How to Use a Mr. Coffee Iced Tea Maker (Step by Step, Plus Cleaning)

A Mr. Coffee iced tea maker brews hot tea straight over a pitcher of ice. You get chilled, full-flavored tea in about 10 minutes.

Most models work the same way: ice in the pitcher, water in the reservoir, tea in the basket and a strength setting. Here is how to get it right every time.

The short version: Fill the pitcher with ice to the ice line and the reservoir with cold water to the water line. Put 6 to 8 regular tea bags in the brew basket, set the strength and switch it on. The tea steeps, then drains over the ice. Stir and serve. If you are shopping, check stock on the Mr. Coffee 2-quart iced tea maker, as dedicated tea makers are harder to find than they were.

Can You Still Buy a Mr. Coffee Iced Tea Maker?

Mr. Coffee’s dedicated iced tea makers are getting harder to find new, though Amazon sellers still carry them. If you cannot find one, our best iced tea maker guide covers pitchers and brewers that do the same job. The steps below work for most Mr. Coffee models you may already own.

Parts of a Mr. Coffee Iced Tea Maker

• Water reservoir with a water fill line
• Brew basket for tea bags, loose tea or coffee
• Steeping lid or brew chamber where the tea sits
• Strength selector that controls steeping time
• Pitcher with an ice fill line, usually 2 or 3 quarts
• On/off switch with an indicator light

Many models also have a sugar or sweetener area in the pitcher lid, so sugar dissolves as the hot tea drains in.

What You Need

• Your Mr. Coffee iced tea maker
• Tea bags or loose tea
• Ice
• Cold, fresh water
• Sugar or sweetener (optional)
• Lemon, mint or fruit (optional)
• A paper coffee filter if you use loose tea

How to Use a Mr. Coffee Iced Tea Maker Step by Step

1. Wash Before First Use

Wash the pitcher, lid and brew basket in warm, soapy water and rinse them well. Run one cycle with just water to flush the system.

2. Fill the Pitcher With Ice

Fill the pitcher with ice up to the ice line. This step matters: the ice chills the tea and dilutes it to the right strength.

Too little ice gives strong, warm tea. Too much can overflow when the tea drains in. An ice maker for home use is handy if you make iced tea often.

3. Add Sweetener (Optional)

If you like sweet tea, add sugar to the pitcher now, on top of the ice. Hot tea dissolves it far better than cold tea does.

4. Fill the Water Reservoir

Pour cold, fresh water into the reservoir up to the water line. Do not overfill.

Filtered water makes clearer, better-tasting tea, especially if your tap water is hard.

5. Add the Tea

Place the tea bags in the brew basket. For a 2-quart pitcher, start with 6 to 8 regular bags or 2 to 3 family-size bags. Fold the tags into the basket so they do not hang out.

For loose tea, line the basket with a paper coffee filter and use about 1 teaspoon per regular bag you would use.

6. Set the Strength

Turn the strength selector to mild, medium or strong. The setting changes how long the tea steeps. Medium is a good starting point.

7. Put the Pitcher in Place and Brew

Set the pitcher on the base, under the brew basket. Switch the machine on.

The water heats, drips onto the tea and steeps for the time you set. The tea then drains through onto the ice. The process usually takes about 10 minutes.

8. Stir and Serve

When brewing finishes, the machine shuts off or the light goes out. Remove the pitcher, stir well and serve over fresh ice.

Throw away the used tea bags and rinse the basket.

How Much Tea to Use

Tea Type	2-Quart Pitcher	Flavor
Regular black tea bags	6 to 8	Classic iced tea
Family-size bags	2 to 3	Classic iced tea
Green tea bags	6 to 8	Lighter; use the mild setting
Herbal tea bags	8 to 10	Herbal teas are milder
Loose black tea	About 2 to 3 tablespoons	Use a paper filter

Adjust to taste. If the tea is too strong, use fewer bags rather than less ice.

