how to make a good cup of tea

There just isn't a single way to make a good cup of tea. And the many options available can make it seem pretty complicated.

I make mugs of tea, while others I know prepare single 100 cc servings. Niether approach is incorrect, but a bit of care should be taken in exchanging recipes and tips across such a difference of approach.

Some teas also benefit from different temperature ranges. Know before starting whether you should boil the water, dial it in to 180* F, etc.

Rules of thumb, such as "green teas for 180*F for 3 minutes" can be misleading, and certainly leave out much information. Sencha gurus I know suggest steeping it for less time on the first infusion and significantly less on subsequent infusions.

Be sensitive to the difference between "teaspoon" in that it can mean a teaspoon measuring cup or a teaspoon in the silverware sense. Additionally, diffferences between a level, rounded, or heaping teaspoon can be dramatic. The option of digital scales as means of measure adds another dimension for some.

Teaware varies even more. Basic common themes involve heating water to a desired temp and pouring it into a pre-heated vessel in which it will steep some tea. An infuser, strainer, or some other method for separating solid tea leaf material from the tea infusion is also common, but not strictly necessary.

Preferences vary regarding type of water, handling of the tea leaf, etc.

Simple fact is that after some experimentation (and it need not be *a lot* of experimentation) you can settle into a routine that results in a cup of tea that pleases you. It will not likely be a complicated process, either.

Most of the perceived complexity comes from the dizzying array of options available when you first approach the subject.