I see a cup of tea as a blend of yin and yang energy. The water is yin and
the tea infusion is yang. Understeeped, too much yin. Oversteeped, too
much yang. The perfect cup is a proper balance.

I don't like the idea of using mechanical measuring devices to try to
achieve the balance. Eg., thermometers, timers and measuring scoops. I do
use a timer sometimes but prefer not to.. usually when I have other things
I'm doing simultaneously. I think that a proper cup should be made through
listening to the water come to (or near) a boil and knowledge of the
different sounds of the water and how those sounds affect tea taste. And
simply waiting while the tea steeps and finding a natural timing mechanism
within one's mind to understand how time affects the taste.

Nothing is more rewarding than brewing a perfectly balanced cup simply by
measuring the right amount of tea by sight or feel, pouring the water onto
the leaves at the right time and pouring off the brew at the right time,
just using knowledge and perception. You will miss the mark more often when
you're starting out but after you achieve mastery of the tea experience I
think the cups you brew with only the use of your brain will be better than
anything a mechanical measuring device would give you.