Best Teas for Iced Tea

• Black tea: Orange pekoe, Ceylon and Assam give a classic flavor.
• Green tea: Light and fresh. Use the mild setting to avoid bitterness.
• Herbal tea: Hibiscus, peppermint and fruit teas are naturally caffeine-free.
• Flavored black tea: Peach, raspberry or Earl Grey make easy flavored iced tea.
• White tea: Very delicate; use extra bags.

Flavor Ideas

• Lemon: Add lemon slices to the pitcher, or stir in fresh juice. Here is how much juice is in one lemon, and a lemon juicer makes juicing quick.
• Mint: Add a handful of fresh mint leaves to the brew basket with the tea.
• Peach: Add sliced peaches to the pitcher.
• Berry: Muddle a few raspberries or strawberries in the pitcher before brewing.
• Ginger: Add a few slices of fresh ginger to the brew basket.
• Arnold Palmer: Mix half iced tea and half lemonade.
• Apple: Top up with a splash of apple juice. See the difference between apple juice and apple cider.

For fresh fruit juice, see our pick of the best juicers.

How to Make Iced Coffee

Many Mr. Coffee iced tea makers double as iced coffee makers.

1. Fill the pitcher with ice to the ice line.
2. Fill the reservoir with water to the line.
3. Put a paper filter in the brew basket and add ground coffee.
4. Use a stronger amount of coffee than for hot coffee, as the ice dilutes it.
5. Set the strength to strong and brew.

Fresh, medium-coarse grounds work best. A coffee maker with a grinder gives the freshest grounds. For single cups, see how to use a Keurig coffee maker.

How to Make Sweet Tea

Southern sweet tea is strong and very sweet. To make it:

1. Use 8 regular black tea bags and the strong setting.
2. Add 1/2 to 1 cup of sugar to the pitcher before brewing.
3. Add a pinch of baking soda to the brew basket if you like. Many cooks say it softens bitterness.
4. Brew, stir well and chill.

Adjust the sugar to taste. Less sugar still gives a good, lightly sweet tea.

Cleaning and Descaling

After Each Use

• Throw away tea bags and rinse the brew basket.
• Wash the pitcher and lid in warm, soapy water.
• Wipe the base and reservoir area with a damp cloth.
• Leave the lid open so the reservoir can dry.

Check your manual before putting the pitcher in the dishwasher.

Descaling Every Month or So

Minerals in water build up inside the heater. This slows brewing and can make tea taste flat.

1. Fill the reservoir with equal parts white vinegar and water.
2. Leave the brew basket empty, and place an empty pitcher underneath.
3. Run a full cycle.
4. Throw away the vinegar solution.
5. Run two or three cycles with clean water to rinse.

Descale more often if you have hard water. The same method works for kettles; see how to clean an electric kettle.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Likely Cause	Fix
Weak tea	Too few tea bags or too much ice	Add bags or use the strong setting
Bitter tea	Too long a steep or too many bags	Use a milder setting or fewer bags
Cloudy tea	Hard water or chilling too fast	Use filtered water; see below
Overflowing pitcher	Too much ice or water	Fill only to the lines
Slow brewing	Mineral buildup	Descale with vinegar
Machine will not start	Not plugged in or pitcher not seated	Check the plug and pitcher position

Why Iced Tea Goes Cloudy

Cloudy tea is safe to drink. It happens when tannins and caffeine bind together as tea cools, and minerals in hard water make it worse.

To reduce cloudiness:

• Use filtered or soft water.
• Do not refrigerate tea while it is still hot.
• Use a little less tea, or a milder setting.

A splash of boiling water stirred into cloudy tea often clears it. Letting tea cool to room temperature on the counter before chilling it also helps keep it clear.

How Long Iced Tea Lasts

Homemade iced tea is best within a day or two, and keeps for about 3 to 4 days in the fridge in a covered pitcher. Throw it out if it smells sour or looks thick or ropy.

