Nothing warms the heart quite like a piping cup of tea. And if you are a true blue tea lover then you probably use a tea steeper to create a delicious brew!
Image used under Creative Commons from Beth Olson
A tea steeper is a simple device that allows you to prep a mess-free brew made from loose tea leaves. These devices typically feature a strainer that keeps the loose tea leaves contained as they are exposed to hot water, providing maximum taste without the unwanted debris. Fancier types of tea steepers are basically a pot with a built-in strainer. Perfect as house warming gift or as a personal treat, tea steepers come in an array of designs and sizes to choose from!
If you are shopping for a tea steeper and you’re wondering which of the best steepers are worth a try, consider our in-depth reviews.
Table of Contents
The Best Tea Steepers
- User-friendly
- Easy to clean
- Large capacity
- Great value
- Lid not as secured
- Durable design
- User-friendly
- Reduces tea debris efficiently
- Easy to clean
- 1-year warranty and 30-day money-back guarantee
- Not 100% tea debris-free brew
- Durable design
- Reduces tea debris efficiently
- Fits standard sized mugs and cups
- Lifetime warranty
- Flimsy strainer
- Fine mesh filter
- Plastic material
- With patented drain mechanism
- Easy to clean
- Flimsy component
Schefs Premium Tea Infuser
Schefs’ premium tea infuser is a set of two steepers made from stainless steel. These tea steepers are quite large, allowing you to put in more tea leaves if you want your brew to have stronger, more robust flavors. The design is very simple; it’s a no-frills steeper that any tea lover will appreciate. It’s easy to clean, dishwasher-safe, and easy to use. Just add your loose tea leaves in, twist the steeper close and steep with hot water!
Inside the metal steeper are a silicone and mesh tea ball strainers and infusers. These components ensure a full-bodied brew every time but without the unwanted tea debris floating in your mug. The large capacity lets you brew more tea, cutting prep time in half. What’s cool about this steeper is you can also use it to steep coffee! Because it’s a set, you get two steepers for the price of one and that’s quite a bargain! Finally, this product comes with a 60-day, no questions asked money back guarantee. If you’re unhappy with your purchase, you can return Schefs’ premium tea infusers for a full refund!
Now for the drawback, the steeper’s lid is not as secure so you can’t use this willy-nilly and come out with a debris-free brew. You have to keep an eye on the lid as you steep otherwise, the tea leaves could float away from the containment. Though not perfect, the Schefs’ premium tea infuser is a great product and this satisfied user is happy with his purchase:
I’m pretty damn happy with this thing. I’ve used other solid, as opposed to mesh, tea strainers before and always wound up with residue in the tea. Not with this baby, as the holes are small enough so this doesn’t happen. Oh, and the top locks onto the base with a quick twist. Nice and easy.
Apace Living Loose Leaf Tea Infuser Set
Apace Living’s loose tea leaf infuser is also a set of two steepers in a design similar to that of Schefs’ premium tea infuser set. The design is very simple, it’s a tea strainer with a lid. Each steeper is guaranteed to last for a long, long time thanks to its 304-grade stainless steel construction. The steepers are also very large to accommodate larger batches of brew but you can also adjust your tea serving size for a single brew!
This steeper is very easy to use, just fill the basket with loose tealeaves, lock the lid and you’re ready to steep. The small holes all over the strainers are large enough to provide maximum contact between the tealeaves and water for a strong brew but small enough to prevent tea debris from ending up in your drink. Cleaning this steeper is also a simple, no-fuss affair. Just chuck it in the dishwasher and you’re done. On top of its fantastic features, Apace Living’s loose tea leaf infuser set comes with a 1-year warranty and a 30-day money back guarantee.
As for the negatives, the tea infusers’ lids are attached to a chain and the chain is attached to the infuser via a large hole. Unlike the smaller holes all over the infuser’s body, the large hole that holds the chain allow tea debris to escape. This is a major design flaw worth noting and we hope the brand can rectify the issue. Also, the lids are not as secured. Despite these issues, this user loved his tea infuser set and recommends it to all tea lovers:
This is the BEST set I’ve purchased and it lives up to all the reviews I read prior to ordering. Even the most fine blend of tea has little to no debris when I use these infusers. They’re super easy to use and to clean! the bonus spoon is very handy for unmeasured blends and is actually is heavy & sturdy. I really expected it to be lightweight and not well made. Nice gift! I will order more so I have plenty on hand when guests are over.
