Side by Side Comparison of: West Bend vs Mr. Coffee

I love this tea maker! The pitcher looks very nice almost like a glass pitcher but it's plastic. The sugar compartment is a nice touch. While it's true, not all of the sugar goes into the tea, I realized that it happens only if there is too much sugar (max is 1cup). Other than that it works perfect, no issues pouring like others have had.

This is the best tea maker ever. I'm so happy with my purchase. In the past, I've owned the classic Mr Coffee maker but decided against it as I remember that if the lip of the container wasn't precisely aligned with the tea maker, it would spill all over. After reading reviews on this brand, I decided to purchase it. No spills, easy to use, makes perfect tea. The only con to this machine (not a problem for me) is the condensation that is present on the back of the machine but a simply towel wipes it off. I'd highly recommend this iced tea maker

My roommate and I absolutely love this tea maker! We had previously had a tea maker that constantly leaked and we would have to add in ice and sugar and even more water after the tea was brewed! With this, you can get everything done in one go. I love how there is a separate sweetener compartment so that you can brew sweet tea without the hassle! Have already recommended this to many people and would buy again!

I had a different one from Mr Coffee and it had always been a little difficult to use and when it started leaking the tea all over the counter top while brewing I said "Enough" and started looking for a new one. The local stores here only carried different Mr Coffee models but I was not going to try another one of their's so I decided to take a chance on the West Bend and I am so glad I did!!!!!

This iced tea maker is amazing. It has a flavor diffuser but I don't flavor my tea but it is nice to know I could if I wanted to. Another nice thing is that the basket to hold tea bags is very easy to use. This iced tea maker will also allow for loose tea leaves but I use bags. I love the pitcher as it fits well and never drips off the sides of the pitcher when filling it up. I usually make it then pour it into another pitcher to keep in the fridge. It is a little noisy but not really bad and takes just a few minutes to make. I just can't say enough good things about this little iced tea maker. I use it several times a week and sometimes more than once a day depending on how hot the weather is. The clean up is fast and easy, has brew strength ability, brews quickly and flawlessly......what could be better? I did receive this on time and in excellent condition.

I've had this a little over a week and have made tea every couple of days. I don't sweeten mine, and so while I like having the option to sweeten it while brewing, I haven't used that option yet. The tea is good, it brews quickly, and the pitcher is solid (although plastic) and fine for storing it in the refrigerator. Clean-up is quick and easy. So far, I'm happy with my choice (I read reviews for every comparable maker out there). I would say that it creates a lot of steam as it brews, so if you keep it on a countertop underneath a cabinet, you may want to pull it out when you use it so that the steam isn't going directly into the wood of your cabinets. A minor point, but a practical tip.

Kinda odd. First you can only put 1qt of water at a time and run it. Next you can't see the water level, to much and it comes out the side. Next because the water flows from the side and not the center the paper filter folds over the bulk tea. I've folded down filter by the intake and that works. So a bunch of design things, but it works.

We have used one of these for years, then the brewing basket cracked. I looked for a replacement basket. No luck. Then I found this for less than a replacement pitcher, (without the brewing basket, so useless for me). So I ordered this one. There have been a couple changes, the top and basket are a different type of plastic, more transparent, possible less fragile? So I now have two complete iced tea makers minus one brewing basket. Overkill, but I love my iced tea!

This is pretty nifty. I use it almost every other day. It makes just the right amount of tea to last me for a few days. I have not had any problems with it leaking or any other issues. BTW - I use tea bags and have not used any coffee filters although it says to. Seems to me you shouldn't need filters unless you use loose tea. Pretty good tea-maker for the price.

Great product! I'm a caffeine addict but all the pop I"m drinking is doing a number on my stomach. This gizmo is great for making tea - you can either skip the ice and leave it hot or use ice for iced tea. It works with either tea bags or loose tea. No muss no fuss.

Second one I have bought. Works great. Don't drop the carafe on tile floor or you will be buying a new one too.

