542336 Fri Jul 25 11:28:26 -0700 2008 11 31 Home Cooking 0 3901366 First off I'm a coffee drinker but I like tea and iced tea. What I don't like is measuring the water into the kettle, waiting for water to boil, and placing the tea bags in individual cups. Just too many steps and then waiting for the tea to steep - which never seems to consistently come out right for me. So here's what I did today and the tea came out perfectly. I used my electric coffeemaker. I measured two cups of water into the Braun unit and then placed a paper filter where the coffee usually goes. I put three tea bags into the filter and turned the on switch. Voila! In a couple of minutes I had perfectly brewed tea in the pot and then just threw the paper filter out containing the teabags. No fuss no muss. Call me lazy and I know purists will say I should use real tea. I am now going to make a big batch for iced tea in my coffee maker. I feel good that I'll be able to drink more tea now for its health benefits. Fri Jul 25 11:28:28 -0700 2008 112360 Beau711 1 3902360 heh...I am not a purist (I also use tea bags) BUT ...here's my concern with your method...would the tea be strong at all?? I like steeping my tea bags in water that has boiled for 5-7 minutes...then proceed with either drinking it hot or making iced tea...it seems that your method would just let the hot water pass thru the tea bags and no steeping would be involved, therefore yielding a weak tea...? And especially with iced tea, you may want it a little stronger since the ice dilutes the tea. But, you would have to tell me...we all have our preferences, but I applaud your easy-to-do-it method, nonetheless! Fri Jul 25 16:53:53 -0700 2008 3901366 11983 Val 2 3902587 Val, what difference does boiling the water for 5-7 minutes make? Fri Jul 25 18:58:08 -0700 2008 3902360 17348 Vladimir Estragon 3 3902703 What I meant was pouring boiling water over the tea and letting it steep for 5-7 minutes....I'm sorry, I wasn't clear on that! I phrased it poorly. Fri Jul 25 20:02:20 -0700 2008 3902587 11983 Val 4 3904261 A standard drip coffee maker will have an average of a 4 minute brew time. If the tea is too weak add more tea. I know I've seen a drip maker for tea being sold Like these http://www.epinions.com/review/Salton_KM44_Iced_Tea_Maker/content_209114533508 http://www.absolutehome.com/home/1/27616768-hamilton-beach-iced-tea-maker-40911.html Sat Jul 26 16:16:30 -0700 2008 3902703 89493 scubadoo97 1 3902383 A friend recently made tea for me using her French press. She doesn't drink coffee. She boiled water on the stove, cut the tea bags and emptied the contents into the French press, added a bit of honey, then the hot water. It was pretty good, but I'm not a big tea drinker. I prefer coffee. Fri Jul 25 17:04:21 -0700 2008 3901366 52342 alliebear 1 3902650 Lazier yet-- have you tried to cold brew? I just toss two tablespoons of tea in a half gallon jar and put it in the fridge overnight. Sometimes I use a bit less tea and do the same in my french press. So far it's my very favorite preparation for rose petal black tea. http://splendidtable.publicradio.org/recipes/beverages_make_icedtea.shtml Fri Jul 25 19:37:10 -0700 2008 3901366 64882 Vetter 1 3904395 I always fix my tea for iced tea in the coffeemaker. I fix a full pot of water, pour it in, and usually 3 teabags (Red Rose or Luzianne). I've done 4 teabags, but then I usually am planning to make a big pitcher of iced tea and can dilute it with a couple cups more water. Sat Jul 26 17:34:27 -0700 2008 3901366 50613 weezycom 1 3904444 Put 4 cups of water in a pyrex measuring cup and a family sized Luzianne teabag then microwave for 6 min 30 secs or so. Dunk a few times, let it steep a bit and add water if needed as you pour a glass. If the bag ruptures you are microwaving it too long. Sat Jul 26 18:00:00 -0700 2008 3901366 109347 elgordoboy 1 3904943 As an Englishwoman, I am having trouble imagining why it is such trouble to make tea in the old-fashioned (ie proper) way. I do it a dozen times a day! The water HAS to be boiling when you make tea, otherwise it won't infuse properly. That's why the French (and to some extent the Americans) are so useless at making tea. (That, and the Liptons tea bags they use - noone drinks Liptons tea in England.) Sun Jul 27 01:22:39 -0700 2008 3901366 110146 greedygirl 2 3908698 Perhaps the English can still learn a bit about tea...white or green teas use water between 75 and 80 degrees Celsius not boiling. Mon Jul 28 12:44:13 -0700 2008 3904943 57023 Sally599 1 3908765 I've never done this at home, but I have tried brewing my tea in the coffee pot when we are staying in a hotel. The tea always (even if I wash out the entire pot first) has a bit of a coffee flavor. Tea with a tinge of coffee flavor is really really bad. Anyone else have this problem? Also I agree with greedygirl, the water you make a great cup of tea with needs to be brought to a boil first. Mon Jul 28 13:02:40 -0700 2008 3901366 15697 jackie de