(Part 3) Best teapots & coffee servers according to redditors

If you're really looking for a kettle, I'd forgo the cast iron and get an electric kettle with a programmable temperature setting and a gooseneck spout. Having a temperature setting is great for teas that require sub-boiling temperatures, and a gooseneck makes pouring easier, whether you're using a pot or a gaiwan. Cast iron really isn't necessary for making good tea, and a good tetsubin will cost you several hundred dollars.

If what you're actually looking for is a cast iron teapot like one of these, I'd advise against it. Anything that's intended to be used as a teapot will have a coating of enamel on the inside, which won't develop a rust patina. The only benefit you really get from a cast iron teapot is heat retention, which you can get from other materials as well. That being said, since greens don't generally require high heats, you don't really need to worry about heat retention in your brewing vessel. If your girlfriend is into Chinese tea, maybe look at getting a gaiwan or a Chinese clay teapot. If she's into Japanese greens, go for something like a Tokoname or Banko pot.

I got my gaiwan from Amazon. But I really like a lot of Yunnan Sourcing's chinese teaware.

I bought my western ceramic from Adagio

I think a brewing basket is one of the cheapest and most effective solutions for brewing tea. It brews a whole mug, most tea (yes even the delicate Chinese stuff that you're supposed to brew in a gaiwan) comes out delicious and it's really all you ever need.

TL;DR : Tea.

Long version :

Tea is not a beverage. It is a ritual. When done right, tea is a god damn spiritual experience.

How to do tea right on the cheap.

• Tea bags. No. Just...no. No no no 10000 times no. Loose leaf tea is essential to making this the ritual it deserves to be. I can't recommend Adagio enough. Good service, quick shipping, and good quality for not much $. if you're totally new to the whole "tea as an experience" thing, I highly suggest one of the sampler packs. $10-$15 for several blends of various varieties!
  
• Get a glass pot with a glass infuser. Lots to be said about ceramic as well, and yes glass teaware must be handled with great care...but part of the magic is watching things happen. Whatever you do, avoid metal teaware, as it can alter the taste, especially of "less stable" blends. MANY glass teapots are sold with metal infusers, so be careful. My personal favorite is Grosche teaware, and a very nice little glass pot/glass infuser set can be had from Amazon for $30.
  
• Warm up your teaware before steeping. While the kettle is boiling, fill the pot (with infuser in it) with hot tap water and let it sit. Bring the teaware up to a warm temperature first, so you don't lose heat during the steeping process to warming the cold teaware.
  
  ---
  
  The suggestions above aren't meant to turn you into a highly experienced tea connoisseur overnight (or even at all...though if they start you on your way, the more's the better)
  
  What they WILL do, however, is turn tea into a ritualistic relaxation experience of epic proportions.
  
  You'll open a new container of a new blend, and you won't smell the tea...you'll TASTE it with your entire olfactory system.
  
  You'll putter around measuring out the right amount of leaf...you'll carefully handle your glass teaware...you'll take the time to prepare carefully...and you'll realize that this is all part of the experience. it's your own time to do something with patience and attention and craftsmanship.
  
  You'll set the infuser of tea into the teapot of hot water, and a whole new set of scents and flavors will greet you.
  
  You'll watch as some leaves open up, others close, some float, some sink, as the entire blend is alive, and moves around, and this very action is part of what mixes flavors and oils and leaves.
  
  You'll savor the anticipation of the few minutes you allow things to steep, as you watch the color change from clear to light to dark to whatever color you prefer.
  
  Days and weeks and months and years spent steeping different blends at different temps for different times will reward you with an entirely new palette.
  
  And all it takes is a few bucks, and the willingness to devote 10 minutes of your day to learning a new skill. :)
  
  ---
  
  Don't bash me, other tea snobs. :) Yes, there's LOTS of superior sources for high end blends and high grade leaf, and LOTS of different ways to steep and prep and enjoy, and a ZILLION arguments about the best materials and so on.
  
