How to Use a Glass Infuser Pitcher for Tea, Coffee, and Fruit Water (Video)

Quick answer: A glass infuser pitcher (also called an infusion pitcher) is a glass jug with a removable tube inside. You put tea, coffee or sliced fruit in the tube, add water, and lift the tube out when the drink tastes right. Use hot water for tea, cold water for cold brew and fruit water.

A glass infuser pitcher is one of those kitchen items that earns its place quickly. It is not limited to a single drink. You can use it for hot tea, cold brew coffee, fruit-infused water, and more. The infuser holds the ingredients in place. The flavours flow into the water.

Stock note (29 September 2026): The InstaCuppa Borosilicate Glass Infuser Water Pitcher 1300 ML shown in the video is not on sale right now. This guide still works for owners and for any glass pitcher with an infuser. For hot tea, our 1200 ml glass teapot with a steel infuser is a close match. It is a teapot, not the same pitcher.

I keep one in the fridge at all times. Cold brew coffee during the week. Fruit water on weekends. Here is how to get the most out of yours.

Quick Action Checklist

1. Pick your brew — Tea, coffee, or fruit water
2. Load the infuser — Add tea leaves, coffee grounds, or sliced fruit
3. Pour water at the right temp — About 80 °C for green tea, 90 to 98 °C for black tea, cold water for cold brew
4. Wait for infusion — 2 to 4 min for tea, 12 to 24 hours for cold brew
5. Remove infuser and serve — Rinse the infuser right away

Watch the Video Guide

By Saran Reddy | Published 24 February 2021 | Last updated: 29 September 2026

Three Ways to Use Your Glass Pitcher

First, pick the right infuser. The InstaCuppa pitcher came with two. The steel infuser is for hot tea. The nylon mesh infuser is for cold brew coffee and iced tea. The product page says: do not use the nylon mesh infuser with hot water. Both work for fruit. Before you start, wash your hands, the fruit and the pitcher.

1. Hot Tea Infusion

The product page says this borosilicate glass is made for both hot and cold drinks. Still, pour hot water slowly, and never into a pitcher that just came out of the fridge. For hot tea, put loose leaf tea in the steel infuser. The UK Tea & Infusions Association suggests 1 rounded teaspoon of loose tea for each cup. Pour the hot water into the pitcher, put in the infuser, and let it steep. Lift the infuser out when your tea tastes right.

This method is especially good for entertaining. You can brew a full pitcher of masala chai, green tea, or herbal tea and serve it directly at the table.

2. Cold Brew Coffee

Cold brew in a pitcher makes a smooth coffee concentrate. Is it low in acid? A 2018 study in Scientific Reports found cold and hot brew had about the same pH (4.85 to 5.13). Hot brew had more total acids. Add coarse coffee grounds to the nylon mesh infuser. A common start is 1:8 (coffee to water) for strong concentrate and 1:15 for regular strength. Our cold brew ratio chart has more. Fill the pitcher with cold water. Insert the infuser and put it in the fridge for 12 to 24 hours.

The result is a smooth coffee that many people find needs less sugar. Dilute the concentrate with water or milk, or pour it over ice.

3. Fruit-Infused Water

This is where the pitcher really shines for daily hydration. Slice your favourite fruits, add them to the infuser, fill with cold water, and refrigerate. The infuser keeps seeds and pulp out of your glass while the water absorbs all the flavour.

How long does fruit water keep? Keep it in the fridge. Iowa State University Extension says to drink infused water within 4 hours if it stays at room temperature. Take the fruit out within 24 hours. The strained water can then keep up to 3 days in the fridge. Clemson University Extension is stricter: throw it out after 24 hours. The simple rule: make a fresh batch each day, and wash the pitcher before you refill it.

How Long Should You Infuse Tea, Coffee and Fruit?

Tea needs minutes, cold brew needs hours, and fruit sits in between. Tea times and temperatures below follow the UK Tea & Infusions Association. The fruit times are rough taste guides, not rules. Taste the water and stop when you like it.

Which Fruit and Tea Combinations Work Best?

Start with these four mixes. Slice fruit thin so the flavour comes out faster. Clemson University Extension says to wash all fruit, herbs and spices well and throw away any bruised or decaying parts. A note on names: infused water is flavoured water. Its main plus is that it helps you drink more water. It does not detox your body or boost immunity. For more ideas, see our 10 fruit infused water combinations.

• Summer cooler: Cucumber + mint + lemon - refreshing and hydrating
• Warm ginger mix: Ginger + turmeric + honey + lemon - best with warm water
• Berry blast: Strawberry + blueberry + basil - naturally sweet
• Apple cinnamon: Apple + cinnamon stick - mild and pleasant

How Do You Clean a Glass Infuser Pitcher?

1. Rinse the pitcher and infuser immediately after use to prevent staining
2. For coffee stains, soak with a mixture of baking soda and warm water for 15 minutes
3. Use a soft bottle brush to reach the bottom of the pitcher
4. Hand-wash the glass, the infusers and the lid. The product page does not say the pitcher is dishwasher safe
5. The glass carafe alone can go in the microwave. The product page says to remove every other part first
6. Dry all parts thoroughly before storing to prevent water spots
7. Never put the pitcher on a gas flame or hot stove. Read borosilicate vs normal glass to see why sudden heat changes still matter

Frequently Asked Questions

Products Mentioned

Sources

1. The Perfect Brew — UK Tea & Infusions Association (water temperature, 1 teaspoon per cup, brewing times)
2. Is Your Fruit-infused Water Safe? — Iowa State University Extension, 2019, citing Michigan State University Extension
3. Infusing Water with Fruits, Herbs and Spices — Adair Hoover, Clemson University HGIC, 2020
4. Acidity and Antioxidant Activity of Cold Brew Coffee — Rao and Fuller, Scientific Reports, 2018
5. InstaCuppa product pages — pitcher care notes, stock and prices read on 29 September 2026