MIRA Tea Infuser Thermo with Removable Strainer

This is actually one of its standout features. The mesh on the infuser basket is very fine — fine enough to handle even small CTC (cut-tear-curl) tea leaves with minimal particles escaping into your drink. That's better than a lot of travel infusers, which tend to let finer teas slip through. It works well across the board: large rolled oolongs, medium-cut black teas, fine green teas, and even fruit infusions.

Yes, with one caveat — it's hand wash only, not dishwasher safe. But reviewers who hand wash it say it's easy to clean with a bottle brush. The infuser basket removes completely, and the wide-ish mouth gives you decent access to the inside. Since it's stainless steel, it doesn't absorb stains or flavors the way some materials can.

Absolutely — it's not just a hot tea bottle. The vacuum insulation keeps cold drinks icy for 24+ hours, and reviewers use it for cold water, iced tea, and fruit infusions. You can even cold-brew tea in it by adding leaves and cold water. Some users switch between hot tea in winter and cold water in summer, treating it as their everyday bottle. The infuser basket works great for fruit-infused water too.

Yes, you can pour freshly boiled water right in — it's double-wall vacuum insulated stainless steel, so the outside stays cool to the touch even with boiling water inside. That's actually one of the things reviewers consistently praise. For delicate teas like green or white tea, you'd want to let your water cool to the right temperature first (around 175°F) before pouring, but that's about tea brewing best practice, not a limitation of the bottle.

Yes — the removable infuser basket makes multiple steeps easy. Brew your first cup, pull the basket out, and when you're ready for round two just add more hot water and drop the basket back in. One clever trick from reviewers: you can suspend the infuser basket over a separate mug using a straw to get a second steep while your bottle holds your first brew. This is especially nice for oolongs and quality green teas that give you two or three good steeps.

Yes, multiple reviewers confirm it fits in standard car cup holders. At 18 oz it's a fairly slim profile — smaller than a typical water bottle — which makes it easy to bring along for commutes and road trips.

One standard tea bag is perfect for the 18 oz capacity. If you're using smaller tea bags (like some herbal or sample-size ones), you could use two. The MIRA's infuser basket is really designed for loose leaf tea though — that's where it shines. The fine mesh strainer handles everything from large rolled oolong leaves down to fine-cut black tea, so if you've been curious about loose leaf, this bottle makes it very easy to try.

At 18 oz it's a solid single serving — enough for a satisfying cup or two, but not a full day's hydration on its own. Some reviewers note it's a bit smaller than they expected. However, since the infuser basket is reusable and the insulation keeps water hot for hours, you can easily refill with hot water throughout the day for multiple steeps from the same leaves. For all-day desk use where you have access to hot water, it works well. For a full day away from any water source, you might want something larger.

It's a great entry point into loose leaf tea. The infuser basket design is simple — just add leaves, add water, and remove the basket when you're done steeping. You don't need any special technique. The temperature retention is very forgiving, keeping your tea drinkable for hours even if you forget about it. And the fine mesh means you don't have to worry about picking the "right" leaf size. At its price point, it's a low-risk way to see if loose leaf brewing fits your routine.

This is worth mentioning honestly — a couple of reviewers reported the hinged flip-top spout cracking or breaking over time. It's a plastic component on an otherwise stainless steel bottle, so it's the most vulnerable part. For most users it holds up fine, but if you're rough on your gear or plan to use this daily for years, it's something to be aware of. The convenience of a flip-top spout for one-handed drinking is a real plus when it works well.

The main advantages over glass are durability and insulation. The MIRA is stainless steel, so you don't have to worry about it shattering if you drop it — a real concern with glass bottles in a commute or travel bag. It's also significantly better at holding temperature; glass bottles lose heat much faster than vacuum-insulated steel. The tradeoff is that you can't see your tea brewing, which some people enjoy with glass. But for practical everyday carry, stainless steel wins on the things that matter most.

The big things to look for are mesh fineness, insulation quality, and ease of cleaning. The MIRA checks those boxes well — its mesh is fine enough to handle even small CTC tea leaves without particles escaping into your drink, and its double-wall vacuum insulation keeps tea hot for 8+ hours. It's also easy to clean with a bottle brush. One thing to consider with any travel infuser is the seal — the MIRA's lid needs to be tightened properly to avoid leaks, and a few users note the rubber gasket can occasionally pop out of place. If you need something truly leak-proof for tossing in a bag on its side, that's worth knowing.

You can, though the MIRA is really designed to be a self-contained brewing solution. At 18 oz, it holds enough for a solid session. Some users actually use the infuser basket suspended over a separate mug with a straw to get a second steep out of the same leaves, which gives you a bit of that travel tea set versatility without needing extra gear. It fits in standard car cup holders too, so it works well as your single go-to vessel for commuting or travel.