Are you a heavy tea drinker? If yes, an iced tea maker is an important kitchen tool that you need to keep in your kitchen.
Nowadays, various teas are available apart from black tea and green tea. You can custom make tea by adding some fruits. For this, you need a pitcher that can hold the ice and tea easily.
However, you need to keep in mind what form of tea you use like loose leaves or tea bags. Make sure to remove the tags or thread of the tea bags before putting them in the filter.
Electricity iced tea makers brew iced tea faster than manual ones. It can be hard to find the best-iced tea maker but looking at their wide functions is necessary before choosing the final one.
Best Pick
The Mr. Coffee Iced Tea Maker is our best pick on our list for its huge capacity of brewing tea. The iced tea maker has a very small dimension that can easily be placed on your kitchen counter.
Not to mention the easy process of operating the tea maker makes the tea brewing easier. The flavor of the tea will remain intact for the leak-proof lid given on the pitcher.
Budget Pick
The Ovalware Cold Brew Iced Tea Maker is on our best budget pick because the carafe is made of glass and can be used to serve other drinks apart from iced tea.
The pitcher has labeled for each cup of water, how much water will be necessary. Also, the fine construction of the filter serves you a cup of tea without any tiny tea grounds.
Iced Tea Makers - Top Pick
1. Mr. Coffee Iced Tea Maker
Highlighted Features
Mr. Coffee Iced Tea Maker is an electric tea maker that comes with two parts, one is the main unit and the other is the water reservoir. The dimension is 11x7x15 inches and the pitcher can hold more than 1.5 liters of tea. You can use tea bags, coffee grounds, or loose tea leaves on this maker.
We like the function of this tea maker is that it automatically turns after he has finished running the cycle to brew tea. For this, you don't have to worry about the intensity of brewed tea. However, you cannot control the strength of the tea as it has only a start button. You need to add water according to the tea bags you place to get the required strength.
Moreover, it does have a permanent filter to put the loose tea bags. You need to recurrently change the paper filter if you use coffee grounds or loose tea leaves. The plastic pitcher can be kept in the freezer to keep the brewed tea cool for longer.
The pitcher has a wide handle that gives a comfortable grip while moving with the tea. Make sure to not use it for making or pouring hot tea in it as the pitcher is made of plastic.
The removable pitcher can be easily cleaned by hand. The electric unit has a self-cleaning function which cleans itself after every use.
2. Ovalware Cold Brew Iced Tea Maker
Highlighted Features
In our busy lives, we want food that can be cooked swiftly or refreshing tea that can be brewed quickly. The tea infuser from Ovalware lets you brew the tea overnight so that you can enjoy the refreshing iced tea in the morning. It is a manual tea maker that comes as a large glass carafe.
The unique thing about this tea maker is that it has a long stainless steel filter that keeps the tea leaves separated from the tea. On the carafe, you put loose tea or tea bags and the laser cut filter will keep the floating grounds to themselves. Due to the reusable filter, it is easy to clean the pitcher and throw away the tea bags of loose leaves without a mess. The carafe is safe to put in the dishwasher.
However, this is a manual tea maker so it takes time to extract the flavor from the tea. Whether it is black tea or any herbal tea, immerse the leaves for 5 to 6 hours to get the best flavor. Also, you cannot control the strength of the tea so the strength depends on the quantity of water and tea leaves you put in to brew the tea.
You can place the carafe in the freezer as it is borosilicate glass. The airtight seal is made of BPA-free silicone to keep the flavors intact. The seal also helps to prevent spilling while moving with the carafe.
3. Mr. Coffee Iced Tea and Coffee Maker
Highlighted Features
Summer days are famous for iced drinks and this maker will brew large quantities of tea in a small amount of time. It is an electric tea maker with the function of setting the strength of the tea. A start button is given at the side to start the brew of the coffee.
The unique thing about this tea maker is that you can accommodate ice as well as water in the pitcher. As a result, the tea will stay cold longer and you can serve a larger group of people easily. Also, it has self-cleaning features that clean itself.
The most important thing for the tea makers is the brew basket. Not all brew makers have reusable brew baskets as a result you need to use brew paper over time you want to drink iced tea. This has a removable brew basket that can be taken out and cleaned and put back in the maker for further use.
