Small appliances are the category where it is easiest to spend badly: each one is cheap, they all look alike on the shelf, and they often end up at the back of a cupboard after three uses. This guide does not tell you which brand to buy. It gives you the criteria to understand, faced with two blenders or three coffee machines, which one makes sense for your kitchen and which is just an extra watt printed on the box.
The underlying rule is simple: a small appliance is worth the money only if you actually use it and if it saves you time or effort over the manual method. Everything else — the colour, the display, the ten functions you will never touch — is noise. Let us separate signal from noise, one item at a time.
Wattage: what it really tells you, and what it does not
The wattage number is the one manufacturers shout loudest, and also the most misunderstood. Power measures how much energy the appliance can draw, not how well it does its job. A 1000 W blender with poorly designed blades performs worse than a well-engineered 700 W one. Watts matter, but you have to read them in relation to the task.
To orient you, here are the bands that work in practice:
Kettles
Here watts genuinely matter, because they set the speed. A 2200–2400 W kettle brings a litre of water to the boil in about two and a half minutes; a 1500 W one takes longer. If you drink tea or infusions every day, high power pays back in saved time. It is one of the few cases where "more watts" translates almost linearly into "more convenient".
Toasters and sandwich makers
A domestic toaster lives happily between 700 and 1000 W. Above that you do not toast better, you just heat more elements at once. What counts is browning control and evenness: a good toaster heats both faces and both slices the same way. For a sandwich maker or grill plate, higher power (1000–2000 W) helps recover heat quickly between batches.
Blenders and hand mixers
A jug blender that crushes ice or frozen fruit needs 600–1000 W with sturdy blades. A hand mixer for light doughs is fine with 300–500 W, but look at the number of speeds and a turbo function: modulation matters more than peak power. A motor that starts slow and accelerates avoids splashes and handles dense mixtures better.
Coffee machines
Pump espresso machines sit between 1100 and 1450 W, where power serves to reach brewing temperature quickly. More than watts, though, look at pump pressure (15 bar is the standard) and a system that keeps temperature stable. A machine that heats up in twenty seconds is one you will use even on a rushed morning.
Energy use: the hidden cost you pay every day
A small appliance rarely weighs much on the bill, but some daily habits leave a mark. The kettle is the classic example: heating a full litre every time when you use one cup is waste that adds up. Kettles with a level indicator and a well-calibrated base let you heat only the water you need, and that is where the difference is made, not in the energy class.
For appliances that stay on standby — coffee machines with an always-on display, microwaves with a clock — idle consumption is tiny per unit, but in a kitchen with five appliances powered all day it adds up a little. If an appliance has a real physical switch that turns it fully off, that is a point in its favour. For air fryers and small ovens, finally, the energy advantage over a big oven is real: they heat a small volume and cook faster, so they draw far less for the same portion.
Footprint and space: the constraint that decides everything
Worktop space is a kitchen's scarcest resource, and the most underrated of buying criteria. A beautiful appliance with no stable home ends up in the cupboard, and what ends up in the cupboard you stop using. Before buying, measure: width, depth and — above all — usable height under the wall units.
Consider three things. First, footprint in use: some blenders and food processors need vertical clearance to lift the lid or jug. Second, footprint at rest: a cordless kettle sits anywhere, an espresso machine with a rear tank needs access from behind. Third, cable management: appliances with cord storage are far easier to put away when you do not use them daily.
Materials and cleaning: where durability is decided
Cleaning is the factor that decides whether an appliance survives over time or becomes a chore to avoid. A grill with fixed, non-removable plates cleans badly, builds up grease, and at some point you stop using it. The same plates, if detachable and washable (ideally dishwasher-safe), completely change the experience.
On materials, a few fixed points. Stainless steel is sturdier and more hygienic than plastic for parts in contact with hot liquids: a steel kettle lasts longer and does not retain odours. Glass blender jugs are heavier but do not scratch and do not hold smells like plastic. For the non-stick coatings of grills and plates, what counts is the quality of the treatment and following the instructions: no metal utensils, no thermal shocks.
Always check how many parts go in the dishwasher and how many by hand, and whether the seals are accessible. Seals you cannot reach are where invisible grime hides, especially in coffee machines and air fryers. An appliance that is easy to disassemble is one you will actually clean, and therefore one that will last.
Safety: the details you do not see in the photos
On small appliances safety is not optional, because we are talking about heat, blades and water often in the same room. Some protections should be taken for granted and verified before buying.
Automatic shut-off comes first: a kettle must stop by itself when the water boils and when it is lifted off the base; a grill or fryer should have overheat protection. Non-slip bases and rubber feet count more than they seem, especially for appliances that vibrate like blenders and mixers. Cool-touch bodies matter if there are children at home.
Always check for the conformity marking and that cable and plug suit Swiss sockets. For appliances combining water and electricity — coffee machines, kettles, sterilisers — good insulation and an adequate cable length (one that does not force loose extension leads) are part of safety, not an aesthetic detail.
