If you use glass and hot water poured over the tea bags, make sure you put a spoon in the glass pitcher. If not it will break. Something about the spoon. I usually put two large bags in my coffee filter basket, 1/8 cup sugar and then fill the container with water. Then I let it do it's thing. I then take a large pitcher filled with ice and pour the hot tea over the ice. I have gone through three iced tea makers in three years. I only like a little sweetness in our tea. Use more if you want. But the hot water brews and dissolves the sugar.