  The above is simply an introduction designed to open the door for someone whose tea experience to date has been Lipton bags in a microwaved mug of water. :)
  
  
  

https://www.amazon.com/Luxtea-Double-walled-Borosilicate-Heat-resisting-Teacup10pcs/dp/B018VIVXJO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1539342368&sr=8-3&keywords=luxtea+double+walled+glass

It's a really fun cup for blooming tea

Notes on french press (caffetiere) from a coffee geek:

• "Keeps your coffee warm for longer" is shit. When you brew coffee (or whatever, tea, tisane, etc.) with a french press, once it's ready, you decant it ASAP, or it continues to brew, and will over-extract, i.e. become bitter.
  
  
• "Outside stays cool" Well you're meant to hold it by the handle anyway.
  
  
• Don't brew coffee with the caffetiere if you don't like that flavour in particular, get a Woodneck or an Aeropress for a similar price. The Aeropress brews superb coffee in no time. Woodneck is a cloth filter brewing method and produces nice coffee + no paper filter needed. Pourover brewers like the V60 or the Melitta Cone are available in the price range of $2-$30 (plastics cost the lowest, metals the most, glass in between). If you can afford it a Syphon brewer produces the best filter coffee IMO. Any of these produce better coffee than a caffetiere, whose product is usually too bitter and too strong in body.
  
  
• If you break a caffetiere in any other way than dropping it on the ground, you're using it wrong. Plunge gently, take your time.
  
  
• For tea and tisane I like these kind-a guys better. The plunge extracts bitters from all sorts of stuff, it's no good IMO.
  
  

How large?

Hario makes a couple different 700mL glass teapots that you can get on amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007WTBQ0

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002GYVDKO

I put my hario teapot on a stand over a tea candle. You could do the same with the Chemex.

DecentGadget High Heat Resistant Borosilicate Glass Teapot Warmer With A Candle As A Gift (teapot warmer) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DJZ8Q12/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_SFu4xbGJQWBYE

Not the same thing but this has the same function.

This looks like the cup: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018VIVXJO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Hfz0xbVHHNHW2

I got the teapot here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016RIGJVC/
It comes with the pouch and styrofoam insert for the teapot and 2 small gongfu cups.

When traveling, I usually drink alone, so I just wanted a glass the size of the teapot to avoid having a fairness pitcher.
I bought these glasses https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GG0RNX0/ that matches the pot volume, and cut out the styrofoam to make it fit.

I use one of these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Stump-teapot-turquoise-18oz/dp/B004FR4PN2/ref=sr_1_7?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1504786365&sr=1-7&keywords=teapot

Has a strainer built in, so you just chuck 2tsp of leaves in and then pour into your mug.

I haven't found a good single-cup Cezve other than from STC, so that's what I use. For 2 cups (I use 130ml of water), this one works really well:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LRIR66A/

...it's definitely NOT manufactured at the same quality level as the STC cezves, but it's more than acceptable. For 3 cups (190ml), this one is pretty good:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079KWDWSP/

If you go the butane burner route, this is the exact same burner that STC sells, but for a bit less:

https://www.amazon.com/BrewGlobal-Coffee-Gear-Stainless-RK4203/dp/B01CXNZYB6/

I own two of those and they work really well. I haven't found a good stand for this style of burner other than the one STC sells, so I use that one.

For a stirrer, any small wooden spoon will do.

Your Lido will do a good turkish grind, tho you may want to order pre-ground from Henry's or some of that Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi ::cringe:: to get a feel for the grind size you should try to target.

I've been using some hand-made ceramic cups from Israel recently:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/9kjwka2meiw0u5s/cups.jpg?raw=1

...but these work quite nicely for doubles:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073DVP3T3/

Yup there's a few of these that look super similar, I really like the cup material and it makes sipping the tea so enjoyable! The exact one I got was this:

OMyTea® Portable Travel Tea Set - 100% Handmade Chinese / Japanese Vintage Kungfu Gongfu Tea Set - Porcelain Teapot & Teacups & Bamboo Tea Tray & Tea https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014XQ97ZU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_dnJRQhwJIvwxG

Oh and the gaiwan is this one:

Chinese Style XL Gaiwan Tea Cup /Coffee Cup (250ml) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NHWWBKK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_41ut2HA6xYNFF

Consider a pourover rig instead. Aeropress tastes great but the one cup limitation is a pain. Look into Hario V60 or a Chemex. I think if you liked FP a V60 is better (chemex can be so clean it is less coffee-like after a hearty french press).

http://www.amazon.com/Hario-V60-Coffee-Server-1000ml/dp/B001V7NN1Y/ref=sr_1_23?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1454076882&sr=1-23&keywords=hario+v60 plus

http://www.amazon.com/Hario-VDG-03B-Glass-Coffee-Dripper/dp/B00B7XJVUE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1454076914&sr=8-1&keywords=hario+v60+03

THis will make a fairly large amount of good coffee. However you can also go for the smaller servers (600 ml size and the 02 size cone) which are more common and have cheaper filters.

