Best Tea Makers: For That Perfect Cup, Every Time

Why Trust This Guide

Daily tea drinkers, I'm one of you. Southern sweet tea drinkers, I grew up with you. Loose-leaf aficionados, we're birds of a feather.

I'm a daily tea drinker, a kombucha brewer, a loose-leaf lover, and that friend who never lets anyone leave her home without serving them a cup of tea. Tea is my lifeblood and a daily ritual. I've spent years indulging in over-priced loose-leaf teas and sampling hundreds, if not thousands of teas and ways to brew them. 

Who This Guide is For

This guide is for anyone who enjoys tea and wants more ways to enjoy it.

If you love iced tea and want a simple way to brew, we have you covered. Interested in concocting fancy tea experiments? We've got you, too. Are you looking for a precise kettle for delicate teas? We've got that also.

We tried to include everything; from fancy, high-end brewing machines down to simple teapots for every kind of tea drinker. 

How We Picked

Our curated selection of tea makers came together with several key factors in mind: we wanted to have a variety in price point, use, and purpose.

This guide should have several options for households large and small, budgets of all kinds, and tea drinkers of all varieties.

Our team at Gear Hungry looked at the scope of products available, read hundreds of reviews, and tested a few products ourselves to ensure our selection would hit the mark and serve a diverse range of tea enthusiasts. 

How I Tested Products

Well, the best way to test tea makers is to make lots and lots of tea!

I personally tested out a few of the tea makers in this lineup. I switched over from my usual routine of heating a kettle on a stove to trying out new products and methods for my morning cup. I brewed every tea type from black to oolong to green and even brewed a few things like chai lattes. Hot tea, iced tea, tea for kombucha, it's all been brewed to ensure that I deliver comprehensive information so you can make an informed purchase.

I even enlisted roommates, friends, and partners for what might have been an annoying number of taste tests to gather outside opinions. The result is this guide to the best tea makers.

Features to Look for in Tea Makers

Price – We all know that money talks. Your budget will likely determine what kind of tea maker you can afford. Whether you have $20 or $300 to drop on a new tea maker, there is a quality option for you. Tea is to be enjoyed by all, regardless of budget. 

Preset Programs – Many electric tea makers have various preset programs. These programs vary from heating water to a particular temperature that’s ideal for various tea types to preparing preprogrammed recipes.

Presets simplify the brewing process. And if you want to be able to roll out of bed, hit a button, and have your favorite drink ready to go, then a device with presets will be an excellent option for you.  

Size – When considering a tea maker's size, you will want to first think about storage. It would help if you considered how much counter or cabinet space you have to accommodate your tea maker. If you are low on space in an already busy or smaller kitchen, a smaller tea maker may be in the cards for you.

Secondly, the size of a teamaker often correlates to the amount of tea it serves. If you are a single-person household, you will likely err for a maker on the smaller side. If you have multiple tea drinkers in your home and counter space to spare, a tea maker requiring some real estate will more likely suit your needs.  

Capacity – When looking for capacity in a teamaker, you should consider how many people your teamaker needs to serve. If you are a one-person household, a smaller teamaker will serve you well. However, larger families with multiple tea drinkers should opt for something larger. 

Ease of Cleaning – No one wants to spend endless amounts of time cleaning, especially if you usually brew your tea in the morning before work. Easy cleaning may not appear to be a first-priority feature, but once you have your device, you'll be overjoyed that you considered it ahead of time.

A device that is easy to take apart and wash makes a world of difference in your morning routine and will likely lead to you using your tea maker more. 

Multiple Functions – Multi-functional products will be crucial for those who enjoy a variety of tea drinks. Some products on our list are simple, have singular functions, and are easy to use. Other models have a wide range of capabilities for those who want variety in their tea options or for households with tea-enthusiast of differing tastes. 

Material – The material of a tea maker usually stems from its purpose and use. Most products on our list incorporate borosilicate glass which is heat-resistant and stainless steel. However, BPA-free plastic also makes an appearance from time to time.

Regardless of the material,  it must be heat-resistant and durable for safe and extensive use. 

Tea Types – What kind of tea do you drink most often? Are you a loose-leaf tea drinker, or do you prefer teabags? Hot or iced?

