether the material got hot when brewing tea and whether the vessel felt durable.
- Capacity: We measured the capacity of each teapot and how much tea we could make with it. In general, we tried to pick teapots that made enough tea for at least two people to enjoy, though our list also includes more family-sized options and teapots with a smaller capacity.
- Extra Features: Though simplistic by design, teapots can have additional features that make them stand out from the pack, and we made sure to make note of those throughout our testing. The infuser quality, spout angle, and handle size all fell under this category.
What We Looked For
Material
When selecting the pots for our testing, we looked for vessels made from porcelain, heat-resistant glass, stoneware, or cast iron, all known for their heat resistance. Durability is also important, as is choosing a material that blends aesthetically with the rest of your dinnerware.
Capacity
As a rule of thumb, you want to shop for a teapot with a capacity of 20 ounces or more, resulting in three 6-ounce cups of tea. Depending on the size of your family (or the amount of tea you drink), you can also opt for a teapot with a larger capacity, which includes many of the picks on our list.
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Cleaning and Care
As with any piece you use daily, learning to clean your teapot effectively is important. Many models are dishwasher safe, making it easy to clean the pot and the included infuser between each batch. Others — including those made from off-beat materials, like cast iron — require hand washing, which can add a step to your already packed morning routine.
Infuser
Almost all the teapots on our best list come with a tea infuser (an integrated mesh basket to hold loose tea and allow it to steep in the water without adding debris). When shopping for a teapot, examine the infuser to ensure the holes are small enough to be effective and that it nests seamlessly into the pot without making it difficult to pour.
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Pour Spout
When shopping for the best teapot for your needs, pay close attention to the length and pitch of the pour spout, which can influence whether or not the vessel drips or leaks each time you pour a cup. The spout should be angled properly to allow easy pouring without tilting the teapot too much, with a slight curve or lip at the end that prevents tea from dripping after pouring.
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Other Teapots We Tested
While the seven teapots that earned a spot on our list were the best of the best, we still found several strong contenders throughout testing. These vessels are still great options for your kitchen, falling short in just one or two testing categories that prevented them from making our final list. Here’s what stood out — and where they could have done better:
Bodum Assam Tea Press with Stainless Steel Filter ($32 at Amazon)
A trusted name in drinkware, Bodum is known for its borosilicate glass kettles and French presses, including one that was named to our list of the best French presses. While we loved the appearance of this teapot aesthetically, we had a difficult time using the infuser and plunger, which caused a lot of excess tea debris to make its way into the water. The teapot did retain heat well, but you couldn’t put the lid back on the pot if you weren’t using the infuser, which caused us to dock it a few points.
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Ichendorf Milano Piuma Teapot ($95 at Hawkins NY)
Perhaps the most aesthetically pleasing design we tested, this Ichendorf Milano teapot won rave reviews for its charming pink glass design and modern appeal. However, it was the least heat-retentive model we tried, and the included infuser let a decent amount of debris through. At $95, it was also one of the priciest picks on our roster, and other options delivered more at a lower price.
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Jono Pandolfi Teapot ($231 at Jono Pandolfi)
We love Jono Pandolfi — we even named their dishware to our list of the best stoneware dinnerware sets. It should come as no surprise then that the brand’s teapot is outstanding aesthetically, with a dark clay exterior that gives it a rustic, vintage vibe. Unfortunately, the model didn’t retain heat as well as other teapots on our list and came without an included infuser. It lost points for convenience.
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Primula Half-Moon Teapot ($15 at Amazon)
With a retro-inspired exterior, this teapot could have come straight from the counter at a local diner. The large design holds 40 ounces of tea, making it a great option for larger families or group settings. That said, we didn’t love the plastic featured on the body, and the spout frequently dripped when we tried to pour our tea.
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Our Expertise
Alyssa Longobucco is a writer, editor, and stylist with expertise in kitchen product reviews and interior design. She has over a decade of experience in the digital and magazine industry, creating unique and innovative content for storied brands such as Food & Wine, House Beautiful, Food52, Good Housekeeping, and more.
