Tea Coffee Maker Machine: Can One Appliance Make Both?

A tea coffee maker machine that does both sounds too good to be true. But if your household has chai lovers and coffee drinkers, one appliance can serve everyone. The catch: it makes filter coffee, not espresso. Here is what works, what does not, and who this is best for.

Can One Machine Really Make Both Chai and Coffee?

Answer: Yes. Chai makers with a coffee mode brew filter-style decoction coffee using the same pot and heating system as chai.

The InstaCuppa 600ml steel carafe has 4 modes: Chai, Coffee, Green Tea, and Hot Water. For coffee, you add water, coffee powder, and sugar to the pot. Press the Coffee button. The machine heats the water, brews the coffee powder, and shuts off when done. Pour it into a cup, add hot milk if you like, and you have filter coffee.

The result is close to South Indian filter coffee -- strong, dark decoction. Not espresso. Not French press. Not pour-over. If you drink filter kaapi or instant coffee with milk, this works great.

How Is Chai Mode Different From Coffee Mode?

Answer: The brew time and temperature are different. Coffee mode runs hotter and shorter.

For chai, milk goes in from the start and simmers with the tea. For coffee, you brew the decoction first, then add hot milk to your cup. This is how South Indian homes have made filter coffee for decades -- just without the brass filter.

What Kind of Coffee Does It Make?

Answer: Filter-style decoction coffee. Not espresso, not cappuccino, not latte.

If you drink South Indian filter coffee (like Bru, Leo, or Cothas), this mode gives you a similar result. The coffee powder steeps in hot water, and you get a strong decoction. Mix with hot milk and sugar for a classic filter kaapi.

What it will NOT make:

• Espresso (needs 9 bars of pressure -- a chai maker has zero pressure)
• Cappuccino (needs steamed and frothed milk -- no steam wand here)
• Cold brew (needs 12+ hours of cold steeping)
• Pour-over (needs precise slow drip)

If you want espresso-based drinks, you need a separate espresso machine. A chai maker handles chai and filter coffee, not cafe-style espresso.

Who Benefits Most From a Tea Coffee Maker Machine?

Answer: Indian homes where some people drink chai and others drink coffee.

This is very common in India. The husband drinks chai. The wife drinks coffee. Or the parents drink chai and the kids drink coffee. Instead of buying two separate machines, one chai maker with coffee mode serves everyone.

• Mixed households: Chai in the morning, coffee in the afternoon -- same machine
• Small kitchens: One device takes less counter space than two
• Budget-minded: Rs 4,999 for 4 modes vs Rs 4,999 for a coffee machine + Rs 4,999 for a chai maker
• Office pantry: One machine for the whole team's varied preferences

How to Make Filter Coffee in a Chai Maker

Answer: Simple. Water, coffee powder, and the Coffee mode button.

1. Add 200ml of water to the carafe
2. Add 2 heaped teaspoons of filter coffee powder (Bru, Leo, or Cothas)
3. Add sugar if you like it pre-sweetened
4. Press the Coffee mode button
5. Wait 5 to 7 minutes
6. Pour the decoction through a strainer into a cup
7. Add hot milk (you can heat milk in the same machine using hot water mode)

For a stronger decoction, use 3 teaspoons of coffee. For a milder cup, use 1.5 teaspoons. The machine does not control the strength -- you do, just like on a stove.

Chai Maker vs Dedicated Coffee Machine: Which to Buy?

Answer: If you drink chai daily and coffee sometimes, get the chai maker. If you drink only coffee and want espresso, get a coffee machine.

For most Indian homes, the chai maker with coffee mode covers 90% of hot drink needs. The other 10% is handled by a Rs 500 French press or a jar of instant coffee.

Does the Coffee Taste Good?

Answer: It tastes like home-brewed filter coffee. Not cafe-quality, but solid and consistent.

Honest review from our testing: the coffee mode makes a strong, dark decoction that mixes well with milk. It is not as layered as hand-dripped pour-over or as intense as espresso. But for the Rs 15 you spend on ingredients per cup, the taste-to-cost ratio is excellent.

If you currently make coffee by boiling water and adding Bru instant, the coffee mode is a clear upgrade. If you are used to specialty pour-over from Blue Tokai, the chai maker will not match that level.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use instant coffee powder in the coffee mode?

Yes, but there is no real benefit. Instant coffee dissolves in hot water from any source. Use coffee mode for filter/ground coffee to get the brewing benefit.

Can I froth milk in a chai maker for a latte?

Not in the traditional sense. Some chai makers have a froth mode that aerates milk, but it does not create the dense microfoam of a steam wand.

Will coffee residue affect the taste of my next chai?

Not if you rinse the carafe between drinks. A quick rinse with water removes coffee residue. For sensitive palates, use a drop of dish soap.

Can I make masala chai and filter coffee in the same batch?

No. Each mode makes one drink at a time. Brew chai first, rinse, then brew coffee. Each batch takes 5 to 10 minutes.

Is a 4-in-1 chai maker worth paying more for?

Yes, if you use at least 2 of the 4 modes. If you only drink chai, a basic chai maker is enough. If you also want coffee or green tea, the 4-in-1 saves you buying multiple devices.