Jul 14th, '05, 15:12
Posts: 83
Joined: Jul 11th, '05, 12:50
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Contact:
jzero
I shake my fist at the lawyers.chris wrote:Sorry -- for legal reasons we cannot give any specific advice (for the aforementioned reasons). It is ridiculous, I know, but our legal team insists.
Actually, they are just trying to spare Adagio from a potentially costly lawsuit....that's perfectly understandable.
As a matter of fact, my brother and I were surprised at the LACK of disclaimers and warnings, along with an auto-shutoff. Usually coffee makers and the like come with a fat book including warnings such as "Do not use this appliance to heat gasoline" or "Tea contains miniscule traces of substances that are known to the State of California to cause cancer in labrats they eat twice their weight's worth."
We figured it's probably because tea drinkers are smart enough to go without such warnings, but I guess there's a limit even to their intelligence
They Call Me Jzero
TriniTEA Pot
I just received the TriniTEA (not tonight--about 4 days ago), and there were a few things I thought would have been covered in the instructions or here, but weren't. This was my first purchase from Adagio, and this is my first posting on the message board, so please forgive anything I didn't notice that others may know already:
1. The carafe/pot/whatever you want to call the lower receptacle is marked in ~8 oz cups (2, 3, and 4 as maximum are the inscribed markings). However, the little plastic thing that sticks up in the boiler compartment isn't. So, beware--when the minimal instructions tell you that you can either measure using the carafe or using the indicator, the numbers are different. 4 cups in the carafe is 12 or 8 on the top indicator (which appears to be calibrated with a picture of "big cup" and "small cup"). That means that "4 standard cups" in the carafe = "12" or "8" on the level indicator in the boiler compartment. The carafe I received (with markings at "2", "3", and "4") is calibrated at an 8 oz cup (i.e. each number is one standard 8 oz cup, with "2" as minimum and "4" as maximum). When filled to the "4" line, the carafe holds 4 cups (standard 8 oz liquid), which fills the boiler to the very top of its 12 or 8 calibration.
2. You should run three or four "blind" batches through the unit, even after washing all the parts. The instructions don't say anything about "wash well before using" or whatnot, which is usually common sense, BUT, in this case, I cleaned the removable parts well, and ran a "blind" batch of water. Then, I made my first batch of tea, which tasted very much like plasticizer. I ran a second "blind" batch (i.e. boiling water etc.), and made a new batch of tea, which was also off-tasting. Another blind batch, and another batch of tea, and it finally tasted like tea and tea alone. So, in hindsight, I wish I'd run 3 batches of nothing but water AFTER cleaning the components. Adagio, or whomever is doing QC for Adagio, might want to consider this for future instruction updates, or even for parts post-processing.
3. After making about 10 pots (after the aforementioned cleanout runs), I'm quite happy with this unit. There is one thing I'm wondering, though. The infuser section (the middle section where the tea leaves go) has a spring-loaded valve that holds the water in during infusion, and is released after the timer gets to the pre-set time. This is a fairly cheap looking spring. Based on my past experience with the dearly loved but now defunct TeaMate, will this part be available for replacement? Not that I need it now, but upon review of the unit, I'm almost positive this will be the first thing to fail.
4. Not mentioned in the product description or elsewhere on this board is the timer. The timer is a discrete timer: you can set the number of minutes from 1-7, and only those integers (i.e. 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.). The timer switch stays where you set it, i.e. as the infusion of "4 minutes" happens, the timer switch stays at 4, and will still be at 4 when the batch finally drops. It seems to be pretty accurate. Not a big deal, but if you use this unit, and expect to see the timer button move while you're waiting, don't.
5. Be careful when pouring the tea from the carafe. The lip and shape are such that you might need a few practice attempts before you can do it without dribbling liquid down the sides of the carafe. The removable carafe lid (a plastic unit that must be in place for brewing) has a strainer segment at the lip of the carafe--this seems to spread the pouring stream out a bit.
6. As I mentioned above, the instructions are minimal. Adagio might want to consider doing a better job of spiffing those up some. Also, in my case, the unit was shipped in the original packaging. This shouldn't be a problem, but when it arrived, the FedEx guy waited while I opened the box, since it was so beaten that he was afraid the unit was broken. It wasn't, and probably won't be--the packaging is quite nice.
Finally, I should add that the above is simply my attempt to help out people who are thinking about buying this thing. I like it. In fact, I'll probably buy another two for my two offices, and if there aren't any problems in the next few months, this will be at the top of my Xmas list for several other people. And, that being said, I'm not associated with Adagio or anyone else remotely associated with them.
