Best Iced Tea Maker (3 In-Stock Picks: Pitcher, Machine and Cold Brew)

Iced tea is easy to make, but the method changes the taste. Hot brewed tea chilled fast is bold and bright. Cold brew tea is smooth and mellow.

Dedicated electric iced tea makers are harder to find than they used to be. So this guide covers three ways to make great iced tea with gear you can still buy: a flash-chill pitcher, a hot-and-cold brewing machine and a cold brew teapot.

The short version: The Takeya Flash Chill Iced Tea Maker is the best iced tea maker for most people. You brew in the pitcher, add ice and shake it cold in about 30 seconds. It is cheap, simple and in stock in several colors. If you want a machine that also makes coffee, the Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System has a dedicated tea basket.

Our Picks at a Glance

• Best overall: Takeya Flash Chill Iced Tea MakerJump to review ↓
• Best machine (tea and coffee): Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System CP307Jump to review ↓
• Best for cold brew tea: Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Tea PotJump to review ↓

Every pick above was listed as available on its maker’s own store when we checked. Prices are the makers’ own and change often.

Iced Tea Maker	Method	Capacity	Material	Maker’s Price
Takeya Flash Chill	Hot brew, shaken over ice	1 qt or 2 qt	BPA-free plastic	$32.99 (2 qt)
Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System CP307	Electric, over-ice and cold brew styles	Up to 50 oz thermal carafe	Machine with thermal carafe	$229.99
Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Tea Pot	Cold brew in the fridge	1,200 ml	Heatproof glass	$24.50

1. Takeya Flash Chill Iced Tea Maker: Best Overall

The Flash Chill is a pitcher with a built-in tea infuser. There is no plug and no machine. It still makes iced tea faster than most electric brewers did.

Takeya’s method is simple. Put tea in the infuser, add hot water and let it steep. Then fill the pitcher with ice and shake it for about 30 seconds. The ice chills the tea almost at once. For the 2-quart pitcher, Takeya suggests 8 tea bags or 8 tablespoons of loose tea.

Chilling fast matters. Hot tea that cools slowly can turn cloudy and dull. Flash chilling keeps the flavor bright and the tea clear.

The lid seals, so the same pitcher goes straight into the fridge and onto the table. The 2-quart size fits most fridge doors.

Takeya’s own guide lists steeping temperatures by tea type. It suggests about 160°F to 175°F for white tea and 160°F to 180°F for green. For oolong it suggests 180°F to 200°F, and for black and herbal teas 200°F to 212°F. You can read the full method in Takeya’s flash chill guide.

The blueberry 2-quart version is linked here. Takeya sells other colors and a 1-quart size.

Who should buy it: Anyone who wants fresh iced tea fast without another appliance on the counter.

2. Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System CP307: Best Machine (Tea and Coffee)

If you want a machine, this is the one to buy now. The Ninja brews both coffee and tea, with a separate basket for each, so your tea does not taste of coffee.

The machine recognizes which basket is fitted and shows the matching drink options. Ninja lists five brew styles: Classic, Rich, Over Ice, Cold Brew and Specialty. Its page does not say which styles apply to the tea basket, so check the manual for tea-specific settings.

Brew sizes run from a single cup to a full carafe. For iced tea, you can brew over a glass or a pitcher filled with ice.

It uses loose tea with a permanent filter, so there are no paper filters to buy. A fold-away frother makes milk tea and lattes.

It is the most expensive pick by far. It makes sense if you drink coffee too, because it replaces a coffee maker.

Who should buy it: Households that drink iced tea and coffee and want one machine for both.

3. Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Tea Pot: Best for Cold Brew Tea

Mizudashi means cold brew in Japanese. You put loose tea in the mesh strainer, fill the pot with cold water and leave it in the fridge. A few hours later, you have smooth iced tea.

Cold brewing pulls out less bitterness than hot water. The tea tastes mellow and slightly sweet, even without sugar. It suits green tea, which can turn bitter when brewed hot.

The pot is glass, so it does not hold on to flavors or smells. Hario says it is dishwasher safe. The mesh strainer lifts out, so you can stop the brew when it tastes right.

It is tall and slim, so it fits in a fridge door. Hario also sells a 1,000 ml version.

The catch is time. Cold brew takes hours, not minutes. Plan the night before.

Who should buy it: Green tea fans and anyone who likes smooth tea and can plan ahead.

