Photo: Mr. Coffee
Few drinks are as refreshing as an iced tea, especially on hot summer days. And as you should know, the best way to get it is to make it by yourself, using an iced tea maker.
This makes investing in a nice iced tea maker a great idea. But, you’ll need to sort through the different offers in the market to arrive at the best choice.
To make things easier for you, this iced tea maker review provides you with a list of the top offers in the market, plus tips and tricks to get the best out of your choice.
In this post:
- 5 Best Iced Tea Makers – Review
- 1. Takeya 11177 – Best Overall Iced Tea Maker
- 2. Mr. Coffee TM1RB – Best Budget Electric Iced Tea Maker
- 3. Mr. Coffee TM70-RB – Large 3-quart Pitcher Iced Tea Maker for Large Families
- 4. Mr. Coffee BVMC-TM33-RB-1 – Iced Tea Maker with Real Glass Pitcher
- 5. Nostalgia C13BK – Most Stylish Electric Iced Tea Maker
- How to Buy the Best Iced Tea Maker
- FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
5 Best Iced Tea Makers – Review
IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. Takeya 11177 (Best Overall) |
| |
 | 2. Mr. Coffee TM1RB (Best Budget Electric) |
| |
 | 3. Mr. Coffee TM70-RB (For Large Families) |
| |
 | 4. Mr. Coffee BVMC-TM33-RB-1 (With Real Glass Pitcher) |
| |
 | 5. Nostalgia C13BK (Most Stylish Electric Design) |
|
PRODUCT |
|---|
1. Takeya 11177 (Best Overall)
|
2. Mr. Coffee TM1RB (Best Budget Electric)
|
3. Mr. Coffee TM70-RB (For Large Families)
|
4. Mr. Coffee BVMC-TM33-RB-1 (With Real Glass Pitcher)
|
5. Nostalgia C13BK (Most Stylish Electric Design)
|
1. Takeya 11177 – Best Overall Iced Tea Maker
Photo: Takeya
- Capacity: 2 quarts
- Operation: Manual
- Weight: 1 pound
- Color: Black, avocado, blueberry, raspberry
The goal of the Takeya Flash Chill iced tea maker is to produce chilled iced tea for you as quickly as possible and in just 5 to 7 minutes.
This is a manual diffuser and it’s made using a BPA-free plastic named Tritan, which Takeya promises to withstand quick temperature changes very well. The lid also fits perfectly into the pitcher, allowing you to lay it on its side without leaking.
Simply fill the fine-mesh infuser with your favorite tea bags, loose-leaf tea, or even coffee, then insert it in the pitcher, fill it halfway with hot water and let it brew. Once it’s done brewing, remove the infuser, top off the pitcher with ice, seal the lid, shake for 30 seconds, and that’s it.
For cons, the pitcher is plastic and might be too tall for some fridges. So, take measurements to make sure your fridge can handle the nearly 13-inch length. This offer is for the 2-quart tea maker, and it makes up to 8 glasses of iced tea.
It’s also available in a 1-quart size and in different colors, including black, avocado, blueberry, and raspberry.
Pros:
- High-quality tea maker for up to 2 quarts in minutes
- Made using BPA-free materials
- Fine mesh infuser allows bagged and loose-leaf tea
- Features Takeya’s Flash Chill technology
- Entirely dishwasher safe parts
Cons:
- The pitcher is plastic
- It could be too tall for some fridges
2. Mr. Coffee TM1RB – Best Budget Electric Iced Tea Maker
Photo: Mr. Coffee
- Capacity: 2 quarts
- Operation: Electric
- Weight: 2 pounds
- Color: Blue
If you’re looking for the best electric iced tea maker, then take a closer look at this offer from Mr. Coffee. It comes with all the basic features you can need in an iced tea maker and it’s also offered at a very attractive price.
Being cheaper than the Takeya diffuser above is not enough. It also features an auto shut-off, a programmed cleaning cycle, a removable brewing basket, and Mr. Coffee backs it with a 1-year warranty.
