Green at 175°F, Black at 212°F: The Best Tea Maker for Hot and Iced Tea

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The best tea maker heats water to the right temperature for the tea you drink, then gets the leaves out before they turn bitter. Green and white teas want cooler water than black tea, so a kettle that only boils can scorch a delicate cup. Iced tea is its own job, built around a pitcher rather than a mug.

We compared seven tea makers sold by Amazon.com and listed in stock: three glass kettles with removable infusers and temperature presets, a programmable infusion kettle, Breville’s automatic tea maker with a basket that lowers itself, a precision kettle without an infuser, and two iced tea makers, one electric and one a simple pitcher. For each, we quote the temperature settings, capacity and safety features exactly as the listing gives them, and we say so when a listing leaves out auto shut-off or contradicts itself.

Our Top Tea Maker Picks at a Glance

Price key: $ under $50 · $$ $50–$100 · $$$ $100–$175 · $$$$ $175+. Prices change often; check Amazon for today’s price.

1. Chefman Glass Electric Kettle With Temperature Control and Tea Infuser: Best Overall

Chefman’s glass electric kettle pairs temperature control with a removable tea infuser, so it heats the water and steeps the tea in the same pot. The body is glass with stainless steel, holds 1.8 liters, and sits on a 360-degree swivel base, so you can lift it off from any angle and carry it to the table while the base stays plugged in.

Choosing a temperature is the main daily step. The listing describes custom temperature control with presets from 160°F to 212°F, so green and white teas don’t get full boiling water. Tri-color LED lights show what the kettle is doing: white in standby, red while heating and green in keep-warm or steep mode. Chefman says it can boil water in as little as 3 minutes.

Fill the infuser with loose leaf, lower it in, and you can steep a whole pot for several people. The lift-out lid separates completely, which makes filling and cleaning easier. For safety, the listing says an automatic shutoff stops heating when the water boils or is gone, and the kettle carries cETL certification with a one-year assurance from Chefman.

It suits households that drink several cups at a time, loose-leaf beginners and anyone who wants green-tea temperatures without a premium price. One oddity: the title says 5 presets while a bullet says seven, so expect a handful of fixed settings rather than any degree you like.

Why we like it

• Presets down to 160°F
• Big 1.8-liter pot with infuser
• Boil-dry shutoff

Watch out for

The title and bullets disagree on the number of presets, and the listing gives no steep timer.

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2. AROMA Professional Infusion Glass Electric Tea Kettle AWK-705: Best Programmable Tea Maker

AROMA’s Professional Infusion kettle is a glass electric kettle that behaves more like a tea machine. Its 10 preset modes control both water temperature and steeping time, and the listing names green, white, oolong, black, fruit and herbal teas among them, plus a rapid boil at 212°F and a keep-warm setting.

Day to day, you fill the 1.5-liter glass body, add loose leaf to the oversized infuser basket, and toggle through the menu to your tea. AROMA describes the infuser as ultra-fine stainless steel with a stay-cool handle, so you can lift the basket out at any time without oversteeping. Pour-over coffee drinkers can use it for hot water too.

Manual mode lets you change the time or temperature if a preset isn’t quite right, and a delay timer schedules brewing up to 9 hours in advance, so a pot can be ready when you wake up. The twist-lock lid is BPA-free, the spout is described as no-spill, and the kettle lifts off its electric base to pour and refill. AROMA lists automatic boil-dry safety sensors.

It suits tea drinkers who switch between varieties and want the machine to remember the right steep for each one, at a mid-range price. It is also a good fit for anyone who likes tea ready first thing, since the delay start can be set the night before.

Why we like it

• Presets cover temperature and steep time
• 9-hour delay timer
• Boil-dry sensors

Watch out for

It is the least popular pick by sales rank, and the warranty field is blank.

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3. Martha Stewart 1.7L Glass Carafe Electric Kettle With Tea Infuser: Best Glass Kettle With Tea Presets

Martha Stewart’s 1.7-liter glass carafe kettle comes with a removable stainless steel tea infuser and four presets labeled by tea type. That labeling is the selling point: rather than remembering numbers, you press the button for the tea you are making.

