Hamilton Beach 40911 2-Quart Electric Iced Tea Maker
by Hamilton Beach
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Our Price: $18.43
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Category: Kitchen
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Product Summary
Manufacturer: Hamilton BeachBrand: Hamilton Beach
Model: 40911
Color: United States
Product features:
- Measures 17-1/2 by 11-1/2 by 4-1/2-inch; wash only by hand.
- Slim, 2-quart pitcher fits in refrigerator door
- Indicator light and automatic shutoff
- Adjustable brew-strength selector
- Fresh-brewed iced tea from leaves or bags in under 10-minutes
Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Hamilton Beach 40911 2-Quart Electric Iced Tea Maker
Customer Review: Hamilton Beach 40911-Great Iced Tea Maker
Summary: 5 Stars
After reading through the reviews here I decided to take a chance and order this product. Not too many iced tea makers get great ratings, but this one does everywhere. I'm sure glad I did! I drink a lot of ice tea regardless of the weather and this product makes it so much easier. I use lose teas so this product takes all the work out of making iced tea. Fill the brew tower with water, fill the pitcher with ice (fill markings on both the brew tower and pitcher), put in your tea in the the brew basket (I put my sweetener in here as well) and turn it on. In ~10-12 minutes you have 2 quarts of ice tea ready to go.
The good: The brew tower doesn't take up much space. Its narrow design allows it to remain flat against a wall when it's not in use (the pitcher is always in the fridge as I always make sure there's iced tea available). The pitcher itself is also narrow so you can put it on the door or right up against the side of the fridge. The brewing section is part of the pitcher itself so there's only water going in the brew tower and coming out. There is a brew tray that slides out from the brew tower to hold the pitcher in the correct position, this helps ensure the hot water coming out of the spout on the brew tower goes into the brew basket and not all over your counter. There's a brew strength selector on the brew basket so you can choose how strong you want your tea. I use the strong setting and I find as the loose tea expands it covers the filter and slows down the drip process allowing the tea to brew a little longer.
The bad: Plastics are a little on the cheap side and are not dishwasher safe. I'm not abusive with any of the parts so hope this product will last me some time. It only makes 2 quarts. Wish they made a 3L version (I consume on average 2 quarts a day of iced tea).
I've only had this product for about a month so can't comment on longevity/lifespan, but I have already used it about 23 times so far. Haven't had any problems. Definitely happy with this purchase and recommend it to others.
Making the iced tea: I use a peach-appricot loose tea I get from a local tea house. I use about 2 levels tablespoons. I use Splenda as a sweetener (before you bash me for this I have high blood-sugar so have to watch what I consume), about 8 packets. I fill the pitcher with large ice cubes a little above the fill line (not too many to prevent the brew basket from seating properly). I also add an extra 8 oz. of water to the pitcher. I place the tea/sweetener between where the hot water gets injected into the brew basket and the filter. I put 1 tablespoon of tea in 1st, then the sweetener, then the 2nd tablespoon of tea. I also make sure the filter is installed parallel to the brew basket so as the tea expands it fills the basket evenly and allows the tea to steep a little longer (I use the strong setting also so the tea drips out slower). I also fill the tower above the fill line (between the fill line and top of the brew tower). Makes just a little more than 2 quarts :-)
Since I use extra water you will end up with tea sitting in the brew basket as the pitcher will fill up to where the tea drips out of the basket. This isn't a big deal because as you drink some tea the remainder will drip out and it's already sweetened.
I recommend letting the plastics (namely the cover and brew basket) to cool a little before popping the pitcher in the fridge. After the brew tower shuts off, I disconnect the pitcher from the brew tower and I pop off the cover which helps the cover and brew basket cool down faster.
Conclusion: This product is a great idea! They have coffee makers so makes sense to have iced tea makers for those that love iced tea. Takes the hassle out of making iced tea, no more boiling water, steeping the tea then waiting for it too cool down so you can pop it in the fridge. If you drink a lot of iced tea then this product will ensure you always have iced tea at the ready!
Description of Hamilton Beach 40911 2-Quart Electric Iced Tea Maker
Make perfect iced tea and chill instantly with this electric easy to use iced tea makerCoffee drinkers have their automatic brewers, why shouldn?t tea drinkers? Ideal for family gatherings or summer picnics, this ingenious Hamilton Beach machine brews up a pitcher full of iced tea in less than ten minutes. After the pitcher is filled with ice cubes, tea (either loose or bags) is placed in the special paperless filter, and an adjustment for mild, medium, or strong brewing is selected. The lid snaps on. A receptacle slides out from underneath the heating unit which then holds the pitcher snugly in place. Water is added to the heating unit, the power button pushed, and the hot water drips through the tea filter into the pitcher of ice. When brewing is complete, the power automatically shuts off for safety. Complete directions for use are embossed on the slide-out receptacle, which eliminates worries about losing a user guide. Although the iced tea maker looks bulky when assembled, the pitcher inverts snugly over the heating unit for compact storage. Able to fit in most refrigerator doors, the 2-quart pitcher features a hollow, comfortable handle and a thumb release for the lid, but is not dishwasher-safe. Assembled, the machine measures 17-1/2 by 11-1/2 by 4-1/2 inches. --Ann Bieri
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