There’s nothing quite like sipping a warm cup of tea on a cold day—but when summer heat kicks in, iced tea really hits the spot. If you want to make delicious iced tea at home without the fuss, getting an iced tea maker might be just what you need.
“Iced tea makers are quick and easy to use. You can brew your favorite teas and enjoy them cold,” says Eva Bleyer, a reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute. You can even make big batches to keep in the fridge for snacks, parties, or sunny afternoons. “It’s also a great way to save money if you often buy bottled iced tea—and it’s usually healthier too, with fewer sweeteners and additives,” she adds.
The experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute have tested all kinds of tea and coffee products, from top tea brands to high-performance kettles. Whether you’re a tea enthusiast or just love a refreshing glass on a hot day, here are their top picks for the best iced tea makers you can buy.
1. Best Overall: Takeya Iced Tea Maker
Pros:
- Comes with an infuser holder
- Can brew both hot and cold tea
- Flash-chill feature makes iced tea in 30 seconds
Cons:
- Infuser can be tricky to clean
The Takeya iced tea maker is super versatile. It makes both hot and cold brew, and thanks to its flash-chill method, you can make iced tea fast—just add ice to the hot brew and shake for 30 seconds.
Available in four classic colors, it comes with helpful extras like an infuser holder to avoid drips and a top handle for easy shaking and lid tightening.
In Our Tests: The Takeya scored high for flavor in our lab tests. The cold brew was ready in five minutes (though it needed six hours to steep) and tasted full-bodied and flavorful. We also liked its slim design, which doesn’t take up much fridge space even though it holds 2 quarts. Just note: tea leaves can stick to the narrow infuser.
Specs:
- Capacity: 2 qt
- Type: Manual
- Dimensions: 12.2″ x 6.1″ x 4.1″
- Dishwasher-safe: Yes
- Weight: 1.24 lbs
Takeya Flash Chill Iced Tea Maker
2. Best Value: Primula Flavor It Pitcher
Pros:
- Budget-friendly
- Includes infuser for fruit and tea
- Delicious cold brew flavor
Cons:
- Hot brew is not as strong as cold brew
This wallet-friendly pitcher has everything you need: a tea infuser, a fruit infuser, and a chill core to keep your drink cold without watering it down. Most parts are dishwasher-safe, except the chill core.
In Our Tests: This iced tea maker made some of the tastiest cold brew in our lineup. Bleyer described it as “clean, flavorful, and not too strong.” The hot brew didn’t turn out as well, but for cold tea lovers, it’s a winner.
Its 2.9-quart size is great for families. If you need more, try the 1-gallon version—just be ready to give up more fridge space due to its round shape.
Specs:
- Capacity: 2.9 qt
- Type: Manual
- Dimensions: 11.73″ x 4.41″ x 11.61″
- Dishwasher-safe: Yes (except chill core)
- Weight: 2.71 lbs
Primula Flavor
Also Read: Korean Tea Traditions and Their Minimalist Teaware
3. Best Glass Pitcher: Ovalware Cold Brew Maker
Pros:
- Sleek, compact design
- Silicone base to prevent slipping
- Easy-to-clean infuser
- Smooth flavor
Cons:
- Smaller capacity
- Pitcher is harder to clean
If you prefer glass over plastic, the Ovalware Cold Brew Maker is a stylish and compact choice. It works for both tea and coffee and is great for smaller batches.
In Our Tests: This model looked great and produced hot brew iced tea with a smooth, rich flavor. The silicone bottom helped keep it stable, and the infuser was easy to clean—though we wish it had a handle for easier removal.
Specs:
- Capacity: 1.05 qt
- Type: Manual
- Dimensions: 4.57″ x 7.87″ x 4.57″
- Dishwasher-safe: Yes
- Weight: 1 lb
OVALWARE Airtight Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker Pitcher
Also Read: This $15 Tea Infuser Changed My Brewing Routine
4. Best Personal-Size: Mr. Coffee Iced Coffee Maker
Pros:
- Comes with tumbler and straw
- Works for both iced tea and iced coffee
- Compact
- Drip stop to prevent leaks
Cons:
- No strength dial for adjusting flavor
Love iced coffee as much as iced tea? This compact machine does both! Even though it’s called an iced coffee maker, it worked great with tea during our tests. It’s ideal for making one glass to take on the go.
In Our Tests: Although it doesn’t offer cold brew, this machine still delivered a smooth iced tea. It wasn’t as strong as others, but it was super easy to use. We loved its small size and the included tumbler and straw. One small downside: no strength control, but the drip stop is a handy feature.
Specs:
- Capacity: 0.68 qt
- Type: Electric
- Dimensions: Maker: 11.4″ x 7.3″ x 14.5″; Tumbler: 4.6″ x 4.4″ x 11.6″
- Dishwasher-safe: Only filter and brew basket
- Weight: 3.85 lbs
Mr. Coffee Iced Coffee Maker
Also Read: Brewing Black Tea with Milk: Do You Add It First or Last?
How We Test Iced Tea Makers
At the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, our experts tested 10 iced tea makers. We checked how easy each one was to use, how well it brewed, and how good the final tea tasted.
We followed each brand’s instructions and used Taylors loose-leaf black tea with cold, filtered water. When possible, we tested both cold brew and hot brew methods, always chilling the tea before taste-testing over ice.
Our experts judged the tea for flavor, strength, texture, and overall satisfaction. We made notes when the tea tasted weak, bitter, too strong, or just right.
We also looked at how easy each maker was to clean, paying close attention to models that are dishwasher-safe versus those that required hand washing.
