Mr. Coffee TM75 3 Quart Iced Tea Maker Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I had the old one with the orange top.That one has a top basket to hold the tea bags which incorporates a side lever to plug the bottom drain hole, and an overflow channel so just the last couple of cups steep the tea until you pull the lever to release them. The new one with the blue basket has done away with that lever (I'm guessing to cut costs) and just put a little bit smaller hole at the bottom.They also tell you to use a coffee filter in the basket in addition to the teabags themselves, which after all are little paper filters.This is probably to slow down the run-out of the tea to help it steep it a little bit longer.My favorite combination of bags is one bag or Celestial Seasons Red Zinger, one Lipton Mango, and two Red Rose decaf's.In the old one I would let this combination of tea steep for maybe 10 minutes, and it came out perfectly.Using the same bags with the new one makes *really* tasteless, watery tea.

I just found a new model that makes 3 quarts and has a dial on the front for what they call "brew strength".This is a decided advantage over the other revised model.Also, you get a quart more of tea per cycle.You pour the water directly into the unit, where there is a window on the front with markings for 1, 2 and 3 quarts.The container has markings for how much ice to use for 1, 2 and 3 quarts.This is a better design, IMHO.Also, the pitchers are shorter, so fit in more places in your fridge, and the handles don't attach at the pitcher bottom, so you can nest them for storage.This is a big advantage over the old style.The new one comes with 2 pitchers.You can turn them both upside-down over the base unit to save even more storage space.

My recomendation: don't buy the newer 2 quart blue basket model.Hold out for the 3 quart model.And here's the kicker- I found mine at Wal-Mart for $2.00 less than Target was selling the 2 quart model!

Once you get into the habit of drinking iced tea instead of soda, you'll never go back.The savings in calories, money and hassle of returnable bottles and cans will have you hooked.

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Product Description:
Make deliciously refresing great tasting Iced Tea in minutes. You can brew Iced Tea the easy way. Simply place Water in the Reservoir, place your favorite tea (loose or bags) in the brew basket and ice in the pitcher. You will have fresh iced tea in minutes.

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Bodum Assam 4-Cup Tea Press Teapot Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this with the bodum tea warmer (the electic one they sell here) and use it every morning at work. It is WONDERFUL, as I can brew up tea or just have hot water on hand for teabags or my chai tea mixes. There's a hot water tap at work from the coffee maker, so it's simple to fill up. If I had this at home, I'd get a 4-cup pyrex cup so I could microwave that much water at once.
CLEANING:
You use a scrub brush every few days if needed. One of those yellow sponges with green scrubbies on them. The infuster does NOT hold on to flavor unless you are simply not washing it. The infuser is plastic, so if you don't actually wash it off but just run water over it, yes it will retain odor/taste. You have to have a semi abrasive action to take off whatever hangs around. Really not an issue if you aren't a completely lazy bum. Takes me about 30 seconds to run a scrubby sponge around the inside and outside and I only need to do that if I've left it sitting around for hours on end with strong tea leaves inside.
The plunger does NOT get stuck unless you are a complete weakling or have a defective product. There's suction at work once you've pushed it all the way down, so of course it won't glide up smoothly with a light tug. I probably use more strength opening a jar of jam than I do lifting the plunger.
Combine this with the warmer and you've a GREAT product. You can have tea on hand for hours and sip your mornings away.
They also sell a 2 cup and a 6 cup model. Judge how much you might drink and then pick the one that suits you best. I sometimes wish I had the 6 cup one instead, as I find that if I have that much tea on hand at my desk, it's very easy to drink and suddenly find it all gone without thinking about it. I love it.

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Product Description:
Bodum Assam 4 Cup Tea Press Black 34 Oz. - Bodum 1844-01GVP

