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Kettles waste energy by boiling more water than you need to make a quick cup of tea.

But there now there's an alternative: a device that boils water directly in your cup by using induction - in this case, the production of heat by the proximity of a magnetic body.

The Miito gadget comprises a metal rod, which is placed into a cup of water and an induction plate that is placed underneath it, which when combined, heat liquid quickly and efficiently.

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A new way to put the kettle on! The Miito gadget (pictured) comprises a metal rod, which is placed into a cup of liquid and an induction plate, which is used like a coaster. The base creates an electromagnetic field, which causes the water around the rod to heat up, saving time and energy to make a cup of tea

The base creates an electromagnetic field, which transfers heat to the metal rod and causes the water around it to heat up, saving time and energy to make a cup of tea.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, if everyone boiled only the water they need, they would save enough electricity to power the UK's street lights for two months.

Miito could play a small role in energy conservation in the kitchen and can be used to heat any liquid, such as coffee and milk. 

Efficient: Miito (pictured) could play a small role in energy conservation in the kitchen beacuse unlike a regular kettle, it only heats water that is needed. It can be used to heat any liquid, such as coffee and milk

The device is quieter than a normal kettle and produces less limescale, according to its inventors, Nils Chudy and Jasmina Grase, who are former students of the Design Academy Eindhoven in the Netherlands.

They are looking at ways or producing their futuristic kettles on a mass scale - and hope to sell them for around £80.

Mr Chudy, 23, from Berlin, Germany, said: 'Miito is an innovative product that heats liquids directly in the vessel to be used, therefore eliminating the heating of excess water.'

The duo came up with the idea for the device by noticing that all electric kettle look the same.

'We noticed that there was a major design flaw in the majority of electric kettles out there,' Mr Chudy explained.

'They are extremely wastefully designed - the minimum fill line of the majority of kettles is at approximately 500ml which means that if you want one cup of tea, around 250ml, you waste 50 per cent of the hot water.

Incredible Miito gadget re-imagines the perfect cup of tea

Quiet: The device is quieter than a normal kettle and produces less limescale, according to its inventors, Nils Chudy and Jasmina Grase. Here, the two components - the metallic rod and induction plate - are pictured

'We set out to redesign the electric kettle from the ground up, to change people's habits of overfilling electric kettles in order to save energy.

Miito works with non-metallic vessels of any size, such as cups and teapots. 'It can also heat your soup or milk for a coffee,' Mr Chudy said.

'Once a vessel is placed onto the base and the rod is placed inside, the full induction power turns on and heats the induction plate of the rod.

'The device signals once the liquid has boiled and shifts into standby mode. By placing the rod on the base, the device shuts off.'

The inventors are looking at ways or producing their futuristic kettles on a mass scale - and hope to sell them for around £80. Any non-metallic cup or vessel can be used with the gadget (pictured)