The listing spells the settings out: White Tea at 160°F, Green Tea at 175°F, Oolong at 195°F and Black Tea at 212°F. Those four numbers work as a handy temperature chart even if you buy a different kettle. The brand says it boils in as little as 2 minutes.

The infuser works with loose-leaf tea or tea bags, steeps fully and lifts out cleanly, and the listing says it is dishwasher safe. A 360-degree swivel base allows cordless serving, the lid is described as easy-open, and a precision V-shaped spout is meant for smooth, drip-free pouring from any angle. The 1.7-liter capacity makes several cups at once for a family breakfast or guests.

It suits casual tea drinkers who want simple, named presets in a glass kettle. Note that the listing doesn’t mention automatic shut-off or boil-dry protection, so check the manual on arrival, and unplug the base when you finish. The listing doesn’t give a weight or a warranty term either, so keep the receipt and box until you’ve tried it.

Why we like it

• Presets named by tea type
• Dishwasher-safe infuser
• Clear glass carafe

Watch out for

Safety shut-off isn’t mentioned in the listing, and the weight and warranty fields are empty.

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4. Breville BTM800XL Tea Maker: Best Premium Automatic

Breville’s Tea Maker is the closest thing here to a fully automatic tea machine. Its stainless steel tea basket is motorized: the listing says it descends into and back out of the water at exact temperatures, gently agitating the leaves, so the steep ends when it should even if you walk away.

You pick one of five temperature settings for green, white, oolong, herbal or black tea, set the brew strength with one-touch buttons, and press start. Breville says you’ll never over-steep your tea again. A timer lets you set it the night before and wake up to a brewed pot, and the machine keeps tea warm for up to 60 minutes.

It also works as a regular kettle for hot chocolate, matcha or other hot drinks. The jug is a German-made glass vessel on a brushed stainless steel power base, with a 51-ounce capacity, which works out to about 1.5 liters by our math. The listing gives 1500 watts and 110–120 volts. The warranty field reads 1 year limited, and Amazon.com is the seller.

It suits serious loose-leaf drinkers, people who want tea ready on waking and anyone who keeps forgetting the basket in the pot. Expect to pay a premium for that automation, and note the listed size of 8.41 x 8.63 x 10.14 inches when planning counter space.

Why we like it

• Basket lifts out automatically
• Wake-up timer
• 60-minute keep warm

Watch out for

It costs far more than the other picks, and the Amazon listing itself doesn’t mention auto shut-off.

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5. Cuisinart CPK-17P1 Electric Kettle With 6 Presets: Best Precision Kettle

Cuisinart’s CPK-17P1 is a 1.7-liter, 1500-watt electric kettle with six preset temperatures. It doesn’t include a tea infuser, so it makes our list as the precision hot-water half of a tea setup: pair it with tea bags, a teapot or a separate infuser basket.

The presets run from 160°F to 200°F, and Cuisinart says they are optimized for delicate tea, green tea, white tea, oolong, French press, and black and herbal teas. One-touch controls with blue LED indicators make selection quick, and the kettle also brings water to a full boil for oatmeal, soup or instant meals.

A 30-minute keep-warm option holds the water at temperature while you prepare a pot. The listing describes boil-dry protection with auto shutoff, a stay-cool nonslip handle and a 360-degree swivel connector base for cordless serving. A memory feature lets you lift the kettle off the base for 2 minutes without it shutting off or losing its place in the heating cycle.

It suits tea and coffee drinkers who want dependable presets and safety features from a big kitchen brand, and who don’t need an infuser built in. The warranty field lists a limited 3-year warranty, the longest stated term among our picks. Pair it with a mesh infuser basket or a teapot if you drink loose-leaf tea.

Why we like it

• Six presets and keep warm
• Boil-dry auto shutoff
• 3-year warranty field

Watch out for

There is no infuser in the box, and the listed weight is clearly wrong.

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6. Nostalgia 3-Quart Iced Tea & Coffee Brewing System: Best Electric Iced Tea Maker

Nostalgia’s 3-Quart Iced Tea & Coffee Brewing System is an electric brewer that makes iced tea straight into its own pitcher. The listing pitches it for iced coffee, lattes, lemonade and flavored water too, but iced tea is the classic use.

