Temperature, timing, and ratios
Tea Brewing Guide
The practical mechanics of a good cup: how hot the water should be, how long to steep, how much leaf to use, and how to fix a brew that tastes off.
Start here: the three core brewing guides
Nearly every brewing question comes down to three variables — water temperature, steeping time, and how much leaf you use. Master these and the rest is refinement.
Tea Water Temperature Guide
The right temperature for every tea type — and why boiling water ruins green tea.
Tea Steeping Time Guide
How long to steep each tea, from 60-second sencha to five-minute herbal infusions.
Tea-to-Water Ratios
How much leaf per cup — grams, teaspoons, and how to adjust strength properly.
All brewing guides and tutorials
How to Brew Tea Grandpa Style: The No-Strainer Method
Grandpa-style brewing puts loose leaves directly in your cup—no infuser or precise timer required. Learn which teas work best, how much leaf to use, and when to add more water.
14 min read
Loose-Leaf Tea Water Temperature Guide
The single biggest cause of bitter tea is water that is too hot. Here are the temperatures we brew at, by tea type.
7 min read
Steeping Time Guide: How Long to Brew Each Tea
Timing charts for every major tea type, plus how to re-steep leaves so one scoop makes three good cups.
6 min read
Tea-to-Water Ratios That Actually Work
How much leaf per cup, why teaspoons lie, and the cheap scale habit that fixed our inconsistent brews.
5 min read
Cold Brew Tea: The Easiest Method for Beginners
Cold brewing is nearly impossible to get wrong, needs no kettle, and produces a sweeter, smoother cup.
5 min read
How to Brew Green Tea Without Bitterness
Green tea turns bitter for three predictable reasons. Fix those and it tastes sweet, grassy and smooth every time.
6 min read
Gongfu Brewing for Beginners
Lots of leaf, little water, very short steeps. Here is how to run a gongfu session with equipment you probably already own.
8 min read
How Much Caffeine Is in Your Tea?
Real ranges by tea type, what actually changes the number in your cup, and how to brew for less caffeine.
6 min read
9 Tea Brewing Mistakes Beginners Make
The habits that quietly ruin good leaf — and the one-line fix for each of them.
6 min read
How to Brew Black Tea the Right Way
Black tea is the most forgiving loose leaf there is, but a few small habits are the difference between brisk and bitter.
6 min read
How to Brew White Tea Without Wasting It
White tea is delicate but surprisingly hard to ruin. Here's the temperature and timing that brings out its honeyed sweetness.
5 min read
How to Brew Oolong Tea for Every Style
Oolong covers the widest range of any tea type, so the right method depends heavily on which oolong is in your bag.
7 min read
How to Whisk Matcha at Home
Matcha isn't steeped, it's whisked. Here's the ratio, water temperature, and motion that gets rid of clumps.
6 min read
How to Brew Pu-erh Tea, Cake or Loose
Pu-erh needs one extra step most other teas skip — a quick rinse — plus near-boiling water and patience for repeat steeps.
6 min read
What's the Best Water for Brewing Tea?
Water makes up over 98% of your cup, so its quality matters more than most people assume. Here's what actually helps.
6 min read
How Much Loose Tea Should You Use Per Cup?
Under-leafing is the most common reason loose tea disappoints beginners. Here are real starting ratios by tea type.
5 min read
How to Clean a Tea Kettle (and Remove Limescale)
White, crusty buildup inside your kettle isn't dangerous, but it does mess with your tea's taste. Here's how to clear it out.
5 min readHow to Re-steep Tea Leaves for More Cups
Most loose-leaf tea has more than one good cup in it. Here's how to get the most out of a single serving of leaves.
5 min readWhy Your Tea Tastes Bitter (and How to Fix It)
Bitterness almost always comes down to one of three things: water that's too hot, a steep that's too long, or too much leaf.
6 min read
How to Make Iced Tea That Doesn't Turn Cloudy or Weak
Two reliable methods — hot-brew concentrate and cold brew — plus the fix for cloudy iced tea.
6 min read
How to Use a French Press for Tea
A French press makes a surprisingly good tea brewer if you already own one. Here's how to use it without over-extracting.
5 min read
How to Use a Tea Infuser the Right Way
Infuser balls, baskets and mesh strainers each work a little differently. Here's how to get a good cup from any of them.
5 min readHow to Brew Loose-Leaf Tea Without an Infuser
No infuser at home? You can still brew good loose-leaf tea with a mug, a strainer, or even a French-press-style pour.
5 min readHow to Make Sun Tea Safely
Sun tea can grow bacteria if you're not careful. Here's how to make it safely, plus a faster alternative that skips the risk.
5 min read
How to Taste Tea Like a Pro
A simple framework professional tasters use, adapted for your kitchen table — no special equipment required.
7 min readSee also
Keep exploring
Browse the other Leaf & Steep clusters, or dial in your brew with our free tea converter.