Monday, October 7, 2013

IQ Innovations 51552 Fine T 4-Cup Gourmet Tea Machine



Great tea maker, not perfect.
The Fine T Tea maker from IQ innovations.

Good:
-Makes 4 cups
-Has a rinse feature for tea. Although I would like to tweak that a bit.
-Mostly stainless steal and glass.
-Mostly very well made.
-Self cleaning, handy.
-Infusion basket is full size, so the tea has room to expand. It also is removable, and easy to clean sense it is stainless steal. This was one major draw back of the Zarafina, it's infusion basket was only half the size of the amount you could brew.
-Timer, it can be set the night before to make you tea in the morning!
-Has an automatic function for a second brew.
-Keeps tea warm for up to 30 minutes.
Bad:
-Very little temperature control. I though this would be the best part of this machine, with the lcd display and menu interface I assumed I would have more temperature chooses then 205 and 160. This also is to cold for some Black teas, and a bit to hot for some white teas.
-It's huge! Well this...

Live the presets or you'll be lost - Andrew is so right
Andrew's review is right on spot. I bought one and fully agree with the details in Andrew's review. The real show stopper is that you just cannot edit the programs or do any manual setting of timing or temperature and indeed the programs only offer either 160 or 205 degrees, NOTHING between.

Put China White Yin Zen Silver Needle into this machine and you'll get dishwater, regardless which program you try. This tea, like many other white teas, needs 176 degrees. So, with this tea maker you have to choose your tea according to the programs available. Well, this really is not my cup of tea....

You Don't Always get What You Pay For
Great Idea; Nice design; If it only worked....
I should have paid attention to all the other reviews that mentioned leaking or the diffuser pot that never empties. The machine leaks, is a workout to clean, and is limited in its "8" programs that in truth provide limited individual adjustment (none).
The manufactuer provided limited support -- "8" weeks to to examine the product and determine if a return was in order (sounds like the future of health care on a good day).
Hats off to Amazon for stepping up and taking a return of the item after 30 days of frustrting use.
I purchased the Adajio Trini Tea for one third the cost; ran 5 test runs through it with junk tea to exercise the "new" out of product, and it is perfect in comparison.
Stay away from this item unless you are purchasing it as a gift for someone you dislike, and are funded to do such things.

Click to Editorial Reviews

No comments:

Post a Comment