Add water to 1/4in of that line and water pours everywhere much like Niagra falls

However, the TM-1 will drip only water (like the Hamilton Beach he prefers) because the tea is held in the blue basket atop the pitcher

As that was getting a bit cumbersome after a while, I read the instructions again, which gives the option of using a certain amount of cold water in the place of the ice cubes.

As purchased, it doesn't steep the tea, because the hole is too large to back up the hot water into the basket.

This unit requires a coffee filter but I have always used a coffee filter to slow the water from leaving the brew basket too quickly

i experimented a bit with the right water /tea ratio and have it down - iced tea is probably more healthy to drink than soda, so it's useful if you're trying to wean yourself off soda (use Splenda or similar in the steeping basket).

Seventh, Mr. Coffee states to only use fresh tap water not hot water.

The 'maker' only holds enough water for 2 quarts of tea; the container would easily hold a gallon.

So while it was cheap, runs well, and brews my ideal strength of tea fast, down the road I'm going to have to get a different type of large brewing device for my needsPeople who like their tea a little weaker can probably just have cold water in the pitcher even if they don't bother keeping ice in the house, but for someone who wants it strong and just chills it in the fridge or the like, it's mildly inconvenient and annoying to actually make the maximum amount.

There is no way to regulate the rate at which the hot water passes through the tea

I then pour the warm tea into a gallon sized pitcher and finish filling it to the 1-gallon line with cool water

BUT THE TOP LIDE STARTED WOREPING FROM THE HOT WATER

Cant clean water

Leaves about a half cup of hot water in the tea maker

This one dumps the water onto the counter.

I love the concept of how fast the tea is made and it is not messy, but I am gladly going back to hot water on the stove to keep the good taste.

It makes great iced tea, and I don't have to mess with a kettle to boil water or microwave a pyrex cup.

We fill the basket up, brew, dump more water in and brew again

There used to be a lever on the side of the brew basket and the water went through much slower and accumulated in the basket so that the tea could steep.

When the tea maker percolates the water through, the tea leaks from where the spout connects to the base.

Keep in mind the instructions do suggest that even if you use tea bags, you will need a 8-12 quart size paper filter to go in the basket to slow the water down and make sure the tea steeps evenly

You're better off boiling your own hot water and making the tea.

I noticed that another reviewer stated that some teas need very hot water.

Then I add a cup of hot water and stir to dissolve the sugar - THEN i add ice up to the line on the pitcher and start the brew

but I pull them apart at the top and lay them flat to ensure that all of the tea leaves get to steep in the hot water

After putting correct amount of water in it , water leaks all over the counter.

The engineering is all wrong for the spout interface with the hot water tank and strength control.

That will allow the hot water to back up an inch or so into the basket and thus thoroughly soak tea bags.

Put your sugar in before, stir, add more water, and it ready to drink

Using HOT water to start with helps, but it's still just OK tea.2.

I love this machine because even if you don't have ice, you can still enjoy a crisp glass of iced tea in minutes by adding cold water to the freshly brewed tea

Even if you let the thing sit for a long period of time to drain completely into the pitcher, when you open the top lid, condensation on the lid drips into the tea basket causing the tea it to leak tea down into the clean water reservoir.

I am going to just do it the old-fashioned way with a good stainless steel tea ball and hot water

Years ago, my mom had one of these and it had a feature where the hot water would stay in the top to allow the tea to steep

Dump your water into the reservoir and then add half a cup of sugar to the pitcher

The machine works fine, the container that holds the tea bags does't have a plug to hold the water in to steep the tea bags.

Yes, hand wash and clean it out after each use with warm, soapy water

This makes tea go into the heating element with clean water.

I don't think the water gets hot enough

In other words if you hit it before plugging in the pitcher and don't realize it, hot water is coming out and onto the counter

I plugged this on and added the water I was immediately burned by the hot water.

So while it was cheap, runs well, and brews my ideal strength of tea fast, down the road I'm going to have to get a different type of large brewing device for my needsPeople who like their tea a little weaker can probably just have cold water in the pitcher even if they don't bother keeping ice in the house, but for someone who wants it strong and just chills it in the fridge or the like, it's mildly inconvenient and annoying to actually make the maximum amount.

I've not had any problems with water leaking like other people who've reviewed this iced tea maker

The hot water doesn't stay in the basket long enough to steep.

You cannot argue with the speed and the convenience of simply adding the powdered tea to cool water, stir, and drink.

As a matter of fact, if you live in an area where the water is really hard, I would not recommend this unit unless you are willing to invest in a RO unit or purchase distilled water.

It use to fill up the entire filter basket with hot water and saturate all the tea and then overflow into the pitcher.

However the new blue brew basket says it's a "steeping basket" but there is no lever on it, so as the hot water is poured over the tea bags, it then immediately drains into the carafe

Sometimes you wind up with a pitcher of warm water

No matter how you place the pot under the steeper - hot water is all over the counter.

You're better off boiling your own hot water and making the tea.

Add a third, regular sized paper clip and the hot water will fill the basket to the point of slightly overflowing through the overflow outlet, maybe 1.5" water height in the basket, good if you're using a tall stack of loose tea.

Otherwise, the hot water will cause the pitcher to crack

Used to boil water on the stove and make tea.

If you want stronger tea, don't add water to the pitcher, just poor in a second batch of water into the heating unit and continue to fill the pitcher!

My method is to fill the pitcher to the water line with cool water, pour the water into the tea maker, place 4 family sized tea bags into the strainer, position the pitcher (make sure the counter top is level), and then turn on the tea maker.

Beware of the light is on you will get burned by scalding hot water.

This one does not have the tab that you push to release or hold the water like my old one

I love this, no more boiling the water away and burned tea bags

You have to put the ice in so the hot water wont just fill the pitcher

Otherwise, the hot water will cause the pitcher to crack

Now, this one just lets the hot water run over the tea and directly into the ice

It’ll run the hot water through the filter for about halfway, or less, than the water I put i it

No matter how you place the pot under the steeper - hot water is all over the counter.

Only thing I don't like: you can't adjust the brewing time, so some of the teas I use that have longer brewing times aren't as good as when brewed by cup -

This iced tea maker is as close to perfect as you can get

Highly recommend as it makes DELICIOUS iced tea, and a what a great wedding shower gift!

not made as well as when I bought my other one in

I guess they never heard: If it’s NOT broken, DON’T fix it!!!!!

Good sh!t, I'd buy it again!