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Photograph: Fellow
The Best Kettle
Fellow Stagg EKG+ Electric Kettle
Our favorite kettle for brewing coffee is also our favorite kettle for brewing tea. Fellow’s stainless steel electric kettle lets you dial in the target temperature to the precise degree, so you can set it to stop heating—and hold—the water inside at the exact temperature you need. Use it to make delicate green tea (175° Fahrenheit), the best-tasting Oolong (195°) or perfect black and herbal teas (212°). The thin, curvy neck gives you a controlled and accurate pour with no mess.
We love this pricey pick, but if you don’t need the Bluetooth connectivity, Bonavita’s kettle is much cheaper (and fluctuates wildly in and out stock).
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Photograph: Amazon
Best for Brewing Loose-Leaf Tea
Oxo Brew Twisting Tea Ball Infuser
Loose-leaf tea enthusiasts, take note. Oxo is currently sold out of the best loose leaf brewing gadget the company makes (the Oxo tea infuser basket) so until that comes back in stock, we can point you to the second-best option.
The handle of this contraption twists to open the infuser basket at the tip, turning the spherical tea ball into a hemispherical tea scoop. Stick that end right into your container of leaves to scoop up your desired amount of tea. (It’s big enough to hold roughly 10 grams of dried leaves.) Then, twist the handle in the opposite direction to close the ball. Pop the ball end into your mug, tea flask, or insulated bottle to brew the tea. Cleaning it is just as easy: Carry the infuser to the compost bin, twist the handle, and eject the spent leaves. It’s neat, it’s cheap, you’ll love it.
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Photograph: Amazon
For Iced Tea Lovers
Hario Cold Brew Tea Pot
This simple and inexpensive glass flask is our favorite gadget for making strong iced tea. Drop in eight to 10 grams of loose leaf tea (or two tea bags), fill it with room temperature water, snap in the cap, then pop it in the fridge overnight. (12 to 18 hours is best.) The tea will steep gently in the cold water, and the next morning, you’ll have one liter of excellent chilled tea to get you through the day. There’s a metal mesh filter in the cap that keeps all of the leaves in the bottle when you pour. It’s super easy to clean, too. Give it a quick rinse and brew another batch.