What Happened to Electric Iced Tea Makers?

The old version of this guide listed Mr. Coffee, Hamilton Beach, Capresso and Nostalgia iced tea machines. We check each product on its maker’s store before we recommend it.

When we checked, Hamilton Beach listed its Personal Iced Coffee and Tea Brewer 40917 as “No longer available.” Mr. Coffee’s product page for its Tea Café iced tea maker no longer loaded, and its Perfect Brew machine with iced tea settings was “Out of Stock.” Nostalgia’s store did not list a tea brewer.

That is why this guide now includes a pitcher and a teapot. They make excellent iced tea, cost less and store more easily. If you own an older Mr. Coffee brewer, our guide on how to use a Mr. Coffee iced tea maker still applies.

Pitcher or Machine: Which Is Right for You?

Both make good iced tea. The choice comes down to how you drink it.

Choose a pitcher if you make a batch a few times a week and keep it in the fridge. Pitchers cost little, take no counter space and need no power. The Takeya and Hario picks both fall here.

Choose a machine if you want iced tea on demand, one glass at a time, or if you also brew coffee every day. A machine takes counter space and costs more, but it is faster for single servings.

If you are unsure, start with a pitcher. It is the cheaper way to find out how much iced tea you really drink.

Three Ways to Make Iced Tea

Each method gives a different flavor. Here is how they compare.

Flash chill. Brew strong tea hot, then pour it over lots of ice. It is fast, bold and bright. The Takeya pitcher is built for this.

Brew over ice. A machine brews hot tea directly onto ice in a carafe or glass. It is convenient and quick. The Ninja does this.

Cold brew. Steep tea in cold water in the fridge for several hours. It is smooth, mellow and low in bitterness. The Hario pot is built for this.

Sun tea is a fourth, older method. Tea steeps in a jar in the sun. Many food safety experts advise against it, because warm water sitting for hours can let bacteria grow. Cold brew in the fridge gives a similar mellow taste without the risk.

How to Make Great Iced Tea

These tips work with any method.

1. Use more tea than for hot tea. Ice dilutes it. Double strength is a good rule for hot-brewed tea.
2. Use fresh, filtered water. Tea is mostly water, and hard water can cloud it.
3. Watch the temperature. Green and white teas turn bitter in boiling water. Use cooler water, as Takeya’s guide suggests.
4. Do not over-steep. Long steeping pulls out bitter tannins.
5. Chill fast. Slow cooling can cloud tea and dull its flavor.
6. Sweeten while warm. Sugar dissolves better in warm tea. For cold brew, use simple syrup.

A good kettle helps with hot-brewed tea. Our guide to the best tea kettle for a gas stove covers stovetop kettles, and our guide on how electric kettles work explains why they are so fast. Many electric kettles have temperature settings for green tea.

Flavor Ideas for Iced Tea

Plain iced tea is great. These additions make it special.

• Lemon. The classic. Our guide on how much juice is in one lemon helps you plan, and a lemon juicer gets every drop.
• Peach or berries. Muddle fresh fruit in the pitcher, or steep it with the tea.
• Mint. Add fresh mint leaves while brewing or as a garnish.
• Ginger. Slice fresh ginger into the infuser.
• Arnold Palmer. Half iced tea, half lemonade.
• Milk tea. Add milk to strong black tea. Our whole milk substitutes guide covers dairy-free options.
• Apple. Mix cold tea with apple juice. Our guide explains the difference between apple juice and apple cider.

For fresh fruit juice to mix in, see our guide to the top juicers.

Choosing Tea for Iced Tea

Almost any tea can be iced, but some work better than others.

• Black tea is the classic. Blends sold as iced tea are made to stay bold when diluted. Assam and Ceylon both ice well.
• Green tea is lighter and grassy. Brew it cooler and shorter, or cold brew it, to avoid bitterness.
• White tea is delicate and sweet. Cold brewing suits it best.
• Oolong sits between green and black. It makes a fragrant, smooth iced tea.
• Herbal teas like hibiscus, peppermint and rooibos are caffeine-free. Hibiscus makes a tart, bright red iced tea.

Loose tea usually tastes fresher than bags and gives you more control over strength. All three picks in this guide work with loose tea. The Takeya also takes tea bags.

Store loose tea in a sealed, opaque container away from heat and light. It keeps its flavor much longer. A dark cabinet away from the stove works well. Our ideas for small kitchen cabinet organization help you find a spot.