OMyTea® "Quick Cups" Portable Travel Kungfu Tea Set - 100% Handmade Chinese / Japanese Style (White) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016RIGJVC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ZgayybPVSWDTQ

This is a gong fu set that I bought I really like it but I've seen a nice black gaiwan on there a few times.

I got this tea set and I enjoy it.

The tea pot is the best tea pot I have out of all my others, however, the cups aren't perfect. They kinda retain a lot of heat, so make sure you only fill them up about half way so you don't hurt your hands. They are Japanese style tea cups, so they are very large, about half way is pretty much the same amount you'd get from your usual Chinese restaurant style cups anyways.

I have this one from Music city tea that I enjoy. Although you'll want to fly with it in your carry on bag. I've always eyed this one on amazon but can't justify buying it since I already have a travel set.

*formatting

The one you linked was my second option but it was just ever-so-slightly smaller than I wanted. Here's the one I got https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079KWDWSP. It is 8oz to the neck (10oz is completely filled with no room for the foam). It has no pattern and the handle is removable (which I like for cleaning). The tin coating is slightly imperfected but appears to be thick enough that I do not mind the small indentations. Overall I'm happy with it and it appears to heat evenly and has a wide enough base to cover enough of the small burner on my stove (I was worried about that with some of the smaller size cezve).

> hario teapot

Like these:

Hario Chacha Kyusu Maru Tea Pot (700ml) Hario https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007WTBQ0/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_bxaHzbVRCQ14M via @amazon

Hario Fukami Tea Pot (700ml) Hario https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BD1O0WO/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_wAaHzbACZRYP5 via @amazon

Hario Pure Glass Tea Pot (700ml) Hario https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002GYVDKO/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_exaHzb99HJJDR via @amazon

At 700 mL (23.7 oz) they seem a bit small compared to the other 40 oz pots I've been looking at. Thanks for the recommendation, though!

Many of the vendors in the sidebar offer good tea trays. If you like to buy through Amazon they also have a huge selection there, such as this standard style drip tray which offers both a open slat grid for quick drainage and a pull-out plastic tray for easy dumping and clean-up.

I just started playing LoL. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

These are basically amazing.

And I am absolutely in love with this stuff.

Amazon UK :)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Stump-teapot-Graphite-Black/dp/B004FR4PN2?th=1

Winco JB2932 Gooseneck Teapot, 32-Ounce https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001EO17DA/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_Gfjkub1DNB3X7

Its 8 bucks, it'll get the job done mate. You don't need nothing fancy from hario or kalita they're super overpriced the only thing is that they're cool looking but that's about it.

Under $10:
This is so adorable!


Between $10-$20:
This stuff. You will want a lot of it once you try it.

No Limits:
This is pretty and seems to appeal to two of your interests!


Thanks for the contest and I hope your week is going better!

[edit: Also this because it is too cute!]


[Edit edit: Okay, no, you need this

here's the scale. beautiful, but definitely not cheap.

this isn't the server in the back, but it's close

turns out hario makes another server with that handle. this is probably it.

I've had this guy for years and I really love how it looks. You can also use this directly on the stove if you really wanted to (I don't but I've read reviews that said they do)

A mattress topper will make your bed feel ten times more comfortable

As for me I would like this tea pot

Congrats on the job and good luck!

Have you tried checking amazon? I've found a few that aren't too expensive: this one and this one.

http://www.amazon.com/Winco-JB2932-Gooseneck-Teapot-32-Ounce/dp/B001EO17DA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1464385871&sr=8-1&keywords=metal+teapot

[I think i'll be going with this one since I get a bit more capacity] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001V7NN1Y/ref=ox_sc_act_image_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER)

I got this one last week.

It seems pretty decent so far, but the only other gaiwan I have to compare it with was a birthday gift (from Amazon as well.) It's black clay on the outside with white inside, but I HATE the way it feels/sounds, so it's hanging out in the box still.

