For those who love tea, choosing the best tea maker to brew and pour cups easily comes down to a surprising number of factors: automatic as opposed to traditional; small versus big; and plastic in contrast to glass. But since, unlike a standard kettle, tea makers brew directly inside, be sure to look for options with wide mouths or components that come apart so you can scrub the inside and rinse away any residue quickly.
First, decide whether you want a traditional tea infuser pot or an automatic tea maker. The former will be simpler to use and less expensive, but it'll require a secondary kettle or machine to boil the water. The latter both boils the water and steeps the tea, and therefore usually offers more room for brewing customization — but it'll cost you more. After that, consider the capacity. For the most part, the bigger your tea maker, the more tea it'll be able to brew — but the more room it'll take up in storage or on your countertop. For reference, one serving of tea is about 6 ounces, so factor in guests, household size, and how many servings each person will want.
The material is also an important factor. Plastic tea makers are typically affordable and durable (so long as they're heat-safe and shatterproof). Especially when it comes to hot tea, look for sturdy, BPA-free Tritan plastic so it won't break or leach toxins into your tea. Glass tea makers are scratch-resistant and elegant, but are easier to break. Whether plastic or glass, most tea makers have either reusable stainless steel mesh filters or disposable filters.
No matter your preferred style, size, and material, these are the five best tea makers on the market.
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