You add water, put tea bags or loose leaf in the removable filter basket, and press the single button. A shower head spreads hot water over the tea for full saturation, and a strength selector dial with settings from 1 to 8 controls how strong it brews. A separate flavor extraction chamber holds lemon, herbs or other sweeteners, handy for sweet tea or a mint brew.

The plastic pitcher holds up to 12 cups and has a three-position lid for free pouring, pouring with an ice guard or staying closed. Nostalgia says the clear double-wall construction keeps drinks cold for hours. When brewing is done, the unit shuts off automatically, and the cord tucks into the base for storage.

It suits families who go through a pitcher of iced tea a day, summer entertainers and anyone who wants iced coffee from the same machine. Because it is a single-button brewer, it is also easy for older kids or guests to use, and it stores away with the cord tucked in after summer.

Why we like it

• Big 3-quart batches
• Strength dial and flavor chamber
• Shuts off when done

Watch out for

The pitcher is plastic, and the warranty field on the listing is blank.

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7. Takeya Flash Chill Iced Tea Maker, 2 Quart: Best Iced Tea Pitcher

Takeya’s Flash Chill Iced Tea Maker is a 2-quart brewing pitcher, not an appliance. It has a built-in infuser for loose-leaf or bagged tea, and Takeya’s patented Flash Chill method is designed to turn hot-brewed tea into iced tea in minutes.

You brew hot tea in the pitcher with water from a kettle, then add ice to chill it quickly, or skip the hot water and cold brew it in the fridge. The listing says the BPA-free Tritan body handles both boiling and ice-cold drinks, so the same pitcher works for hot and iced tea.

Takeya describes an easy-grip handle and a leakproof, airtight lid, which means the pitcher can lie on its side in a fridge door or travel to a picnic. It is dishwasher safe, and the title says it is made in the USA. At a listed 0.9 pounds, it is the lightest pick here.

It suits iced tea drinkers who already own a kettle, small households, and anyone who wants a portable tea maker with no cord. Pair it with a temperature-control kettle for green tea at the right heat. For a fully cold brew, add tea and cold water, seal the lid and leave it in the fridge until it reaches the strength you like.

Why we like it

• Hot or cold brewing
• Leakproof lid for the fridge
• Dishwasher-safe Tritan

Watch out for

It has no heater, so you still need a kettle for hot brewing.

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How We Chose the Best Tea Makers

We compared each listing’s features, specs and sales rank, and quoted only what the listings and manufacturers say:

• Temperature control: presets or a range, in degrees as listed, and whether they’re labeled by tea type.
• Steeping: a removable infuser, an automatic basket, a steep timer, or none.
• Capacity: liters, ounces or quarts, as stated.
• Safety: auto shut-off and boil-dry protection, flagged when a listing doesn’t mention them.
• Warranty and popularity: the warranty field and Amazon sales rank.
• Availability: every pick is sold by Amazon.com and listed in stock at the time of writing.

Tea Maker Buying Guide

Water Temperature by Tea Type

The Martha Stewart listing gives a handy chart in its presets: white tea at 160°F, green tea at 175°F, oolong at 195°F and black tea at 212°F, a full boil. Cuisinart’s listing groups black and herbal teas together at the hot end of its range. Breville says different tea varietals require different temperatures and steeping times, which is why its Tea Maker, the Chefman, the AROMA and the Cuisinart all offer lower settings. A kettle that only boils will work for black and herbal tea but can make green tea taste bitter.

Best Tea Maker Kettle: Infuser or Not?

The Chefman, AROMA and Martha Stewart kettles include a removable infuser, so you can steep a whole pot of loose leaf in the kettle. The Cuisinart CPK-17P1 is a temperature kettle without one: you pour into a teapot, a mug with tea bags, or a separate infuser. Kettles with infusers save a step; plain kettles are easier to keep free of tea stains and double as coffee kettles. If you brew coffee too, see our guides to the best coffee maker and the best single serve coffee maker.

Best Smart Tea Maker Features: Timers and Automatic Baskets

Steep time matters as much as temperature. The Breville BTM800XL lowers and lifts its basket automatically, and the AROMA sets steep time inside its presets. Both offer a delay or wake-up timer: up to 9 hours on the AROMA, and a timer start on the Breville. The Chefman and Martha Stewart rely on you to lift the infuser out.