600 ml is too small. I'd ever bought a one in that size. It's too small. I then bought this 900 ml glass teapot from Amazon. It's beautiful and useful. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DLI79WY/ref=s9_dcacsd_dcoop_bw_c_x_3_w

I have a small teapot with the strainer built into the top. Some other redditor recommended it and it's awesome. Here it is.

[Stores do it all the time]https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01DW1HQ7S/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1503948493&sr=8-7&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=gaiwan+gongfu&dpPl=1&dpID=51-N11E1VzL&ref=plSrch

Starting out places: TeaSource.com Harney.com and Adagio are great. Use CatShip19 til the end of May to reduce Teasource's free shipping to $30. Harney is always free shipping. Adagio, I'd have to look up.

I can't really recommend a tea cup without knowing your brewing preferences. Are you brewing for one or more? Do you like to have frequent small cups (consider gaiwan or gungfu style), like to brew at your desk (just get an in-mug infuser) or if you want a simple tea-pot: I love the style of ones that have a metal basket and lid that pop out for easy cleaning (link for ref, but I don't know the brand). Big glass tea-pots are nice for show. Clay supposedly can improve taste (?).

Personally - I make milk based Chai in a pot on the weekends, otherwise most of my tea is brewed with the linked in-mug infuser basket in a beautiful hand thrown clay mug from a local pottery shop. I suggest going this route until you know what types of tea you like - then you can buy the gear best suited to brew that style.

Your comment got removed by Reddit's filters because the URL can be traced back to an Amazon wishlist. You can avoid this by removing parts of the link after the Amazon item number which would look like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01J7AWNDA/

Teapots are often different from kettles, so figure out which one (or both) you want.

If you're thinking about a kettle, the electric ones are fantastic and the most efficient way to heat water. If you get one with tea temp settings or digital temperatures, you'll be perfectly set up.

Teapots come in many shapes and sizes and are good for different proposes. A 100 mL Chinese-style teapot is great for gongfu for one person, while a 500 mL is great for a party.

It's really a matter of what aesthetic you prefer. There are many styles of teapots and ways of using them. Here are some tips:

1. You want a spout that pours nicely, so avoid overly rounded ones. This matters less if you choose a tiny teapot meant for pouring into a sharing pitcher, as you're gonna totally invert the thing while pouring.
   
   
2. Use a fine filter. This could be fine mesh or a stainless steel basket with tiny holes.
   
   
3. Ensure there's room for tea leaves to expand - don't use a tea ball or similarly-sized filter.
   
   
4. Pay attention to the size of the teapot. I think 150-300 mLs is perfect, but that's just me.
   
   
5. Have a plan for timed steeps. If you're using a sharing pitcher, you just pour the liquor out at the right time. If you're keeping the liquor in the teapot, you'll need a place to put the strainer.
   
   Here are some example styles of teapots that are very nice for loose leaf:
   
   

• Japanese cast iron https://www.amazon.com/Workshop-Japanese-Tetsubin-Stainless-Infuser/dp/B01NBP0OMU. You can heat it up with hot water first and it'll keep your tea warm. Edit: I don't really recommend these unless you know the enamel inside is really good.
  
  
• Tiny Chinese teapots https://m.aliexpress.com/item/32805509797.html. This is meant to go with a sharing or fairness pitcher and fine mesh strainer that goes on top.
  
  
• Glass teapots https://www.amazon.com/Teapot-Kettle-Warmer-Infusers-Flowering/dp/B01BRVAZU0/. This one comes with a nice strainer that can also be used in a mug. These are nice for blooming teas as well.
  
  
• All stainless https://www.amazon.com/Venoly-Stainless-Removable-Dishwasher-Resistant/dp/B01M0AXSH1/. For that aesthetic. Also comes with multipurpose strainer.
  
  
• A general-purpose starter teapot https://www.amazon.com/FORLIFE-Stump-Teapot-Infuser-18-Ounce/dp/B00345U3C8/. I've heard they drip a little but everyone likes them.

Hm, I'm not trying to break the bank here, do you think [this] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001EO17DA/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_lDlIwbX4DGZCP) would work pretty well? I think it was posted a while back and it's a third of the price of a gooseneck kettle so that's a pretty nice bonus.

