We personally have an electric kettle as well as a coffee machine.
I have personally also made tea using teabags and either a pot on the stove (for sweet tea) or a glass cup in the microwave.
We also have automatic teamakers for making iced tea. like this
Though generally, Americans won't drink hot tea.
I have used the Mr Coffee Tea maker for nearly 15 years and it makes perfect tea every time.
http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Coffee-Iced-Tea-Maker/dp/B000M3BUVI
I tend to brew cut pieces of tea leaf, so having to use a paper filter keeps grit and dust out.
the temperature, fresh hot water exposure duration, and leaf agitation works just fine,
as long as you only work with 8-12 grams of tea leaf per one quart batch at a time.
best to use loose leaf tea or remove the tea from each bag and use a 8-12 cup coffee filter,
to allow the leaf to agitate - keep the hopper valved closed so only the overflow drips out.
keep in mind this works different from a coffee maker as the tea drips out the upper rim
of a full brew chamber, unlike a coffee machine where the liquid seeps out the bottom.