Delicate green and white teas turn bitter in boiling water, while black teas, pu-erh and herbal infusions need water at or near the boil. For loose leaf tea, weigh it if you can – a teaspoon of large, fluffy leaves weighs much less than one of small, rolled leaves.
How to use the Tea Brewing Calculator
- Tea type
- Number of cups
- Cup size
- Strength
- Temperature unit
Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.
How it works
Choose the tea, the number of cups and their size, and how strong you like it.
Tips
- Weigh coffee beans rather than using scoops – roast level and grind change how much a scoop holds.
- Grind just before brewing and match the grind size to the method (fine for espresso, coarse for French press and cold brew).
- Use filtered water just off the boil (90–96 °C / 195–205 °F) for hot coffee.
- Adjust the ratio to taste in small steps – one change at a time.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using boiling water on green or white tea, which turns it bitter.
- Forgetting that caffeine content varies widely between drinks and brands.
- Comparing ratios written different ways (1:16 coffee:water vs 60 g per litre).
Inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Tea type | Choose one: White tea, Green tea (Japanese), Green tea (Chinese), Yellow tea … |
| Number of cups | A number |
| Cup size | Units: ml, cups, fl oz, L, tbsp |
| Strength | Choose one: Light, Regular, Strong |
| Temperature unit | Choose one: °C, °F |
What each result means
- Teaspoons of loose tea (approx.) = [Tea leaves]÷2.5
- Tea bags (about 2 g each) = [Tea leaves]÷2
Example values
How the main result changes when Number of cups changes and everything else stays at the example values above:
| Number of cups | Tea leaves (g) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 2.5 |
| 1.5 | 3.8 |
| 2 | 5 |
| 2.5 | 6.3 |
| 3 | 7.5 |
| 4 | 10 |
Formula
Leaf (g) = cups × cup size ÷ 250 ml × grams per 250 ml × strength
Water temperature and time by tea type (e.g. green 75–80 °C for 1–3 min; black 95 °C for 3–5 min)
Teaspoons ≈ grams ÷ 2.5 (varies with leaf size)
Worked example
Inputs — Tea type: Black tea; Number of cups: 2; Cup size: 250 ml; Strength: Regular; Temperature unit: °C.
Results — Tea leaves = 5 g; Teaspoons of loose tea (approx.) = 2; Tea bags (about 2 g each) = 2.5; Water temperature = 95; Steep for at least = 3 min; And at most = 5 min; Caffeine per cup (approx.) = 47 mg.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature should water be for green tea?
About 75–80 °C (167–176 °F) – not boiling.
How long should I steep black tea?
3–5 minutes in water at 95–100 °C.
How much loose tea per cup?
About 2–3 g (1 heaped teaspoon) per 250 ml cup.