TasteTimer iPhone App: 300 Settings for Tea, Coffee & Food

We have to admit, we were initially a little skeptical of TasteTimer, an app that offers "over 300 different timer settings for simple tea, coffee, and food preparation." We already know how to make coffee and tea (or so we thought…), and most cooking apps fail to impress us. But we gave it a spin and were pleasantly surprised. Click through for our thoughts and a demo video.

Right away, we noticed that TasteTimer is well-designed with elegant, intuitive navigation. The initial screen shows 19 categories, including beverages, eggs, fruit, grains, legumes, meat, poultry, seafood, and vegetables. The user then drills down to menus of specific ingredients and preparations. Upon selection, a screen appears with instructions for temperature, quantity, time, and other preparation notes.

The app doesn't contain complex recipes; rather, it is a handy guide offering quick help for foods ranging from steak to dried beans and roasted vegetables. And where it truly stands out is in the realm of tea. With settings for approximately 125 different kinds of black, botanical, chai, green, oolong, pu-erh, rooibos, and white teas (plus several varieties and brewing methods of coffee, hot chocolate, and yerba maté), the app promises to help users steep the perfect cup.

We browsed through quite a few items and noted the suggested times seemed pretty accurate. However, users always have the ability to adjust the timer, as well as choose from 22 different timer sounds. Another neat feature is that users can edit existing items or add new ones.

Here's a demo video:

• TasteTimer, $3.99 at iTunes

Related: iPhone App: Pastatime

Comments (3)

Last June I was given the opportunity to demo Taste Timer before the app was available on the iTunes store. I host a bi-weekly tea tasting program at Zingerman’s Deli, and the Taste Timer quickly became a fixture at all of my tastings. The app is unlike any other food based timer I’ve seen, the list of teas is comprehensive while still allowing the user control over the settings to suit their preferences. I have a tendency to forget about my tea once I’ve started steeping it, so I appreciate that the timer goes off even after the iPod has shut off.

At home I use the Taste Timer to perfectly poach eggs and to time my French press when I make coffee. I always seem to be fuzzy on the cooking times of various grains and legumes. If you don’t want to search through your cookbooks every time you want basic cooking times, this app hits the nail on the head. You’ll see the amount of research Gormaya did on perfecting this app when you see some of the more obscure timings that can be difficult to track down, from Azuki beans to Xiam Mei green tea.

I always have my iPod nearby, so its wonderful to have a back pocket resource to all of the steeping, brewing, cooking, and grilling times that I can’t fit in my headspace. If you enjoy cooking off the cuff like I do, you’ll appreciate having easy access to the basics. It has become an invaluable resource both at my tastings, and at home.

-Katie