The Best Iced Tea Maker

On a hot summer day, there is nothing quite like a freshly brewed glass of iced tea. This caffeinated beverage is simple to make with the right tools, and it can be tailored to the tastes and sweetness desired by the maker. Having an iced tea maker handy will allow you to brew up a large batch in a short time so that you can sip on it at your leisure.

The art of brewing tea has been honed by humans for thousands of years. Though methods of steeping tea leaves in water vary slightly, the idea is the same. A simple glass carafe, like the Takeya Flash Chill Iced Tea Maker, is an example of basic brewing methodology at work. There is a metal mesh filter that hangs down into the carafe and holds the tea leaves (or coffee grounds for those looking to make iced coffee). The entire volume of water slowly turns into the nice earthy brown color that you want. This process is similar to steeping a tea bag into a hot cup of water, only it’s done at a larger scale and doesn’t necessarily require heat. If you use hot water or cold, the time it takes to brew can be different, so be sure to find the recipe that suits your needs the best.

If you like the simplicity of the large carafe with a built-in filter, there are some similar products that have features that might be attractive. If you like having tea available but don’t drink it very fast, you could look at finding an iced tea maker that has a sealable lid, like the Ovalware Airtight Cold Brew Coffee & Iced Tea Maker. This option will let you keep the tea fresh for up to two weeks, letting you take your sweet time in finishing it. It doesn’t hurt that this tea maker also looks like a beaker from your high school chemistry class, bringing a touch of modern design to your refrigerator contents.

Some of you might look at these smaller glass carafes and think that they’re not big enough for your needs. If you are making tea for a large group of family or friends, or maybe you just want to have a lot of tea for yourself, there are iced tea makers that focus on brewing a bigger quantity.  For a 2-quart option, the Mr. Coffee Adjustable Brew Strength Iced Tea Maker works a lot like a countertop coffee maker. The pitcher has a built-in top section that holds a filter similar to a coffee filter, but the contents of the filter will be your loose tea leaves. Set this up to brew, and it heats up water before pouring it through the filtered leaves. For those who like to sweeten their tea, add your sugar or sweetener while the tea is still hot for good results. 

Is 2 quarts still not enough tea? Well, you might want to think bigger with an upgraded model that works in a similar fashion to the smaller version. Size isn’t everything though, as these large pitchers also tend to have additional useful features, like a wide, durable handle that lets you confidently lift the heavy pitcher.

Beyond the size of the carafe or pitcher used in these iced tea makers, look for some other features that appeal to you. It’s okay to use the plastic pitchers that come with the larger tea makers, but most of us like to store our tea in a glass container of some sort if we aren’t planning on consuming it right away. If you find yourself in this category, you’ll either want to think about purchasing a separate glass carafe to hold your leftover tea, or maybe purchase a tea maker that comes with that feature right from the start.

Hauling a large quantity of tea is easier to do when your carafe or pitcher has a solid handle that’s wide enough to distribute the weight comfortably in your hand. A large plastic handle on a  glass carafe can give you a comfortable grip, but a slender integrated glass handle might give you the sleek look you want. Figure out what works best for your needs and know that any of these iced tea makers are bound to leave you satisfied with your purchase.

• Iced tea and iced coffee are very similar products and almost identical in their brewing process. If you’re a cold-brewed coffee lover, in addition to being an iced-tea drinker, keep that in mind since this product will serve you well in both cases. If you like your new iced tea maker enough, you might even find yourself adding a second one to your cart so you can have both of these cold brews on hand at all times.
• Cold-brewing tea and hot-brewing tea are going to yield generally similar results, but there are consumers out there who prefer one to the other. If you like cold-brewing your iced tea (which means you let the cold or room-temperature water brew more slowly in a cold setting), focus on products that don’t require heated water. A simple glass carafe with a filter gives you the most control over your final product.
• Think about your storage requirements as well. A product like the Mr. Coffee tea brewing machines will take up a small amount of counter or cabinet space when not in use. This is just something to keep in mind for those who don’t have a lot of free space in their kitchen.