Hubby wanted to start drinking Iced Tea and this is a perfect little pitcher that fits in our fridge. I usually put 5 tea bags for each 2 quarts that I make and it's the perfect tasting tea! Tastes fantastic with a splash of lemonade to make it into an Arnold Palmer! Love it!!!

I originally gave this a 2 star review because making sweet tea in it was just terrible. However, we mostly drink unsweet, and after using it a hundred or so times for that (daily) I really like this little guy. It's very easy to pop some tea bags in, and fill up. The whole "measurement" thing with the ice works out perfectly, and you get cold tea. My biggest complaint, I guess, is that it makes tea VERY VERY strong. One tea bag is enough to really make two pitchers with this stuff on the lowest setting. I don't know what the magic is, but I can literally make a pitcher- divide it up between a few large tumblers, fill the tumblrs up and have a whole gallon made.

I chose this product after reviewing many others. When I received the product I put it to use. Pros= works as described. I have to learned thru a few uses that I will need to adjust amount of tea with selector to strong to create the tea that I like. Cons= when tea has been dispensed, it takes approximately ten minutes before you can make another batch. Machine shuts down to cool and reset power. Sweetener bucket does not use all sweetener thru process.

My other tea maker stopped brewing strong tea and there were parts I didn't like about it, so I thought I'd switch brands. Now I have strong tea again but another/different set of issues.

- The Pitcher - It's 2.75qt instead of the 3qt standard. Not a huge deal but it's noticeable. It's also a thinner/taller pitcher and it's hard plastic. (I like the hard plastic, my first/original "other tea maker" had a hard plastic and then they changed to a cheaper softer plastic. This one looks more like glass and is prettier. It also takes up less shelf space in the fridge. My only issue is that if you try to pour with the lid on, then it leaks everywhere. It pours fine with the lid off though.

- The Machine - It has several baskets, one for sugar, one for tea bags and one for loose tea. I like the extra baskets, though I'd recommend you not use the sweetener basket. Just dump the sugar into the pitcher before you start. It's been my experience the sugar all stays in the basket instead of in your tea. Also the surface of the baskets seem shinier and less likely to get stained by the tea. My other tea maker always looked disgusting because of all the tea stains everywhere. It's also a little weird to fill as there's not a "fill line" really, it's just a fill level bar. I'm not sure if you're supposed to fill below, above, or "to the line" though "to the line might be difficult since the line can't really be reached by the water level, just covered by it.

Anyway, it's a little weird, but it works very well, brews a nice strong tea that tastes great. Wish the pitcher didn't leak when the lid is on, but a small price to pay for a better system and a fridge friendlier pitcher.

Finally! An iced tea maker that doesn't leak all over the counter... This is BY FAR the best maker out there - I've looked at them all. The green is a little goofy, why lime green? But it's not ugly.

The only issue with this unit is the lid on the pitcher. As with many, if you don't pour the tea out at the perfect volume and angle, it drips everywhere. However, this one is fixable. If you make a simple modification as shown in the picture - leaks be gone...

Very pleased with this one!

I love the finished product and have learned to overlook the two problems I have encountered with this particular machine. The first problem I have had with the tea maker is the start button takes some wiggling and several pushes to get it to stay on. Secondly, the picture design is horrible. When you pour the water in the tea maker or try pouring a glass of tea, water or tea runs down the side of the picture all over whatever may be beneath. I would give this product a lower rating except for the fact that it makes the best brewed tea I have ever experienced with a tea maker. I have tried many other brands and this one makes the best tea. I would say the manufacturer should re-design the tea picture, which would make the West Bend tea maker one of the best on the market.

I like this iced tea maker a lot. It is very easy to make great-tasting tea with and it has saved me a lot of money already by brewing iced tea at home.My only complaint with this product is that when you have the lid on the pitcher to store the tea you've made, you can't just turn the lid from the "closed" to the "open" position while the lid is on the pitcher. You have to take the lid completely off (and it doesn't come off very easily) and put it back on. I contacted the manufacturer and they've said this is normal. Just doesn't seem right to me. Why even have the slots cut into the lid if you have to take it off anyway?

