Before Using for the First Time
After unpacking your Iced Tea Maker, clean all the loose parts with warm water and make yourself familiar with the different functions. (Picher, pitcher lid and brew basket can also be washed in the dishwasher.) After reading these instructions, clean the internal parts of the machine by making two pitchers using only water, without any tea inside the filter. Discard water after cleaning the internal parts.
Brewing Iced Tea
- Open the water tank lid and remove the water tank by pulling upward. Fill the water tank with fresh, cold water. Do not overfill the water tank!
- Place water tank back onto the machine and push down to firmly engage the base valve. Make sure the hook on the back of the machine is inserted into the opening on the back of the water tank. Close the water tank lid. WARNING: To prevent injuries from hot steam, do not plug in the appliance until you have filled and placed the water tank onto the machine, filled and inserted the tea in the removable filter, the lid is closed and the pitcher is in place.
- Open brew basket lid. Ensure brew basket and permanent filter are in place. Add the desired amount of tea to the permanent filter. We recommend adding 4-10 regular tea bags or 3-6 level teaspoons of loose tea. Adjust measurements according to taste. Close brew basket lid.
- Adjust the steeping lever to your desired brew strength. Lever in left position being regular, lever in center position strong and lever in right position being extra strong.
- Remove the glass pitcher from the machine and fil the pitcher with ice cubes to the ice level marked on the pitcher. If you are low on ice, you may substitute cold water, fill the pitcher to the water level marked on the pitcher. WARNING: Do not fill water to the ice level as this will cause an overflow when the tea brews.
- You may also add sugar, lemon, fresh fruit or other flavorings to the pitcher before brewing.
- Place the pitcher with lid back into the machine and ensure the drip stop is engaged.
- Plug the power cord into an electrical outlet and push the "on" button.
- When the cycle is complete, your Iced Tea Maker will shut off automatically.
- Remove the pitcher and enjoy your freshly brewed iced tea. Unused iced tea may be stored in the refrigerator. NOTE: Your tea may turn cloudy as it chills due to the tannic acids found in tea. This is normal but can be removed by allowing the tea to cool down fully before placing in the refrigerator or adding a pinch of baking soda to the pitcher prior to brewing.
- Wait for the Iced Tea Maker to cool down before cleaning. Open the brew basket lid and remove permanent filter and brew basket. Discard its contents and rinse with clean water.
Hints for Great Tasting Iced Tea
- A clean Iced Tea Maker is essential for making great tasting iced tea. Regularly clean the Iced Tea Maker as specified in the “Cleaning & Maintenance” section. Always use fresh, cold water in the Iced Tea Maker prior to brewing.
- Store tea leaves and tea bags in a cool, dry place. After opening a package of tea, reseal it tightly or place into an airtight container. DO NOT store tea near spices or strong smelling items as this could affect the flavor of the tea.
- DO NOT reuse tea leaves or tea bags after brewing as flavor can be lost.
- If tea is too bitter, a pinch of baking soda can be added to the pitcher prior to brewing. This will smooth out the flavor and neutralize the tannins in the tea. It will also remove any cloudiness when storing the pitcher of iced tea in the refrigerator.