IKEA finally got these back in stock in Tempe, and I happened to be
killing time and looking for a tray/box-like thing when I spotted them:

http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/store...roductId=50368

Four bucks!

I was using a titanium 1-qt vacuum flask that I got at Circle-K for 8
bucks. It's a version of a style that is currently very popular in the
thermal carafe industry, with a nifty pushbutton top that does a great
job of preventing drips. In fact, IKEA sells a 1-pint version that
differs only in that it's steel and has an enamel exterior:

http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/store...roductId=43743

(comes in sky blue, primary red or yellow, and black)

The drawback with these designs is that the inner metal sleeve radiates
heat to the outer metal casing, right through the vacuum between. So
it only provides about half the R-factor it should. After 3 hours or
so, with occasional pourings, the remaining tea was tepid at best, and
cold after 4.

I knew that a mirrored interior would be an improvement, and I was
stoked when I found the ultra-cheap thermal carafe in the IKEA catalog
online, but bummed when the website said the local store was out of
them. So today was serendipitious.

And it's working great. An hour and a half into the first potful, and
the tea is still steaming when I pour.

If someone could make a glass-lined thermos with the button-top pouring
system, maybe in a nice color, I'd pay a premium.

--Blair
"4 bucks!"