When standing in a kitchen showroom greeted with terms like ‘3-in-1', ‘4-in-1', ‘5-in-1', and ‘Digital 100’, it's easy to feel like a straightforward decision has got more complicated than it needed to be. Not long ago the choice was simple: kettle or no kettle. Now every type of kitchen tap in this category promises instant hot water, filtration and a spout that does more than fill a glass.
This UK boiling tap guide exists to cut through that noise, comparing each format on its own merits so you can work out which one actually suits your household, before committing to a kettle replacement that doesn't quite fit how you cook.
Types of Boiling Water Tap Available
Before comparing formats in detail, it helps to see them side by side. Every type of kitchen tap in the boiling water category starts from the same idea: a spout delivering filtered water at boiling temperature without a kettle taking up space on the worktop. From there, the formats diverge in what else they offer:
- 3-in-1 Tap: Filtered boiling water along with standard hot and cold water from a single spout
- 4-in-1 Tap: Same as the 3-in-1 but adds filtered cold water to the mix
- 5-in-1 Tap: Same as the 4-in-1, but adds filtered cold and filtered chilled water for the fullest specification
- Digital 100°: Touch-controlled boiling water tap that achieves a genuine 100°C temperature
A quick tap comparison at this stage saves a lot of second-guessing later. Each of these types of boiling water tap is covered in more depth below.
3-in-1 Tap: Who It's For
Are 3-in-1 taps good? For most households, yes, and it's worth understanding why before assuming you need something more elaborate. A 3-in-1 tap covers filtered boiling, along with unfiltered hot and cold water from one fitting, which is the format most people picture when they think of a type of kitchen tap built around a boiling function. It suits kitchens where the priority is simply removing the kettle: drawing water at 98°C for tea, pasta or cleaning, without paying for the filtered cold or chilled functions layered on top of the higher formats.
Because it sits at the entry point of the range, a 3-in-1 tap is also the most straightforward to install, needing only the tank and tap body rather than additional filtration plumbing. For a household that wants faster hot drinks and a tidier worktop without redesigning how the kitchen works, it does exactly what's needed.
4-in-1 Tap: Who It's For
A 4-in-1 tap suits a household that has decided plain tap water isn't quite good enough for a glass of drinking water, without needing the fully chilled option above it. Alongside boiling, hot and cold, it adds filtered cold water, removing the sediment and chlorine taste that many mains supplies carry, particularly in hard water areas. It's a natural step up for anyone currently topping up a jug filter every day.
Within our range, the 4-in-1 format sits at the mid-point, providing enough functionality to cover drinking water quality properly, without the second filtration line a 5-in-1 requires. If you're weighing up which type of kitchen tap to fit for a household that drinks filtered water regularly rather than occasionally, this is usually where that specification earns its place over the simpler option.
5-in-1 Tap: Who It's For
At the top of the range, a 5-in-1 tap adds filtered chilled water to the standard boiling, hot, cold and filtered cold functions, effectively replacing a fridge water dispenser as well as the kettle. It's worth considering for households that get through a lot of cold drinking water, whether that's iced water through summer or simply a preference for filtered water over anything from the fridge door.
The 5-in-1 tap needs a slightly larger under-worktop footprint to house both filtration lines, so it's worth checking cabinet space before ordering. For anyone treating this as a genuine type of kitchen tap upgrade rather than a like-for-like swap, the 5-in-1 is the format that asks the most of the installation and gives back the most functionality in return.
Digital 100° Tap: Who It's For
A digital boiling tap works on the same underlying principle as the rest of the range: an under-sink tank keeps water at temperature, ready to draw off. What sets it apart is a touch display letting you choose from multiple preset temperatures rather than relying on one fixed spout output, so a task that needs a gentler pour doesn't have to share a setting with one that needs a rolling boil.
The core functionality still sits within the 3-in-1 format, boiling, hot and cold water from a single spout, with instant filtered boiling water included as standard. What the digital display adds is a genuine 100°C setting at the touch of a button, alongside safer preset temperatures for everyday tasks like tea or pasta. It's the format for a household that already knows it wants a boiling tap and simply wants more control over exactly how hot the water is when it reaches the cup.
Comparing Running Costs and Installation
Running costs across the range are closer than people expect. Every format draws from a similarly sized under-sink tank, so the electricity needed to keep it at temperature doesn't change much between a 3-in-1 and a 5-in-1. What changes is how much filtered or chilled water you're drawing off, not how the boiling function itself is powered. As a kettle replacement, any format in the range uses meaningfully less energy than repeatedly boiling a full kettle for a single cup.
Installation is where a proper tap comparison earns its keep before you order:
- Tank Space: 5-in-1 and digital formats need more under-sink room than 3-in-1 or 4-in-1 due to the extra filtration lines involved.
- Worktop Hole: Most kitchens need a single 35mm hole, though existing multi-tap setups may need adapting first.
- Water Supply: Filtered formats need a dedicated connection to the cold mains, whereas standard 3-in-1 taps do not.
Getting this right at the planning stage avoids a second visit from an installer later on.
Get the Right Tap for Your Kitchen
Fohen designs and supplies boiling water taps across the full range, from straightforward 3-in-1 models through to the digital 100° format, all built with a solid construction and in a range of finishes, backed by a 2-year warranty. If you're still weighing up which specification suits your kitchen upgrade, our team can talk it through, from tank sizing to finish options and installation requirements, over the phone on 01924 975888, or via our contact form.
Prefer to browse first? The full range is available to shop online, with free UK delivery and 30-day returns as standard.