Top 10 Best Kitchen Taps in the UK 2020 (John Lewis, Bristan and More)

When choosing a kitchen tap, there are some basic things to keep in mind, such as whether the faucet is double or single, and for cold water, hot water, or both. Enquiring whether it is drip-free or leakproof is also a good idea to avoid annoyance and costly bills! However, there are some other considerations to make which we'll look at below.  

Since there are so many different types of kitchen taps, deciding on the type to purchase is the primary consideration to make. To help you select a type of tap that is suitable for your needs in the kitchen, we've rounded up the most common styles and analysed their features. 

Pillar taps are the oldest type of kitchen taps. They are a pair of independent faucets; one a cold water tap and the other a hot water tap, both with separate spouts and distinct controls.

They operate with an internal mechanism known as a compression washer, which is an internal nut that moves up and down to control the flow of water as the control valve is twisted. The control valves come in different styles as well and may be crosshead, shrouded head or lever-head.

You will like pillar taps if you want your hot and cold water delivered separately in a vintage style!

With mixer taps, the hot and cold water flow is combined into a single output, which often has an inbuilt cross-contamination preventive technology. They operate through a process of alignment that allow for the passage of either hot or cold water through a single spout, and are essentially a fusion of pillar taps in one.

Mixer taps have separate hot water and cold water control valves on either side of the spout, which allow for the water temperatures to pour out through the same nozzle, so they're good for getting varying degrees of temperature.

For a more user-friendly experience, go for a monobloc tap! Monobloc taps comprise of a single unit which provides one-handed control, and are therefore fitting for multi-tasking in the kitchen. The inner workings include a single combination cartridge for adjustment of the water flow and temperature.

They operate via a single lever that you flick to turn on, whereby the higher up it is, the greater the pressure. Temperature is controlled by swivelling the handle in various directions, making it easier to use than the pillar and mixer taps.

If you want to save time boiling water in a kettle, you'll find an instant boiling water tap very efficient. They come in three styles, which will depend on your needs. For instance, if you're needing just boiling and cold water, a two-in-one tap will suffice. 

If you'd like cold, hot and boiling water, your choice should be a three-in-one tap. There are also four-in-one taps that dispense cold, hot, boiling and cold filtered water if you want a truly multi-functional tap.

As a necessary precaution, the boiling water tap you purchase should have insulated sides and childproof handles. Although are quite pricey, they generally conserve more energy than kettles and allow for more countertop space since there's no need for a kettle!

Whether you live in a hard water area or simply prefer it for health or taste reasons, this is the tap of choice if you want to ensure you always have filtered water on hand. Using a filter cartridge underneath the sink to purify the water, they can save both money and time in comparison to bottled water and filter jugs. 

These 3-way or tri-flow kitchen taps may have a unique nozzle for the filtered water that keeps it separated from the hot and cold water nozzle. It may also be controlled by a separate lever or a dual acting lever – just check the description if you'd like one of these features. 

Many modern taps are designed with a flexible pull-out spray feature. This enables the user to have better control over the direction of the water and to stretch to places even outside of the sink which otherwise would have been hard to reach.

If you're opting for a pull-out spray kitchen tap, decide whether you want one with a hidden pull-out feature or an evident one, as you may prefer the cleaner aesthetic of a concealed hose. 

A sensor tap is an electrically-operated tap that can either include a manual handle or be touch-sensor only. For those concerned about hygiene, particularly during the current COVID-19 pandemic, this is the best tap for prevention of transmission of the coronavirus and other diseases, as there's no need to touch the tap in order to use it. 

This also avoids dirt and grease smeared on the surface of the tap, so, overall, this is the ideal tap for a cleaner kitchen. Additionally, the rate of water flow and water temperature is at a constant, bringing about greater efficiency. 

Another important point to consider when purchasing your kitchen tap is the water pressure system of your home. For mixer and monobloc taps, there should be a similar level of hot and cold water pressure available so as not to have challenges obtaining a good temperature mix from your tap. 

This is because if you have a good flow of cold water pressure but poor hot water pressure, it results in an uneven temperature mix that's difficult to regulate. You do not need to worry about equal dispensing power with pillar taps, though, as the hot and cold water pours out of different taps.

If you want high hot water pressure, it's recommended to have an unvented hot water system as this can supply hot water to several taps simultaneously. Combination boilers, on the other hand, only supply hot water to one tap at a time on demand. However, they pump at a higher pressure than gravity-fed water systems.

Thus, in order to get maximum experience out of your kitchen tap, ensure that your home has the required pressure to support the kitchen tap you intend to purchase. If you're unsure, you may want to have an expert check this first or check with your local water authority.

There are many contemporary and classic designs on the market, so choose a style of kitchen tap that is fitting for your kitchen decor and convenient to your needs. 

Kitchen taps may be made from either plastic or metal, and while plastic taps are more less expensive, metal taps are more durable. There are also many metallic variants of gold, copper, nickel, chrome, brass and graphite to have fun choosing between. 

Kitchen taps are made in a variety of shapes and dimensions as well, ranging from rounded swan-necks to squared, short-neck, and long-reach designs. Whatever your preference, the dimensions of your kitchen tap should be appropriate for the sink so that too much water doesn't splash around while you use it.

Having looked into the basic points to take in account while buying a kitchen tap, we now invite you to consider our recommendations of the best available.

Looking for more inspiration to refresh your kitchen? Whether you're going for a full renovation or just after a few key pieces to make cooking and cleaning a little easier, our related articles will have you covered!

Installing a stylish tap can make a huge difference to the look and the practicality of your kitchen. When choosing which to buy, go for one that will meet your everyday needs, that matches the water pressure system of your home, and that has a style that suits your tastes. With these in mind, your purchase will encourage you to enjoy your time in the kitchen!

Author: David Gbe