There are several things to think about when choosing taps for your kitchen sink – with the main two factors being style and usability.
Think about the size and shape of your taps, and whether you would like one for hot water and one for cold, or a combination tap.
Apart from the basic style considerations, there are also loads of fancy taps on the market with extra functionality – from hot water taps to with built-in drinking water filters – so have a look through our round-up of the best designs before going shopping.
Pure delivery
While filter taps and boiling water taps make life easy in the kitchen, there are also taps that deliver a little extra sparkle. The Blue Chilled and Sparkling Mono system by Grohe has a high-performance water filter, cooler and carbonator simply move the lever to enjoy filtered, chilled and sparkling water. The starter kit includes a single-lever mixer, water filter with filter head, cooler and carbonator box.
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Tap
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Double duty
Here, a low-level, single-lever mixer tap serves two functions. It can be used with regular water flow or as a handheld spray head – handy for washing veg and cleaning the sink. Made in solid stainless steel, its flexible hose extends to 105cm, making it a stylish yet practical kitchen solution.
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Smart water
The high-specification Blancoculina-S Duo makes a striking addition to a modern kitchen scheme. The water control is cleverly positioned away from the main body of the tap and fitted with a separate control. The tall body allows the spout to swivel by 360, making it ideal to fill pots or tall containers, and the flexible, detachable hose can extend downwards to eliminate splashing.
Tap
Blanco
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High water
Boasting a modern aesthetic with a nod to industrial style, the Casper Quad single level tap makes a strong design statement. Styled with a U-spout and operated via lever action, it stands 370mm, tall and is finished in brushed stainless steel.
Tap
Caple
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Slim fitting
For compact sink areas, the Blanco Alta-S Compact tap, shown here in white and chrome, shows that small can still mean mighty. This slim tap has a modern yet timeless aesthetic, and benefits from a high-quality swivel and pull-out spray attachment.
Tap
Blanco
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So hot right now
Once considered a luxury, the boiling water tap is now regarded by many as an essential piece of kitchen kit. It uses less energy than a kettle, as it only heats the water needed, and is a great time saver. Zips Sparkling HydroTap provides filtered, boiling and chilled water, as well as sparkling water. It has a long-reach 120˚ swivel spout, a childproof locking system and is well worth the investment.
Boiling water tap
Zip
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Go with the flow
With this Grohe Red tap, a kettle is no longer needed, as it has a single boiler that reheats stored water when it drops below a set temperature. Although youll free up a little worktop space, it does mean losing cupboard space but with the average tank measuring around H30 x W20cm, most schemes can accommodate this.
Boiling water tap
Grohe
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Pure and simple
If you drink a lot of bottled water, consider a filter tap, which delivers the natural taste of fresh drinking water without the plastic waste. With the Astracast Springflow Colonial monobloc quarter-turn tap, you can transform your normal mains supply into fresh, natural filtered water at the touch of a handle.
Filtered water tap
Astracast
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Turn on the style
Frankes Minerva range of boiling-water taps comprises four designs in chrome or stainless steel, so theres something to suit every scheme. And at just H15 x W45cm, the slim horizontal water tank slides in neatly behind the cabinet plinth, leaving your kitchen cupboards free for storage.
Boiling-water tap
Franke
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Triple action
On average, at less than 1.5p per litre, filtered water is significantly cheaper than bottled water. Ideal for a classic scheme, this Perrin & Rowe Etruscan 1420 filtration tap in pewter offers standard single-lever operation for hot and cold water and a central lever for cold, filtered water.
Filtration tap
Perrin & Rowe