You’ll want to consider products and capabilities according to the types and styles of tea you prefer. There should be a little something for everyone on our list, whether you are an oolong aficionado, a loose-leaf lover, or a green tea machine. 

Automatic Shut-Off – If you purchase an electric or electronic tea maker, it will likely have an automatic shut-off feature. This feature is critical for safety and, in our opinion, is a must-have for any powered brewing device. 

Types of Tea Makers

Electric Tea Makers - Electric tea makers brew tea quickly by heating water using electricity to precise temperatures. These tea makers work independently of a stove or other appliance.

Many electric kettles allow you to brew water to a specific and perfect temperature for your selected tea type. For the best flavor, the water you steep with should not be quite boiling. Boiling water can scorch tea leaves and leave you with bitter, weaker flavors, especially with white and green teas. Electric kettles fix this issue by allowing you to brew to the perfect temperature for any tea.  

Teapot - A teapot is arguably the most traditional way to brew your tea and has been around for centuries. Some teapots are durable enough to heat on the stove, whereas others may shatter if placed over direct heat.

This easy pour method looks excellent on the table, is classic but lacks the precision available in other options. 

Tea Infuser Mugs and Bottles - Tea infuser mugs and bottles often lack precision but make up for this in portability, ease of use, and storability. These products are great for those on-the-go who always have somewhere to be and want their tea with them! 

Q: How does a tea maker work?

A: Each tea maker in our list functions a little differently. However, a tea maker's primary purpose is to brew tea, which involves water and tea leaves. Some devices on our list act as electric kettles, which heat water, while others use creative brewing methods to produce unique products.  

Q: Steel vs. plastic tea maker?

A: In general, a steel tea maker is likely to last you longer than a plastic one. However, this depends on how your tea maker works.

Some devices act solely to hold your hot water and tea leaves and are not to be heated up directly.

Other tea makers should have steel, borosilicate, or tempered plastic construction to conduct heat when heating your water properly. In general, the material of your tea maker will pair with its primary purpose. 

Q: How do you clean a tea maker?

A: Cleaning a tea maker depends on the model. We suggest you refer to the manufacturer's care recommendations when cleaning your device. Some models may have dishwasher-safe parts, and others may be hand-wash only.

When cleaning, be sure to separate all parts of the product for cleaning as little tea leaves and debris can make their way into all sorts of nooks and crannies. 

Q: What measurement of tea should I use in a tea maker?

A: When brewing loose-leaf tea, you will want approximately 2 teaspoons of tea leaves per 1 cup of tea. You can adjust this amount based on how strong you want your cup to be.

When brewing multiple cups of tea, multiply this number times the amount of tea you want to brew.

For stronger teas, add more tea leaves. For weaker teas, lessen the amount of tea used. 

Q: How many tea bags do you use in a tea maker?

A: The number of tea bags to use when brewing tea depends on how much you plan to brew. A good rule of thumb is one teabag for each serving or per 1 cup of tea.

Not all tea makers use teabags; others may use pods or loose tea leaves. 

Can you make tea in a coffee maker?

In theory, yes, you can make tea in a coffee maker. However, I don't recommend it. If your coffee maker has been in use, there will be coffee residue throughout the device. This residue will add a coffee taste to your tea when brewing, which will detract from your tea's flavor.

Many coffee makers also overheat the water, which can burn delicate tea leaves. 

Q: Can you brew tea in cold water?

A: Yes, you can brew tea in cold water. However, cold brewing tea takes much longer and usually does not open the leaves enough to give the tea a strong flavor.

For the best flavor in your iced tea, I recommend brewing a small batch of tea instead and letting it over-steep, then adding cold water. 

Q: How do you know when tea is done?

A: Every tea has different steeping times. Some tea makers may alert you when your tea is ready. For others, you may need to set a timer or watch the clock.

My personal rule is to go by taste. As you drink more tea, you will learn what you like and how long your favorite drinks need to steep. I prefer my tea slightly over-steeped and don't mind the slight bitterness this brings.

Others seek a light flavor, and under steeped may be the perfect match. 

Sources:

1. The History of Tea - UK Tea & Infusions Association
2. How to Steep Tea - WikiHow