Brewing time is one of the most important factors in achieving the perfect cup of coffee or tea. Extract for too long, and you risk bitterness; brew too short, and your drink may taste weak or sour. Use our Brewing Time Calculator to quickly find the optimal steeping time based on your brewing method, water temperature, grind size, and preferred strength.
👉 Tip: Adjust the sliders below to experiment with different brewing conditions.
Brewing Time Calculator
How to Use the Brewing Time Calculator
- Select your brew type (coffee or tea).
- Choose the method (e.g., French press, pour-over, espresso, green/black/herbal tea).
- Set your parameters: water temperature, beverage amount, and preferred strength/ratio.
- View the recommended brewing time and tweak to taste.
Tip: Finer grinds and higher temperatures usually reduce the required brew time; coarser grinds and cooler water need longer.
Brewing Time Guidelines by Method
Coffee
- French Press: 4–6 minutes (coarse grind, ~93°C / 200°F water)
- Pour-Over (V60/Chemex): 2.5–4 minutes (medium grind; aim for steady, even flow)
- Espresso: 25–35 seconds (fine grind; 1:2 ratio as a starting point)
- Cold Brew: 12–18 hours (very coarse grind; cool water)
Water Temperature: 90–96°C (195–205°F) for most coffee. Let freshly boiled water sit ~30 seconds if you don’t have a thermometer.
Grind Size: Coarse for French press/cold brew, medium for drip/pour-over, fine for espresso.
Tea
- Green Tea: 2–3 minutes at 70–85°C (160–185°F)
- Black Tea: 3–5 minutes at 95°C (200–212°F)
- Oolong: 3–4 minutes at ~90–95°C (194–203°F)
- Herbal: 5–7 minutes at 100°C (212°F)
Mug sizing note:
An ordinary mug typically holds ~240–350 ml. Adjust leaf/grounds and steep time accordingly.
Why Brewing Time Matters
Brewing time controls extraction. Too short, and you’ll get under-extracted, sour or thin results. Too long, and tannins and bitter compounds dominate. Pair the right time with proper temperature, ratio, and grind size to consistently hit the sweet spot.
Practical Brewing Tips
- Use fresh, filtered water for clean flavour.
- Keep a consistent coffee/tea-to-water ratio (e.g., 1:15–1:17 for pour-over coffee).
- Stir/bloom to wet all grounds or leaves evenly.
- Change one variable at a time (time, grind, or temperature) to fine-tune.
- Record preferences so you can repeat great results.
Educational Notes & Fun Facts
Why Temperatures and Times Matter
Extraction is the process of dissolving flavour compounds from coffee grounds or tea leaves. Time and temperature work together: hotter water extracts faster; cooler or larger particles need more time. Balance is key for sweetness, aroma, and mouthfeel.
Fun Facts
- Coffee: Early Ethiopian preparations sometimes chewed coffee cherries mixed with fat for energy—brewing came later.
- Tea: Legend credits Emperor Shen Nong with discovering tea in 2737 BC when leaves drifted into boiling water.
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