topic Re: Recommendations on making tea in a coffee brewer in Home

Recommendations on making tea in a coffee brewer

BetsyDoodle — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 03:24:19 GMT

Good idea or should I get a tea brewer? Found one that was recommended, the Breville One Touch tea brewer, but it is $269. Worth it or not?

Re: Recommendations on making tea in a coffee brewer

colliegirls — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 03:26:06 GMT

We brew loose tea for ice tea every day in our Mr Coffee. Just be sure to clean it out well before making coffee so the flavors don't mesh.

Re: Recommendations on making tea in a coffee brewer

Jackielee — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 03:38:03 GMT

I agree-clean it out very, very well or you will have an aftertaste of coffee. Why a tea brewer? I am an avid tea drinker, been for over 40 years and have never felt a need for an appliance like that.

Re: Recommendations on making tea in a coffee brewer

adelle38 — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 03:41:19 GMT

Tea is best when made in a tea pot. I don't see the point of an ""electronic tea brewer"". I definitely wouldn't make tea in a coffee machine.

Re: Recommendations on making tea in a coffee brewer

goodstuff — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 03:44:22 GMT

Are you making iced tea or hot? If making iced tea, I just bring water to a boil in a saucepan, turn off the heat, hang about five tea bags in it, cover and let it steep till cooled, and then remove the tea bags and add the strong, steeped tea mixture to cold water in a pitcher.

If making hot tea, I just use a tea bag (or loose tea is a pierced diffuser0 in an individual cup of heated water (it works fine to heat it in the microwave if you like), or put three tea bags or so in a teapot of hot water to steep before serving. There's no need to use a special pot or brewer.

Re: Recommendations on making tea in a coffee brewer

bluejeansluvr — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 03:48:24 GMT

I bought an ice tea maker a year or two ago and we love it. I use family sized tea bags, and make enough tea for several days. Put it in the refrigerator and then we can pour it as we want it. DH likes a different sweetener in his than I do, and so I leave it unsweetened.

I think I paid about $35 for my iced tea maker. It's still working very well. Wouldn't be without it.

Re: Recommendations on making tea in a coffee brewer

Carmie — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 03:54:31 GMT

My former SIL always makes ice tea in a tea brewer and it's the best ice tea I have ever had.

Edited to add that she uses a Mr. Coffee Ice Tea Brewer....they are very inexpensive.

Re: Recommendations on making tea in a coffee brewer

BetsyDoodle — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 03:56:33 GMT

On 3/14/2015 Jackielee said:
I agree-clean it out very, very well or you will have an aftertaste of coffee. Why a tea brewer? I am an avid tea drinker, been for over 40 years and have never felt a need for an appliance like that.

Jackielee & colliegirls,

I asked this question before on a different forum and was told that this "special tea brewer" knows the correct temperature to brew tea and how long to steep for the correct flavor. Then I had others to say they brew tea in their coffee brewer. My husband and I both enjoy ice tea year round and I would like to make a pitcher/carafe of tea and not individual cups of tea. Just thought that if the Keurig can brew tea and coffee, so can other coffee brewers. Plus the tea brewer is a lot more money than most coffee brewers (including most Keurigs). The Keurig doesn't have the K carafe cups for tea yet, so I would have to make several cups to get a pitcher and then I would have more money in k cups versus loose tea price. So just thought another coffee brewer would be ok. Just wanted second opinions.

Re: Recommendations on making tea in a coffee brewer

BetsyDoodle — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 04:00:26 GMT

On 3/14/2015 GoodStuff said:
Are you making iced tea or hot? If making iced tea, I just bring water to a boil in a saucepan, turn off the heat, hang about five tea bags in it, cover and let it steep till cooled, and then remove the tea bags and add the strong, steeped tea mixture to cold water in a pitcher.

If making hot tea, I just use a tea bag (or loose tea is a pierced diffuser0 in an individual cup of heated water (it works fine to heat it in the microwave if you like), or put three tea bags or so in a teapot of hot water to steep before serving. There's no need to use a special pot or brewer.

I grew up making tea that way but it seems now when I make it that way it doesn't have much flavor no matter how much tea I use or how long it steeps. Have tried all kinds of tea/brands. Just thought brewing it in a machine might be better.

Re: Recommendations on making tea in a coffee brewer

goodstuff — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 04:04:24 GMT

I have to tell you: I'm a Southern iced tea girl, and $269 for a special tea brewer makes me laugh and cry at the same time. I don't know one single Southern iced-tea drinker who has a special pot for tea-brewing! Everybody I know brews tea in an ordinary pot in hot water as described it in #4 and then adds it to a cold water in a pitcher to the desired strength. Keep it simple.

