This page opens with the timer already set to 3 minutes. Press Start or hit the spacebar and it begins; when time is up the alarm rings and the disk blinks. You can always drag the disk to a different time.
Brew a cup of tea on time
The UK Tea & Infusions Association recommends steeping black tea for three to four minutes, so this timer lands at the lighter end of that range.
- Pour the hot water and press Start straight away.
- Watch the disk instead of the mug; it is gone after three minutes.
- Take the bag or leaves out at the alarm, or give it one more minute if you like it strong.
Other three-minute jobs
Three minutes also covers a round of stretches between study blocks or one turn each when a group takes turns sharing.
Instant noodles are the other classic, but go by the time printed on the package, because cooking times differ from product to product.
Reading a three-minute disk
On the 60-minute dial, three minutes is a narrow wedge three tick marks wide, between 12 and the 5 label. With that little area to watch, the countdown digits are easier to read than the disk.
Questions about the 3 minute timer
Can I set four minutes for stronger tea?
Yes. Drag the disk one tick further, press the up arrow while the dial is focused, or tap the time and type 4.
Does the timer keep going if I switch tabs?
Yes. The end time is fixed when you press Start, so a background tab does not slow it down, and the tab title shows the time left.
Will I hear it from the next room?
Raise the volume and pick Beep or Chime in Sound and display. If you also turn on notifications there, your system shows one when time is up while the tab is in the background.