I forgot to mention in the previous post: there are audible beeps at different points in the process. There's a beep when you turn on the unit. The unit boils the water, and drops the water to the tea leaf hopper (another beep). The unit steeps the tea, and based on the timer, drops the tea to the carafe (another beep). Then, when you think the unit is finished, IT'S NOT--there's a set of beeps that tell you when the drop valve has closed. WAIT FOR THE FINAL BEEPS! Between the time that you THINK the unit has brewed and filled the carafe, there's still another minute or so to drain the last of the tea hopper.
1. The carafe/pot/whatever you want to call the lower receptacle is marked in ~8 oz cups (2, 3, and 4 as maximum are the inscribed markings). However, the little plastic thing that sticks up in the boiler compartment isn't. So, beware--when the minimal instructions tell you that you can either measure using the carafe or using the indicator, the numbers are different. 4 cups in the carafe is 12 or 8 on the top indicator (which appears to be calibrated with a picture of "big cup" and "small cup"). That means that "4 standard cups" in the carafe = "12" or "8" on the level indicator in the boiler compartment. The carafe I received (with markings at "2", "3", and "4") is calibrated at an 8 oz cup (i.e. each number is one standard 8 oz cup, with "2" as minimum and "4" as maximum). When filled to the "4" line, the carafe holds 4 cups (standard 8 oz liquid), which fills the boiler to the very top of its 12 or 8 calibration.
2. You should run three or four "blind" batches through the unit, even after washing all the parts. The instructions don't say anything about "wash well before using" or whatnot, which is usually common sense, BUT, in this case, I cleaned the removable parts well, and ran a "blind" batch of water. Then, I made my first batch of tea, which tasted very much like plasticizer. I ran a second "blind" batch (i.e. boiling water etc.), and made a new batch of tea, which was also off-tasting. Another blind batch, and another batch of tea, and it finally tasted like tea and tea alone. So, in hindsight, I wish I'd run 3 batches of nothing but water AFTER cleaning the components. Adagio, or whomever is doing QC for Adagio, might want to consider this for future instruction updates, or even for parts post-processing.
3. After making about 10 pots (after the aforementioned cleanout runs), I'm quite happy with this unit. There is one thing I'm wondering, though. The infuser section (the middle section where the tea leaves go) has a spring-loaded valve that holds the water in during infusion, and is released after the timer gets to the pre-set time. This is a fairly cheap looking spring. Based on my past experience with the dearly loved but now defunct TeaMate, will this part be available for replacement? Not that I need it now, but upon review of the unit, I'm almost positive this will be the first thing to fail.
4. Not mentioned in the product description or elsewhere on this board is the timer. The timer is a discrete timer: you can set the number of minutes from 1-7, and only those integers (i.e. 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.). The timer switch stays where you set it, i.e. as the infusion of "4 minutes" happens, the timer switch stays at 4, and will still be at 4 when the batch finally drops. It seems to be pretty accurate. Not a big deal, but if you use this unit, and expect to see the timer button move while you're waiting, don't.
5. Be careful when pouring the tea from the carafe. The lip and shape are such that you might need a few practice attempts before you can do it without dribbling liquid down the sides of the carafe. The removable carafe lid (a plastic unit that must be in place for brewing) has a strainer segment at the lip of the carafe--this seems to spread the pouring stream out a bit.
6. As I mentioned above, the instructions are minimal. Adagio might want to consider doing a better job of spiffing those up some. Also, in my case, the unit was shipped in the original packaging. This shouldn't be a problem, but when it arrived, the FedEx guy waited while I opened the box, since it was so beaten that he was afraid the unit was broken. It wasn't, and probably won't be--the packaging is quite nice.
Finally, I should add that the above is simply my attempt to help out people who are thinking about buying this thing. I like it. In fact, I'll probably buy another two for my two offices, and if there aren't any problems in the next few months, this will be at the top of my Xmas list for several other people. And, that being said, I'm not associated with Adagio or anyone else remotely associated with them.
I forgot to mention in the previous post: there are audible beeps at different points in the process. There's a beep when you turn on the unit. The unit boils the water, and drops the water to the tea leaf hopper (another beep). The unit steeps the tea, and based on the timer, drops the tea to the carafe (another beep). Then, when you think the unit is finished, IT'S NOT--there's a set of beeps that tell you when the drop valve has closed. WAIT FOR THE FINAL BEEPS! Between the time that you THINK the unit has brewed and filled the carafe, there's still another minute or so to drain the last of the tea hopper.
My New Trinitea
I must be the most simple minded consumer on earth.I received my new Trinitea at work..Opened it..after all the
ewwww's and ahhhh's...Pluged it in...Used the tea pot for measuring and ta daaaaaaaaa...great tea....first try, for the whole office. We were all thrilled....I did nothing but rinse the
containers...period...