4. Takeya Iced Tea Maker
Highlighted Features
The Takeya iced tea maker is one of our favorites because it brews ice tea in 30 seconds. It is constructed using a special chilling technology called Flash Chill Technology which brews refreshing tea without keeping you waiting. The lid has a seal that keeps the flavors intact and prevents spilling.
The best part of the tea maker is the infuser. It is designed with fine mesh so that the loose leaves do not get mixed with the brewed tea. The infuser is long enough to reach the bottom of the infuser. So if you want to make tea for 2, you can do it without wasting the ingredients.
In addition, the ice tea maker is easy to disassemble so that you can put it in the dishwasher. It is made of food-grade plastic that can bear hot and cold temperatures without emitting any chemicals.
However, the problem with the long tea infuser is that you cannot put the tea bags in it if it has string or tags. If you use tea bags, you need to tear the bag and place the tea leaves of the bag in the infuser.
5. Brentwood Iced Tea and Coffee Maker
Highlighted Features
Brentwood designed their tea maker that can be flexible to use as a tea brewer and tea server. It comes in two parts, one is the machine and the other is the pitcher. The machine has one start button to brew the tea.
The feature we like about this tea maker is that it has dual buttons to select the strength of the tea. Brewing the tea with perfect strength is hard manually. With this tea maker, you can maneuver your tea into 7 strengths.
The pitcher is made of plastic which gives the view of the brewed tea. However, it does not have an airtight lid. As a result, the flavor of the tea will not last long after brewing. There is a possibility of spilling the tea through the spout. So you need to be careful while moving with the pitcher.
The filter basket is easy to clean and allows you to use loose leaves or tea bags. The water reservoir has marked up to which you can fill water so you don't overflow the pitcher. There is no button for the auto clean up so you need to manually clean the tea maker with a cloth.
6. Mr. Coffee 2-in-1 Iced Tea Brewing System
Highlighted Features
If you are looking for a fast brewing tea maker then the tea maker from Mr, Coffee will be helpful. The thing to notice about this is that it brews 2.5 quarts of tea in a few minutes. The cord length is 24 to 26 inches to reduce the use of a multi-plug for connection.
This water reservoir and machine come in black color with a glossy coating. To prepare the tea, the water is filtered at forts to reduce the chlorine content. With the start button, the brewing of tea starts. There is an LED attached which glows until the brewing process is finished. Not to mention, it has the option to set the brewing strength.
Moving to the pitcher which is made of glass has an appealing look. The lid is black and leak-proof. The carafe is safe for the dishwasher and you can keep it in the refrigerator overnight to keep the tea cool. The filter basket is suitable for using loose tea leaves or tea bags.
7. Primula Iced Tea Maker
Highlighted Features
This tea maker is called the Primula “The Big” because it has a large holding capacity. This pitcher can 1 gallon that is 4 ounces of tea. It is a manual tea maker so it will take time to brew the tea. The pitcher comes with a red lid, red silicone handle, and a red filter mesh.
According to your desired strength, you need to put some tea leaves in the infuser. The infuser is long that reaches the very bottom of the pitcher. The infuser is reusable and it has a holder to take it away without any mess.
Moreover, the lid is leakproof and you lock it with the knob given on the lid. The spout is well designed to pour the tea dripping everywhere. You can serve the tea on the tea maker with or without the infuser. Adding slices of fruits gives an appetizing look as the pitcher is transparent.
You can prepare cold coffee in it as well. You don't have to worry about cleaning as it can be washed in the dishwasher. However, to enjoy tea on this tea maker, you need to wait 4 to 5 hours so that flavors are extracted from the tea.
8. Capresso Ice Tea Maker
Highlighted Features
This iced tea maker from Capresso is compactly designed which will easily blend with the environment. The water reservoir is fully transparent which allows you to check the water to prevent overflowing. The reservoir sits at the back of the silver shiny machine.
This electric iced tea maker brews tea within minutes so that you do not have to wait for it. The start button is present but it has no self-cleaning button. The brewer setting button is present at the machine. So you need to take out the reservoir and clean it separately with your hands.
