What Is The UK’s Best Hot Tea Machine?
In this guide we’ll look at the best hot tea machines.
We’ve compared capacity, brew strength, ease of use and cost
to give you our top recommendations.
Hot Tea Machine Reviews
Hot Tea Machine Buyer’s Guide
While standard kettles that boil your water to 100 degrees are all well and good, when it comes to the perfect brew, you need a little more precision.
True tea lovers will know that the perfect brew comes from a combination of the optimum temperature and precise brewing time, and this is especially important for herbal, white and green teas.
A hot tea machine prepares your tea to utter perfection, taking loose tea leaves and turning them into a delicious and comforting drink. But finding the best hot tea machine for your kitchen can be tricky, with so many variations on the market.
Not sure what to look for when it comes to the best hot tea machine? Check out this buyer’s guide.
Design
Tea machines come in a range of designs, from contemporary stainless steel, to sleek and minimalist traditional teapots. The simplest designs are a jug with an integrated filter, while more advanced tea makers look more like high end coffee machines.
Capacity
The larger the capacity of your tea maker, the more tea it will produce and the more energy it will use. If you regularly have guests round for tea, a capacity of 1.5L-2L should be perfect. If you’ll only be making tea for a couple of people, 1L is sufficient.
Functions
Your tea machine may come with various functions that add to the ease of use. All should have automatic shut off and dry boil protection. Advanced tea machines may come with a timer, so you can set the tea machine to start brewing first thing in the morning.
A keep warm setting is another common feature – this keeps your tea at the perfect temperature until you’re ready to drink it.
Temperature Control
For the perfect cup, you need your tea to brew at the perfect temperature. Even a 1 or 2 degree difference can affect the taste of your tea, so if you’re serious about taste, ensure your tea machine allows for precise temperature control.
Brew Strength
Many tea machines have strength control so you can adjust the intensity of the flavour. If you’re very fussy about your tea, purchase a tea machine with an adjustable brew strength.
Some tea machines come with a refresh cycle. This re-livens the tea leaves to prevent wasted tea and flavours.
Ease of Cleaning
Tea makers handle a lot of water and, just like standard kettles, they can experience a build up of debris. Look for a tea machine with removable components that can be hand washed or, even better, cleaned in the dishwasher.