(I'm must be a scum?) And everyone loved my great tasting White Tangerine Tea from Adagio.
A Women is like TEA...You don't know how strong she is until you put her in hot water...
Re: My New Trinitea
Lana:
I wasn't trying to suggest that anyone was "simple minded", I was just trying to share my experiences with the unit. Keep in mind that what you received may not have been what I received.
Since this unit comes from China (with no listed OEM other than Adagio), and its only tracking information is Adagio.com, I'm surprised that you did nothing but "rinse the containers". That might be well for your unit, but in my case, there was enough extractible material to be noticeable in the first 3 or 4 boiling water uses.
Then again, maybe I'm being too critical. I've been playing in the kitchen for almost 30 years, and I've been working as a development engineer for chemical companies, making polymers and plastics, for 20 years, give or take.
But, hey. What do I know?
I wasn't trying to suggest that anyone was "simple minded", I was just trying to share my experiences with the unit. Keep in mind that what you received may not have been what I received.
Since this unit comes from China (with no listed OEM other than Adagio), and its only tracking information is Adagio.com, I'm surprised that you did nothing but "rinse the containers". That might be well for your unit, but in my case, there was enough extractible material to be noticeable in the first 3 or 4 boiling water uses.
Then again, maybe I'm being too critical. I've been playing in the kitchen for almost 30 years, and I've been working as a development engineer for chemical companies, making polymers and plastics, for 20 years, give or take.
But, hey. What do I know?
Lana Y wrote:
I received my new Trinitea at work..Opened it..after all the
ewwww's and ahhhh's...Pluged it in...Used the tea pot for measuring and ta daaaaaaaaa...great tea....first try, for the whole office. We were all thrilled....I did nothing but rinse the
containers...period...
(I'm must be a scum?) And everyone loved my great tasting White Tangerine Tea from Adagio.
Jul 25th, '05, 10:50
Posts: 83
Joined: Jul 11th, '05, 12:50
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Contact:
jzero
I also noticed the plasticky smell/taste, but it did not last beyond one brewing cycle. Running vinegar through may take that taste away altogether in one shot, but it's obviously too late for me to try that, as I've used it at least daily for a few weeks now. 
Chris - can you tell us how long the "introductory" offer will last and what the "normal" price will be?
Chris - can you tell us how long the "introductory" offer will last and what the "normal" price will be?
They Call Me Jzero
Trinitea Carafe Question
Hello. I am seriously thinking of ordering a Trinitea tea maker, but I have a question. In the past several years I have run two Mrs. Teas into the ground, but when I threw them out I kept the ceramic teapots. Would it be possible to use a Mrs Tea teapot in the Trinitea tea maker instead of the carafe?
I really enjoy this website; although this is my first post, it surely will not be my last.
Thanks for the answer.
earlgreyfan
I really enjoy this website; although this is my first post, it surely will not be my last.
Thanks for the answer.
earlgreyfan
Timer Doesn't Seem to Work
Help! I returned from England yesterday, and my Trinitea was waiting for me. I opened it this morning, ran 1 brew of water through at 7 minutes. I did not actually time it, because I was also trying to feed my dogs while the water ran through. I poured that out, and set it again to run a second bactch of water through at 4 minutes. After 10 minutes the water was still sitting in the brew basket. 
I decided that maybe I had goofed up somehow, and set it up to brew a pot of Earl Grey at 3 minutes. I also set up my 3-minute egg timer next to the Trinitea to "time the timer". Unfortunately, I had to remove the brew basket after 5 minutes and manually try to pour the tea into the caraffe after removing the hot infuser basket with my fingers.
What am I doing wrong? I hate to think I cannot even make tea.
earlgreyfan
I opened it this morning, ran 1 brew of water through at 7 minutes. I did not actually time it, because I was also trying to feed my dogs while the water ran through. I poured that out, and set it again to run a second bactch of water through at 4 minutes. After 10 minutes the water was still sitting in the brew basket. I decided that maybe I had goofed up somehow, and set it up to brew a pot of Earl Grey at 3 minutes. I also set up my 3-minute egg timer next to the Trinitea to "time the timer". Unfortunately, I had to remove the brew basket after 5 minutes and manually try to pour the tea into the caraffe after removing the hot infuser basket with my fingers.
What am I doing wrong? I hate to think I cannot even make tea.
earlgreyfan
Trinitea
Did you make sure to scoot the middle brewing container all the way to the bacK. Also the little gadget underneath the middle brewer (valve) needs to go up and down easlily...make sure it isn't stuck...It's very fragile
A Women is like TEA...You don't know how strong she is until you put her in hot water...