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Can you brew loose leaf tea in a drip coffee maker? Yes, you can. Put the leaves in a paper filter, add water, press start. You'll get tea.
Here's the catch: tea is a lot lighter in flavor than coffee, so it's very likely your tea will pick up some coffee flavor from the machine. If that sounds fine to you, go for it. If you want tea that tastes like tea, a French press or an AeroPress will do a better job and they're easier to clean.
I keep a coffee pot right next to my kettles, so I get the temptation. I'll show you both: how to do it well in the coffee maker, and the two brewers I'd reach for instead.
This is the kind of machine most of us have: a basic 12-cup drip coffee maker like this BLACK+DECKER. Great for coffee. Here's why tea is trickier.
Coffee leaves oils behind. They build up in the brew basket, the carafe, and the spray head where the water comes out. Coffee is bold enough to cover that up. Tea isn't.
A delicate green or a floral oolong can come out tasting like yesterday's dark roast. Strong black teas and spiced herbals hide it better, which is why those are the best ones to try.
There's a second issue: water passes through the basket fast. Coffee grounds are fine and give up flavor quickly. Whole tea leaves need a few minutes to open up, so drip-brewed tea often comes out weaker than you'd expect.
If you want to try it, these steps give you the cleanest cup:
Best teas to try: black teas like Assam or English Breakfast, chai blends, rooibos, and hibiscus. They stand up to the near-boiling water most coffee makers use and hide a little leftover coffee flavor.
Teas to skip: green and white teas. Coffee makers run hot, close to boiling, and that makes delicate teas bitter. Here's why: Blog: Why is My Tea Bitter? It's Time and Temperature.
Good use case: a big batch of iced tea. Brew a strong pot of black tea and pour it over a pitcher of ice. More on that method in Blog: How to Make Iced Tea with Loose Leaf Tea.
A French press is basically a teapot with a built-in strainer. Add leaves, add hot water at the right temperature, wait, press, pour. You control the steep time, the leaves have room to open, and the glass rinses clean in seconds.
The classic is the Bodum Chambord. The 34 oz size makes about four mugs, and there's a 12 oz version if it's just you.
One tip: pour out all the tea once it's done. Pressing the plunger doesn't stop the leaves from steeping, so tea left in the press keeps getting stronger. Check price on Amazon.
If you already use your French press for coffee, give it a good wash with soap first, for the same reason as the coffee maker.
For one great cup, the AeroPress is my favorite. Leaves go in, water goes in, steep, then press through a paper filter. You get a clean, clear cup with no leaf bits, and cleanup is popping out the puck and rinsing.
I've made AeroPress tea all over the world. The AeroPress Clear is shatterproof and lets you watch the leaves. Check price on Amazon.
My full method and the teas to start with: Blog: Tea AeroPress: Why It Works Well and What Teas to Try First.
A drip coffee maker works in a pinch, especially for black tea, chai or a batch of iced tea. Just clean it first and expect a little coffee flavor. For tea you'll actually want to drink every day, a French press or an AeroPress is easier, cleaner and tastes better.
Drink yerba mate too? I tested that in a coffee maker as well: Blog: Can You Brew Yerba Mate in a Drip Coffee Maker with a Paper Filter? And if you're ready to set up a proper tea corner on a budget: Blog: Tea Setup Under $50: Kettle, Teapot & Mug.
Can you put tea bags in a coffee maker?
Yes. Put two or three tea bags in the filter basket (no paper filter needed) and brew. Same rules apply: clean the machine first and stick to sturdy black or herbal teas.
Will tea ruin my coffee maker?
No. Tea leaves are easy on a machine. Rinse the basket and run a plain water cycle afterward so your next pot of coffee doesn't taste like tea.
How much loose leaf tea do I use in a coffee maker?
About 1 heaping teaspoon per 8 ounces of water, plus a little extra since the brew is fast. For a full 12-cup pot, start with roughly 8 to 10 teaspoons of black tea.
Homework: brew the same black tea in the coffee maker and in a French press, side by side. Taste them both. You'll know which one to keep.