Customer Reviews

IQ Innovations 51552 Fine T 4-Cup Gourmet Tea Machine

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

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 really is not that bad, but it is almost twice the size of the Zarafina and does not really fit under my cupboards on the counter. Of course it does make 4 cups.
-Some oddly cheap plastic parts. For example the infusion lid is made of plastic and puts off a plastic smell when brewing black tea.
-An interface only a programmer would love. It is not terribly user friendly, yet it is not hard ether. It does end up being tedious to deal with.
-Bad viewing angle on the LCD, I am taller, and find myself leaning over to see it clear. If it had more features, I would be impressed, but when I can not even dial in a temperature I wonder why we need it for the basic settings. That is until you use the timer for tea in the morning, then you will like it.


Over all it has a feeling of a beta tea maker. A great first attempt for them, but obviously has a few bugs and corners that were cut un-neededly. You can tell they really understand what is important about brewing tea, with features including the pre rinse, but for some reason they fumble with only two temperature settings. Maybe they had internal pressure to cut costs or to rush its release? The tea comes out tasting great. Sure it is not as good as a gung fu method, but it is fairly close if you do not have time to make it by hand. So long as you don't need to brew at a temperature besides 160 or 205. If this tea maker was not so expensive, I would be more impressed, but at a retail price of $299 I would not recommend it unless you really needed 4 cups at a time, would like to wake up to fresh tea, or are independently wealthy. Now if you can pick one up on ebay for cheap, then thats a different story.

Ignoring price, it is better then the Zarafina. But considering retail price, the Zarafina is a much better buy.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

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....

I purchased the device about 5 months ago and my carafe recently cracked in the dishwasher (they say its safe for top rack). When I called to get a replacement I was originally told to check back in a couple of months as they are out of stock. I loved the device but I have to say the customer service is pathetic, especially for a device that costs as much as this one does. Inversely if your in the UK it appears the service is pretty good they can get you a carafe although to ship to US its 92$

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.

My first complaint with this tea maker is that it leaves liquid in bottom steep tray after brewing. No amount of draining will get it out, and it seems as if they only way is to do a full clean on the system after each brewing. Otherwise you get a paper towel, and you sop it up that way. Also, the interface isn't very good either. Another minor flaw is it is very hard to pour the tea out without spilling it. For 300 dollars I expect this to be the cream of the crop, and not a device that leaves tea from the last steep in the bottom container.

This tea maker does not adjust for altitude, it tries to heat water to 205 degrees no matter what -- in Colorado where water boils at 195 degrees this is a disaster. When you add water and turn it on, the water starts a vigorous boil and the tea maker never cuts off and starts the brewing process. I attempted to make tea twice and stopped after four cups of water boiled down to three. Result was I had to return for a refund.

This machine is not worth $300. The limited temperature settings are frustrating when you are a rule follower. The only reason I wanted it was I thought the 7 different settings would give me options for all tea products. The 205 or 160 degree limitations make this a bad tea machine. The Breville my sister has offers 5 temperature settings, but does not brew the tea for you. Product researchers should put the two machine types together to create a worthwhile tea machine. I do like the ease of use and the design. If there were more options for temperature it would be great.

I wholeheartedly agree with this comment a previous reviewer made:

"My first complaint with this tea maker is that it leaves liquid in bottom steep tray after brewing. No amount of draining will get it out, and it seems as if they only way is to do a full clean on the system after each brewing. Otherwise you get a paper towel, and you sop it up that way. Also, the interface isn't very good either. Another minor flaw is it is very hard to pour the tea out without spilling it. For 300 dollars I expect this to be the cream of the crop, and not a device that leaves tea from the last steep in the bottom container."

This alone should prevent ANYONE from spending a huge sum of money on this machine. It is unfortunate since it does make a great cup of tea. I bought this from Teavana and sent the first one back. They sent me a new one free of charge. The second one is also going back and I will get a refund! It is back to the Zarafina tea maker!!

This is a GREAT tea maker, most of the time. However, it will not work at high altitudes...I live in Denver, CO and the tea maker worked great for a few weeks, then sporadically will just boil and boil and boil. I inquired to IQ Innovations, and rep told me that they are aware of the problem, that they should not be selling to certain states, and I will be issued a full refund. It's a shame, because I really loved the convenience of the machine, but for $300, I prefer it work all of the time!

I am so surprised at the negative reviews for this!
I bought it a year ago, and it is an incredible product. It has literally changed my coffee habit from all day to one cup in the AM, then I switch to tea....I feel better, I seem to lose weight drinking tea, it's great all around. I find it really easy to use and I actually save on tea by using it. I have zero problems cleaning it. I returned 2 other tea makers before getting this....they were flimsy and inferior.

Any time I've tried to make tea on my own, it's been bitter or too weak..always not quite right. Now for a year I've had perfect tea every single day. I hated spending the money....and I am so glad I did. I also make a ton of iced tea. I never write reivews, and decided to write this because I am just about to purchase a second one as a gift....trust me, if it wasn't great I would never spend the money...especially not twice!!

It does leave liquid in the steeping unit....I just tip it over the counter into the sink. It takes 3 seconds...of course, take out the glass carafe before you do this!