Time-poor Brits are ruining the nation’s favourite drink by brewing for under a minute.

Adding milk before removing the tea bag and using stale water are other common tea crimes.

A leading tea sommelier has revealed the simple mistake that could be ruining Britain’s cups of tea – and it all comes down to time.

While many Brits pride themselves on knowing how to make the perfect brew, new research commissioned by kitchen appliance innovator CASO Design for International Tea Day 2026 (21st May) suggests most of us are getting the basics wrong.

The survey of 2,000 UK adults found that 85% of Brits believe they make the perfect cup of tea every time. However, seven in ten are not letting their tea brew for long enough, one in ten leaves the teabag in for less than 30 seconds, and a third brews their tea for no more than a minute.

According to leading UK tea sommelier and tutor at the UK Tea Academy, Carri Hecks, most teas need around three minutes to develop properly, meaning many Brits are not even waiting the extra two-and-a-half minutes needed for a better-tasting cup.

Carri said: “We’ve become so used to speed and convenience that even tea, something that should be a simple daily ritual, is being rushed. If people are only giving a teabag 30 seconds, they’re not really brewing tea; they’re colouring hot water.

“As a tea purist, I’d say we started to lose the art of tea making the moment we stepped away from teapots and loose leaf tea. Tea became less of a ritual and more about speed and convenience, dunking a bag in a mug for a few seconds, adding milk and moving on with the day.”

The research suggests that under-brewing is not the only mistake affecting the nation’s tea. More than half of Brits, 57%, admit to pressing the teabag against the side of the mug, which can release bitter tannins and affect the taste. More than a quarter, 27%, add milk while the teabag is still brewing, while 14% re-boil the same water multiple times throughout the day, effectively using stale water for their cuppa.

Temperature is another common issue. One in five Brits use boiling water for green and delicate teas, which can scald the leaves and create bitterness.

Carri said: “Good tea needs time. Brew it for too little time and you won’t bring out the flavour; leave it too long and you risk overpowering it with bitterness. Most teas work at around three minutes, with black teas needing a little longer if you plan to add milk.”

Despite the nation’s confidence in its tea-making skills, the findings suggest many Brits are quick to spot bad habits in others. Four in ten people have refused a cup of tea because they did not like how it was made, with weak tea one of the biggest complaints.

Too much milk tops the list of tea-making turn-offs, cited by 29% of respondents, followed by weak tea that has not been brewed for long enough at 28.6%, reused teabags at 24%, tea served cold at 21% and overly strong tea at 18%.

How to make the perfect cup of tea, according to Carri Hecks:

Carri recommends starting with freshly drawn filtered water, as water quality can make a major difference to flavour. Tap water can contain chlorine, while both hard and soft water can affect how tea brews.

She also advises choosing loose leaf tea, or at least a larger-cut tea in a pyramid bag, rather than relying on small-cut tea bags that may deliver strength but less nuance.

The right water temperature is also essential. Green tea should be brewed cooler, at around 70°C, while black tea is best at around 95°C. White tea works well at 80°C, oolong at 90–95°C, and herbal infusions at 100°C.

Most importantly, she says tea needs patience. Brew for too little time and you won’t bring out all the wonderful flavour profiles. Too long and you’ll overpower them with too much bitterness. Most teas work at three minutes with black teas needing a bit longer if you want to put milk in.

Carri added: “We’re all happy to wait for our coffee to brew or be made in a café, but we’re so used to dunking a bag in the cup and sploshing in some milk, we don’t associate tea with patience. Good tea is worth the wait.”

Chloe King, Kitchen Appliance Specialist at CASO Design, said: “Making a good cup of tea isn’t complicated, but it does require more care and consistency than many of us are giving it. Small details like water temperature, brew time and water freshness have a real impact on the final cup, yet they’re often overlooked in our busy lives. As a result, people can quickly earn a bad reputation for their tea-making without realising why.

“Time, in particular, seems to be where our brewing habits are falling short. The data shows that people are increasingly rushing the process, whether that’s not allowing the tea to brew properly, adding milk too soon, or repeatedly re-boiling water throughout the day.

“The kettle has long been a staple of the kitchen, but we’re now seeing a shift towards technology that offers a more precise and consistent way to prepare hot drinks at home. Innovations like CASO Design’s hot water dispensers are growing in popularity because they’re designed to fit into busy routines, delivering the right temperature and volume every time while removing the guesswork. Ultimately, it’s about getting the basics right. And that’s what truly elevates a good cup of tea.”