Plan · time · taste · remember

Gongfu tea timer and session planner

Turn a tea profile’s starting range into a shareable multi-infusion schedule, time every steep, and keep a tasting journal on your device.

What does this gongfu timer do?

It scales leaf to vessel volume, creates a progressive infusion schedule, and provides a live countdown. The schedule is a starting convention: taste the tea and change the next infusion when needed.

Plan and time your session

Dianhong: 6.0 g · 100 ml · about 98°C

6 planned infusions; profile range 58.

Infusion 1 of 6

23s
Planned infusion schedule for the selected tea and progression
InfusionStarting timeWhat to observeAction
123 secondsSet the baseline
228 secondsCompare with the previous cup
333 secondsCompare with the previous cup
438 secondsCompare with the previous cup
543 secondsCompare with the previous cup
648 secondsExtend only if flavor remains

Tasting notes

Saved only in this browser’s local storage; nothing is uploaded.

How the result is calculated

Gongfu session formulas

leaf grams = midpoint grams per 100 ml × vessel ml ÷ 100; infusion n time = base seconds + (n − 1) × progression

The base seconds, temperature, and leaf dose begin at the midpoint of the selected profile. A progression of 3, 5, or 8 seconds creates a practical schedule, but the next infusion should respond to the actual cup rather than follow the sequence blindly.

Worked example: five Sencha infusions

  1. For a 100 ml vessel, the midpoint of Sencha’s 4–5 g gongfu range is 4.5 g.
  2. The midpoint temperature is about 74°C and the midpoint first infusion is 28 seconds.
  3. With a 5-second progression, the schedule is 28, 33, 38, 43, and 48 seconds.
  4. If infusion two is already intense, shorten the next round instead of obeying the planned increase.

From result to decision

How to interpret the result

Result patterns, what they mean, and the next useful action
ResultWhat it meansWhat to do next
Flavor is still increasingThe leaf may still be opening or the initial infusion was gentle.Hold or shorten the next step rather than automatically adding time.
Flavor is stableThe current progression is maintaining the session.Continue while aroma, sweetness, or texture remains enjoyable.
Flavor fades sharplyMost readily extracted material may be spent or the previous pour was incomplete.Extend once, use hotter water within range, or end the session when the result no longer rewards another infusion.

Inputs explained

Variables and definitions

Vessel water
The actual filled volume after leaf displacement, measured in milliliters.
Infusion count
The number of separate decanted steeps to plan, bounded by the profile range.
Base time
The midpoint of the tea profile’s first-infusion range.
Progression
Seconds added to each planned infusion: gentle +3, balanced +5, or faster +8.
Journal
Notes saved only in this browser so aroma, texture, and changes can be compared later.

Exceptions that matter

Edge cases and common mistakes

  • Compressed tea can open slowly, making early infusions weaker and later infusions stronger than a simple progression predicts.
  • Broken or highly twisted leaves may release flavor quickly and need shorter early rounds.
  • A rinse is optional and is not counted as proof of contaminant or caffeine removal.
  • Clay, porcelain, glass, vessel wall thickness, pour speed, and incomplete decanting all change the practical contact time.

Direct answers

Frequently asked questions

How much tea should I use for gongfu brewing?

Select a tea and enter the vessel’s actual water volume. The planner scales the midpoint of that tea’s grams-per-100-ml range.

Why do gongfu steep times increase?

A gradual increase can compensate as readily soluble material is depleted, but it is a convention rather than a universal extraction rule.

Should I rinse gongfu tea?

It depends on compression, storage, style, and preference. A rinse is not a dependable method for removing contaminants or caffeine.

When should I stop resteeping tea?

Stop when added time no longer produces aroma, sweetness, texture, or flavor worth drinking.

Where are my tasting notes stored?

They stay in this browser’s local storage unless you export them; Tealefy does not upload the journal.

Trace the method

Sources and calculation basis

Method and source review updated .

Choose the equipment

Buying guides connected to this result

Move from the calculation to a product comparison built around the same brewing variables.

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