Brewing Tea In Your Coffee Machine: Is It Possible?

Quick answer

• Yes, you can brew tea in most coffee machines.
• It’s not ideal for your coffee machine’s flavor profile.
• You’ll likely need a separate brewing basket or filter.
• Cleanliness is paramount to avoid bitter tea.
• Loose leaf tea is generally better than tea bags for this method.
• Expect a different flavor than traditional tea brewing.

Who this is for

• The camper who forgot their tea kettle.
• The home brewer who wants to experiment.
• Anyone curious about multi-purpose kitchen gadgets.

What to check first

• Brewer Type and Filter Type: Most drip coffee makers can handle tea. You’ll need to figure out how to get the tea leaves into the basket. Some machines have removable brew baskets that make this easier. If yours is fixed, you might need to use a paper filter or a reusable mesh filter designed for coffee. Some single-serve machines might have specific tea pods, but that’s a different beast.

• Water Quality and Temperature: Just like with coffee, good water makes good tea. Use filtered water if your tap water isn’t great. The ideal temperature for brewing tea varies by type, but most coffee machines heat water to around 195-205°F (90-96°C), which is suitable for black and herbal teas. Green and white teas might prefer slightly cooler water, which you can’t control on most coffee makers.

• Grind Size and Tea Freshness: For tea, you’re not really “grinding” it, but rather using whole leaves or tea bags. Freshness matters for tea, just like coffee. Stale tea won’t taste great no matter how you brew it. If using loose leaf, aim for pieces that won’t easily slip through your filter.

• Coffee-to-Water Ratio: This is where it gets tricky for tea. Coffee makers are designed for specific coffee-to-water ratios. For tea, you’ll want to adjust the amount of tea leaves based on how much water you’re brewing. A good starting point for black tea is about 1-2 teaspoons of loose leaf tea per 8 oz of water. You’ll have to eyeball it.

• Cleanliness/Descale Status: This is HUGE. If you’ve ever made coffee, there are oils and residue in your machine. Brewing tea in a dirty machine will make your tea taste like burnt coffee. Run a cleaning cycle with just water and maybe a bit of vinegar (check your manual first!) before you even think about tea.

Step-by-step (brew workflow)

1. Clean Your Machine: Run a full brew cycle with hot water and a descaling solution or vinegar (follow manufacturer’s instructions). Then, run 2-3 more cycles with just plain water to rinse.

• What “good” looks like: No residual coffee smell or taste in the water after rinsing.
• Common mistake: Skipping this step. You’ll end up with coffee-flavored tea. Avoid it by being thorough.

2. Prepare the Brew Basket: If you have a removable basket, great. If not, you’ll likely need to place a paper coffee filter inside the basket.

• What “good” looks like: A clean, empty basket ready for tea.
• Common mistake: Trying to put tea directly into a non-removable basket without a filter. Tea leaves will go everywhere.

3. Add Tea Leaves (or Bags): Measure your loose leaf tea into the filter or basket. For tea bags, just place them in the basket.

• What “good” looks like: The correct amount of tea for your desired strength, contained within the filter.
• Common mistake: Overfilling the basket. This can lead to weak tea or overflow. Start with less and add more next time if needed.

4. Add Water: Fill the coffee machine’s reservoir with the amount of fresh, filtered water you want to brew.

• What “good” looks like: The reservoir filled to the desired level with clean water.
• Common mistake: Using stale water. It can affect the taste of your tea. Always use fresh water.

5. Start the Brew Cycle: Turn on your coffee machine as you normally would.

• What “good” looks like: The machine heats the water and drips it through the tea leaves.
• Common mistake: Forgetting to turn it on. Yep, it happens.

6. Monitor the Brew: Watch as the hot water saturates the tea.

• What “good” looks like: Even steeping and a colored liquid dripping into the carafe.
• Common mistake: Leaving the tea in for too long during the brew cycle. This can lead to bitterness, especially with delicate teas.

7. Remove Tea: Once the brewing is complete, carefully remove the brew basket with the used tea leaves or tea bags.

• What “good” looks like: The basket is removed, and the tea is in the carafe.
• Common mistake: Leaving the tea leaves in the hot water in the carafe. This continues the steeping process and can make the tea bitter.

8. Serve and Enjoy: Pour your tea and taste.

• What “good” looks like: A pleasant cup of tea.
• Common mistake: Expecting it to taste exactly like traditionally brewed tea. It will be different.

9. Immediate Cleanup: Discard the used tea leaves/bags and rinse the brew basket thoroughly.

• What “good” looks like: A clean brew basket.
• Common mistake: Letting the wet tea leaves sit in the basket. This can lead to mold and lingering smells.