Like it, works well but honestly you could make tea the old fashioned way in a pot on the stove and just as easy but its nice and the pitcher with lid a plus you don't have with a pot.

I've owned one of these since perhaps late 2000 and only replaced it with a new one once. This time around the first one I received not only looked like the older model, but was missing all 3 blue pieces. BUT all hope was not lost, I was immediately shipped another. So today although it's 100+ degrees here in Dallas, TX, I'll sit on my shaded balcony and enjoy sipping my first cool delicious batch thanks to my new Mr. IceTea maker, The Seller, and Amazon.

Works good. No leaks. The lid is a little tricky to line up properly, but once you figure it out, it's not an issue.

I'm a huge fan of fresh brewed ice tea! My mother has the same model only about 20 years older and maroon instead of blue, was hoping for the same one, only difference is there's no "holder button" to make the end of the tea making process extra stronger. Still a great product

This tea maker is easy to use but only makes a quart of tea per attempt. I wish I could find a ice tea maker that can make a gallon of tea per attempt.It makes good tea though.....

Overall I like the idea if this tea maker and we really need a new one that was a good wuality. This tea maker is good quality and sturdy, and I love that the pitcher isn't too big.

However, when we ordered we did not realize using gallon sized tea bags would be a good idea. Even on the weakest setting the tea is way too strong, so we split it between 2 pitchers. This works out though because I do not like sweet tea much while the rest of my family does so I can make both at once.

Also, the biggest reason we chose this tea maker over others was because of the ability to add the sugar and have it make the tea while mixing the sugar while it is made. The issue is, putting a cup of sugar in it half of the sugar crystallizes in the tea maker instead of being blended. This means we do not know how much more sugar to add to have it as sweet as needed, and it is extremely hard to clean off the bottom of the tea maker when it drips a little after its finished brewing and the tea maker has been removed.

We are undecided about returning and getting a different tea maker yet because we can make this work. But it is disappointing that the biggest feature (the built in sugar dispenser) that we bought this for does not work.

We purchased two of these. One for the office and one for home. Making tea with loose leaf it exceptional. I would have rated this as 5 stars with one exception. The office unit is used twice a week sometime and has been excellent. The one I took home is used even less but the first unit failed within a day. It was returned and a new one came. Very happy. The replacement lasted about 2 weeks ...failed. Now they would not replace. Very Un-happy. The one at the store is still working great. I have an old Mr Coffee that leaks all over the counter back on .....looking for a different tea maker again.

BEST tea maker I have ever owned! Ok so I still think it made the best tea I ever. However 8 months later it has bit the dust. I am debating buying another one of these just because I love the tea. I'm not sure though its worth $60 for 8 months of great tea.

Not thrilled with it, but it works (unlike my last Mr Coffee.) It has too many parts, and the directions say none of it should go in the dishwasher so it's a little hard to keep really clean. It also doesn't steep the tea, so I have to use more tea than I should to get it strong enough. But at least it works!

I liked the idea of having sugar compartment to implement in brewing process but was disappointed the sugar does not dissolve all the way in the process. There is always a few tablespoons left when removing tray to clean. I thought I might be putting too much sugar in so I reduced it in half, 1/2 cup, and it still didn't dissolve all the sugar. I just scoop it out into pitcher after it is done brewing. It seems sturdy to last awhile but I will not buy this one again as I think the price is a bit high compared to other tea makers I've owned. Performance wise, it is easy to use, makes tea quickly and quietly, and the pitcher is perfect size to fit in side compartment of my fridge. While it looks like heavy glass, the pitcher is lightweight and easy to carry in and out of house for barbecues.

I did not realize the tea basket was separate from the maker, and attached to the pitcher when making the tea. This is less convenient and tidy than the Mr. Coffee Iced Tea machines of old. I prefer my older model that makes a full gallon, and the basket attaches to machine.

I had one of these for years and finally had to replace it. This one was shipped quickly and packaged well. The only problem is the on/off button does not work! When you plug in the machine part, it automatically turns on and starts spitting water. This did not happen with my old one.

