TriniTEA pics and mystery buttons?
Got my TriniTEA today and I love it. Works like a charm. My only question is what is the lower left button with the two different || symbols? My guess is these are the temp controls. So is the bottom the 180 degree and the top the 220? Please enlighten me!
Yeah, I'm guessing that the top is boiling and that the bottom is 180 degrees.
I hope that the next generation of triniteas allow you to pick any temperature from 150-210, and I also hope that they allow you to pick any steeping time that you want, like 3 and a half minutes. Just my hope.
I hope that the next generation of triniteas allow you to pick any temperature from 150-210, and I also hope that they allow you to pick any steeping time that you want, like 3 and a half minutes. Just my hope.
"Make tea not war"
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Not really, it comes with two about 5x7 pieces of paper. Not really any info on the buttons, more how to pour the water in.stugel wrote:Did it not come with adequate instructions?
I would have loved an actual booklet on the teamaker itself, or at least a section on the sheets explaining what that button is. Won't find me complaining though, it does work!Simone
I think you may be able too choose 3.5 minutes on this one. The sheets of paper actually refer to levels 1-3, but the dial is labeled 2-7. I am guessing these are actual minute times and that is how I have been treating it. Perhaps, they will update the sheets to reflect the new settings. In the mean time, I am just happy I got one before they were gone again.TeaFanatic wrote:I also hope that they allow you to pick any steeping time that you want, like 3 and a half minutes. Just my hope.
Simone
I was confused about this at first too, if you read that sheet it tells you to check the back for instructions. On the back it lists the types of tea and says how long and which temp setting (| or ||). Are anyone else's buttons wobbly? My power button seems like its only attached on the right side, I can actually see into the machine on the left side, it still flips and works but I am worried that it may end up breaking. Also does anyone else notice a little bit of liquid remaining in the chambers (my counter may not be level, I should check that)?
question
Well, it sounds a little cheaply made but hopefully it functions as it is supposed to and doesn't break down. So is that I/II button a toggle that goes up or down for temp selection?
Be nice to have better instruction manual as well. I'll be able to judge myself tomorrow.
Be nice to have better instruction manual as well. I'll be able to judge myself tomorrow.
I'd hardly say its cheaply made, and it functions as advertised no problems at all there. Yes, the |/|| switch is for the temperate seleciton, | is 180 and || is 212. The instructions are perfectly fine, my confusion came because there are pictures of the tea leaves on the side, and I tossed it aside thinking it was the same old tea type paper that comes in all the adagio products. The paper actually says "TIMER GUIDELINES" on the top and in the directions says "Set temperature and timer using guidelines on reverse." One thing I would like to point out, as I specifically asked about this before ordering: The chamber can hold more tea than is needed so the unit can be used to make your tea double strong for iced tea.
Got mine today
I've not steeped anything yet but have just done a couple cleaning runs.
Some initial impressions:
It functions as intended and is seems to be of quality construction. Although mostly plastic, it's pretty sturdy. Sadly, it looks like a large coffeemaker. The original looked so much more interesting but I appreciate the two temp option as a white tea drinker.
The top chamber max fill line is more than 4 cups as delineated in the carafe so keep that in mind. Also, two cups is about a 1/4 inch over the minimum fill line. Would be easier if the min fill line was 2 cups and max was 4 but it's not a biggie.
The timer is variable as you can see from the pictures. It's not digital but not a big deal either. So if you want to steep half minutes or quarter minutes whatever, it will work for that, just experiment.
As mentioned before, there is a little water left in the top and middle chambers after running it, and I assume this is because the chambers are perfectly level and not slanted towards the middle valve. Not a biggie but if you leave it for a while without using it I would dry it out to avoid any hard water residue. Even filtered water has a little residue.
The carafe must be poured sloooowly, unless you would like a counter or pant leg full of tea. Sounds like the same problem they had with the original.
As for the temp controls, boiling is obviously easy to check. For setting I, 180 degrees, it is questionable. I can't verify that my thermometer is accurate (It's a True Temp Thermometer from Target) It goes all the way to 400 degrees so there's probably some margin for error. It read 170 degrees at the I setting. Can anyone with an accurate thermometer check theirs?
That's all for now. If I find anything else out I'll post or if anyone has questions please ask.
Bottom line is it's not going to pretty up your kitchen or satisfy the gadgeteers like the Zarafina but it will brew twice the tea at 2/3 the cost.
Old triniTEA looked cooler and below is the Zarafina.
