Steepwise Privacy Policy
In force since 29 September 2026. It covers Steepwise on iPhone and iPad.
Steepwise is a tea timer and tasting journal. This page explains what it keeps, where it keeps it, and the one feature that talks to the internet. Read it once. It is short on purpose.
The Cellar on Your Device
Your tins, cup readings, flavour notes, footpath runs and Warden threads sit in one database inside the app's private container on your device. Your settings sit in the same container. Nothing is mirrored to a server run by the developer. There is no such server.
Things Never Gathered
Steepwise asks for no name, email or phone number. There is no account and no sign-in. The app carries no analytics, no advertising and no tracking code. It does not read your location, contacts, photos, camera or health data.
The Warden and OpenAI
The Warden is an optional tasting mentor. Open it and send a message, and that message goes to OpenAI (model gpt-4o-mini) so a reply can be written. The earlier messages of the same thread travel with it, so the reply keeps its thread. If you switch on "bring my cup notes" for a thread, a short summary of the related cups goes too: tea style, heat, time, the five axis marks and the notes you tagged. Your tins list, your other threads and anything that identifies you stay behind. Steepwise asks for your agreement before the first message is sent. OpenAI handles that data under its own policy: https://openai.com/policies/privacy-policy
The Chime
The pour timer can ring when the app is in the background. That is a local notification, scheduled by your device for your device. It needs your permission, which you can withdraw in the iOS Settings app at any time. Nothing about it leaves the phone.
Exports You Make
Steepwise can turn your journal into plain text. It only goes where you send it through the share sheet. The app keeps no copy of where it went.
Removal
Everything lives on the device, so you stay in control of it. Erase it from inside the app with Nook > Erase everything. Delete the app and its container goes with it. No copy remains anywhere else.
Younger Readers
Steepwise is not made for children under 13. It does not knowingly collect anything from them. It collects nothing from anyone.
Revisions
This policy may change when the app changes. The date at the top will change with it. Check it after an update if you want to be sure.
Write to us:
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