I bought this tea maker during a time when I was moving and didn't have either a microwave or the gas hooked up for the stove. For an inexpensive electric tea maker, it works pretty well. Though it's great for other things requiring hot water, I really wanted it for making tea.

I like the way it looks, with its simple design and easy view of the brewing tea. It's also compact, which means I can store it away in my tiny cupboards when I'm not using it. Unlike some other carafe-styled appliances, this one has a handle which is thick enough and far enough away from the heating unit and the glass to easily lift and pour without needing a pot holder. The cord is stored at the base, which keeps it from getting tangled and kinked while shoved in the bottom cupboard.

As a side note, this is also great for other things like noodle bowls, oatmeal, and other hot beverages. Water boils extremely quickly and is great for quick meals and drinks.

The design isn't really ideal for tea. For great tea, boiling water needs to cool for a bit to be at the best temperatures for different varieties of tea. Another problem is that is has no setting except "boil". You could not find a lower temperature without taking an external thermometer and doing it manually. With the tea ball attachment and the expectation that tea will be brewed in the unit itself, it's difficult to gauge the temperatures correctly. It's also difficult to maintain a consistent temperature with the heating unit of the bottom keeping that part warmer. The carafe disconnects for pouring, but then you have to find a safe place to put it independent of its base while the tea brews. But for the casual tea drinker, it would be great.