Steep Review

I’m a tea fanatic and always find myself picking up a different box at the store. I have a cabinet filled with different teas, and I’m constantly looking at boxes trying to figure out how long I need to steep each one. Steeping tea for too long results in a bitter taste, while not steeping it enough means less tea flavor. Thanks to Steep, I no longer have to worry about losing track of how long my tea is steeping.

Developed by a barista, Steep displays six different types of tea on its main screen. These teas include: green, white, black, herbal, oolong, and yellow. Each tea is assigned its own color. Tapping on a specific tea tab opens up a separate box that displays the steep time and temperature needed to brew a tasty cup.

When users are ready to Steep their tea, they just tap on the timer to start it. A clock ticking noise is heard as it counts down to zero. While users wait, they can read the fun tea facts at the bottom of the screen or do other things on their iPhone since Steep works quietly in the background.

I love how simple Steep is to use, and its colorful and interactive interface makes steeping tea fun. With that being said, there are a few tweaks that could make Steep better. For one, the loud ticking noise is annoying. I have to turn my phone down or close out of the app to avoid listening to it. It would be nice to silence this from within the app. Additionally, while the app suggests a range of time, the time is set for the maximum. There’s no way to go in and manually adjust the time based on personal preference. Lastly, I didn’t hear a noise when I received a notification while my phone was off, so I had no idea that my tea was finished steeping. However, the notification does work well while users are interacting with their iPhone.

Steep is off to a great start. With just a few adjustments here and there, it will definitely become even better. Anyone who considers themselves a tea fanatic should add this one to the collection. It beats having to research and pull up timers every time one wishes to enjoy a hot cup. I’ll be keeping this one on the home screen, and I’m looking forward to future updates.