Brewing @ Work?

[tjausti]

I have a completely random question. How do you brew at work?

I have no stove, and very limited desk space. I have been using the microwave to heat water in a cup then adding the tea bag to the hot water. this of course is yielding poor results but up until now i have been drinking bland tea (lipton or similar). I was recently handed a cup of twinnings earl grey at a friends house and im hooked now.... I just picked up the adagio Starter set and want to start getting decent results.

http://www.adagio.com/misc/no_risk.html ... 6392b4a63b

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Thomas

[fencerdenoctum]

Thomas,

Welcome to Teachat!

I use an electric kettle to heat my water. I have one of Adagio's Utilitea kettles.

Before I got that one however, I just used a cheap 20 dollar proctor silex kettle from walmart.

You can use the microwave to heat your water, just add the leaves after you heat the water in your ingenuitea. I wouldn't recommend this though because you might get a funky taste in your water due to everyone heating up their various lunch treats in the microwave.

The Tea Sipping Swordsman,
Fencerdenoctum

[Victoria]

Hi and welcome to the forum!
Newbies are not supposed to post links, but since it's a link to our forum host,
I'm sure the Mods will go easy on you!!

I also use Adagio's Utilitea kettle. Then either a glass teapot or glass gaiwan.
Happy brewing!

You might like to check out this thread to see some pics of work setups:
http://www.teachat.com/viewtopic.php?t= ... en&start=0

[Ryoruki]

when i was working in an office here on campus we were blessed to have a hot water dispenser that was in the same set up as the coffee maker. We had many tea drinkers in the office and they had apparently pushed for these types of machines that had a dual purpose when they were re-stocking the break rooms. it also came in handy for making ramen

for my loose leaf, i got a 3 part mug with a ceramic basket infuser, it served me well during my time there.

[ErikaM]

I work from home so it's easy. But on days when I need to go in to the office, the break rooms have the same coffee machines with hot water dispensers that Ryoruki mentioned. The office actually stocks tea as well as coffee, although it's all low-quality bulk tea bags.

[tjausti]

I could actually pickup a coffee maker that will just heat water as well.... ours is getting pretty ratty and I do have a friend in the purchasing dept

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

[wyardley]

http://www.teachat.com/viewtopic.php?t=6495

[Ryoruki]

be sure that if you get a regular coffee maker that it is label for hot water only @,@ you don't want to pollute tasty tea with stale coffee taste D: such a thing would be very saddening.

[tjausti]

How does everyone feel about hot water dispensers? that would take care of the coffee pollution problem

I guess you might even be able to find one with temperature control

[tenuki]

I work at home...

[horsencl]

I brought an electric kettle into work. This is the one I have and it is relatively small: http://www.amazon.com/Proctor-Silex-K20 ... B00023XCWS. I found a very cheap little tea pot with a built in strainer at a local pottery shop (Fishs Eddy for those of you local to NYC). It works great for loose leaf. A travel press might work too.

[Sydney]

At work I have an electric kettle, quiche pan for catching water, yixing clay pot, kyusu, matcha set, and various related tools (digital thermometer/timer, scales...) & teas.

No, my job has nothing to do with tea. heh

[joelbct]

We have water filter machine with cold and hot. Not quite boiling but close enough- I just fill the brewing vessel halfway with hot water, pour it out, then refill with hot water to yield closer to boiling brewing temp. For greens that are supposed to be brewed in the 170-180 range, I just eyeball it, first pouring in some cold water over the leaf, then filling with hot water.

I brew in a glass bodum, and pour thru a small mesh handheld strainer, bemused glances of my coworkers bedarned :/

I get comments and questions about teabags, herbal 'tea,' etc, and sometimes I try quietly to commend the benefits of loose-leaf black/green tea without letting my snobbery come out : )

One morning an older woman looked aghast at my super-bright-green sencha swirling in the pot, I tried not to laugh...

[tjausti]

ok let me rephrase the question and add some explanation. I have approval from the purchasing department to purchase a separate water dispenser but not a tea specific one such as a kettle.

http://salestores.com/panaso543.html

this is one that is approved. I noticed it does 208 and 180 degrees. sounds like this will wok just fine, i just want to be sure before I order it

[tjausti]

order placed:

edit: correct product
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6896112041

tea @ work will soon be much easier