The perfect pot of iced tea. How does one achieve such a status? When we talk about an iced tea press the first thing that comes to mind is the French Coffee Press. Both are used to take the dried product, add water, wait, and PRESS! Left in the press or pot is a beautifully brewed pot of coffee or tea. The ease of creating a pot of tea without fishing out an infuser or loose leaf tea is the number one benefit. The second benefit is that a pot of tea (not just a cup) is there for you to enjoy all day. Let’s look at four of the best-iced tea presses to get you started on your way of a perfect pot of iced tea.
What to consider before purchasing an iced tea press
While a lot of people will tell you that a coffee french press is the same thing as an Iced Tea Press. I would say you are partially correct. A coffee press can be used. But never use it for coffee then for tea. Big mistake. Neither uses electricity to brew the tea or coffee. A tea press will also stop the brewing process once the leaves have been pressed down. This stops over brewing and creating a bitter tea.
Have you ever traveled to a hotel and used the hotel coffee pot to brew your tea? Yeah, that! Ewwww! For the same reasons, you do not want to double duty your coffee press. If you absolutely have to use your coffee press for tea make sure you clean it. By cleaning I mean you take it totally apart and clean every bit of it and then wipe it down. Coffee leaves an aromatic oil that if not removed will destroy the flavor of your tea.
The perfect iced tea press is the one that is set aside just for tea.
I make several cups of tea a day while I am working on my articles. That means I am up and down a lot. Sometimes I need that break, most of the time it interrupts the flow. Having a tea press next to me allows me to sit longer and get things done. An iced tea press allows me to make one pot of tea, one time and enjoy it for the next few cups of tea. It saves me a lot of time.
If you travel there is an incredible traveling iced tea press. This press goes with you. While it does not hold as much tea as the teapot, it’s great for a trip. It’s also possible to add more water and second steep those tea leaves as well.
Let’s talk about iced tea presses
The difference between an iced tea press and a tea press is one thing, tea. The amount of tea you use for iced tea should be doubled. The press is the same, it’s the tea that makes it different.
The iced tea press is an added addition to your tea collection. It’s easy to use. Saves time and energy, and helps you enjoy your favorite tea, and keep focused on what you are doing at the same time.
Pros
One-pot of tea – By using a tea press you brew one pot of tea for several cups of tea. You can set it right next to you and pour a second or even a third cup of tea without leaving. If you have the travel mug you can easily just sip away all day!
Convenience – Simple, easy, convenient. Everything in one place joined together to make not just one but several cups or ounces of tea. I’m all about saving time. You can save time and enjoy a few cups of tea from the same infusion knowing each cup is going to taste amazing.
Ease of use – It’s that simple. Put your tea leaves in, add hot water, wait and press the tea leaves down. You are left with a press full of lovely tea. No leaves to remove, on infuser to fish out of your cup of tea.
Compact – One device with an infuser contained inside the press. If you are like me, you have a basket full of infusers. With the iced tea press, you don’t even need an infuser or a bag. Drop in the tea and water and you are good to go.
Cons
Bagged tea – bagged tea contains what I like to call tea dust. This dust will flow through the strainer and end up in your tea (and your teeth). This is for loose leaf teas only. While some people have used bagged tea, I lean more towards the refreshing quality of a loose leaf tea.
Tea too strong – remove tea leaves (add more water to your cup). It’s easy to adjust but mistakes can happen.
Tea too bitter – Steeped tea too long or too hot, try to adjust either or both to bring back the flavor of the tea leaves.
Cleaning – Parts and pot can be difficult to clean because of the shape and size of the pot and filter. If you allow tea residue to build upon the inside of your tea press the press will no longer work at it’s best.
Features and benefits
Size matters – a pot of tea compared to a cup of tea. Less preparation and more time to get done what you are doing without making a new pot of tea. Travel size gives you enough tea to get where you are going and sometimes back. Keeping the tea warm longer. Less mess with a contained Iced Tea Press or tea press for travel. Pick the size you want or need. Teapot sizes vary. Size does matter. What size do you need?