Does a good job, but the materials used in the pitcher and caps are not durable enough to be cleaned in a dishwasher. Would have paid more for a better grade of plastic.

It's ok, wish there was a way to allow for longer steeping. The lid is also hard to turn/remove. For the money its no bad and is pretty convenient. It doesn't leak which is great!

We had one of these before and my husband broke the pitcher so we bought a new one. This is ok but its not as sturdy as our previous one( it was a Mr Coffee too) This one has a cheap look and feel to it. Even the main unit is cheaply made and the pitcher is flimsy. We'll see how long it lasts.

I don't know how they got their jug full, but this huge jug only filled half way. A lot of time for too little reward.

I had an older West Bend tea maker which performed well for years until I dropped the pitcher and cracked it. I really dislike the current model for the following reasons. 1) When it is done making the tea and you want to store the tea maker, it inevitably drips tea out, and not just a drop - more like a tablespoon or two. I turn mine sideways over the sink to try to avoid tea on my cabinet shelves. I am always wiping and cleaning this thing. 2) The pitcher is poorly designed and instead of pouring in a nice smooth stream into a glass some engineer thought it a good idea to put slots in the design, causing tea to spill outside the targeted area. 3) The whole put sugar in another basket idea. Forget it. Just put it in the bottom of the pitcher and whisk when done. Otherwise you have a hardened sugary mess in the basket. West Bend should fire the engineer who came up with this design. It's awful. I can't wait to find a replacement.

So bought this refurbished supposedly with only packaging damage and it arrived with only a dent in the box. Used it to make 3-4 pitchers of tea.
Just pushed ON button and it's DEAD--going back.

The machine works great for making tea quickly that tastes great. However, it is horrible to clean. There are several different compartments that need cleaning that are really difficult to get to. You also have to clean the inside on the machine after removing all of the baskets which is a little strange. And lastly, when you are done making the tea and have removed the tea pitcher is continues to leak tea. If you so much as nudge it hours later it will continue to spit tea out. And you will have to wait awhile to clean it because you have to remove each basket inside it by hand and they stay hot for awhile. I prefer to clean as I go and this product makes that difficult. I will be going back to the Mr. Coffee.

Cheap plastic and it busted the second time I used it. Nice iced tea makers are just hard to come by. Went ahead and opted for the popular "mr" brand and its not bad especially since I can use any pitcher. My advise it to avoid this product.

This is the messiest appliance I own. It drips once the pitcher is pulled from the machine. The pitcher drips so much when pouring we use choose to use an additional pitcher. It is very large and cumbersome. I would not buy one like this again, In fact I am looking at replacing this one and I haven't had it that long.

Makes great tea and is easy to use. I have only had this for a weeks and the pitcher has a crack in it. It costs the same amount to buy a new pitcher as the whole unit with a pitcher. Disappointed.

Don't like how the process works for this maker. Previous model was much better

Have not even had it a month, and the pitcher has already cracked. Had an older version of this, and it lasted for years.

Guess I would be able to review it had I actually received the whole product. I received the main unit and the pitcher but not the lid and filter basket. As is, this is now absolutely useless to me.

Put this aside for winter and when I pulled it back out of the pantry to use, it doesn't work. The start button does nothing.It's loose in its spot.

I had a Mr. Coffee Iced Tea Maker for years and finally needed to replace it. It's not the same though and the brewing process has changed. There used to be a lever on the side of the brew basket and the water went through much slower and accumulated in the basket so that the tea could steep. I thought the one I just received was defected and the replacement is the exact same way. No lever to adjust how long the water stays in the basket. The water just goes through and the tea is weak unless you want to double the quantity of tea bags. I was able to purchase exactly what I wanted elsewhere so am returning my original purchase as well as the replacement. Including pictures of what I got as opposed to what I was expecting. The blue is the version that I am returning and the yellow is the one I found elsewhere. Thank you for the prompt customer service.