The glass carafe has a unique dimension compared to others. Usually, the mouth of the pitcher becomes narrow as it goes up but this pitcher has a wide opening. You can add ice as easily without spilling. The removable basket and the pitcher are safe to clean in the dishwasher.
9. Mr. Coffee Iced Tea & Iced Coffee Maker
Highlighted Features
Mr. Coffee Iced Tea Maker comes in black color with a transparent carafe. The electric iced tea maker has touch buttons to start the operation. The start button is visible at the bottom. The water reservoir cleans itself with the self cleaning function, this function is programmed during the constriction so that you don't have to open the machine for cleaning.
On the other hand, the carafe is recommended by the brand to hand wash it. It has a big lid that comes halfway to the carafe. This lid of the carafe is unique as it protects the flavor of the tea. The brewing basket or the steeping basket is present.
You just need to remove it after use to clean. The basket can be cleaned in the dishwasher as well. This tea maker brews 2 quarts of tea within minutes which you can enjoy by adding some ice in it.
10. Hamilton Beach Iced Tea Maker
Highlighted Features
The iced tea maker from Hamilton Beach has a unique design. The reservoir and the pitcher both are in an oval shape. The reservoir comes in white color and a silver button to start the process is given. An LED is added to alert you to the end of brewing tea.
Now the pitcher has a light blue color which will not give the actual view of the tea. The oval shape is advantageous as it can be easily fitted in the refrigerator. However, it can only be washed by hand. The permanent is added with the tea maker. Adding the loose tea leaves or the tea bags brews the refreshing tea in 10 minutes.
11. Brew To A Tea Iced Tea Maker
Highlighted Features
If you are looking for something that is different from the common iced tea maker, this one can be a good option. First of all, the design of the pitcher is a giant mason jar. It has a section where you can attach a tap to pour the tea. Not only tea, but you can also serve any kind of beverage in it.
The fine filter is custom made with 18/8 Superfine stainless steel. So if the filer gets broken, it can be hard to find a new one. It can be washed in the dishwasher but the giant mason needs to be hand washed. This iced tea maker is suitable for buffet dinner or lunch. Moreover, it can take up a large space in your refrigerator.
12. SUNVIVI outdoor Iced Tea Maker
Highlighted Features
Lastly, we have the SUNVIVI Outdoor iced tea maker which has a compact design. From the name, you can say that it can be used outdoors. The tea maker has every feature that other tea makers have. But it has an infusion tube which makes it different from others.
The carafe is made of glass and a plastic infuser is added to the lid. Those who love to add fruits like lemons, oranges, berries, etc in their tea, can place them in the tube. The tube keeps the elements apart and eases the cleaning process. It also had wide opening sections to extract the juice and flavor of the fruits.
For cleaning, the tube can be washed in the dishwasher as well as the glass carafe. The tea maker has an auto cleaning function so you can enjoy the tea without hassle.
Things To Consider Before Buying An Iced Tea Maker
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Adding the required amount of water for perfect tea can be hard. The tea makers are helpful in these situations as they provide strength control features. Using an electric tea maker will eliminate the risk of drinking bitter tea but manual tea makers do not have this function. Both types can be hard to clean unless you brew coffee in them.
Tea brewer type
To brew the tea you can use a manual or electric iced tea brewer. Both the options are available in the market but they have dissimilar functions that make them different.
The electric iced tea maker has a water reservoir from where water is taken to brew the iced tea. They have buttons to start from and to adjust the strength of the tea. Auto shut off feature is present so you don't have to wait in front of the tea maker to shut it after making tea.
On the other hand, the manual tea iced maker has no options to set the strength of the tea. It takes a few hours to brew the perfect flavored tea. Moreover, if you keep the tea leaves in the water for too long, the liquor of the tea will get strong. So you need to keep an eye on the tea maker all the time.
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The capacity of the pitcher
During summer, people crave cold or frozen drinks. The electric iced tea maker prepares tea in a few minutes whereas manual ones take quite a time. Those who are cafe owners, looking for iced tea makers, need to choose the one that can hold a large amount of tea.