Making Iced Tea for a Crowd

A single pitcher runs out fast at a party. Plan ahead.

Make a strong concentrate the day before. Brew double-strength tea in a large pot, let it cool, and chill it in sealed jars. On the day, mix it with ice and cold water in serving pitchers. Our guide to the best stockpot with a lid covers pots big enough for a batch.

Keep pitchers cold outdoors with a cooler of ice. Our guide to the best lunch cooler for construction workers covers rugged coolers that hold ice for hours.

Set out lemon wedges, mint and a jug of simple syrup so guests sweeten their own. Unsweetened tea keeps more people happy.

If a patio fridge frosts up during summer use, our guide on how to defrost a mini fridge shows the quickest way.

Ice Matters More Than You Think

Iced tea uses a lot of ice, especially with the flash chill method. Plan for it.

Make ice ahead in trays, or keep a bag in the freezer. Filtered water makes clearer ice that does not add off-flavors. If you make iced tea often, a countertop ice maker can help. Our guide to the best ice maker for home use covers them.

Tea ice cubes are a good trick. Freeze leftover tea in trays and use them to chill the next batch. They cool the tea without watering it down.

A mini fridge on a patio keeps a pitcher cold during summer parties.

Cleaning and Storing Iced Tea Makers

Tea leaves stains and a bitter film if you do not clean up.

• Rinse right away. Empty the infuser or strainer and rinse it.
• Wash the pitcher. Warm soapy water or the dishwasher, if the maker allows it.
• Remove stains. A paste of baking soda and water lifts tea stains.
• Descale machines. Hard water builds scale in brewing machines. Our guide on how to clean an electric kettle explains descaling.

Store brewed tea covered in the fridge. Our guide to the best airtight food storage containers covers pitchers and jars that seal.

If your pitchers and mugs crowd the dishwasher, our guide on how to clean a dishwasher keeps it running well.

Iced Tea Makers in a Small Kitchen

Pitchers and teapots are the most space-friendly choice. They double as serving and storage containers, and they live in the fridge, not on the counter.

A machine like the Ninja takes counter space, but it also replaces a coffee maker. Our guide to countertop organization in a small kitchen helps you decide what earns a spot. For other compact appliances, see our best small kitchen appliances for cooking for one.

Which Iced Tea Maker Should You Buy?

Buy the Takeya Flash Chill if you want fast, bright iced tea with no machine.

Pick the Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System if you want one machine for iced tea and coffee.

Choose the Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Tea Pot if you like smooth, mellow tea and can brew ahead.

Related Guides

• Best Espresso Machines
• Best Coffee Maker With a Grinder
• Top 5 Keurig Coffee Makers
• Best Nespresso Pod Flavors
• How to Make Bulletproof Coffee Without a Blender
• Best Blenders for Smoothies
• Most Energy-Efficient Small Kitchen Appliances

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best iced tea maker?

The Takeya Flash Chill Iced Tea Maker is the best pick in this guide for most people. You brew tea hot in its infuser, fill the pitcher with ice and shake it to chill the tea fast. It comes in 1-quart and 2-quart sizes and costs $32.99 for the 2-quart on Takeya's store. For a machine, the Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System has a dedicated tea basket and an over-ice brew style.

Are electric iced tea makers still sold?

Fewer than before. When we checked, Hamilton Beach listed its personal iced coffee and tea brewer as no longer available, and Mr. Coffee's Perfect Brew with iced tea settings was out of stock on its store. Pitchers and multi-use coffee machines with tea settings are now the easiest options to find.

Is cold brew tea better than hot brewed iced tea?

It is smoother. Cold water pulls out less of the bitter compounds, so cold brew tea tastes mellow and naturally sweet. It takes several hours in the fridge. Hot brewed iced tea is faster and has a bolder flavor. Both are good; it depends on your taste and how far ahead you plan.

Why is my iced tea cloudy?

Cloudiness usually happens when strong, hot tea is chilled slowly, especially with hard water. Chilling it fast over ice, using filtered water, or cold brewing all help. Cloudy tea is safe to drink; it just looks less clear.

How long does homemade iced tea last?

Keep homemade iced tea covered in the fridge and drink it within a few days for the best taste. If it smells sour, looks slimy or tastes off, throw it out. Tea with fruit or sugar added tends to spoil faster.