Fountain Guide
The Chai Fountain is one of the things that makes the Loka Chai Maker different. As your chai heats up, foam rises and flows into the central strainer, then drops back down through the tea and spices—circulating continuously as it brews. Foam, fountain, flavour. Repeat.
This gentle rotation does two things: it keeps your chai in the pot instead of spilling over your stovetop, and it brews evenly by keeping the liquid moving through the blend the whole time.
A continuous, flowing fountain is great. A pulsating fountain that rises and falls, is also great. This actually mimics the traditional method of bringing chai up and down on the stove.
Our lead industrial designer Jon, from Pentagram, explains how the chai fountain works and what you're looking for in this short video.
Your first brew
Start on medium-high heat and stay nearby, especially for the first couple of brews. Here's roughly what to expect:
- 0–10 minutes: The chai heats up. Nothing dramatic yet, just wait.
- Around 6–10 minutes: The fountain starts. You'll see liquid rising up around the outside of the strainer and flowing back down through the centre.
- 3–5 minutes more: Keep the heat on and let the fountain do it’s thing. This is when the flavour really develops.
- Total brew time: Around 9–15 minutes*, depending on your stovetop.
Chai is traditionally brewed to a deep, caramel brown—the darker it gets, the bolder the flavour. When it reaches a colour you like, it's ready. Remove from heat, pour, and enjoy.
* Note: brew times can be longer on electric stovetops.
What if my fountain is only a trickle, or keeps stopping and starting?
Both are normal, and both still make beautiful chai.
A trickle is still circulating liquid through the strainer and doing its job. You've just got a gentler brew going.
A fountain that stops and starts can happen for two reasons: either your stovetop is cycling heat (see Stovetop Guide), or the foam is naturally building, collapsing, and rebuilding. This can actually help stir the blend and speed up flavor infusion.
What if my Chai Maker isn't fountaining at all?
That's okay. Not every stovetop will create a visible fountain.
The Chai Maker is designed with this in mind. The fine mesh strainer still diffuses flavour beautifully without one, and heat naturally circulates the chai and spices on its own.
If you really want a fountain and your stovetop is on the weaker side, try overfilling the Chai Maker slightly up to 25 fl oz (750 ml) to help create enough pressure to get one going.
Simmering for a minute or two longer also works to ensure a rich, delicious cup.
How do I get a stronger fountain?
More heat means more steam, more foam, and a stronger fountain. But go carefully—too much heat can cause:
- A foam-up (see below)
- Milk burning at the base of the pot
- Damage to the handle if the flame or burner extends beyond the Base Pot
The goal is a steady fountain that's not too aggressive. If the liquid is boiling hard around the edges, the heat is too high. Bring it back a little.
What's foam-up — and what do I do?
What's foam-up? And what do I do if it happens?
A foam-up is when foam rises up through the center of the strainer instead of flowing down the outside. It's the opposite of what you want and it usually means one of three things:
- the heat is too high → fix: lower the heat
- you’re using too much liquid → fix: lower the total volume
- the strainer holes are blocked → fix: if using a super fine blend, switch to a coarser one; or if adding fresh herbs or leaves, tear or cut them smaller so they don't cover the holes (see Recipe Guide for more info on this)
If burning is an issue, see the Burning Guide for help on this.
Most people find their sweet spot within a brew or two. Once you've dialled yours in, it’s set and forget.
→ For tips specific to your stovetop type, see the Stovetop Guide.