Best Glass Tea Maker

Glass kettles let you watch the water and the tea, which helps when you are judging strength by color. The Chefman, AROMA and Martha Stewart are glass-bodied, and the Breville uses a German-made glass vessel. The Cuisinart has a stainless body. Glass gets hot, so use the handle and keep children away from the base.

Best Iced Tea Maker: Electric Brewer or Pitcher?

An electric iced tea maker like the Nostalgia heats and brews in one step and pours over ice in its pitcher, with a strength dial and a flavor chamber for sweet tea. A brewing pitcher like the Takeya Flash Chill needs hot water from a kettle, or time in the fridge for cold brew, but it has no cord and a leakproof lid. For the best tea for an iced tea maker, black tea is the classic, but both picks take loose or bagged tea, so try green or herbal blends too.

Best Portable Tea Maker

For travel and picnics, the Takeya is the most portable pick: 0.9 pounds listed, with an airtight lid. Among electric options, the AROMA (1.5 liters) and Breville (51 ounces, about 1.5 liters by our math) are the smallest. Check voltage before traveling abroad; the Breville listing gives 110–120 volts.

Tea Maker Safety and Kitchen Fire Coverage

Electric kettles and iced tea brewers are small appliances, but they combine heat, water and electricity on a counter:

• Look for auto shut-off and boil-dry protection. The Chefman, AROMA and Cuisinart listings describe shut-off or boil-dry protection, and the Nostalgia shuts off when brewing is done. The Martha Stewart listing doesn’t mention either. Breville lists auto shut off and boil dry protection on its Tea Maker product page, though the Amazon listing doesn’t.
• Mind the cord. Keep the base and cord away from the counter edge and the sink, where they can be pulled or splashed, and unplug the base when you’re finished.
• Don’t walk away from heat. The NFPA says cooking fires are the leading cause of home fires and home injuries, and that unattended equipment is a factor in one quarter of reported home cooking fires.
• Check your coverage. Homeowners and renters policies generally cover fire damage from a covered loss, including a small-appliance fire in the kitchen. Our Ohio homeowners insurance guide and renters insurance costs in Ohio explain what to look for.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best tea maker for most people?

The Chefman glass kettle with temperature control is our overall pick. It ranks #3 in Electric Kettles, offers presets from 160°F to 212°F, holds 1.8 liters, includes a removable tea infuser and shuts off when water boils or runs dry.

What temperature should water be for green tea?

The Martha Stewart kettle’s presets give a simple guide: white tea at 160°F, green tea at 175°F, oolong at 195°F and black tea at 212°F. Using cooler water for green and white tea helps avoid bitterness.

What is the best iced tea maker?

For an electric brewer, the Nostalgia 3-Quart has a strength dial from 1 to 8, a flavor chamber and auto shut-off. For a simple pitcher, the Takeya Flash Chill ranks #2 in Iced Tea Machines and brews loose or bagged tea hot or cold.

Is the Breville Tea Maker worth it?

It is the only pick with a basket that lowers into and lifts out of the water automatically, plus a wake-up timer and up to 60 minutes of keep warm. If you don’t need hands-free steeping, a temperature kettle with an infuser costs far less.

Do I need a tea maker with an infuser?

Not necessarily. An infuser lets you steep loose leaf right in the kettle, as with the Chefman, AROMA and Martha Stewart. A temperature kettle without one, like the Cuisinart CPK-17P1, works with tea bags, a teapot or a separate infuser.

The Bottom Line

The Chefman glass kettle with temperature control is the best tea maker for most homes: popular, affordable, with low-temperature presets, an infuser and boil-dry shutoff. The AROMA Professional Infusion adds steep timing and a delay start, the Martha Stewart kettle labels its presets by tea type, and the Breville BTM800XL steeps hands-free for a premium price. The Cuisinart CPK-17P1 is the precision kettle for tea bags and French press, while the Nostalgia brewer and Takeya pitcher cover iced tea.

Wondering how your policy would handle a kitchen appliance fire? Call Jeff Smith’s State Farm office at (740) 354-7747 or schedule a free coverage review.