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Tea vs Coffee: The Comparisons and Health Benefits
We pit these two timeless drinks against each other to compare them!
Published August 23, 2021
Shruti Gupta
Coffee experts@Era of We
Let's talk about the age-old debate—A soothing cup of tea? Or a cup of coffee that wakes you up to take on the day?
Some prefer a cup of green or chamomile tea to settle down for some personal time with a book. However, others prefer a latte or an espresso to get ready to take on some crucial tasks. Which one are you?
More importantly, should you be a tea drinker or a coffee lover? What are some possible health benefits you could look forward to? We'll discuss some major differences between the two drinks to help to make an informed decision. Let's get into it.
Coffee
Coffee is a world-renowned energizer, discovered in the 9th century AD in Ethiopia. Apart from its delicious taste and aroma, here are some benefits you can experience with a cup of coffee.
- The rush
Coffee isn’t just a beverage to wake up with in the morning. Coffee can serve as an excellent pre-workout for your trips to the gym too. Improving your performance up to 12%, the caffeine makes it easier for you to lift weights or keep a steady running pace.
- Health benefits
A study was conducted on men and women who consumed coffee versus those who didn't. It concluded that the risk of developing endometrial cancer is 25% lower in coffee drinkers. Also, coffee reduces the risk of strokes, developing Parkinson's disease, and developing type 2 diabetes. This proved especially true for those who are regular coffee drinkers.
- Brightens you up
Believe it or not, it's not just the delicious flavor of coffee that makes you feel happy inside; the coffee itself stimulates your central nervous system, making you feel more upbeat and lively.
- Stay focused
It may be obvious for some, but for others of course, it is that coffee helps you stay alert and concentrated.
Tea
Now it's time for the calmer and grown-up version of healthy drinks, tea. Let's see some benefits of consuming the leaves of the tea plant.
- A healthy drink
Numerous studies explore the health benefits of tea. The results have been quite positive. Daily tea drinkers experience a lower risk of heart attacks. Tea also assists in battling some side effects of cancer by strengthening the immune system.
- No carbs or calories
As opposed to a cup full of calories in a coffee milk drink like a latte or a cappuccino, a cup of tea (avoiding sugar and milk) can offer the taste and the benefits calorie-free.
- Keep smiling
Say bye to tooth decay with a wholesome cup of tea. In a study conducted in Japan, researchers found that tea actually helps the gum and teeth away from infections. With tea, your teeth stay stain-free, while coffee can leave behind light staining overtime.
- Stay calm, stay young
Loaded with antioxidants, you can rely on tea to keep you active, young, and performing well. With anti-aging benefits, tea will keep your body from "rusting" away.
Now that we've discovered the health benefits, let's look at some significant differences between tea vs coffee:
- The difference in caffeine:
To get the same amount of caffeine from a cup of coffee in tea, you'd have to drink 5-6 cups of it. Surprising, right?
Also, tea contains more naturally occurring caffeine than coffee beans do. This is because coffee is usually brewed at a higher temperature, which allows more caffeine to release from the beans.
But tea, on the other hand, brews at a lower temperature; hence not all the caffeine releases. Ever noticed only a handful of tea leaves make it into your cup and how the tea gets bitter the more you steep it? As we savor the mild taste of tea, we get lower traces of caffeine.
Some teas like matcha and black tea are also quite strong and can contain just as much caffeine as an 8-ounce cup of coffee.
To be exact, a cup of tea contains about 15-70 mg of caffeine per cup. Coffee, on the other hand, has 80-190 mg. These amounts can change according to the type of coffee or tea you consume. However, you can always lower your caffeine with decaffeinated coffee.
Comparison of health benefits
Tea reduces the overall cholesterol and fatty acid levels in the body; with the antioxidants, it's also beneficial for the heart. On the other hand, coffee is excellent for people with asthma, as it imitates the chemical Theophylline, which is often used to treat asthma.
However, to feel these benefits, you have to be a regular drinker of either coffee or tea.
- The rush and the crashes
Ever wonder why you get so hyper and crash immediately afterwards from coffee but not with tea? This is because tea has the amino acid L-theanine in it. It makes us alert and focused, but it's much smoother than coffee.
It also slows the absorption of caffeine in the bloodstream and relieves anxiety. This may result in extra boosts without the energy waves of coffee. But over time, you may get used to these effects and not experience them at all.
- Taste profiles
Teas can taste more earthy and can be blended with some fruity tastes. Coffee tends to be richer and filling with bold and astringent flavors which linger. Both can be customized with many other flavor profiles according to your preference.
- For the diet-conscious
Both drinks can boost metabolism and curb appetite. While tea can help lose weight by containing the antioxidant EGCG, coffee can reduce overall hunger levels.
So how many actually drink either tea or coffee?
It isn't too big of a difference in popularity between the average coffee vs. tea drinkers, but coffee seems to be slightly more favored. This may be because the media publicizes coffee much more than tea.
So which one should you choose? It truly depends. If you want to reduce your caffeine intake and want something you can keep sipping on, go for tea. But beware, some teas can be high in caffeine too.
However, if you want to focus on work and boost your energy levels, go for coffee; enjoy the soothing aroma and bold flavor while you're at it. Heck, mix them up and create your own mixture. Just be aware of the brew temperatures, as it could change the taste significantly. Brew tea at a lower temperature than coffee.
About the author
Shruti Gupta
I like coffee and I like writing, reading, and traveling, all with a cup of coffee in my hand. My recommendation? Brew some coffee (nutty flavors preferred), make it strong, add a little cinnamon and brown sugar, and a touch of soy milk, you've got happiness in a cup! Best served chilled :)
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