How long do you brew? I've exerimented with anywhere from 1-5 days. I didn't really see a difference between them, but it's hard to measure such things.
Yeah unless you have a microscope, you can't really tell the difference in the amount of microbes. You brew around 5-8 billion in every 5g batch I'm pretty sure.
I brew for a minimum of 48 hours before I use, then base off smell after that. If it smells like compost, it needs more food stock (black molasses.) If it smells like molasses, leave it be. I like to use it when it's a combo of both, which I find is about 48 hours.
If it smells bad, then it's gone anaerobic. Obviously do not use it once it goes anaerobic.
Like it my quote, you can tell when you made a good batch of tea, the plants literally responded in hours. And they were already damp and could of gone without a watering for days.