Set the timer to 142 seconds

How to use the online timer

Good tea has an optimum steep, and 142 seconds is about right for a lot of black teas before they turn bitter and stewed. Set it going as soon as the water hits the leaves, wander off to do something else, and come back when it calls you rather than hovering over the pot. It's a small habit that makes the difference between a decent cuppa and a rushed, weak one.

It runs the moment you hit Start, no extra steps needed before the numbers begin moving. Because everything happens inside this browser tab, it needs to remain open while the clock runs; switching tabs is fine, but closing the page or turning off your screen partway through will stop the countdown. A sound marks the finish, so you'll know the moment it's done without having to watch it count down.

Setting an egg timer or fumbling with a phone app both work, but neither is as quick as a browser tab you already have open. There's no app store, no update prompt, and no login screen between you and starting the count. It's free and needs no registration, it works on any device with a browser, and closing other tabs won't affect it as long as this one stays open. If you would rather say put a timer on for 142 seconds, that works too — press Start and the page does the rest.