Tea Brewing Calculator
Find the right tea amount, water temperature, and steep time for six popular types of tea.
Your starting recipe
Green tea
Tea4 g
Water480 ml
- Tea-to-water guide
- 2 g per 240 ml
- Water temperature
- 80°C / 175°F
- Steep time
- 2-3 minutes
- Preparation
- Loose leaf or tea bags
Let boiling water cool briefly before pouring over the leaves. Remove the leaves when the timer ends.
Use this as a starting point. Leaf size and personal taste affect the ideal amount. Teaspoon estimates are approximate.
Tea temperatures and steep times
Delicate leaves prefer cooler water. Fully oxidized tea and herbal infusions need more heat.
| Tea | Amount | Temperature | Steep time | Serving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green | 2 g | 80°C / 175°F | 2-3 min | 240 ml |
| Black | 2.5 g | 95°C / 203°F | 3-5 min | 240 ml |
| White | 2.5 g | 80°C / 175°F | 4-5 min | 240 ml |
| Oolong | 3 g | 90°C / 195°F | 3-5 min | 240 ml |
| Herbal | 3 g | 100°C / 212°F | 5-7 min | 240 ml |
| Matcha | 2 g | 80°C / 175°F | Whisk 20-30 sec | 80 ml |
How to improve the next cup
Adjust the leaf amount before pushing the steep time too far. Long steeps can make true teas bitter or drying.
- Tastes bitter?Use cooler water or shorten the steep.
- Tastes weak?Add more tea while keeping the same temperature.
- Tastes flat?Use fresh water and avoid reheating water repeatedly.
Tea brewing questions
Why should green tea use cooler water?
Water near boiling can pull bitterness from delicate green tea quickly. Around 80°C or 175°F is a practical starting point for a smoother cup.
Can I steep tea leaves more than once?
Many whole-leaf green, white, and oolong teas can be infused again. Add a little more time for each later infusion and adjust by taste.
Should stronger tea steep longer?
Usually, adding more tea is better than extending the steep too far. Extra time can increase bitterness and dryness, especially with green and black tea.
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