You can also brew both tea and coffee with it and that includes bagged tea and loose-leaf teas as well. This package even includes recipes to help you create drinks with amazing flavors.
One downside of this iced tea maker is its lack of style because it looks neither cool nor trendy. The pitcher and the reservoir both look very simple and plastic. But when you consider its price, then there’s nothing to complain about here.
Pros:
- Quality electric iced tea maker at a great price
- Shuts off automatically after its complete cycle
- Accepts tea bags, loose-leaf tea, and coffee
- Backed by a 1-year manufacturer warranty
Cons:
- It’s not very visually attractive
- The pitcher is plastic
3. Mr. Coffee TM70-RB – Large 3-quart Pitcher Iced Tea Maker for Large Families
Photo: Mr. Coffee
- Capacity: 3 quarts
- Operation: Electric
- Weight: 4 pounds
- Color: Blue
For those with large families or who just can’t get enough satisfaction from iced tea, this Mr. Coffee iced tea maker offers you up to 3 quarts of the good stuff in one pitcher.
The electric system includes a brew strength selector and is available in either Blue or in Teal. The reservoir includes an auto shut-off function and a programmed cleaning cycle.
You should note that some people may find three quarts a bit too much. And the pitcher is made from BPA-free plastic that looks a little cheap. Other offers like the Mr. Coffee TM1RB are also cheaper than this one.
On the brighter side, the pitcher is dishwasher safe and Mr. Coffee backs up the entire offer with a 1-year warranty to put your mind at ease.
Pros:
- 3-quart capacity makes up to 12 glasses
- Brews tea bags, loose tea, and coffee
- Auto shut-off and cleaning cycle features
- Comes with a removable brew basket
- Backed by a 1-year limited warranty
Cons:
- The plastic pitcher looks cheap
- You can get cheaper iced tea makers
4. Mr. Coffee BVMC-TM33-RB-1 – Iced Tea Maker with Real Glass Pitcher
Photo: Mr. Coffee
- Capacity: 2.5 quarts
- Operation: Electric
- Weight: 5 pounds
- Color: Black
Mr. Coffee also has something for those who love the classic look of iced tea in a glass pitcher. This offer comes with a 2.5-quart glass pitcher and a tight-fitting lid that doesn’t drip.
The first thing you’ll notice about this machine is its stylish design and nice curves, which combine with the glass pitcher to give it a classy and expensive look.
Asides from looks, you also get many features like a permanent filter basket, ability to brew both bagged and loose-leaf tea, a brew strength selector, auto shut-off, and a window in the water reservoir.
All these features combine to make this Mr. Coffee offer one of the best iced-tea makers out there and although it costs more than the other devices in this review, it seems worth its price.
Pros:
- Brews both bagged and loose-leaf tea
- Comes with a large 2.5-quart real glass pitcher
- Features a brewing strength selector
- Stylish and lovely design
- Backed by a 1-year warranty
Cons:
- The glass pitcher is breakable
- Its permanent filter might not support coffee
5. Nostalgia C13BK – Most Stylish Electric Iced Tea Maker
Photo: Nostalgia
- Capacity: 3 quarts
- Operation: Electric
- Weight: 3.6 pounds
- Color: Black
How about combining efficiency, helpful features, and style? That’s what this Nostalgia C13BK iced tea maker offers, including its large 3-quart pitcher that’s made of glass.
The pitcher is very beautifully shaped and additionally includes a uniquely shaped handle to make serving your iced tea a delight every time. This stylish addition sets it apart from the rest visually.
More of its impressive features include a brew strength selector, a reusable filter basket that makes it able to brew bagged tea, loose-leaf tea, and coffee.
It also features a three-position lid that makes it one of the best iced-tea makers and allows either for free pouring, pouring with ice, or simply closed. Nostalgia backs it with a 1-year limited warranty.
Pros:
- Looks very nice and trendy
- Brews tea bags, loose-leaves, and coffee
- Features a 3-position lid for your convenience
- The pitcher is completely made of glass
- Backed by a 1-year warranty
Cons:
- It’s costlier than most others
- Glass will break if it falls
How to Buy the Best Iced Tea Maker
Photo: Takeya
Iced tea makers make your life easier by simplifying the iced tea making process for you, but they all do it slightly differently from one another.
