Iced tea is a refreshing drink most commonly brewed in the summertime, but a complement for any season. Speed and convenience are paramount when making fresh iced tea, especially when entertaining a large group of guests. The iced tea maker offered by Hamilton Beach easily fits both of these needs.

Suitable for use with either tea bags, or loose tea leaves, this tea maker employs a convenient filter system and plastic pitcher. These features allow the user to avoid using paper filters altogether, and facilitate easy transportation of the tea upon completion of the brewing process.

Users with discerning tastes will enjoy the adjustable brewing strength feature, which allows the taste to be tailored to individual needs.

The compact design of this tea maker fits perfectly on top of a kitchen counter, and its carefully contoured body shape is equally suitable for storage on a refrigerator shelf.

An indicator light signals when the unit is in operation, and the auto shutoff feature is perfect for people with busy lifestyles that need to do other things as they wait for the tea to finish brewing. Though, since a full two quarts of tea can be brewed in less than ten minutes, the efficiency is one the most valuable advantages.

With an MSRP of $49.99, it is priced higher than many similar competitors, and has many of the same features. A few friends recommended this particular model to me, and since I also already have some Hamilton Beach items that have been very durable, those factors combined to help me choose this model.

In closing, one downside of this tea maker is that the pitcher is very heavy and awkward when full, so many spillage accidents have occurred when trying to transfer my pitcher from the refrigerator to the kitchen table.

By Sarah Szczerbiak