Your Guide to Making Iced Tea with a Coffee Maker

Quick answer

• Yes, you can make iced tea with a coffee maker. It’s surprisingly simple.
• Use your coffee maker’s brew basket and a filter, just like making coffee.
• Opt for loose-leaf tea or tea bags.
• Brew directly over ice for instant chilling.
• Adjust tea strength to your liking. More tea for stronger, less for weaker.
• Don’t forget to clean your machine afterward.

Who this is for

• The busy home brewer who wants a quick iced tea fix.
• Anyone looking to use their coffee maker for more than just coffee.
• Campers and RVers who want a refreshing drink without extra gear.

What to check first

Brewer type and filter type

Your standard drip coffee maker is what we’re talking about here. The kind with a carafe and a basket. You’ll need a paper filter or a reusable mesh filter. It’s gotta fit your brew basket.

For this method, you’ll primarily be using a standard drip coffee maker. If you’re in the market for a new one, consider a reliable drip coffee maker like this one.

xBloom Studio Coffee Machine – Drip Coffee Maker with Built-in Grinder and Scale, 3 Automation Levels, App Connected Pour Over Coffee Maker for Home and Office, Midnight Black

• 1. Three Levels of Automation for Any Skill Level: Choose from Autopilot, Copilot, or Free Solo mode. Autopilot handles the entire brewing process automatically. Copilot provides step-by-step guidance. Free Solo gives you full manual control. This coffee machine works for beginners and professional baristas alike.
• 2. Intuitive User Interface with Tactile Knobs and LED Matrix: The Studio features physical control knobs and a clear LED Matrix display. You can adjust grind size, water temperature, and flow rate in real time without navigating complicated touchscreen menus.
• 3. Full Customization via the xBloom App: Use the xBloom app to create, adjust, save, and share your favorite coffee recipes. Every brewing parameter can be fine-tuned and synced to the machine instantly. Your perfect cup is saved and repeatable.
• 4. Compostable xPod System for Minimal Waste and Maximum Flavor: Each xPod contains carefully selected whole beans and a built-in filter. Tap the recipe card, pour the beans into the grinder, place the pod into the dock, and press start. No capsules, no extra paper filters, no unnecessary waste.
• 5. What Is Included in the Box: The package includes the xBloom Studio, Omni Dripper 2 with Hyperflow Bottom, 10 paper filters, xPod Dock, Magnetic Dosing Cup, default recipe card, quick start guide, cleaning brush, universal power cord, and a 2-Year xbloom brand warranty. Everything you need is included—along with long-term peace of mind.

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Water quality and temperature

Use fresh, cold water. If your tap water tastes funky, your tea will too. Filtered water is always a good call. The coffee maker heats the water, so you don’t need to worry about that part.

Grind size and coffee freshness

Okay, this is for tea, not coffee, but the principle is the same. Use fresh tea. Old tea loses its flavor. For loose leaf, aim for a medium grind, similar to what you’d use for coffee. Tea bags are pre-portioned, so that’s easy.

Coffee-to-water ratio

This is where you play. A good starting point is to use about twice as much tea as you would coffee for the same amount of water. So if you normally use two scoops of coffee for a 10-cup pot, try four scoops of tea. For tea bags, use two bags per cup of water you plan to brew.

Cleanliness/descale status

This is crucial. If your coffee maker is gunked up with old coffee oils or mineral deposits, your tea will taste bitter or off. Run a cleaning cycle with vinegar or a descaling solution if it’s been a while. A clean machine means clean-tasting tea.

Step-by-step (brew workflow)

1. Prep your coffee maker. Make sure it’s clean and plugged in.

• What “good” looks like: A clean brew basket and carafe. No lingering coffee smells.
• Common mistake: Brewing in a dirty machine. Avoid it by: Running a descaling cycle if you haven’t recently.

2. Fill the water reservoir. Use fresh, cold water. Measure based on how much iced tea you want.

• What “good” looks like: The water level is between the minimum and maximum marks.
• Common mistake: Overfilling or underfilling. Avoid it by: Using your carafe to measure the water you pour in.

3. Place a filter in the brew basket. Use a standard paper coffee filter or your reusable mesh filter.

• What “good” looks like: The filter is seated properly and covers the basket.
• Common mistake: Forgetting the filter. Avoid it by: Double-checking the basket before adding tea.

