Automatic tea maker?

[diam124]

I don't know that such a thing exists (apart from the single serve machines with the cups), but does anyone know if there is a programmable machine to make tea (or just hot water)? I'm trying to stop drinking coffee, but I need a warm drink in the morning. I usually grab my coffee before I take my shower, so I'd like to find a machine that I can program so the water is already hot when I go downstairs.

[Smillow]

Have you ever tried an electric kettle? They have them at walmart & target. Most have an automatic shutoff so you can turn it on and the water will come to a boil & then shut off (I don't know if any are programmable). When you go back down stairs turn it on again & because the water is still hot, it will only take a moment to reach a boil again.

[diam124]

I do have an electric kettle that I use now but it seems to take forever to boil (granted I bought it for college about 14 years ago). Maybe I should just get a new one that can boil faster.

[Smillow]

Get a new one! It should boil in about 3 minutes. They have much nicer ones out there now - our latest is stainless steel - I love it (GE from Walmart).

[MLA]

You can always use your coffee maker without the coffee grounds in it. It will heat up your water and keep it warm -- and most coffee makers have timers. Just a thought.

You might want to buy a new one so that you don't have any coffee residue in your water.

[diam124]

Thanks for the tip - I didn't know that!

[am_81]

You can always use your coffee maker without the coffee grounds in it. It will heat up your water and keep it warm -- and most coffee makers have timers. Just a thought.

You might want to buy a new one so that you don't have any coffee residue in your water.

I used to do this with my old single serve coffee maker. I actually threw the tea bags right in the basket (with a filter) and as long as I positioned the bags just right, the tea would be perfect. A little strong, but I like it that way.

[Niobe]

You can also use your coffee maker and put a tea bag in where the coffee should go (or use a filter and whole leaf tea). MLA is right though, you probably want a new coffee maker for that. I tried really hard to get the coffee flavor out of my old coffee maker and it just never happened.

ETA: Hey, I'm not the only one! :)

[greenbunny]

I was just going to suggest loose tea in the coffee maker.

I've heard running a vinegar solution through your coffee maker will get the residue out.

[Kimberland30]

I was also going to suggest buying a new pot and using it only for tea. I bought a small 4 cup coffee pot for my hot water and tea (but I put the bags in the pot, not in the filter area - just in case I only want to make hot water).

Greenbunny is right...running vinegar through your coffee pot, followed by hot water, will take all coffee residue out and unclog the water line. DH does this about twice a year on his BUNN so that it keeps running smoothly.

[ysolde]

Check ebay for a discontinued contraption called Mrs. Tea. It's like Mr. Coffe, but made for loose leaf tea. It works beautifully.