10. Run a Rinse Cycle: Run one more cycle with plain water through the machine to flush out any remaining tea residue.

• What “good” looks like: Clean water coming through the machine.
• Common mistake: Not doing this rinse cycle. This is how you avoid coffee-flavored tea next time you make coffee.

Common mistakes (and what happens if you ignore them)

Mistake	What it causes	Fix
Not cleaning the machine thoroughly	Bitter, coffee-flavored tea	Run multiple rinse cycles with plain water after cleaning.
Using tea bags in a fixed brew basket	Tea bag might not steep evenly, potential mess	Use a paper filter or a reusable mesh filter designed for loose leaf tea.
Overfilling the brew basket	Weak tea, potential overflow	Start with less tea than you think you need; adjust on subsequent brews.
Using stale water	Flat, uninspired tea flavor	Always use fresh, filtered water in the reservoir.
Leaving tea in the carafe	Over-steeped, bitter tea	Remove the brew basket immediately after brewing is complete.
Not running a final rinse cycle	Coffee residue contaminates future coffee batches	Run at least one plain water cycle after brewing tea to flush the system.
Brewing delicate teas (green/white)	Water is too hot, results in bitter or scorched taste	Stick to black or herbal teas where higher temps are less problematic. Or, let the machine cool slightly.
Not adjusting tea amount	Too weak or too strong tea	Experiment with tea quantity based on your preferred strength and the amount of water.
Using a filter that’s too fine	Slow brewing, weak tea, or grounds in the carafe	Ensure your filter allows water to flow freely. Paper filters are usually safe bets.

Decision rules (simple if/then)

• If your coffee machine has a strong coffee aroma, then don’t brew tea in it until it’s thoroughly cleaned because coffee oils will transfer to your tea.
• If you’re using a paper coffee filter, then make sure it’s properly seated in the brew basket because a misplaced filter can lead to grounds escaping.
• If you’re brewing black tea, then the standard coffee maker water temperature is usually fine because black tea tolerates higher heat.
• If you’re brewing green or white tea, then consider letting the brewed water cool for a minute or two before it hits the leaves because these teas can become bitter with overly hot water.
• If you want the cleanest flavor, then brew tea in a separate kettle or infuser because a coffee machine is designed for coffee.
• If you notice your tea is too weak, then add more loose leaf tea next time because you likely didn’t use enough to begin with.
• If your tea is too strong or bitter, then use less tea or brew for a shorter time because over-extraction is the usual culprit.
• If your machine has a “clean” cycle, then use it before brewing tea because it’s designed to flush out residue.
• If you’re using tea bags, then don’t overcrowd the brew basket because they need space to expand and steep evenly.
• If you’re unsure about your machine’s cleaning instructions, then check the manual because improper cleaning can damage the appliance.

FAQ

Can I use tea bags in my coffee maker?

Yes, you can. Just place the tea bags in the brew basket, ideally with a paper filter underneath to catch any stray leaves if the bag tears.

Will brewing tea ruin my coffee maker?

Not usually, as long as you clean it thoroughly afterward. The main risk is lingering coffee flavors in your machine that can transfer to future coffee brews.

How much tea should I use?

Start with about 1-2 teaspoons of loose leaf tea per 8 oz of water. Adjust based on your preference for strength. For tea bags, one bag per cup is a standard starting point.

Does the water temperature matter for tea in a coffee maker?

Yes, it does. Coffee makers typically heat water to around 195-205°F, which is good for black and herbal teas. For green or white teas, this might be too hot, potentially making them bitter.

What kind of tea is best for a coffee maker?

Black teas and herbal teas tend to be more forgiving with the higher water temperatures and brewing methods of a coffee maker. Delicate teas like green or white might not yield the best results.

How do I prevent my tea from tasting like coffee?

Thorough cleaning is key. Run a descaling cycle and several plain water rinse cycles before brewing tea, and always run a plain water rinse cycle after brewing tea.

Can I make iced tea this way?

You could brew a concentrated batch of hot tea and then pour it over ice, but you’d still need to follow all the cleaning and brewing steps. It’s not a dedicated iced tea maker function.

What this page does NOT cover (and where to go next)

• Specific recommendations for different tea types (e.g., optimal steep times for Oolong).
• Advanced techniques like blooming tea or using a gooseneck kettle for precision pouring.
• Comparison of different coffee maker models for tea brewing suitability.
• Detailed descaling instructions for every coffee maker brand.