Now, now, that is not the right attitude when it come to the nation's beverage of choice. Get yourself a nice two cup teapot and transform your cuppa. Something with a basket is good, so that you can dabble with loose leaf too.

This one pops up in most trendy little coffee shops, but cheaper options are very much available. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004FR4PN2/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_wvsGDbGMT6S8S

I will chime in as pro-pu! My go-to grandpa setup at the office is:

One square 8-9g tuo from Yunnan Sourcing - I am really enjoying this one, though be aware it expands A LOT. I tried to use a gaiwan with it once...never again. It was like some many-tentacled sea creature. https://yunnansourcing.com/products/jiu-wan-cube-ripe-pu-erh-tea-tuo-cha

Brewed in this cup with strainer BECAUSE the strainer is fine enough to put on TOP of the leaves and I can drink w/o sucking in leaf. https://www.amazon.com/Tea-Forte-Brewing-Ceramic-Blossoms/dp/B01KVSGRHU?th=1 Just remove the strainer when you top off so the water can agitate everything.

I have a Breville one-touch, which is similar to the Hamilton Beach 40865 Glass Kettle except it has the basket. You definitely will need something that allows you to monitor water temperature or else you run the risk of scorching your tea, which makes it very bitter.

I'm personally more of a mug person, because I like to drink my tea 16oz at a time so things like Travel Tea Set by Music City Tea don't appeal to me because size. When I was new to loose leaf and before I got my Breville I used this because it's a low-cost, low commitment apparatus that's super easy to use. That way, you're not spending a lot of money on something you don't know if you'll even be into. It's not as cute, or as fancy, but it's a cost-effective introduction to loose leaf.

That being said, you definitely want an infuser that allows the tea leaves to expand, like a basket or teapot-basket combo because tea leaves love to expand. I also think expanded tea leaves produce better flavor, but that might be just me.

The far off land of Amazon.com! [here it is] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DW1HQ7S?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share)

I had one of these and it’s OK but I don’t use it anymore. Eventually the seal will leak from the bottom, it’s not as easy to clean as they make it look (lots of tea leaf flecks get stuck in the mesh filter) and the plastic carafe/mesh filter soak up the color/flavor of your teas over time so you might find your earl grey tasting like chai down the road.

Also there’s no way to remove the tea leaves once it’s finished steeping, so if you’ve made more than a single cup you’ll have to transfer it to a new container or have a really strong second cup. It’s a neat invention, but I went back to a more traditional ceramic that works better for me, I can remove the leaves once the steep is done, and is easier to clean.

Edit: This isn’t exactly the same one I have, but it’s very similar and I’ve been really happy with it - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078ZKPY25/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ibN4AbWNDSARA

I was gifted one of these some years ago and still use it frequently. They've improved upon the strainer, mine is a round-bottomed steel mesh, so I may upgrade. I sometimes use a ceramic infuser cup that I picked up in Korea, but it's awkward to clean in my less-than optimal office setting (no kitchen). For that reason, as someone else commented, I've often just been using paper tea bags I bought on Amazon that I can scoop my loose-leaf into and just tossing them. Hoping to find a proper travel set that would work for the office to have a more meditative experience.

Amazon!

Ufine Large Tea Serving Tray 19.7 in Large Bamboo Wood Chinese Gongfu Tea Set Table Tray Box With Water Storage Drainage Tray for 6 Adults Tea Ceremory Party in Home Office Restaurant Reception Room https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GZLHPW2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_51xODb09HVVH3

An Aeropress and some of her favorite coffee maybe? Or a Yama teapot or a water bottle infuser. Or a stylish teapot. People swear that the aeropress makes the best cup of coffee they've ever had, if you go that route then picking up extra filters and coffee should bring you around that $50 mark.

I have a nifty little teapot with a built in strainer, like this:

Ecooe Glass Teapot 30 Oz Loose Leaf Tea Maker Stovetop Safe Tea Kettle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DLI79WY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_WXZoybJ6DP8B8

I wonder how sensitive kratom is when making tea, like if time and temp really matter a lot. I mean sensitive like thc, where you have to be really careful.

Typically I add about 10g to my teapot, pour in some grapefruit juice (or lemon) and simmer about 20-30 minutes. I am just curious what nuisances really matter you know?