Instructions for Mr. Coffee Tea Maker

The Mr. Coffee Tea Maker brews the perfect pitcher of iced tea almost instantaneously. It's a quick and convenient alternative to brewing hot tea and cooling it or making sun tea. Upon receiving your tea maker, you might have questions about how to operate the device. Following some steps and preparing your device will have your tea maker brewing tea quickly and efficiently.

Instructions
1- Fill the pitcher with water to the one, two or three quart level indicated on the side of the pitcher. Pour the water from the pitcher into the reservoir (the main unit of the tea maker) with the steeping basket removed.
2- Place a filter (preferably Mr. Coffee brand) into the basket, so that the filter fits snugly against the bottom and edges. Place the desired amount of teabags or loose tea inside the filter in the basket. Use 8 to 12 regular sized teabags or 3 to 5 level tablespoons of loose tea for three quarts of iced tea, 6 to 10 teabags or 2 to 4 tablespoons of loose tea for two quarts, and 3 to 5 teabags or 1 to 3 tablespoons of loose tea for one quart. If the tea is herbal, you might need more tea bags. If you like, add lemon, sugar or flavorings to the basket during this time. Slip the basket on top of the water reservoir into its slot until you hear an audible click. Place the lid on top of the basket. Confirm that the steeping dial located on the front of the steeping basket is set to "closed."
3- Place plenty of ice cubes into the pitcher to fill it to the corresponding one-, two- or three-quart capacity, and put the lid on the pitcher. Open the spout on the lid and slip the ice-filled pitcher under the lip of the machine, spout first. Confirm that the spout is directly beneath the brewing basket lip, or the tea might miss the pitcher while brewing.
4- Plug the tea maker's cord into an AC wall outlet and turn the device on by pushing the "ON" button, which is located on the front of the machine below the label. You will see the indicator light next to the "On" button illuminate. Your tea will begin to brew into the pitcher, melt the ice cubes and chill the beverage.
5- Allow the brew cycle to finish completely. The illuminator light will turn off after the cycle has finished. Drain the rest of the tea in the steeping basket by turning the steeping dial to "Open." The remaining tea will pour into the pitcher. If you would like to add an extra boost of strength to your tea, wait a few minutes before draining the excess tea from the basket.

How to Tell How Much Coffee to Purchase

Making coffee is not an exact science; much of it is personal preference. Some people like very strong coffee with no cream or sugar and others prefer a milder flavor and enjoy adding sugar, cream or flavored creamers. When deciding how much coffee to purchase to make a specific number of cups, or when making coffee for a large group, it is wise to make a medium-strength coffee and purchase accordingly.

Instructions
1- Determine how many cups of coffee you wish to make. If you are purchasing coffee for personal use, estimate how many cups you drink per day and multiply by 14. Ideally, you should purchase fresh coffee every two weeks. If you are preparing coffee for a large group, estimate the number of coffee drinkers and multiply by the number of hours the event will last.
2- Divide the number of cups by 60 to calculate the number of pounds of coffee you will need. For instance, if you need 360 six-ounce cups of coffee you will need to purchase six pounds of coffee grounds.
3- Estimate on the high side and freeze the unused coffee grounds for later use. For instance, if you estimate six pounds, buy seven to ensure you have enough.

Tips & Warnings
Purchase creamer and sugar according to the number of servings listed on the package. Estimate high to avoid running out as both have a long shelf life.

How to Brew a Pot of Coffee

Drip, or filtered, coffee can be made in electric drip coffeepots or simply by placing a filter holder over a pot or cup.

Instructions

Using an Electric Drip Coffeepot
1- Fill the coffeemaker's carafe with fresh, cold water.
2- Place a filter in the coffeemaker's filter basket.
3- Add 2 tbsp. coffee for every 6 oz. of water. (Sometimes the cups marked out on the carafe are more than 6 oz., so check your coffeemaker's instructions to see.)
4- Pour the water into the coffeemaker's reservoir and place the carafe on its base.
5- Turn the coffeemaker on.

Using a Filter Holder (Manual Method)
1- Boil water, then let it rest for a few minutes to achieve the optimum temperature (195 to 205 degrees F).
2- Place a filter holder over a coffeepot or cup.
3- Place a filter in the holder.
4- Add 2 level tbsp. ground coffee per 6 oz. of water, or 2 oz. coffee per quart of water.
5- Pour a small amount of water - about 3 tbsp. - over the grounds to wet them.
6- Wait a few seconds for the grounds to expand.
7- Pour the rest of the water over the grounds. Let the water drip through the grounds, but be sure to remove the grounds before the last of the water has drained into the pot or cup. Coffee grounds can overextract and get a bitter taste.

