Abstract: A device and a related method of operation of the device for continuously monitoring the progress of a steeping beverage during the steeping process is disclosed which provides an indication to the user when the steeping beverage has reached an adjustable, desired level of steeping to thereby enable the making of a consistently steeped beverage without requiring the steeping operation to be timed or otherwise closely monitored. The device optically monitors the steeping beverage by using a photo diode to detect light from an LED which passes through a fixed measurement aperture immersed in the steeping beverage. By determining when the passage of light through the measurement aperture has decreased to a predetermined level indicative of both the color and the strength of the steeping beverage, an alarm may be provided to indicate that the beverage has steeped to precisely the strength desired.