The pitchers we mentioned are mostly above 1 liter. Usually, the consumption of tea is less at home than in the office or restaurants. Moreover, using the right amount of water is essential which can be hard if you are brewing tea for 2 or 3 cups. Keep the ratio of water and tea in mind so that your tea does not taste bitter or bland.
Design of the pitcher
The pitcher for brewing tea comes in a different shape. Some are more circular where others are cylindrical shaped. The wider the mouth of the pither the easier the process of adding ice. Ice is an essential part of ice tea and it keeps the ice cool for longer.
Moreover, the manual ice tea maker which consists of only pitchers is required to keep in the freezer to cool the tea. The cylindrical pitchers take less shape in the refrigerator and also you can keep them on the door as well. The circular pictures take a lot of space and can be hard to accommodate in the freezer with other things.
Leakproof and airtight
During rush hours in restaurants, slipping of liquid is common which makes the floor slippery. Accidents can happen due to slipperiness and for that, the lid of the pitcher needs to leakage proof. Some brands have added a knob to lock the lid of the pitcher. Not all pitchers have lid proof locks which are why you need to look out for the lid.
The tea is all about flavors. Black tea and coffee have a strong flavor that does not go away with time. Tea that has a floral flavor like chamomile tea, lavender tea, etc has a light aroma. The absence of airtight lids will disperse the flavor in no time and you will get to enjoy the tea.
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Material of the pitcher
The marketplace is filled with plastic and glass pitchers. The plastic carafe is safe from shattering into tiny pieces but it can get a scratch mark if it falls from hand. In the case of a glass carafe, there is no doubt that it will not break into pieces.
If you have a family full of kids, you might want to avoid the glass pitcher. The plastic pitcher is easy to handle and the transparent view of the elements of the tea makes it look fascinating.
Cleaning the iced tea maker
The electric iced tea maker has a self-cleaning function to clean the machine and water reservoir. So you don't have to worry about cleaning the interior. The brands mention whether their carafe is safe to clean in the dishwasher. In most cases, both glass and plastic carafes are safe for the dishwasher.
Infuser and brew basket
The infuser comes with a manual iced tea maker. It is a long basket with fine mesh to keep the tea leaves away from the brewed tea. It takes time to brew the tea with the infuser. Loose leaves or tea bags can be put in the infuser. Just make sure to cut the strings that come with the tea bags.
The electric iced tea maker has reusable brew baskets. They are easy to take out and can be cleaned with hands or in the dishwasher. The brew baskets are made of stainless steel to prevent rust. However, few electric tea makers do not come with reusable brew baskets. For those, you need to use the paper filter and you need to change it after every use.
Anti-slipping handle
A comfortable handle with a strong grip is necessary to hold the pitcher stable. The glass carafe handle is made of glass which can be slippery if you are walking and running continuously to serve the tea to the customers. The glass handle can be hard to pick for children and old people.
However, the plastic carafes have handles made of silicone. The color of the handle matches the lid of the carafe. The silicone prevents slipping if you have wet hands.
FAQ
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Can I use an iced tea pitcher for hot tea?
Yes, you can use the pitcher for pouring hot tea but make sure the pitcher is made of food-grade elements.
Can I keep my iced tea overnight to drink on the next day?
The iced tea stays good for 8 to 10 hours. Prepare the tea within this period to get the best flavor.
Is there a difference between iced tea and cold-brewed tea?
Yes, there is a difference between iced tea and cold-brewed tea. Cold-brewed tea takes a longer time as it is made with water at room temperature. For iced brewed tea, hot water is used to extract the liquor and then let it sit for a few hours.
Can I use my iced tea maker to make iced coffee?
Yes, you can use a tea maker to brew iced coffee. Instead of tea leaves, put coffee grounds which will mix with the water without giving any remnants.
Conclusion
Are you not satisfied with your current tea maker? If you are using a manual tea maker, we suggest you try an electric one as it brews fast and gives the desired intensity of the tea. But it will be hard to maintain if you have toddlers running around your house.
The strainer or the infuser is the most important thing as it is where we put the tea leaves. If your tea has tea grounds settled at the bottom, you need to think about changing the infuser.
Due to the immersion of the infuser, it gets the color of the tea liquor. We have added all the specifications of the tea maker to help you choose the best iced tea maker for your home.
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