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Chef's Choice 685 International Deluxe Cordless Electric Teakettle Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I had one of these for almost six years and used it on a daily basis (not just for making tea, but also for boiling water quickly for other uses, i.e. food preparation).It always looked great and was a pleasure to use, but one day it stopped working.So I went online and looked at all of the kettles currently available.I thought about trying a different brand, but all of the other stainless steel kettles (I wasn't interested in plastic) had something I didn't like about them -- an awkwardly placed handle, an exposed element, etc.In the Chef's Choice kettle the element is hidden, so the interior of the kettle is easy to clean (it pretty much doesn't have to be cleaned at all, since only water is ever put in the kettle), and if the element gets covered in scale, I don't know about it (Chef's Choice does recommend occasionally "decalcifying" the kettle by boiling some white vinegar in it -- I never did this with my first kettle and I wonder if this eventually led to it malfunctioning?).The handle doesn't extend over the opening of the kettle, so it is easy to fill, and the spout is truly dripless.And of course the cord is attached to the base, not the kettle itself, so there is no need to plug and unplug it when carrying the kettle to sink or table or stove or wherever.So I'm on my second Chef's Choice kettle and very happy with it so far.I'm the kind of person who doesn't go in for a lot of kitchen gadgets, and I don't like using electric/electronic items when a manual or mechanical one will do, but I definitely recommend an electric kettle because it is energy-saving, fast, and won't boil dry (if you forget about it) or annoy you with a whistle (when you're busy doing something else).

UPDATE: (June 2008)My second one of these has just stopped working.I still love the design of this kettle, and maybe 5-6 years is not a bad lifespan, but . . . I think I might give the Breville kettle a try this time.Will report back!

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Product Description:
Chef'sChoice Cordless Electric TeakettleThis elegant electric teakettle heats up quickly, pours easily, and shuts off when the water reaches boiling point. This teakettle features a dripless spout, a stay-cool handle, and a concealed 1,500-watt heating element, which eliminates mineral deposits. Its cordless design and cool-touch bottom let you serve at the table with ease. Witha full 1 1/3 quart capacity, this teakettle will hold more than water for a pot of tea or coffee. Model: 685

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Coleman 14-Cup Enamelware Coffee Percolator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This enamel coffee percolator is a really well thought out and built item.The pot and lid is constructed of enameled steel and the stem and basket is aluminium.The perc knob is clear glass, sealed with a gasket in the lid allowing one to easily see the color of the coffee as it percs to determine when your perference of coffee strength is reached.I have used mine for years with only one very minor problem.The aluminium stem that holds the coffee grind basket got slightly bent, but I successfully bent it back into place without damage.As noted by another reviewer... these aluminium items are weak.However, what are these items designed to do, and what strength holding a basket of perking coffee grinds might be required?I bent the stem trying to stuff a small bag of coffee grinds and the bag of filters into the pot with the stem in place, for storage.That was 100% my fault, not that of the product.I quickly learned that the coffee pot is NOT for storage, but for percolating coffee.Go figure, uh?

Aside from me slightly bending the perc stem, the coffee percolator has performed flawlessly and has produced quality tasting coffee.The coffee easily loads into the coffee grind basket for perc-ing.Being a 14 cup perc, it out produces other 12 cup percs.The handle is large enough for a gloved hand or a pot holder to easily fit into so as to hold/pour the coffee.The item is very easy to clean, including removing and reinstalling the glass knob and seal.Have not had a problem with chipping the enamel under normal use, which chipping can easily happen via abuse.Nor has the glass knob cracked or chipped, or any damage to the knob seal.Both the knob and seal are readily available at sporting goods stores should they need replacement.

Should you be searching for a coffee percolator that produces quality coffee, ease in use (large pot handle, clear glass knob, ease in loading coffee basket), ease in clean up, ease in storage, and manufactured of quality materials that will be around for years to come... then the Coleman 14-Cup Coffee Enamelware Perolator is the unit you're looking for.

A few tips:Do not fill the pot with water high enough to touch the coffee grind basket.If you do, grinds will float out of the basket and you will end up with coffee full of coffee grinds.Be sure that the water level is below the bottom of the coffee grind basket before you start to perc.For a faster made and better tasting coffee, before placing the loaded coffee basket/stem into the pot turn your stove on full bore and rapidly bring the water in the pot to a rolling boil.THEN... turn off the stove, place the loaded coffee basket/stem into the pot and turn on the stove to LOW for the perc process.Doing this quickly heats the water but will not boil over into the coffee basket getting coffee grinds in the coffee.Secondly, slightly dampen the bottom of the basket with water prior to putting in the filter paper.That way when the filter paper is placed in the basket it will immediatly stick/seal to the basket's bottom.This way the filter paper can not slip or pull up allowing grinds to get inbetween the filter paper and the basket.Should that happen, those coffee grinds will escape into the coffee.