The main types, one by one
Kettle
The simplest purchase and the one with the best usefulness-to-price ratio. Look for stainless steel, a level indicator, automatic shut-off and a 360° cordless base. High power (2200 W+) shortens the wait. A good kettle is something you use several times a day for years.
Coffee machine
Here the choice depends on the ritual you want. Pump espresso machines give control but need some practice and regular cleaning; pod or capsule machines simplify everything at the cost of flexibility. Look at how easy the brew group is to clean and the tank capacity: a small tank means refilling often.
Grills and plates
The tabletop grill is one of the most underrated appliances: it cooks meat, vegetables and sandwiches without firing up the oven. What makes the difference is removable plates for cleaning and enough power (1000–2000 W) to hold the heat. A reversible or ridged grill plate gives that typical griddle marking.
Toasters and sandwich makers
For those who have breakfast, a toaster with adjustable browning and wide slots is worth more than a thousand functions. The sandwich maker is the closing version, handy if you love filled toasties. Look for easy-clean non-stick plates and a ready indicator.
Air fryer
It became popular for a concrete reason: it cooks with little or no oil and quickly, heating a small volume. Look at basket capacity relative to how many people you cook for, and check the basket is easy to wash. High power (1500–1800 W) helps achieve crispness.
Microwave
For reheating, defrosting and quick cooking it remains irreplaceable. Capacity in litres determines what fits; watts determine speed. An 800 W, 23-litre microwave is a sensible size for an average kitchen. Grill or combined functions make sense only if you will really use them.
Refurbished: when it makes sense and when it does not
In the Dedalshop catalogue many appliances are refurbished, with a grade from A to D. It is worth explaining what that means, because refurbished is often the smartest choice in this category. A refurbished product has been checked, restored and tested: it works as it should, but may have cosmetic marks or non-original packaging. Grade A means near-new condition; moving towards D, signs of use increase, but never functional impairment.
When does it make sense? Almost always, on appliances where looks are not the priority: a microwave inside a cabinet, a kitchen kettle, a grill you will use and wash. You save a meaningful amount and get the same performance, with the environmental benefit of putting a product back into circulation instead of making a new one. When is new better? When the appliance is on display and looks matter, or when you want full manufacturer warranty without exceptions. For most working small appliances, though, a refurbished A or B grade is the sensible choice.
Common mistakes to avoid
The first mistake is buying for functions you will not use. A coffee machine with twelve programmes ends up making the same coffee every time; better one that does well the only thing you need. The second is chasing watts as the only criterion, ignoring design, materials and cleaning. The third, already mentioned, is not measuring the space: the appliance with no stable home goes unused.
Two more classics. Underestimating cleaning: an appliance that is hard to wash gets used less and less, until it vanishes. And ignoring noise: loud blenders and processors become a problem in small homes or shared schedules. When you can, read the notes on noise and ease of disassembly before deciding, because these factors determine whether you will use the object in six months.
What is really worth the money
If we had to sum up where to put your money: spend on the kettle if you drink tea or coffee daily, because it is what you use most; spend on blade and motor quality if you blend often; spend on plate removability if you will use grills and sandwich makers regularly. Save, instead, on niche functions, superfluous displays and — by accepting refurbished — on the looks of appliances that stay hidden. The right spend is neither the highest nor the lowest: it is the one aligned with how you actually cook.
Mini-FAQ
How many watts for a good blender? For home use, 600–1000 W with sturdy blades is more than enough. Above that, blade design matters more than power.
Is grade B refurbished reliable? Yes. It works as it should and is tested; it just has more visible cosmetic marks than grade A. For a working appliance it is an excellent choice.
Air fryer or traditional oven? For small portions and fast cooking the air fryer uses less and heats faster. For large quantities or wide trays the oven is still better.
How do I clean a grill with fixed plates? When warm and unplugged, with a damp cloth on the non-stick plates. But if buying now, choose removable plates: cleaning changes entirely.
Is a plastic kettle safe? Compliant models are, but stainless steel is sturdier, releases no odours and lasts longer. If you use it daily, steel pays back.
The selection
A choice of real small appliances from the Dedalshop catalogue, to translate this guide's criteria into concrete products.
- Russell Hobbs 24992-70 kettle (2400 W, refurbished A) — high power for water ready fast.
- JATA stainless steel kettle (2200 W, 1 L) — an essential, sturdy alternative.
- UFESA Calabria espresso machine (1350 W, 1.5 L) — pump espresso with a generous tank.
- JATA GR266 grill (1000 W) — to cook without firing up the oven.
- Tristar GR-2853 grill plate (2000 W, refurbished B) — high power and griddle marking.
- Tristar FR6970 air fryer (1800 W, refurbished B) — crisp cooking with little oil.
- Samsung MG23A7013CT microwave (23 L, 800 W) — a sensible size for an average kitchen.
- Tristar PZ2881 pizza maker (refurbished B) — a single-purpose tool that does one thing well.