Temperature – Tea brews and stays warmer longer. Brewing the tea is always a hot brew. Pouring your hot water in, waiting for it to steep then pressing the leaves down. Your pot of tea is ready to go. If you are after a pot of iced tea then just add ice to your double infused tea and enjoy a cooled beverage.
Cleanliness – filter, infuser, press all in one container. Less mess. While some tea presses may be difficult to clean. There are some that allow easy access to the filters by unscrewing the bottom of the pot or press. Don’t let tea leaves sit in the press after use, they can and will develop mold.
Top choices for iced tea press
Primula Press and Go Double Wall Loose Leaf Iced Tea Brewer
A great choice for travel and I do like the silicone top and bottom. Besides tea you can also add fruits, imagine pressing a strawberry! Dishwasher safe and made with stainless steel. No handwashing required! The press is double-walled so it will keep your beverage cooler/hotter longer. This is not glass, but Tritan plastic which is BPA free.
Davids Tea Iced Tea Press Travel Mug
Fresh tea right at your fingertips. The body is BPA free, it’s not glass but a plastic called TRITAN. Tritan is durable and shatter-resistant. David’s tea press has a fine mesh filter to keep all the tea away from your fresh tea beverage. It’s an interesting concept. Putting your tea and water into the outer section and placing the ice into the middle. As you press the middle section fills up with your infused tea.
Rishi Tea Simple Brew Loose Leaf Teapot
Loose leaf tea press that’s a pot or kettle. This holds approximately 13.5 ounces of your favorite infused beverage. The press is at the top. When you are ready, just press it down and your tea leaves separate and you may drink freely. Made of borosilicate glass. Avoids some shock but it will break. Easy to clean and is dishwasher safe.
Bodum Tea Press
A modern designed teapot that’s also a tea press. It has a filter in the middle as well, so if you don’t want to press your tea, you have an option. Heat resistant borosilicate glass with a stainless steel lid, strainer, and plunger. This patented system stops brewing when the tea is pressed, so no more bitter tea. Brews 34 ounces of tea and it’s all dishwasher safe.
Don’t just take my word for it
I scoured through the internet and found several uplifting comments about an iced tea press. I wanted to share them with you. It’s good to have several opinions when making a decision in buying a product.
“I bought two – one for me, one for the hubby. I use mine mostly for loose leaf tea, he uses his for coffee. They work exactly as they should and – as was proven tonight – they’re VERY sturdy!”
“I drink a lot of iced tea. Typically I brew it in my Mr. Coffee iced tea machine. I wanted to get this for the convenience on the go and to try other teas. This is super easy to use!”
“Loving my iced tea press!!! I was looking for a convenient way to make loose-leaf iced tea, and this is it! All you have to do is put a scoop of tea in the cup with sugar (if desired), let it steep while filling the plunger with ice, plunge it down, and enjoy it! You get to experience the freshest iced tea ever. You can even re-steep the loose leaf tea a few times, just refill the plunger with ice and pour new hot water in the cup. You certainly can’t do that with the bags of tea dust.”
How to use an iced tea press
- Remember to clean your press.
- Get your filtered water ready. Filtered water is the best choice to allow the flavor of the tea leaves to shine through.
- Heat water to approximately 180 degrees.
- Get your tea ready – It’s better to weigh your tea in grams instead of teaspoons. A teaspoon of tea is not accurate because of the volume of the leaf. The weight of tea is an accurate measurement.
- Gather 2.5 grams of tea per 8 ounces of hot water
- Steep for two minutes
- Take the plunger and move it down and press the leaves to the bottom of the pot.
**To make iced tea double the amount of tea used and add ice at the end either in the press or your cup
Conclusion
There’s a whole lot of convenience here and little effort. I’m all in for my tea press and it sits by my desk nearly every day. What’s not to like? It’s hard to find fault. Once you pick the design that works for you, you are set.
The ease and convenience win hands down for me. I also love the fact that it gives me ease of use with loose leaf tea. So many times I’ll grab a tea bag just because it’s easier. That gives me one cup of mildly pleasant tea. An iced tea press will give me several cups of genuine tea. Tea made from the least processed best brewing tea leaves of my choice.
