The best iced tea maker that we tried was easily the Ovalware Airtight Iced Tea Maker. This iced tea maker features an airtight seal that keeps iced tea fresh for up to two weeks and it boasts a generous 51-ounce capacity. We also loved that this iced tea maker can double as a cold brew coffee maker or even prepare hot tea. An iced tea maker is a great kitchen product to have, especially if you love brewing tea every no and then.
To help you find the best iced tea maker for the purposes of whipping up delicious batches of iced tea, we have tried out a multitude of top products, testing them for brewing efficiency and the ability to retain freshness for long periods of time, typically via airtight seals. We also loved iced tea makers with plenty of room for large batches of tea and those that could also double as cold brew coffee makers. Keep reading to learn more about other high-quality iced tea makers available for purchase.
Best Iced Tea Makers (6 Top Picks)
#1 Ovalware Airtight Iced Tea Maker
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: Made from durable components such as medical grade stainless steel and featuring a lab-tested borosilicate glass pitcher, with a silicone airtight seal that keeps iced tea fresh for up to two weeks after brewing and a generous 51-ounce capacity.
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- The finished product remains fresh for 2 weeks
- Generous 51 oz capacity
- Can also make green tea, cold brew, and hot tea
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- May not fit on all refrigerator shelves
- Company does not sell replacement parts
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The Ovalware Airtight Iced Tea Maker features a silicone airtight seal that keeps brewed iced tea fresh for up to two weeks, in addition to other ultra-durable components such as a medical-grade stainless steel mesh and a lab-tested borosilicate glass ounce carafe. We also loved that this iced tea maker could also be used to make cold brew coffee and, due to the high-grade glass, hot tea, and coffee. The 51-ounce capacity, while not quite being a 3 quart iced tea maker, was also much appreciated.
This is a fairly tall and stout iced tea maker, however, and may not fit on all refrigerator shelves, though we always found a way to tuck it in. Additionally, the company does not sell any replacement parts, should you break the filter mesh or the glass carafe down the line. You could serve this iced tea from your best wine decanter.
#2 Takeya Patented Deluxe Iced Tea Maker
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: Design that is completely free of toxic components such as BPA, with a comfortable non-slip silicone handle and a high-quality filter that can handle hot tea and hot coffee, in addition to iced tea and cold brew coffee.
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- BPA free materials
- Non-slip silicone handle
- Fine mesh filter also excels with hot tea and coffee
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- 1 quart capacity on the smaller side
- Can retain coffee or tea smell after washing
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This Takeya Iced Tea Maker is free from BPA and other toxic ingredients that plague some iced tea makers on the market, with an airtight lid and a non-slip silicone handle that is comfortable to both hold and to pour. We also loved the included fine mesh filter, which can easily handle the brewing of hot coffee and various types of tea, in addition to iced tea, herbal tea and cold brew coffee.
The single quart capacity is on the smaller side, however, as some iced tea makers feature twice the capacity. Also, we found that the container can retain a slight coffee or tea smell even after placing in the dishwasher. If you prefer a glass of wine, take a look at our review of the best wine fridge.
#3 Brew to a Tea Infuser Iced Tea Maker
Award: EASIEST TO CLEAN
WHY WE LIKE IT: Easy-to-clean iced tea maker, via dishwasher safe components and a wide mouth, with plenty of high-end features, including a BPA-free airtight silicone lid, which helps ensure freshness, and a large 1.5 quart/48 oz capacity.
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- Retains freshness via silicone seal
- Generous 48 oz capacity
- Fit’s in refrigerator’s door shelf
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- Coffee grounds can seep into carafe when making cold brew
- Lid can fall out as your pour
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This BTaT Infuser Iced Tea Maker comes in at a very budget-friendly price point, while still offering a fantastic feature set, including a BPA-free silicone lid that provides an airtight seal to keep your beverages fresh for up to two weeks after brewing. We also loved the generous 48-ounce capacity and the relatively compact size, which is designed to fit in most refrigerator door shelves.
Though this iced tea maker doubles as a cold brew coffee maker, the fine mesh filter included with the product may allow small coffee grounds to escape into the carafe itself. Additionally, the plastic lid tends to slip off while pouring iced tea, so it is best to remove it entirely before serving. If you prefer to drink something a bit harder, check out our review of the best whiskey glasses.
#4 Shanik Perfect Iced Tea Maker
Award: BEST QUALITY
WHY WE LIKE IT: High-quality iced tea maker with a stainless steel mesh filter, a silicone lid, and a silicone base, to avoid damaging the glass carafe, in addition to shipping with cleaning brushes.
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- Narrow dimensions can easily fit in refrigerators
- Easy to clean, with scrubbing brushes included
- Stainless steel filter, silicone lid and base
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- 32 oz capacity
- Cannot make hot tea or coffee
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The Shanik Perfect Iced Tea Maker is of extremely high quality with features robust enough to make it a commercial iced tea maker, in addition to excelling with home use. This iced tea maker features narrow dimensions, for the purposes of fitting inside most refrigerators, and ships with scrubbing brushes, for easy cleaning. We also loved the durable components, including a stainless steel mesh filter, a silicone lid, and a silicone base, so as to avoid damaging the glass carafe. You may also want to get the best spatula for stirring your iced tea.
