Making Iced Tea Using Your Coffee Maker: Simple Steps

Quick answer

• Use your coffee maker’s brew cycle to hot-steep tea bags or loose leaf tea.
• Start with a concentrated brew; you’ll dilute it with ice later.
• Use good quality tea for the best flavor.
• Ensure your coffee maker is clean before you start.
• Don’t over-steep; it can make tea bitter.
• Have plenty of ice ready to chill your brew quickly.

Who this is for

• Coffee lovers who also enjoy iced tea.
• People looking for a quick and easy way to make iced tea.
• Anyone who wants to brew iced tea without a separate pitcher or pot.

What to check first

Brewer type and filter type

Your standard drip coffee maker is the go-to here. Paper filters work fine, but a reusable mesh filter can also do the trick. Just make sure it’s clean. I usually go with paper for tea, just to keep any coffee residue from sneaking in.

Water quality and temperature

Use filtered water. Tap water can have off-flavors that will mess with your tea. Your coffee maker heats the water for you, aiming for a good brewing temp, usually between 195-205°F. That’s perfect for steeping most teas.

Grind size and coffee freshness

Okay, this one’s a bit different. You’re not using coffee grounds. But you are using tea. So, make sure your tea is fresh. Old tea tastes stale, plain and simple. For loose leaf, a medium grind is usually best for drip brewers.

Coffee-to-water ratio

This is where you’ll concentrate things. Instead of your usual coffee-to-water ratio, you’ll use a higher tea-to-water ratio. Think of it as making a tea concentrate. For example, if you normally brew 10 cups of coffee, you might use enough tea for 5-6 cups of water.

Cleanliness/descale status

This is crucial. If your coffee maker has been brewing coffee, it’s got coffee oils and residue. You don’t want that in your tea. Run a clean water cycle through it first. If it’s been a while, a descaling cycle is a good idea. Nobody wants coffee-flavored tea.

Step-by-step (brew workflow)

1. Clean your coffee maker.

• What to do: Run a cycle with just water, or a dedicated cleaning solution if needed.
• What “good” looks like: Clear water comes out, no lingering coffee smell or taste.
• Common mistake: Skipping this step and ending up with coffee-flavored tea. Avoid it by doing a quick rinse cycle.

2. Prepare the brew basket.

• What to do: Place a paper filter or your clean reusable filter in the basket.
• What “good” looks like: The filter is seated properly, ready to hold your tea.
• Common mistake: Forgetting the filter, leading to a mess. Always double-check.

3. Add your tea.

• What to do: Add your tea bags or loose leaf tea to the filter. Use more tea than you normally would for a hot cup.
• What “good” looks like: Enough tea is in the basket to make a strong brew. For example, use 5-7 tea bags for a 6-cup brew, or equivalent loose leaf.
• Common mistake: Not using enough tea, resulting in weak, watery iced tea. Err on the side of too much tea; you can always add more ice.

4. Add water to the reservoir.

• What to do: Fill the water reservoir with cold, filtered water. Use less water than you normally would for a full pot.
• What “good” looks like: The water level is clearly marked and corresponds to the amount of tea you’re brewing.
• Common mistake: Overfilling the reservoir, which dilutes your concentrate too much. Measure carefully.

5. Place the carafe on the warming plate.

• What to do: Make sure the carafe is correctly positioned.
• What “good” looks like: The carafe sits snugly under the brew basket.
• Common mistake: Not seating the carafe properly, causing hot liquid to spill. A simple check is all it takes.

6. Start the brew cycle.

• What to do: Turn on your coffee maker and let it run its normal brew cycle.
• What “good” looks like: Hot liquid starts dripping into the carafe.
• Common mistake: Forgetting to turn it on! Yep, it happens. Make sure the power button is pressed.

7. Monitor the brew time.

• What to do: Keep an eye on the brew. Don’t let it brew for too long, especially if using loose leaf.
• What “good” looks like: The brewing finishes within the usual time frame for your maker.
• Common mistake: Letting it steep indefinitely, which can lead to bitterness. Aim for the standard brew time.

8. Remove the brew basket.

• What to do: Once the brewing is done, carefully remove the basket with the used tea.
• What “good” looks like: The basket is removed cleanly, and you have a concentrated tea in the carafe.
• Common mistake: Leaving the tea in the hot water for too long after brewing stops. Get it out promptly.

9. Prepare your serving pitcher.

• What to do: Fill a separate pitcher or glasses with plenty of ice.
• What “good” looks like: The pitcher/glasses are packed with ice, ready to chill the hot tea.
• Common mistake: Not using enough ice. Your tea will be lukewarm instead of refreshingly cold. Load up on ice.

