Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I got this tea maker for my wife who is really into loose leaf teas right now. Amazon's price was much cheaper then local tea shops like Teavana, etc. I had not seen this "Flash Chill" model before and based on the pictures, like that the brewing cup was much longer then others so you do not have to brew a whole pot if you only want half. I later realized why it is called the Flash Chill and that the longer brew cup has extra bonus uses. Unlike the other models were the brewing area is only about 1/3 of the way into the pot, this one goes almost to the bottom. It is intended for brewing a double strong half pot and then filling the rest of the maker with ice so it chill very fast, hence the "Flash Chill' name. It works great for it's intended purpose and brews great tea that can be chilled very quickly and consumed right away without waiting. I also discovered that the longer brew cup is great for teas that expanded greatly. We have a couple of loose leaf teas that triple or quadruple in size and this handles them with room to spare. I am not a tea expert, but I believe this tea maker lets the tea expand and seep much better then if the tea was constricted like it would be in a smaller tea maker. You can also use this large brew cup to add fresh fruit to teas after brewing, or lemonades, etc. without the seeds or pulp getting in the beverage. This additional use as an infuser is a great bonus. Pros: Large brew cup gives lots of options Handles boiling water right from electric kettle Water tight seal so it can be stored on it's side Flash Chill preparation option gives you fresh time without the wait Con: May be too big to stand up in all fridges, but can be laid on it's side