Tips & Warnings
Make sure you have the right size and shape of filter for your pot: either a cone-shaped filter or a flat-bottomed filter.
Filter holders are available in a wide range of sizes.
Keep the coffee warm on a burner or hot plate for no more than 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, coffee becomes bitter. Reheating coffee increases its bitterness and is not recommended.

What Is Chinese Red Tea?

Of all the Chinese teas, red teas are perhaps the most famous. There are several varieties of Chinese red tea, and their flavors and colors vary depending on the leaves. When their leaves are seeped, Chinese red tea will have a brilliant and distinct red color. Its flavor can be dominant and robust, or it can be mild. Its taste has the ability to linger after you swallow it.

History
Qimen Kung Fu Red Tea, a revered tea, has been enjoyed since the Qing Dynasty in the late 1800s. According to "The Chinese Kitchen," by Deh-Ta Hsiung, most tea in China was green tea until then, when an unemployed official moved to Qimen, a tea-producing area, and cultivated new blends. He felt that by introducing his bright and bold red teas, he would redeem his reputation.

Red or Black?
What the Chinese call red tea, Americans call black tea. All tea evolves from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. What makes a tea's flavor and coloring different from other teas is the way the leaves are processed.

Benefits
Chinese red tea is thought to be beneficial in relieving headaches, muscle aches, dizziness, insomnia and heat stroke. Also, it may help prevent cancer, act as an antioxidant and slow the aging process.

Three Varieties
There are three classes of Chinese red tea. They are Qimen Kung Fu Red Tea, Ted Te Bits and Small Species Red Tea.

Brewing
Traditional tea drinkers believe that loose teas are better and more flavorful. While most people drink Chinese teas plain, some people often add sugar and milk to teas for a richer taste and aroma.

Why Drink Red Tea?

Red tea, or rooibos (pronounced roy-bus) tea, is native to South Africa and has been used for more than 200 years. This naturally sweet and spicy tea is known for its healthful properties, including reducing inflammation, and its high level of antioxidants.

Red Tea vs. Black Tea
Red tea is not made from the same plant as black tea and has a different chemical makeup. Rooibos tea has no caffeine and much less tannin, which can inhibit the absorption of iron. If you are pregnant, switching to rooibos tea might be a good idea.

Inflammation and Allergies
The text "Prescriptions for Herbal Healing" notes that rooibos tea can help reduce inflammation and allergies, possibly by interfering with histamine in the body.

Antioxidants
Like green tea, red tea is high in flavonoids and polyphenol compounds, antioxidants that help prevent the onset of problems that come with ageing.

Insomnia
Red tea, according to "Prescriptions for Herbal Healing," can help with insomnia by preventing firing of the neurons that keep the brain awake.

Red Tea's Reach
Though rooibos tea had been consumed by native South Africans for centuries, red tea was not introduced beyond African countries until the 20th century.

Who Makes Red Tea?

Red tea is actually a black tea made from the rooibos plant. The tea has many medicinal benefits and can be consumed hot or iced. It has a distinct reddish hue when brewed, and most brands are caffeine free.

Significance
Red tea is a powerful antioxidant. It also contains anti-bacterial properties and is hailed for its hypoallergenic abilities, making red tea an all-natural treatment for many skin ailments.

Identification
The Red Rose tea brand has been a familiar sight in grocery stores for generations. Red Rose, identified by the red rose on the tea tags, first came to the United States in 1920.

Potential
Try Authentic Pure Red Tea from Africa for its potential to help with insomnia. Made from red bush trees indigenous to Africa, this blend is caffeine-free and available flavored with vanilla, orange, rose and berries.

Types
Celestial Seasonings makes an African Red Tea, a Moroccan Pomegranate Red Tea, and an African Safari Red Tea. They are available flavored with orange, mango, vanilla and spice.

Features
Twinings offers an African Rooibos caffeine-free tea that has a pleasingly sweet taste and contains healthy antioxidants.

Considerations
Consider Kalahari Red Tea, an all-natural, caffeine-free, antioxidant rich red tea that can be enjoyed hot or cold. It has a pleasantly mild and sweet taste and is made from the pure rooibos plant of South Africa.

How do I Mix Green & Red Tea?

Second only to water, tea has been a popular beverage for thousands of years. Served hot or iced, tea can start the day, bring refreshment during a hot afternoon, be part of a light snack or bring a busy day to a relaxing close. Although black tea has been a popular favorite in the West for centuries, other varieties such as green tea and South African rooibos or red tea have recently made inroads in tea houses, coffee shops and supermarkets worldwide. A blend of red and green teas can be a tasty treat served hot or cold.

