Summary: 2006-04-21 12:32:44 I bought the original Mr. Coffee iced tea model, the TM1, when it first came out, probably more than 20 years ago. There was a period when it didn't get a lot of use, because of the poor water quality in the area, but I went back to using it regularly and was very satisfied with it.
I was still using the original pitcher, although it definitely was showing signs of its age. The acids naturally found in tea seem to have etched the pitcher over the last 10 years of regular use, and the pitcher has developed the appearance of minute cracks in the plastic (acrylic?).
These cracks don't leak at all, it's just the appearance of tiny lines of less than 1/8th" completely surrounding the bottom 1/4th of the pitcher. They may be stress fractures that may fail over time, but after such a long time and no leaks or problems, I don't really find those minute cracks to be an issue.
It was more cost-effective, to me, to replace the entire unit rather than pay for just a new pitcher, if it could be found. Of the limited resources offering the replacement pitcher, the prices ranged from $10 and up, with shipping at anywhere from $6 on up. In contrast, I paid $19.99 for this entire new unit, which includes two pitchers, vs close to that much for a single replacement pitcher alone.
The handle on the original pitcher always concerned me as being too fragile to handle the weight of a full pitcher. I was probably more careful with it, being aware of that issue, but nothing ever happened, although I have seen criticisms that the pitcher either leaked or broke.
The new pitcher has an improved design overall, with a shorter, wider pitcher (which should distribute the weight better) and an improved handle design which appears sturdier.
My main interest in this model, besides the bonus pitcher, is the increased capacity - 3 qts vs the original 2 qts. I don't currently have an automatic ice maker so I appreciate not having to make ice as often.
I don't necessarily agree with the description of "Ready to serve in 10 minutes." I found 13 minutes (including about 3 minutes for steeping) was appropriate for the older unit, and closer to 15 minutes from start to finish for the new unit, but steeping time is a personal preference, as is the number of tea bags one chooses to use.
My negatives about this product relate to the quality of the pitchers and the fact these parts are not dishwasher safe. The instruction manual states "To maintain the quality of parts, we recommend hand washing only. These items are not dishwasher safe." From having spoken to the company over a warranty issue, it seems clear they recognize the pitcher's aren't made of the best quality material, so it suprises me that after all these years, this newer model's pitcher is still made of the same material that tends to fail over time.
I looked at iced tea makers from other manufacturers, but I've been happy enough with the original Mr. Coffee TM1 model that I didn't feel a need to change brands.
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