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Product Description:
Make coffee for the whole gang, at the campsite or at home, with the Coleman 14-Cup Coffee Percolator. The enamelware percolator is durable and stands up to heavy use. A clear-glass knob in the percolator lid lets you see the coffee as it brews, so you can decide whether it-Inchs dark enough for your liking. The Percolator is designed with a large handle for easy pouring, and is easy to disassemble and clean.

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Bodum Assam 34-Ounce Glass Teapot with Stainless-Steel Filter Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Bodum design and quality has always intrigued me in both positive and negative ways.I have in the past easily broken a bodum glass item and yet I am still drawn into purchasing another product.

I've wanted the Bodum Assam 34-ounce cast-iron version for longevity, but the weight of it alone is too much to handle to brew tea.So I opted for this 34-ounce glass version which is very light and, like other Bodum borosilicate glass items, delicate.I have yet to break porcelain items by simple bumps while washing, but with a Bodum I am sure to crack them in time.

However, after much searching for a tea brewing device which affords functionality and simplicity, I fall for a Bodum yet again.

WHY?It is only this brand that features a tea press that stops the brewing process when the desired strength has been reached.

HOW?The loose leaves are placed on the center inside the stainless steel filter.When you want the brewing process to stop, the plunger pushes the leaves down the bottom of the filter away from the liquid and sealed by a silicon rubber ring surrounding the plunger.It's a simple ingenious design carried and modified from their coffee press.

PROS:

- Effective and ingenious plunger to create a tailored brewing strength depending on user, water volume and type of tea leaves
- Despite a thin glass container, surprisingly keeps the liquid hot for a relatively long time.
- Simple design makes an elegant product that matchces any interior as well as hand washing very easy.
- No spill in pouring.I was afraid the small lip may cause spilling while pouring, but I experienced none.No spills travelling down the wall after pouring as well.
- Glass version allows you to view the brewing the process and cater to your needs.

CONS:

- Thin borosilicate glass makes the tea press more fragile than you think.
- Plunger design is simple, but clumsy as well.Plunger stalk has to be aligned completely vertical or pushing straight down will be met with great resistance especially as the silicon rubs against the stainless steel wall.
- Loose leaves are not all contained on the bottom as some may escape thru the silicon seal and shred against the stainless steel filter wall.If this happens, the brewing process is not effectively and completely stopped.The leaves especially escape if you don't align the plunger completely vertically.(You will know what I am talking about when you own it and experience the same).VERDICT:

You have a choice between an extremely heavy cast-iron version or the extremely light glass version.I wish Bodum created a thicker-walled version in glass so I can still view the brewing process and have it less fragile than most Bodum products these days.

For the price, I really can't complain so I find myself purchasing yet another functional and patented Bodum product.Until another company has come up with an ingenious plunger system that is better built, I guess Bodum it will be for now.

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Product Description:
We set out with a goal to make an innovation in tea brewing and the patented Bodum tea press system was born.Brewing loose-leaf tea or tea bags has never been easier - or cleaner.The Bodum Assam Medium Tea Press serves 4 - 5 people and is made from durable, heat-resistant borosilicate glass.Designed after the traditional teapot shape, the Assam embodies a more modern, spout-less look.To brew, simply set the durable stainless steel filter into the glass pot.Fill the strainer with the appropriate amount of your favorite loose-leaf tea.Pour hot water over the leaves, filling the pot.Then set the plunger/lid in place in the up position.Allow the tea to brew to your liking and then press down on the plunger.The press compresses the tea leaves below the infusion holes in the strainer; completely stopping the brewing process.The Assam Tea Press puts an end to bitter, over brewed tea.Once you press, you can rest assured that your first cup and your third cup will taste exactly the same.There's no need to remove the filter and there's no mess.What you have left is the true unforgettable and delicious taste of your preferred tea.Some teas can even be brewed a second or third time, making the Shin Cha tea press the perfect choice.Just stir up the tea leaves and fill the pot back up with hot water, repeating the process.It is a clean and easy way to enjoy loose-leaf tea whether it is black, green, white, blooming or herbal tea.The clear glass leaves the infusion remain visible at all times, making it a very attractive table piece.The Assam is dishwasher safe and the glass teapot is microwave safe.The glass Assam Tea Press is available in both small (2 cup - 0.5 l, 17 oz.) and medium (4 cup - 1.0 l, 34 oz.) sizes.This medium version has a 1.0 l, 34 oz. capacity.

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