6 Best Iced Tea Makers of 2026, Tested and Reviewed

Tested by Jessica Harlan

In the summertime, few things quench a thirst better than a glass of iced tea. Sweet or unsweet, with lemon, mint or simply on its own, there are plenty of ways to prepare and serve this all-American summer quaff.

And while Southern cooks swear by steeping tea in a pot of freshly boiled water or making sun tea by leaving a jug of water and tea bags on a sunny windowsill, investing in an iced tea maker can eliminate the guesswork, speed up the chilling process, and provide an attractive way to store and serve the finished beverage.

We tested and evaluated a dozen iced tea makers — electric appliances and cold brewers — including ones that make individual servings on the go and pitchers that can make a batch for a crowd. If you want a stylish and convenient way to prepare iced tea, this guide can help you decide which type of iced tea maker is the best fit for your needs.

How We Tested

To evaluate which iced tea makers made the best iced tea, we put each product through a series of tests and assessments, beginning with unboxing the product and reading the instruction manuals to see how easy and intuitive it is to use, and if there was anything that needed to be done before the first pitcher of tea could be brewed.

Loose-Leaf Tea Test: Using the quantity of tea leaves recommended in the instructions, or the standard ratio of one and a half teaspoons of tea leaves per eight ounces of water if the instruction manual didn't provide measurements, we brewed a full pitcher of tea following the instruction manual. We assessed how much tea and water were needed, the quantity that was made, how long it took, and the flavor and temperature of the finished tea.

Bagged Tea Test: For tea makers that can be used with bagged tea, we brewed a full pitcher of tea following the instructions in the manual. We recorded how many tea bags were needed using the recommendations in the instructions or the standard ratio of one tea bag per eight ounces of water. We checked how well the tea bags fit into the filter basket, the quantity of tea that was made, how long it took, and the flavor and temperature of the finished tea.

Insulation Test: To see how well the pitchers kept the tea cold, we put ice in the pitchers of tea and let them sit out on the counter for one hour. At the end of the hour, we measured the temperature of the tea and checked to see how much the ice had melted.

Performance Test: Taking into consideration the process of brewing loose and bagged tea, we determined how well the products performed in all of our tests. We evaluated how easy they were to use, whether the products had any unique features and how well they functioned overall.

Finally, we wanted to make sure that these products were easy to clean, maintain and store. We ran parts that claimed to be dishwasher-safe through a dishwasher cycle and checked for warping, clouding and other damage. We hand-washed pitchers and other parts to see if there were hard-to-reach crevices or other cleaning annoyances. We checked how well the products fit inside a standard upper cabinet or on the counter.

What to Consider When Buying an Iced Tea Maker

Manual vs. Automatic: Electric iced tea makers are great for entertaining and instant gratification, since tea can be brewed and chilled in a matter of minutes. Cold brew iced tea makers generally take several hours to steep in the refrigerator, but don't require the large quantities of ice needed to chill the hot tea for manual models. Some people prefer the strong, more developed flavor of a cold brew, and many of these products are also great for making cold-brew coffee. Some manual models, like our Best Overall pick, require brewing the tea with hot water and shaking it with ice, which is as speedy as the manual model but without the fuss of a countertop appliance.

Capacity: We tested iced tea makers that made quantities ranging from 12 ounces to a gallon. When deciding what capacity you'll need, consider your household's tea consumption, whether you'll be using it for entertaining a crowd, and whether you'll have the fridge space for a large pitcher. A two- or three-quart iced tea pitcher often takes up no more space than a half-gallon milk carton, and some can even fit in the refrigerator door.

Features and Functions: Based on the instructions and product information on its website listing, consider whether the products can be used to make a variety of beverages or can be used in a variety of ways. Some of the products we tested could be used for both cold brew and flash-chilled tea, to make hot or iced coffee, to infuse lemonade or water, or to brew hot tea. Some of the electric models, meanwhile, have adjustable brew strength dials, while other models simply recommend using more or less tea to adjust the strength of the finished beverage.

Cleaning and Storing: Most electric iced tea makers are similar to drip coffee makers and will need to live on your countertop. Consider if you will be using your tea maker often enough to warrant that countertop real estate, and choose one that is attractive enough that you won't mind looking at it on a daily basis. For appliances as well as cold brew pitchers and other manual options, consider the cleaning and maintenance process: How easy is it to get a hand or bottle brush into the pitcher/carafe? How many parts are there to keep track of? If they are dishwasher-safe, make sure your dishwasher racks have the clearance to accommodate a tall or large pitcher.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of tea can you use in an iced tea maker? 

This is dependent on the type of iced tea maker. Most can use either loose tea or tea bags, although for many of the products we tested, loose tea was a better option as it was easier to spoon into the filter. Most tea makers can be used to brew different types of tea, whether it's green tea, herbal tea or the more traditional black tea.

What is the best way to brew iced tea at home? 

Without an iced tea maker, the best way to brew tea at home is by steeping tea bags in a pot of boiling water, then adding ice to chill. After testing a variety of different types of iced tea makers, we found that the best way to brew iced tea is by using an iced tea maker that brews hot tea, then combining it with ice to make iced tea quickly and efficiently.

How long does it take to make iced tea with an iced tea maker? 

The type of iced tea maker dictates how long it takes to make iced tea. For electric models, a pitcher of iced tea can be made in seven or eight minutes. Cold brew methods require several hours in the refrigerator, typically four to six hours. Manual iced tea makers that were made by brewing tea with boiling water usually took only the recommended amount of time to steep the tea in boiling water, around five minutes, then the hot tea was combined with ice to chill.

How do you adjust the strength of iced tea? 

The strength of iced tea can be adjusted in several ways: by using more tea or increasing the steeping time. Some electric models we tested had a brew strength dial that would slow the flow of hot water through the brew basket, making the tea stronger. To make iced tea less strong, more ice or water could be added to the finished tea.

Other Iced Tea Makers We Tested

We also tested the Capresso Electric Iced Tea Maker ($70), which is $20 more than the Capresso Select model but makes the same quantity. Initially, we wanted to love it, particularly for its removable water reservoir, but the filter basket was quite small (making it difficult to cram a bunch of tea bags into it) and didn't drain completely, and the power button didn't turn the unit off.

If the Pure Zen Tea Tumbler is too pricey, we also liked the Primula Press and Go Iced Tea Maker, which is around $15. It has a similar construction to a French press: Fill the travel mug with tea leaves, add hot water, then top off with ice and press the chamber down to compress the leaves. However, the process makes tea that's not quite cold enough to our liking.

Another contender was the Nostalgia 3-Quart Iced Tea & Coffee Brewing System, which had a cute retro design that would look great on a countertop and a generous three-quart capacity. While the tea it brewed was satisfactory, the appliance felt flimsy and light, and we found that the tea dribbled out of the machine after the pitcher was removed.

Why You Should Trust Our Tester

A graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City, Jessica Harlan has been a cooking equipment reviewer and recipe developer for more than 20 years. She's tested everything from peelers to the viral Ninja Creami ice cream makers. She has written nine cookbooks.

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