We loved that the glass carafe is made from BPA-free borosilicate glass, though the capacity is on the lower end, maxing out at 32 fluid ounces. Also, the glass is not stable enough for the brewing of hot tea or hot coffee, though it does excel with preparing cold brew coffee in addition to iced tea. And of course, no kitchen is complete without your best wine opener.
#5 Hamilton Beach Cold Brew Iced Tea Maker
Award: BEST ON A BUDGET
WHY WE LIKE IT: Budget-friendly iced tea maker with an extremely large capacity, 1.7 quarts/57.5 oz, with a design that is both BPA-free and dishwasher safe and shipping with a stainless steel fine mesh infuser that is extremely easy to use.
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- Dishwasher safe design with BPA-free components
- Stainless steel fine mesh infuser
- Excels with making cold brew coffee in addition to tea
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- Large size can be tough to fit in refrigerators
- The lid does not feature a fully airtight seal
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This Hamilton Beach Iced Tea Maker features a carafe with a generous maximum capacity of 1.7 quarts or 57.5 ounces, making it perfect for large families or for consumers who drink a lot of iced tea throughout the day. The stainless steel fine mesh infuser is of exceptionally high quality and excels with making cold brew coffee in addition to iced tea. We also loved that the components are BPA-free and dishwasher safe and that the iced tea maker was extremely easy to use, with a dump and go design.
Though the lid is made from durable components, it does not feature a fully airtight seal, which could slightly shorten the lifespan of your brewed iced tea. Additionally, the iced tea maker’s generous size can make it difficult to squeeze into tight spots in the refrigerator, though we always managed. If you want a straw with your drink, take a look at the best straw dispenser.
#6 Mr. Coffee TM75 Iced Tea Maker
Award: BEST SELF CLEANING
WHY WE LIKE IT: Extremely generous 2-quart maximum capacity, with a number of high-end features including a self-cleaning functionality and a design that automatically shuts down when brewing is complete.
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- Largest capacity
- Can brew tea bags or loose tea leaves
- Fast brew process, in just a few minutes
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- Not dishwasher safe
- Gets extremely hot, so wear gloves to handle immediately after use
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The Mr. Coffee TM75 Iced Tea Maker is perfect for large families, as it ships with a plastic jug that holds up to two quarts of iced tea or iced coffee. We also loved the ultra-fast brewing cycle, which finishes in just a few minutes, and the fact that it can easily handle both tea bags and loose tea, via disposable filters. The self-cleaning and automatic shutdown features were both also enjoyed as we went about testing this iced tea maker.
Though this iced tea maker does self-clean the brewing apparatus itself, this does not extend to the two-quart container, which must be hand washed and not placed in the dishwasher. Also, this iced tea maker gets extremely hot immediately after brewing, so wear gloves if you are looking to move the jug of freshly brewed tea to the refrigerator.
See Also: Take a look at the best honey pot jar for some good-looking pot jar designs.
How We Decided
To help narrow down to the above list, we focused primarily on iced tea makers that created delicious iced tea efficiently, typically via a fine mesh strainer of some kind. Most of our picks feature a simple design that involves letting the tea steep overnight in the refrigerator, creating a slow and effective brew, however, we also included our number six pick, which is an electric design that brews the tea first, allowing it to then be placed in the refrigerator to cool.
Most of the above-iced tea makers also excel with making cold brew coffee, thanks to the stainless steel fine mesh filters and high-grade glass carafes. To that end, these carafes can typically handle hot freshly boiled water, for the brewing of hot tea or hot coffee. All of the above-iced tea makers are also free of potentially harmful components, such as those made from BPA.
We also liked iced tea makers that featured silicone lids that boasted a completely airtight seal, thus ensuring your brewed coffee or tea can remain fresh in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Finally, we liked iced tea makers that were easy to clean, with components that could be placed in the dishwasher for easy washing.
Best Iced Tea Maker Buyer’s Guide
The Most Important Features to Consider
- Design Types
Generally speaking, iced tea makers fall into two categories. There are those such as our top pick, which feature a stainless steel fine mesh and a glass carafe, allowing a consumer to gently and slowly brew the tea leaves as they steep in the refrigerator for a number of hours. This delivers a smooth taste that is free from the bitterness occasionally associated with tea. There are also iced tea makers such as the Mr. Coffee TM75 Iced Tea Maker, which features an electric design that brews the tea in a fashion similar to how kettles operate, necessitating the freshly brewed tea to be placed in the refrigerator to cool. - Airtight Seals
In order to maximize the length of time, your brewed iced tea will remain fresh, look for iced tea makers with airtight lids, which are generally made from silicone. If you maintain a completely airtight seal, your iced tea can keep for two weeks, giving you plenty of time to consume it. Be sure to read the fine print of whatever iced tea maker you are thinking about purchasing to ensure they boast this feature. - Cold Brew Coffee
Some consumers enjoy cold brew coffee in addition to iced tea. To that end, look for an iced tea maker that can double as a cold brew coffee maker. This is a feature common to many of our picks, as the included fine mesh filters can do just as good of a job with coffee grounds as they do with tea leaves. Many of the above-iced tea makers can also make hot tea or coffee, thanks to the durability of the glass carafes on offer.