Instructions

Preparation
1- Bring five to six cups of water to a boil in your teakettle.
2- Pour approximately 1/4 cup boiling water into your teapot . Slosh it around to preheat your teapot.
3- Pour out the boiling water.
4- Add your your tea one teaspoon at a time. The rule of thumb is one spoon for me, one spoon for you, one for the pot and one for company. For this recipe, use two spoons of green tea and two of red tea.
5- Pour the remaining hot but not boiling water into your teapot until it is 3/4 full. If the water is too hot, it will scorch the tea leaves and ruin the flavor.

Preparation
1- Bring five to six cups of water to a boil in your teakettle.
2- Pour approximately 1/4 cup boiling water into your teapot . Slosh it around to preheat your teapot.
3- Pour out the boiling water.
4- Add your your tea one teaspoon at a time. The rule of thumb is one spoon for me, one spoon for you, one for the pot and one for company. For this recipe, use two spoons of green tea and two of red tea.
5- Pour the remaining hot but not boiling water into your teapot until it is 3/4 full. If the water is too hot, it will scorch the tea leaves and ruin the flavor.

Tips & Warnings
Wait approximately 60 seconds before adding the hot water to your tea.

How to Soften Dry Ice Tea Mix That Has Hardened

Dry iced tea mix allows you to make flawless iced tea at home any time; you don't even need to brew tea; all you need to be able to do is follow instructions. The mix already comes perfectly blended so that when prepared, it tastes like you've made a careful concoction of tea, lemon and sugar. Dry iced tea mix is also extremely portable and allows you to whip some iced tea up even when you're on the go, at the beach, swimming pool or while camping. However, if left in poor storing facilities, the tea mix may begin to harden.

Instructions
1- Stab very carefully at the dry iced tea mix with a butter knife and break off a chunk that is close to the size of the amount that you normally use when brewing a pitcher or glass of iced tea. Set that chunk in a large mug.
2- Pour 1 cup of water into a pot or kettle and bring it to a boil. Once the water is boiling, pour it immediately on top of the chunk of hardened iced tea mix.
3- Pound the moistened chunk of iced tea mix with a wooden spoon and stir it vigorously. The force of the spoon in combination with the hot water should soften it considerably. You can now use it to prepare instant iced tea, though you should let it cool first.

Tips & Warnings
Store your moistened iced tea mix in a plastic container in the fridge.
Never use iced tea mix if it is past the expiration date.

How to Extract Green Leaf Tea

Green Tea Extract is a supplement and can be made at home. Green tea has origins that are millions of years old and has been used since ancient times for various health reasons. According to a study from the University of Maryland's website, green tea may have numerous beneficial uses and health benefits. For example, green tea has been shown to lower the risk of heart disease, slow the aging process and encourage weight loss.

Instructions
1- Combine the tea with the mineral water. Cover the mixture with a lid.
2- Steep the tea for an hour at room temperature.
3- Pour the green tea extract into a clean cup using the cheesecloth to strain the green tea.
4- Chill for an hour in the refrigerator
5- Throw away the green tea left in the first container and wash the cheesecloth before reusing.

How to Dry Raspberry Leaves for Tea

Raspberry tea is a beverage that contains many beneficial properties. Vitamins A, B, C, and E, citric acid, calcium and potassium, among other nutrients, help this tea pack a powerful antioxidant punch. Choosing to drink raspberry tea may have health benefits including increased energy, and improved circulation. For pregnant women, raspberry tea is known as providing improved uterine tone. Naturally, raspberry tea can be purchased, but if you have access to raspberry bushes, both wild and domestic, then making your own tea can be a straightforward process.

Instructions
1- Pick stocks of raspberry leaves from a wild or domestic raspberry plants. It is advised to pick these leaves while the plant is blossoming because the leaves are most fresh at this time. Leaves that are picked later in the season can also be used, but those picked once the plant has produced fruit, will generally be of low quality and flavor.
2- Dry the stocks and leaves by laying them between two window screens -- any clean window screens can be used. Be sure to adequately space the leaves so that the drying process is faster. Lay these screens containing the raspberry leaves in a sunny and dry area such as the sidewalk or patio.
3- Allow the leaves to dry for approximately three days. Check the leaves to see if they have fully dried or if they need more time to dry.
4- Use the fully dried raspberry leaves to make wonderful hot or cold tea. Steep approximately 1/2 oz. of leaves for five to ten minutes in boiling water and enjoy a cup of hot tea or chill to make iced tea. Add honey, sugar, or lemon to sweeten the tea if you like.