It’s important, therefore, to understand the different features of an iced tea maker that are important because this will help you to make a more informed decision when choosing a tea maker. These major features are as follows:
1. Electric or Manual Iced Tea Maker
You’ll find both electric and manual iced tea makers in the market, and you’ll need to decide between the two based on your needs. Their major difference is that electric iced tea makers boil the hot water for you, making the process a little more automated.
Manual infusers, however, need you to heat the water separately or even to use cold water, depending on what you’re making.
Additionally, manual infusers are more versatile because you can use them to brew lots of other drinks. Electric iced tea makers are not always capable of this, so you need to consider whether you need a brewer that produces more than just tea, or not.
2. Capacity
Different manufacturers design their iced tea makers with different features and this includes the pitcher’s capacity. You’ll find pitchers in different sizes from 1 to 3 quarts, and it’s left for you to choose.
Your choice of the pitcher’s size will depend on the number of people who you plan to serve. You can expect a 1-quart pitcher to produce up to 4 servings and a 2-quart pitcher to make up to 8 servings.
3. Ease of Use
A great iced tea maker has to combine good features with an easy-to-use brewing system. It’s of no use, for example, to have an electric iced tea maker with lots of features and button controls, but which is too complicated to use.
You should check, therefore, to make sure that any iced tea maker that you’re interested in, is at least, relatively easy to use or will not present much usability issues.
4. Dishwasher Safe
Different iced tea makers have different designs and parts, and this means that you’ll have to check individually to find out which parts of any particular iced tea maker are dishwasher safe.
For most offers, you’ll have just the brew basket or pitcher being dishwasher safe, and meaning you’ll have to wash the other parts by hand. This always depends on the particular product and design though.
5. Price
You’ll find all kinds of iced tea makers out there and in different price ranges, starting from simple and affordable manual strainers for about $20 to high-end electric models that go for a few hundred dollars.
The solution here is to know how much you are willing to spend and then only check out offers that fall within that budget range. This way, you can always get the best bang for your money.
6. Additional Features
Manual diffusers are usually simple and won’t come with many extras but electric iced tea makers often come with one or more extra features that you might find helpful.
Some of these extra features that you’ll find in the best iced-tea makers include adjustable brewing strength, automatic shut-off, timer and other types of programmable controls.
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
You may find yourself asking certain questions about your iced tea maker, especially if you are a new user. For such a situation, the following are the most often asked questions and they should hopefully be of help.
Q: Can I make Coffee in My Iced Tea Maker?
Ans: Yes, you can make coffee in most iced tea makers. Simply follow the same steps for making iced tea but switch the tea for drip grind coffee. About 4 to 6 tablespoons will do for 1 quart of iced coffee.
Q: How Many Tea Bags do I use in an Iced Tea Maker?
Ans: This is not an exact science but you can use about 2-4 tea bags to make a quart of iced tea or about 1-2 tablespoons of loose-leaf tea. You can also check your iced tea maker’s manufacturer recommendations for more info.
Q: How Do I clean my Iced Tea Maker?
Ans: Cleaning an iced tea maker is as simple as cleaning a coffee maker. Just use warm soapy water to wash the lid, the pitcher, and other exterior parts. Avoid the heating unit if your tea maker has one.
Q: Why does my Tea look Cloudy?
Ans: This usually happens when you chill your brewed tea too quickly. You should always let the tea cool down to room temperature before placing it in the refrigerator. Another reason for cloudiness is when you brew the tea using hard water.
Conclusion
We’ve come to the end of this iced tea maker review, and you’ve hopefully seen the top offers out there, and hopefully picked up some helpful tips to make delicious iced tea.
For an overall best iced tea maker without electricity, the Takeya 11177 is your best bet.
If you’ve got plenty of mouths to serve, however, then consider the Mr. Coffee Iced Tea Maker with its 3-quart pitcher.