A tea kettle is not the same as a tea pot. A kettle is for heating water—it can be heated on the stove or a hot plate, and electric kettles heat themselves. A tea pot is usually more fragile, and it’s for brewing—you wouldn’t put tea leaves in your kettle, but you would put them in a pot.

In choosing a tea kettle, its material is a good place to start. Here is a breakdown of the most common materials used to make tea kettles, and their advantages and drawbacks.

Copper tea kettles have a striking color. Copper conducts heat efficiently, heating your water quickly. It also oxidizes, however; some copper tea kettles have a lining of stainless steel on the inside to keep the oxidizing copper out of contact with the water. Without the lining, copper tea kettles can affect the taste of the water inside. Copper is not as durable as stainless steel or cast iron, and can bend or dent relatively easily. Copper tea kettles can be expensive, but they’re beautiful as well as functional.

Cast iron tea kettles heat more slowly but retain heat for a longer period of time, so your water will stay warm longer. Cast iron tea kettles give an old-fashioned accent to a kitchen, but they can be quite heavy. Cast iron will rust in contact with water, and are usually lined with enamel or stainless steel. To prevent rusting, they shouldn’t be soaked and should be dried quickly during washing.

Stainless steel tea kettles are sturdy and practical, and are much more modern in style than copper or cast iron tea kettles. Stainless steel is corrosion-resistant and hard to dent or scratch, so it will look like new for longer. However, it’s also an inefficient conductor of heat—most stainless steel tea kettles have a layer of copper or aluminum at the base.

Enamel tea kettles give a kitchen a retro, 1950’s look. Enamel tea kettles come in a wide variety of colors, and can be quite decorative. The enamel usually coats an internal layer of cast iron, so an enamel tea kettle will heat like a cast iron tea kettle. Enamel can chip and crack easily, and must be treated with care.

In addition to the material, there are a few other features to consider when buying a tea kettle. These include:

A steam whistle. Many tea kettles come with a steam whistle that sounds when the water is boiling. These can be very convenient—who wants to stand around the kitchen and wait for the water to boil?—and are easy to find.

An oval spout. Look for a tea kettle with an oval-shaped opening in the spout. A round opening is prone to spills and drips, while an oval-shaped opening pours more cleanly.

A comfortable grip. Look for a handle on the side if you choose a lidless tea kettle; otherwise, the steam from the hot water may burn your hand. Choose a handle that fits comfortably in your hand, is not too narrow, and is placed so that when you lift the tea kettle, you have a good balance and feel.

A tea kettle can add presence and personality to your kitchen or tea service. But the type of tea kettle you buy—from the material to the design—really does make a difference. Follow these tips, and you should find the perfect tea kettle for your kitchen and taste.