Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL

259 Replies

OK, so it’s been awhile and it’s time to clean my i-can’t-live-without-it Breville tea maker. I’m reading the instructions on how to clean the removable basket and they said to use a non-abrasive cleaner. Any recommendations from you all on which cleaner will take off the tannin stain without damaging the product?

I made up a bath for mine of vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda. I let it soak for a couple hours then just scrubbed it with a cloth. It seemed to work pretty well!

I made sure to rinse it before scrubbing in case the baking soda would be too abrasive.

i just put mine in the dishwasher, frequently, oopse (the basket not the kettle or base)

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barbaraj said

I have the same issue, but when I replugged the machine, it still was on the old cycle and did not reset. I could not get anyone through their 800 number, but I sent an email message. I love the machine, but I don’t like the fact that I could not talk to anyone. Any suggestions, thanks, Barbara

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barbaraj said

Follow-up. Just spoke with Breville and they are going to replace the machine since it’s still under warranty.

Barbara

yea! I am sad it broke but hope you get your new one quickly!

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Teadragon said

I would be scared to order such a pricey machine. I had a Zarafina that died all too rapidly for the price, and this looks rather like a stainless steel version of that. EDIT * Forget that I had asked someone to compare the two devices. I just saw the review posted earlier in this discussion, which is a bit of a help:
http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/05/update-breville-one-touch-tea-maker.html

Cofftea said

I’ve heard complaints about the Zarafina, but never the Breville. I do think that some of Brevilles products are over priced and it isn’t always the case, but this time, the extra price reflects the better quality.

My zarafina lasted….5 years i think

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Gubal said

I heard from someone who tested this product that the tea gets ruined by a metallic/plastic taste. Did anyone else experience this?

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Not ever have I experienced that.

Nor have I. I just got my machine a few hours ago, but so far have brewed a couple of pots of tea, and there is no metallic flavor. No plastic comes in contact with the tea – the pot is made of glass and the basket is metal. The lid to the basket is plastic, but, I haven’t filled the pot full enough where the lid is submerged.

Anyway… So far, so good. No complaints – I brewed one of my favorite teas of all time for the first pot, and it tasted as wonderful as always.

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TopTip said

So I bought one of these. I first saw its “badge-engineered” French version, under brand “Bar et Riviera” and took me a while that it was available in the US as a Breville for 60% of the cost in France. Live and learn.
Anyways, this does everything it claims to do. You need to use more tea then the instructions say and the kettle fogs up so the basket movement is not easy to see.
My question: any reason why not also make coffee in this? It is like a fancy “French press” in the way it works and you do not want tea everyday! It even has an auto-start for the mornings.

This is not something I’d recommend, because the coffee will impart residues that will affect the flavor of your tea. With coffee makers at such an affordable price, I think it would be a wiser choice to have separate machines, especially when one considers the price of this … why ruin it with coffee residue after paying such a hefty price?

That is just my opinion, of course. The decision is ultimately yours.

PS: I want tea every day.

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TopTip said

Well, you are probably right about residues. In any case, curiosity got the better of me (and your response was not posted yet), so I tried it, with the “auto start.”
How was it? Nothing special, perhaps because I used coarsely ground coffee (so that it would not get out of the basket’s largish holes).
With a good wash I cannot taste anything bad in the tea but not sure I will try it again either.

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I have had two Brevilles in the past…and both have had issues within a few months of ownership (the LCD light broke down in one, and the kettle stopped beeping in the other), and completely broken down after about a year. I had considered this one, but with my experience with Breville’s kettles…well, I don’t want to risk paying $250 only to have it break down after a year.

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Azzrian said

I broke down and got one! Ebay for 182.50 Shipped.
I really should not have spent the money on it BUT …. well you all know.

Missy said

lol do let us know how you like it.

Azzrian said

Will do! :)

That’s a great price!

Azzrian said

Indeed it is – this seller has 100% feedback with over 900 items sold – they sell many of the Breville One Touch which makes me wonder where THEY get them from! It does not have a box or manual but everyone who has bought one from them left great feedback. Seems odd that this person can get them cheap enough to resell and make a profit!

Azzrian said

Unbelievable! Its here ALREADY! And it works like a charm! Just brewed my first pot! It fits perfectly in the space I have on my counter and is not as big as I feared it would be! WOOT! Love it so far!

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