I have tried this a few times and it just doesn't work correctly and has so many parts. I tried it with adding the sugar in the top following the directions. It made such a sticky mess. Then I tried it by adding the sugar in the pitcher like I did with my previous tea makers. It still made a mess when taking the pitcher away no matter how long you would leave it sitting.

I would love to return it but I am assuming it is to late, I don't see a return link. I am going to cut my losses and buy the brand I have had in the past.

I had 1 for 2 years worked then broke ordered another in April button broke doesn't work called company didn't want to leave a message send email see if they will replace meanwhile ordered a Mr coffee tea maker

Very cheap tea maker. I only used it once and the second time the switch will not turn on. I mail it back and still haven't received my refund yet. Don't waste your money on this cheap product.

Purchase this on Aug. 28, 2015. Today, Jan. 3, 2016 and the iced tea maker will not operate. I purchased this unit to replace another model that we had from West Bend for over 10 years. Less than 6 months is not the kind of durability I expect from a company. My two attempts to contact Amazon were unfruitful. Save yourself a headache an purchase another brand.

What a disappointment. I purchased the West Bend simply because I thought it was a better product. I have yet to make a decent pitcher of tea. It looks cloudy, never clear, resembling a day old tea left out of the refrigerator. We've tried using store bought ice in a bag, using filtered water, etc. The only thing that has cleared it up is put it in the microwave, 2 cups at a time to clear it. What's up with that?

I'm embarrassed to serve to my friends, so I only use it occasionally. I don't think it's worth bringing off the shelf. Just put your tea bags in a pan for 5 minutes, after bringing the water to a boil.

Terrible and we have had like 4 Mr. Coffee Ice Team makers before, and all were great, just finally gave out.. This one dumps the water onto the counter. It won't line up correctly with the pitcher. DO NOT BUY THIS IS JUNK.

Horrible machine. After putting correct amount of water in it , water leaks all over the counter. Bought it for my husband when we was coming home from Afghanistan. Window to return closed.Horrible horrible horrible

THE ITEM CAME TO ME BROKEN AND YOU CANNOT USE IT. I USE THE ITEM A LITTLE LATER AND THEY HAVE NO BUSINESS TAKING PEOPLE'S MONEY FOR JUNK THAT DOES NOT WORK.

I started to put room temperature water in the pitcher and noticed a hairline crack on the bottom. I wanted to return this for a refund or exchange but see I'm being charged for shopping. So, I'm forced to either cut my loss of $16 or buy another pitcher (fool me once...). Not a good experience.

If I had known the how complex it would be to use this product- I would never had purchased it. To many components and you have to buy filters. You're better off boiling your own hot water and making the tea.

As recent as two weeks ago there were many negative reviews on this product but now I see only one other than mine and that person thinks its wonderful. I did read the negative reviews prior to purchasing in April but thought "no" they must be doing something wrong. I have used Mr. Coffee Ice Tea Makers for probably 15 years without an issue...Many different ones over the years. This worked OK for the first month...I always put a papertowel around the outside of the pitcher to catch any drips...now about two months into owning this appliance it does not just drip. First a little bit was not going into the pitcher, now about half the tea coming out of the ice tea maker ends up all over the floor, in the drawers, in the cabinets and all over the counter. Prior negative reviews (by the way where did they all go?) said they thought the pitcher got out of shape over a period of time and didn't engage properly where the tea comes out. That sounds like the only thing that it could be. Today I went to make a pitcher of tea and stood there for about 3-4 minutes until it first started dispensing tea and there were no leaks...went back about five minutes later and it was all over the floor. No one else in the house so no one was bumping it which is I thought at first was happening. Is the heat from hot tea causing contraction of the pitcher?. Not sure - but the ice tea maker that seems to be the best seller (and one that many of the other negative reviews that were removed recommended) is about the same price so I've ordered it to see how it works. It is the Hamilton Beach 40911-2. It's only 2 quarts but what the heck....after half of the tea in this Mr. COfee Ice Tea Maker ends up on the floor, I'm still ahead of the game.