Bar Brat Tea Infuser Strainer + Spoon
This tea infuser set features a stainless steel steeper made from 100% 304 stainless steel as well as a matching spoon. This tea steeper features a longer, wider side handles, allowing the strainer to hang on to the cup’s mouth securely. The body of the tea steeper comes with minuscule holes to let water in and an extra fine mesh to keep tea debris out. The result? A flavorful brew and efficient steeping.The size of the steeper is large enough to fit standard cups and mugs so you can just set the steeper straight to your teacup and let it do its thing with no worries. Once you’re done steeping, just remove the infuser and enjoy your brew. We loved how user-friendly and easy to clean this steeper is. We loved the lifetime warranty even more! If you’re unhappy with your purchase, you can send the steeper back for a full refund.
As for the downsides, there is no glaring design flaw that affects the steeper’s performance. We just wish the strainer material is more durable so it doesn’t feel too cheap. Minor issues aside, this customer gave the Bar Brat Tea Infuser Strainer + Spoon a five-star rating for its exceptional performance:
Perfect tea strainer for loose-leaf tea! It is honestly my favorite and best quality tea strainer I have at this point and I have a few.
Black Teavana Perfectea Maker
Teavana’s Perfectea maker is a pot-style tea steeper with a built-in mesh strainer on the inside. This tea steeper is made from a rigid plastic material so it is easy to clean. The Perfectea maker also comes with a patented drain component that strains your brew before the liquid is poured into a teacup. The mesh strainer on the inside comes with holes so fine; the tealeaves never escape the mesh.The model itself breaks down into 4 components for cleaning, which could be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how often you brew your tea. This product is large enough to accommodate a larger brew or even a single cup serving of tea!
As for the cons, some users say the fine mesh filter tends to rust after several uses. We never experienced this issue because we didn’t test the steeper long enough for corrosion to set in. Our only gripe is the plastic material. We feel that it’s not as durable as a metal steeper. Also, you have to disasseble the product before cleaning it, which is cumbersome if you’re on a rush. However, using this strainer with care ensures a longer lifespan. For this tea lover, the Perfectea is a fantastic buy:
This is really easy to use and you don’t get any leaves in your tea. It also looks really cool when making the tea. You just put tealeaves and hot water in the top, let it steep, then put it in a mug (or anything else you drink tea from) and it automatically pours the brewed tea from the bottom.
Factors to Consider Before Buying a Tea Steeper
Because tea steepers come in different designs and sizes, it’s hard to choose just one. These tips will help you narrow down your search and get the right tea steeper for you:
Size
One of the most important factors you need to consider when hunting for a tea steeper is the size. How often do you drink tea or how many helpings of tealeaves you use every day will factor into your choice. If you’re a regular tea drinker, you’ll get the most out of your tea steeper if you get it at a larger size. That way, you don’t run out of tea quickly each time you steep.
Infuser
There are two types of tea infusers: mesh and solid infuser. Mesh infuser is made from a finely meshed wire basket. The holes allow the tea leaves to steep in water without the unwanted debris. Some holes are too large so expect more debris from your brew. On the other hand, solid infusers have holes to steep the tea. Between the two, mesh infusers are more popular because they allow for maximum contact between the tea leaves and the water without the debris.
Design
The ideal tea steeper should be small, functional and with very little moving parts. It might be tempting to get a hi-tech steeper with all the bells and whistles but if you can’t maximize it, you’ll only wasting money on an expensive steeper.
Materials
Tea steepers come in various materials, some better than others. These materials include stainless steel, ceramic, glass, and plastic. For durability, we recommend stainless steel steepers because they will last for years. Glass and ceramic are also great because they do not leave any flavor on the tea but they are prone to breaking when dropped. Glass, in particular, is very delicate.
