If you have ever envied coffee drinkers because all the work is done by a coffee maker, you too can enjoy the same convenience with a tea maker machine.
Some people love the many steps involved in traditional tea preparation; boiling the water to a specific temperature, preparing the tea leaves, steeping the tea and so on.
But for many of us, the convenience of a tea maker is much welcome. You get to save time and effort while still getting the same quality tea you would have gotten with manual preparation. Because of automated mechanisms and precise measurements, most tea makers actually make better tea than humans.
There are different types of tea makers that work differently. Some are multipurpose units that can be used to prepare a wide range of hot beverages including coffee, chocolate and tea. Others are designed for tea preparation only.
All of them work on a general principle of mixing tea leaves with hot water to make tea. You can set the precise water temperature for your tea and how long you want the tea leaves to steep for.
And if you have no inkling which temperature or steep time is best, most machines have preset buttons for different types of teas.
We have compared dozens of tea makers to find the ones that are best for most people. We looked at features like water capacity, ease of use and customer feedback to select the 5 top tea making machines.
1. Sage by Heston Blumenthal BTM800UK Tea Maker with Motorised Tea Basket
If you are not so confident about your tea-making skills, the Heston Blumenthal tea maker has easy preset settings to guide you. There are five presets for five tea types; green, black, white, herbal and oolong.
For the more confident ones, use the custom button to set your own preferences. You can set the exact brewing temperature you want, the steeping time for the tea leaves and how strong you want your tea to be.
When the water gets to the set temperature, the tea basket automatically lowers into the hot water for the set steeping time. It then lifts out when your tea is ready.
One of the best features of this tea maker is auto-start. You can set it to automatically start at a specific time and wake up to an invigorating cup of tea. Read my full review.
What we like about it:
- Keeps tea warm in case you want a second or third cup.
- Custom and preset tea making settings available.
- Easy to use.
2. Tassimo by Bosch T12 Vivy Hot Drinks Machine
If tea is just one of the many hot beverages you enjoy, we recommend this machine. It can be used to prepare tea, hot chocolate, cappuccino, latte, espresso and many other beverages.
It also comes in handy if not everyone in your family takes tea.
This machine comes in 6 different colors including black, red, pink and cream. So you can choose the one that looks best on your kitchen countertop.
Making tea is as simple as pushing a button and waiting for your tea to pour. The machine can identify the drink selected and automatically adjust the water temperature and brewing time.
What we like about it:
- Switches to standby after brewing to save energy.
- Comes with an automatic cleaning and descaling program.
- Can be used with different types of cups. For large cups and mugs, just adjust the stand height or remove it completely.
3. Ariete Lipton By Ariete Automatic Tea Maker
If you care as much about design as function, get this elegant glass body tea maker. It looks perfect in any kitchen.
It features a removable basket where you can put tea bags or loose tea leaves. On the control panel, there are buttons for setting your preferred temperature and brewing time.
Note that there are no pre-set tea settings like in the Sage Blumenthal tea maker. But you can always follow a recipe to get the perfect cup of tea.
The most beautiful part of this tea maker is the body. It’s made of German tempered glass for added strength and durability.
What we like about it:
- Beautiful design.
- Removable tea basket.
- Custom temperature and brewing time settings.
4. T2 Teamaker 500 ml Capacity
The T2 is a simple tea maker but it makes a great cup of tea. It is made from BPA-free plastic that can withstand high temperatures and lasts long.
To prepare tea, add tea leaves to the tea maker, making sure the filter is present at the bottom. This is not an electric tea maker so you need to have hot water at hand.
Pour the hot water in and leave it to brew. The brewing time will depend on what kind of tea you are making and how strong you want it.
When your tea is ready, place the tea maker jar on top of your cup and the tea will pour out. When you lift up the tea maker, the tea stops pouring automatically.
We recommend the T2 for those who want a more hands-on tea making experience. You can create the exact tea quality you want. I can also see it being helpful for camping trips since it doesn’t require electricity.
What we like about it:
- Easy to use.
- Travel and camping friendly.
- Price.
5. TKG TKB 1023 N Perfect and Automatic Tea maker
The TKG automatic tea maker has a unique almost steam punk design. Aesthetics aside, it’s a great buy for tea lovers. The elegant glass body has a 1 litre capacity, enough to fill 8 cups. There are cup indicator markings on the side to help you brew just the right amount of tea.
To make tea, add water to the jar and tea leaves to the basket at the top. When the water gets hot, it will vaporise and reach the basket where it infuses the tea leaves.
To serve the tea, just lift the jar out of the base. If there is any tea left in the carafe, the tea maker will keep it warm.
What we like about it:
- Great design.
- High capacity, making it ideal for families, guests and small offices.
- Can be used to prepare a variety of beverages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How does a tea maker work?
A: If you’re jealous of coffee lovers because of all the convenience they get from their precious coffee machines, then hold on tight because your tea steeping days are over my friend. There are plenty of tea maker machines available; all offering the same convenience that caffeine addicts all over the world get to enjoy.
While tea makers come in a variety of designs and types that can also make chocolate and coffee, they all pretty much work in the same way. They use the general principle of mixing hot water with tea leaves while allowing users to set details like time and temperature. Some more advanced machines come with automated tea baskets that lift out of the hot water when your tea is ready!
Q: How do you use a tea maker?
A: With a tea maker machine, you can reap the same benefits and convenience that spoilt coffee lovers all over the world get to enjoy. A good tea maker will let you make your favourite drink in just one press of a button. However, there’s a bit more to it than that if you want to make a cup fit for the Queen’s high tea.
Start by filling the carafe with (soft) water and secure it. Place your tea leaves in the tea basket – one teaspoon per cup will do just fine. Replace the top and ensure the basket is where it should be depending on the model. Next, select the settings for time and temperature. Chai connoisseurs recommend the following, but feel free to increase time depending on the strength you like.
- Green tea at 175 degrees F (79C) for 3 minutes
- Oolong tea at 195F (90.5C) for 3 minutes
- Black Tea at 212F (100C) for 2 minutes
Q: Where can I buy a tea maker machine?
A: Although they aren’t quite as popular as their coffee making counterparts, tea makers are becoming a common household appliance. In addition to being delicious, the allure of tea is the fact that it is ripe with antioxidants. It also has less caffeine and acid that coffee making it a great alternative for anyone with medical conditions.
So next time you visit your local mall, store or hypermarket, make sure you check out some tea machines right next to the coffee makers. You can also check online; there are plenty of great sites that offer a variety of tea making machines. And as always, Amazon has some sweet tea makers for every preference and budget under the sun.
