Britain's Tea Total: We use £1.8 billion in energy a year making cuppas

• Brits spend £1.8 billion a year on energy to make nearly 37 billion cups of tea, according to new research for National Tea Day[1]

• People using eco kettles will spend around £15 less a year making cups of tea compared to people using standard electric kettles[2]

• Stove-top kettles cost £7 more a year to boil water compared with plug-in versions[3]

• Home espresso machines that grind beans, brew the coffee and steam milk use 40% more energy than boiling the water for a humble cup of tea[4]

• Pod-based machines are a less energy-intensive way to enjoy a hot drink, with some using less electricity than making instant coffee with a kettle[5]

• Uswitch.com offers tips to bring your beverage bill down on National Tea Day, including saving energy by not over-filling your kettle.

Brits are spending £1.8 billion on energy every year by brewing nearly 37 billion cups of tea[1], according to new research to coincide with National Tea Day from Uswitch.com, the comparison service. 

An estimated 100 million cups of tea are made every day in the UK, with a single cup costing around 5p to make in an electric kettle[1]. On average, people drink two cups of tea a day, adding up to an annual £38.66 energy bill[1]. 

However, less energy-intensive 1.7kW eco kettles can save £15.45 a year compared to those using ordinary 3kW kettles[2]. 

Some eco kettles also come with a vacuum flask that is claimed to keep water hot for up to four hours — meaning users do not necessarily need to reboil the kettle next time they want a drink. 

Plug-in electric kettles are usually more energy efficient than stovetop equivalents. Making a brew in a kettle costs around 5p, versus 6p to boil the water on an electric hob. It means people making their cuppa on the stove may end up spending an extra £7 a year[3]. 

For Brits who prefer coffee to tea, there are many more elaborate ways of making the drink. The most complicated coffee machines are able to grind beans, brew the coffee and steam milk to produce cappuccinos, lattes and americanos.

However, such gadgets consume a lot of energy to create cafe-quality coffee, with the top-end appliances using 40% more energy than making a cup of tea[4].

Pod-based coffee machines devices can use even less energy than making a cup of coffee in a kettle, with some devices using just 1.4kW of energy and taking just a minute to make a drink[5]. 

Uswitch.com is offering tips to bring your beverage bill down on National Tea Day, including saving energy by not over-filling your kettle.

Natalie Mathie, energy expert at Uswitch.com, comments: “The average Brit’s tea habit may cost around £40 in energy each year for about 730 drinks, but you’d quickly spend that by buying just 12 hot beverages from a high street coffee shop.

“You can reduce your tea energy bill even more if you only fill the kettle with the amount of water needed for the number of drinks you are making. 

“If you are in the market for a new kettle, there’s more to weigh up than you realise, as some consume a lot more energy than others. Eco kettles may even allow you to return to hot water hour after hour so you can keep yourself topped up throughout the day. 

“Anyone making changes to how they use energy around the home can see the impact this is having on bills by tracking their usage. People using the Utrack app can use hourly graphs to compare their gas and electricity use by day, week, month and year.”

Uswitch’s tips for making the most efficient cup of tea

1. Use a plug-in kettle. These boil water faster than on an electric hob, saving you precious time and pennies. 

2. Only use as much water as you need for the number of hot drinks you are making. It will take less time for the kettle to reach boiling point, saving you energy.  

3. But you could do the opposite with some eco kettles. Some versions have a vacuum flask that is claimed to keep water hot for up to four hours — meaning you could enjoy multiple warm drinks with just one boil.

4. Different metals keep kettles hotter for longer. If you’re going for a stovetop kettle, cast iron is best at retaining the heat, while copper kettles warm up quickly but will rapidly cool down afterwards. 

5. Boiling water on an electric hob is more expensive than using a kettle — but a gas hob might save you money. This is because the price of gas is cheaper than electricity.

Track your energy usage with Utrack by Uswitch here.