Keep fruit and herbs out of tea you plan to store for more than a day, as they spoil faster.

Making Iced Tea for a Crowd

A 2-quart pitcher serves about six to eight glasses. For a party or cookout, plan ahead:

• Brew batches in advance. Pour finished tea into a large covered jug and chill it, then brew the next batch.
• Keep extra ice ready. You need ice in the pitcher for brewing and more for glasses.
• Make an unsweetened batch. Guests can add sugar syrup to taste.
• Make simple syrup. Heat equal parts sugar and water until dissolved, then chill. It mixes into cold tea instantly.
• Label flavors. If you brew several kinds, label each jug.

Iced tea goes well with grilled and smoked food. For your next cookout, see how to grill corn on the cob, how to use a Masterbuilt electric smoker and the best portable grills for apartment living.

Making Iced Tea for One or Two

You do not have to brew a full pitcher. Fill the reservoir to a lower level and use fewer tea bags in proportion. For example, half the water and half the tea gives about a quart.

Keep the ice in the same proportion, too. Fill the pitcher only halfway with ice for a half batch.

If you live alone, small appliances that do more than one job save space. See small kitchen gadgets worth buying when you cook for one and the best small kitchen appliances for cooking for one.

Storing an Iced Tea Maker in a Small Kitchen

An iced tea maker is a seasonal appliance for many people. Store it in a cupboard when it is out of season to free up counter space.

Before storing it, descale it, dry every part and leave the reservoir lid open for a day. Store the pitcher with its lid off so it does not develop a musty smell.

Ideas in small kitchen cabinet organization, vertical storage ideas for small kitchens and how to organize a small kitchen with no pantry can help you find room for it.

Energy Use

An iced tea maker only heats a small amount of water for a few minutes, so it uses little electricity. It also stops the kitchen heating up as a stovetop kettle and pot would on a hot day.

For more ways to save, see how to reduce kitchen energy use in a small apartment.

Mr. Coffee Iced Tea Maker vs Other Methods

A dedicated iced tea maker is fast and easy. Pitchers and kettles are good alternatives:

• Cold brew pitcher: Steeps tea in cold water in the fridge overnight. Smooth, never bitter, and no machine needed.
• Kettle and pitcher: Brew strong tea with a kettle and pour it over ice. See how electric kettles work and the best tea kettle for a gas stove.
• Coffee maker with iced settings: Some coffee machines have iced tea or iced coffee modes.

See the best iced tea maker guide for in-stock options.

A Quick Tip for Clear Tea

Pour the finished tea into a pitcher and let it cool on the counter before refrigerating. That one step stops most cloudiness.

Related Guides

• Best Keurig Coffee Makers
• How to Make Bulletproof Coffee Without a Blender
• How to Clean a Dishwasher
• Best Commercial Masticating Juicer
• Countertop Organization Ideas for a Small Kitchen
• Most Energy-Efficient Small Kitchen Appliances
• Coolest Kitchen Appliances to Buy

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tea bags do you use in a Mr. Coffee iced tea maker?

For a 2-quart pitcher, a good starting point is 6 to 8 regular tea bags or 2 to 3 family-size bags. Use fewer for milder tea, and check your manual for the maker's suggestion.

Do you put ice in the pitcher before brewing?

Yes. Fill the pitcher with ice up to the ice line before brewing. The hot tea pours over the ice, which chills and dilutes it to the right strength.

What does the strength selector do?

It changes how long the tea steeps before it drains into the pitcher. A stronger setting gives a longer steep and bolder flavor.

Can you make iced coffee in a Mr. Coffee iced tea maker?

Yes. Put ground coffee in a paper filter in the brew basket instead of tea bags. Many Mr. Coffee iced tea makers are sold as iced tea and iced coffee makers.

How do you descale a Mr. Coffee iced tea maker?

Run a cycle with equal parts white vinegar and water, with no tea in the basket and an empty pitcher in place. Then run two or three cycles with clean water.