Friday, October 25, 2013

Oster Iced Tea Maker



I love this iced tea maker!
I'm a big drinker -- and my primary beverage is iced tea. I brew about 1 batch of iced tea per day. I've had a couple of inexpensive iced tea makers (Mr. Coffee, Hamilton Beach) that worked pretty well for me, but the plastic eventually got so stained that it was a little disgusting to look at. I've been looking for something that would hold up better -- and I saw this baby on Amazon. Although I read mixed reviews of the Oster Iced Tea Makers, the glass pitcher really gave me happy vibes so I went ahead and ordered it.

I don't know what those other people were complaining about, this is one of the best purchases I've ever made. The glass is wonderful, it cleans up really nicely. As an added plus, I can use my own pitchers and brew right into them, it will take any pitcher (except my really tall one). I also like the more upscale look with stainless steel and, cleverly, the plastic is black so it won't show tea stains.

Another problem I've had is water...

Excellent Machine, but replacement pitchers hard to find
Our household drinks gallons of iced tea year round. Previously we have used the various (cheaper) iced tea makers from Mr. Coffee. We find the Oster to make better iced tea, and makes it faster & easier. All the parts are top-shelf dishwasher safe, and the included strainer basket eliminates the need for filters if you use loose tea. It looks great on the countertop, and the black finish (unlike other brands) conceals the inevitable staining that comes with use. But beware! This machine has been discontinued by Oster, and they no longer have replacement pitchers available. Having an extra pitcher is crucial for tea drinkers, especially during the summer. Plus, the pitcher is glass, NOT plastic, and can easily break if you're not careful handling it (just ask me.....) I tried finding pitchers everywhere (on Amazon, eBay, Craigslist, Google shopping, etc., plus various Oster service centers) without success. I ended up buying an extra machine just for the pitcher.

Makes great tea quick and easy
I found this item at my local Sam's Club by accident, after I had failed to find it at a different store that was supposed to carry it. This model, with the stainless steel top, seems to be a bit less problematic than the cheaper version I've seen at Walmart with the plain black plastic top (there are also white versions of each). I've used this tea maker for 4 months without issues.

I tried the manufacturer's instructions the first time, but the results seemed strange to me. Trying to add sugar or lemon to the tiny brew basket mostly results in a mess with very little escaping into the pitcher. And I never knew I was odd, but to me "iced tea" means ice in my glass and not sitting there melting in the pitcher (yuck). I made up my own method for using this device and it works great:

1. Fill reservoir to the line with water.
2. Fill pitcher about halfway with cold water. Add up to 1 cup of sugar to pitcher.
3. Place pitcher under brew basket, place...

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