10. Pour hot tea over ice.

• What to do: Carefully pour the hot, concentrated tea from the carafe over the ice.
• What “good” looks like: The hot tea instantly chills as it hits the ice, creating a perfect iced beverage.
• Common mistake: Pouring slowly, which allows the tea to cool down too much before it’s fully chilled. A quick pour works best.

11. Stir and serve.

• What to do: Stir the tea and ice mixture to ensure it’s evenly chilled. Add sweetener if desired.
• What “good” looks like: Your iced tea is cold, refreshing, and ready to drink.
• Common mistake: Not stirring, leaving some parts warmer than others. A quick stir fixes everything.

Common mistakes (and what happens if you ignore them)

Mistake	What it causes	Fix
Not cleaning the coffee maker	Coffee residue or off-flavors in your iced tea	Run a cleaning cycle or a water-only rinse before brewing tea.
Using tap water	Metallic or chlorine taste in the tea	Always use filtered or bottled water for the best flavor.
Not using enough tea	Weak, watery, and flavorless iced tea	Increase the amount of tea bags or loose leaf for a concentrated brew.
Using too much water	Diluted concentrate, leading to weak iced tea	Measure your water carefully; aim for a stronger initial brew.
Over-steeping the tea	Bitter, astringent, and unpleasant tasting tea	Remove the tea from the hot water as soon as the brew cycle finishes.
Not using enough ice	Lukewarm or room-temperature iced tea	Fill your serving pitcher or glasses generously with ice.
Pouring hot tea too slowly over ice	Tea cools down before it’s fully chilled	Pour the hot tea quickly over a full pitcher of ice.
Leaving spent tea in the hot carafe	Continued steeping, resulting in bitterness	Remove the brew basket promptly after the brew cycle is complete.
Using stale or old tea	Flat, dull, and uninspired iced tea flavor	Use fresh tea for the best aroma and taste.
Not stirring after pouring over ice	Unevenly chilled tea	Stir the tea and ice mixture well before serving.

Decision rules (simple if/then)

• If your coffee maker smells like coffee, then run a cleaning cycle because you don’t want coffee flavor in your tea.
• If you’re using loose leaf tea, then use a medium grind similar to coarse coffee grounds because it allows for proper water flow.
• If you want a stronger brew, then use more tea bags or loose leaf tea because it creates a better concentrate.
• If your tea tastes bitter, then you likely over-steeped it, so remove the tea promptly next time.
• If your iced tea is weak, then you probably didn’t use enough tea or too much water, so adjust your ratios.
• If you want to avoid sediment, then use paper filters, especially with finer loose leaf teas.
• If you are in a hurry, then use a coffee maker with a quick brew function, but be extra careful not to over-steep.
• If your tea tastes dull, then check the freshness of your tea leaves or bags, as old tea loses its flavor.
• If you are brewing for a crowd, then brew a larger batch of concentrate and have plenty of ice ready.
• If you notice scale buildup, then descale your coffee maker before brewing tea to ensure optimal water temperature and flow.

FAQ

Can I use any type of tea?

Yep, most black, green, and herbal teas work well. Just adjust steeping time for delicate teas like green tea.

How much tea should I use?

Start with about 1.5 to 2 times the amount you’d use for hot tea. It’s a concentrate, so you’ll dilute it with ice.

Will my iced tea taste like coffee?

Not if you clean your machine first! A good rinse cycle removes any residual coffee oils.

What if my coffee maker has an “iced tea” setting?

That’s even better! Follow your machine’s specific instructions for iced tea. This guide is for standard drip coffee makers.

Can I make sweet tea this way?

Sure can. You can add sugar or sweetener directly to the hot concentrate in the carafe before pouring over ice, or sweeten individual glasses.

Is it okay to leave the tea bags in after brewing?

No, get them out right away. Leaving them in will make your tea bitter, like over-brewed coffee.

How much water should I put in the reservoir?

Use less water than you normally would for coffee. If you want about 40 oz of iced tea, fill the reservoir for maybe 20-24 oz of water to make a concentrate.

What’s the best way to chill the tea quickly?

Pack your serving pitcher or glasses with as much ice as they can hold. The more ice, the faster and colder your tea will be.

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

• Specific tea recommendations for different brewing methods. (Look for guides on tea types and their ideal brewing temperatures.)
• Advanced brewing techniques like cold brew tea. (Explore dedicated cold brew methods for a smoother, less bitter taste.)
• Detailed cleaning and descaling instructions for specific coffee maker models. (Consult your coffee maker’s manual for precise care guidelines.)
• Using flavored teas or adding fruits directly to the brew cycle. (Experiment with adding fresh ingredients after chilling for best results.)