Some initial impressions:
It functions as intended and is seems to be of quality construction. Although mostly plastic, it's pretty sturdy. Sadly, it looks like a large coffeemaker. The original looked so much more interesting but I appreciate the two temp option as a white tea drinker.
The top chamber max fill line is more than 4 cups as delineated in the carafe so keep that in mind. Also, two cups is about a 1/4 inch over the minimum fill line. Would be easier if the min fill line was 2 cups and max was 4 but it's not a biggie.
The timer is variable as you can see from the pictures. It's not digital but not a big deal either. So if you want to steep half minutes or quarter minutes whatever, it will work for that, just experiment.
As mentioned before, there is a little water left in the top and middle chambers after running it, and I assume this is because the chambers are perfectly level and not slanted towards the middle valve. Not a biggie but if you leave it for a while without using it I would dry it out to avoid any hard water residue. Even filtered water has a little residue.
The carafe must be poured sloooowly, unless you would like a counter or pant leg full of tea. Sounds like the same problem they had with the original.
As for the temp controls, boiling is obviously easy to check. For setting I, 180 degrees, it is questionable. I can't verify that my thermometer is accurate (It's a True Temp Thermometer from Target) It goes all the way to 400 degrees so there's probably some margin for error. It read 170 degrees at the I setting. Can anyone with an accurate thermometer check theirs?
That's all for now. If I find anything else out I'll post or if anyone has questions please ask.
Bottom line is it's not going to pretty up your kitchen or satisfy the gadgeteers like the Zarafina but it will brew twice the tea at 2/3 the cost.
Old triniTEA looked cooler and below is the Zarafina.
I would have also liked an instruction "booklet" of sorts because I also nearly threw away the two small inserts, which are now held by a magnet to my filing cabinet for future reference.
I had to refer to the side panels of the box to figure out how to open the top of the maker because at first, I couldn't find a release switch until I realized that I had to slide the tab securing it over and twist off the lid.
Although plastic, it does work well. But I agree with everyone else so far, a future version would be nice with a digital read-out for entering in desired temperature (from 170 to 212 and everything in between) to a digital read-out allowing for precise selection of the desired steeping time for those who like half and quarter minute increments....and ideally, it would count down the time remaining for steeping for those who are curious.
Still, I'm not going to complain too loudly because it does what I purchased it for....and as I am primarily an herbal drinker, I'm not running into trouble with the temperature of the water. I also love that clean up is so simple!
I do have to wonder though. The steeping chamber is high-grade food-safe plastic and therefore less likely to break than the carafe on the lowest level. Is Adagio planning on listing "accessories" available for sale on the triniTEA page of the store....such as replacement carafes, filter basket, or the individual lids for each section in case of accidental breakage or wear and tear?
I had to refer to the side panels of the box to figure out how to open the top of the maker because at first, I couldn't find a release switch until I realized that I had to slide the tab securing it over and twist off the lid.
Although plastic, it does work well. But I agree with everyone else so far, a future version would be nice with a digital read-out for entering in desired temperature (from 170 to 212 and everything in between) to a digital read-out allowing for precise selection of the desired steeping time for those who like half and quarter minute increments....and ideally, it would count down the time remaining for steeping for those who are curious.
Still, I'm not going to complain too loudly because it does what I purchased it for....and as I am primarily an herbal drinker, I'm not running into trouble with the temperature of the water. I also love that clean up is so simple!
I do have to wonder though. The steeping chamber is high-grade food-safe plastic and therefore less likely to break than the carafe on the lowest level. Is Adagio planning on listing "accessories" available for sale on the triniTEA page of the store....such as replacement carafes, filter basket, or the individual lids for each section in case of accidental breakage or wear and tear?
i just got the trinitea the other day (the "new" one pictured above with the two different temp settings). anyway, just my luck -- i think mine's broken ... help me figure out if that's the case.
i turn it on, and wait and wait and wait and wait (even at the low temp setting) ... the hot plate gets hot, but when i take the lid of the water heating chamber, the water is ice cold. ????????????
does it take like an hour to get the water warm or something? or is it broken?
i turn it on, and wait and wait and wait and wait (even at the low temp setting) ... the hot plate gets hot, but when i take the lid of the water heating chamber, the water is ice cold. ????????????
does it take like an hour to get the water warm or something? or is it broken?
Anyone else?
I am having a bit of issue, is it supposed to be leaking out at the top when it is heating the water? My TriniTea makes such a wtery messmess when I use it ... I must be doing something wrong.
Anyone have a suggestion?
Anyone have a suggestion?