Re: Recommendations on making tea in a coffee brewer

BetsyDoodle — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 04:25:36 GMT

On 3/14/2015 GoodStuff said:
I have to tell you: I'm a Southern iced tea girl, and $269 for a special tea brewer makes me laugh and cry at the same time. I don't know one single Southern iced-tea drinker who has a special pot for tea-brewing! Everybody I know brews tea in an ordinary pot in hot water as described it in #4 and then adds it to a cold water in a pitcher to the desired strength. Keep it simple.

I'm right there with you! I was not going to pay that to have tea! I also had a Mr Coffee(I think) ice tea maker about 10 yrs ago and it was more trouble than it was worth. I like my tea with a strong flavor. Maybe I'm not steeping it long enough or it may be the brand of tea I'm using. I grew up on Lipton, but is Luzianne or another brand better? I grew up on sweet tea, but drink un-sweet now. Maybe because it was sweet it tasted better or more like tea! Thanks for your help GoodStuff.

Re: Recommendations on making tea in a coffee brewer

Desertdi — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 05:34:31 GMT

You can make tea in a percolator.......number of bags depends on the size of the pot. You need to experiment.

Re: Recommendations on making tea in a coffee brewer

Dorothy11 — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 12:23:13 GMT

I would not brew tea in any device that's also used for coffee, the flavor carries over. First, start with quality loose leaf tea. Good online sources are lupiciausa.com, tattletea.com, theculturedcup.com.

A french press works very well for tea brewing. Ikea has one for about $12, or Bodum makes some insulated models. There is also the Teaze Infuser that brews and releases into a cup.

I don's see any reason to invest $250 in an electric tea maker. Invest in some good tea instead!

Re: Recommendations on making tea in a coffee brewer

NickNack — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 12:31:39 GMT

You need to steep tea for the proper flavor. Making it in a coffee pot would not steep it. You would end up with very weak tea. I always make iced tea the way it was mentioned in #4.

Re: Recommendations on making tea in a coffee brewer

colliegirls — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 14:30:13 GMT

No need to "steep" if not using tea bags. We make a pitcher of ice tea every day or two. We use loose tea in our Mr Coffee (if you are worried about the flavor carrying over to the coffee, just get another $20. Mr Coffee). You have total control over the strength, we immediately pour it into another pitcher, add sugar, pour over ice, it makes the best ice tea we have ever tasted.

Re: Recommendations on making tea in a coffee brewer

Vamp — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 14:55:46 GMT

On 3/14/2015 adelle38 said:
Tea is best when made in a tea pot. I don't see the point of an "electronic tea brewer". I definitely wouldn't make tea in a coffee machine.

I agree with you, Adelle. I most certainly wouldn't spend $269 on one, in any case. Just brew a simple pot of tea the old fashioned way. It's easy, inexpensive, and you'll have a wonderful cup of tea.

Re: Recommendations on making tea in a coffee brewer

rac71 — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 15:09:29 GMT

On 3/15/2015 NickNack said:
You need to steep tea for the proper flavor. Making it in a coffee pot would not steep it. You would end up with very weak tea. I always make iced tea the way it was mentioned in #4.

ITA. I wasted money on a Krups tea brewer. The water runs through the tea once, which isn't nearly enough for a true steep time. Yes, properly brewed tea requires different temps, but the only one really impacted is white tea, which is so delicate you often should steep with water that hasn't quite boiled. I use teapots, strainers, and a glass "beaker" with straining top by rishi.

Re: Recommendations on making tea in a coffee brewer

Iwantcoffee — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 15:45:40 GMT

I have tried several different tea brands and I am currently using Red Diamond. I boil water in a saucepan and steep 2 one quart tea bags in one quart water for 6 minutes then add cold water to make 2 quarts ice tea. My husband and I both love this tea. We make a fresh pitcher everyday and sometimes more when it is really hot. I drink tea hot, cold, sweet and unsweetened, herbal. Love me some tea!

Re: Recommendations on making tea in a coffee brewer

BetsyDoodle — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 19:41:15 GMT

Thanks to all for your input!! I think I will invest in some good tea, I think that is #1 in a good glass of tea.

Re: Recommendations on making tea in a coffee brewer

sfnative — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 19:51:33 GMT

On 3/14/2015 Jackielee said:
I agree-clean it out very, very well or you will have an aftertaste of coffee. Why a tea brewer? I am an avid tea drinker, been for over 40 years and have never felt a need for an appliance like that.

I would never, under any circumstance, use a coffee brewer, to make tea, even if one does try the darndest to clean it.

Re the "appliance like that," well, I have a Russell Hobbs, the most popular unit in Great Britain and I would lose my eye teeth before parting with my Russell Hobbs. I've been drinking tea for 63 years and this unit allows me to brew one cup hot tea and up to 2 quarts of iced tea or one quart of hot tea, which can then be poured into ones favorite pot.

In this unit's carafe with infuser, one can place favorite loose tea or bags. Won't go into any more detail. Look it up online if you wish, but it is definitely a winner in my book.