Our pick
Thanks to its large size and fine-mesh walls, this steeper allows more water flow between the tea leaves. It fits the vast majority of mugs and cups, as well as some teapots and thermoses.
Despite being less expensive than almost any other tea steeper we looked at, the Finum Brewing Basket was our favorite. Its tall, cylindrical shape and fine mesh facilitate water flow for a stronger flavor, but don’t allow tea particles and residue to escape. At 4.2 inches in height, the Finum Brewing Basket is a versatile steeper that you can use in a wide variety of containers.
Also great
If you prefer something without plastic, this all-metal steeper offers a sturdier build than the Finum but doesn’t allow as much water to flow through. It’s also shorter, so tea leaves come in contact with less water, and it’s a bit more difficult to clean.
If you want a metal alternative, we also like the stainless-steel Forlife Brew-in-Mug. This sturdy, well-constructed tea steeper has great user reviews. Water doesn’t flow as freely through its holes, and because it’s shorter than the Finum, tea has less opportunity to come in contact with water in a vessel. Tea leaves are also a bit more prone to sticking in this steeper, but it still brews a great cup.
There’s a ring of silicone around the steeper’s lid, but that part won’t be submerged in the water while brewing.
Also great
The Hario model brews three cups. The metal basket fills the whole pot, allowing for the leaves to expand fully. A short spout makes pouring easy.
For more than one serving, we like the all-glass-and-metal, 23-fluid-ounce Hario Chacha teapot. This is a delicate glass pot, so it requires more care in handling and cleaning than the Finum. It has a much larger brew-basket-to-teapot size ratio than any of the other pots we found, which means that leaves have more room to expand and release their flavor.