4. Add your tea. Use loose-leaf tea or tea bags. Adjust the amount for desired strength.

• What “good” looks like: Tea is evenly distributed in the filter. Tea bags aren’t crammed.
• Common mistake: Using too little tea. Avoid it by: Starting with a stronger ratio and adjusting down next time.

5. Fill the carafe with ice. This is key for instant iced tea. Fill it about halfway or more, depending on how cold you want it.

• What “good” looks like: The carafe has a good amount of ice.
• Common mistake: Not enough ice. Avoid it by: Filling the carafe generously. The hot tea will melt some of it.

6. Start the brew cycle. Turn on your coffee maker as usual.

• What “good” looks like: Hot water is dripping through the tea and into the ice.
• Common mistake: Forgetting to turn it on. Avoid it by: Listening for the brewing sound.

7. Let it brew. The hot tea will drip onto the ice, chilling it rapidly.

• What “good” looks like: A steady stream of tea is hitting the ice.
• Common mistake: Stopping the brew too early. Avoid it by: Letting the cycle complete.

8. Remove the filter and tea. Once brewing is done, carefully remove the brew basket.

• What “good” looks like: All tea grounds or bags are out.
• Common mistake: Leaving spent tea in the basket. Avoid it by: Discarding the filter and grounds immediately.

9. Stir and serve. Give the iced tea a good stir to ensure it’s evenly chilled.

• What “good” looks like: The tea is cold and well-mixed.
• Common mistake: Not stirring. Avoid it by: Giving it a good swirl with a spoon.

10. Clean your coffee maker. Rinse the carafe and brew basket.

• What “good” looks like: All components are clean and dry.
• Common mistake: Letting it sit dirty. Avoid it by: Cleaning it right after you’re done.

Common mistakes (and what happens if you ignore them)

Decision rules (simple if/then)

• If your tap water tastes bad, then use filtered water because it will improve the tea flavor.
• If you want a stronger iced tea, then use more tea leaves or tea bags because concentration is key.
• If your tea tastes bitter, then check your coffee maker’s cleanliness and descale it because residue affects flavor.
• If you’re using loose-leaf tea, then a medium grind is usually best because it allows for good extraction without clogging.
• If you want to make a large batch, then fill the carafe with more ice to accommodate the larger volume of hot liquid.
• If you notice grounds in your final tea, then ensure your filter is seated correctly and is the right size for your brew basket.
• If you’re in a hurry, then brew directly over ice because it chills the tea instantly.
• If you want to experiment with different tea types, then start with a standard ratio and adjust based on the tea’s natural strength.
• If you’re concerned about flavor transfer from coffee, then run a plain water cycle through your machine first.
• If your tea is too weak, then try using double the amount of tea next time because it’s easier to dilute than to strengthen.
• If you’re using a reusable filter, then make sure it’s thoroughly cleaned after each use to prevent old flavors from lingering.

FAQ

Can I really just put tea in my coffee maker?

Yep. Your coffee maker is essentially a hot water dispenser and filter system. It works just fine for brewing tea.

What kind of tea works best?

Most black teas, green teas, and herbal teas will work well. Delicate white teas might be a bit too subtle. Experiment to see what you like.

How much tea should I use?

Start by doubling the amount you’d use for hot tea. For example, if you use one tea bag per cup for hot tea, try two for iced tea brewed in a coffee maker. Adjust to your taste.

Will my iced tea taste like coffee?

Not if your coffee maker is clean. If you haven’t descaled or cleaned it in a while, you might get some residual flavor. A good cleaning solves this.

Can I brew the tea hot and then chill it later?

You can, but brewing directly over ice is faster and often results in a brighter flavor because the tea is chilled quickly.

What if my coffee maker doesn’t have a “brew strength” setting?

You control the strength by adjusting the amount of tea you use and the amount of water you put in the reservoir. More tea, less water for stronger.

Is it safe to put ice in the carafe?

Absolutely. That’s the whole point. Just make sure the carafe is designed to handle temperature changes, which most glass and thermal carafes are.

How do I clean the coffee maker after making tea?

Just like you would after making coffee. Rinse the brew basket and carafe thoroughly. Run a cleaning cycle with vinegar or a descaling solution periodically.

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

• Making cold brew tea (this method is for hot brewing).
• Specific tea recommendations for different brewing methods.
• Advanced tea brewing techniques like blooming or specific water temperatures for delicate teas.
• Troubleshooting issues with specific coffee maker models.