A cooktop assembly includes a cooking panel. A heating element is operably coupled to the cooking panel. The heating element forms a heating zone for said cooktop assembly. A support surface extends over the heating element for supporting a cooking vessel thereon. The support surface includes a heating zone surface in the heating zone, a surrounding surface outside the heating zone, and a surface discontinuity defining a kinesthetic feature providing feedback for demarcating the heating zone relative to the surrounding surface and positioning the cooking vessel relative to the heating zone and, consequently, the heating element.