Why Tea Is Better Than Coffee
Water is the world’s most popular drink, but behind water, tea and coffee are fighting side by side as two of the most consumed drinks in the world. The debate could go on forever, but we have come to a conclusion to end this argument. Tea is better than coffee.
Why is tea better than coffee? Keep reading to find out more.
Coffee Can Boost Your Athletic Performance
Coffee has been proven to have positive impacts on exercise performance and endurance. Caffeine can help the muscles become more efficient at burning fat, creating positive effects on endurance.
From cyclists to runners, caffeine has been shown to improve the amount and time of work an athlete can perform.
While you may experience that jolt of energy from your coffee 20 minutes ago on the way to work, this same amount of energy can be beneficial for exercise purposes. You definitely dont want to be drinking coffee too much. Still, a cup before a really intense workout or a challenging hike you want to accomplish might be a good idea.
On the other hand, tea is not known to benefit exercise performance. This can be attributed to the caffeine content in tea is lower than the average cup of joe, which can give you that energy boost to keep going.
Tea Vs Coffee: Is Tea Or Coffee Better For You And Why
Maybe you are a coffee drinker thats decided to drink less coffee. Or maybe youve decided to stop drinking coffee for good and need a caffeinated alternative. Can tea replace coffee? They can both taste delicious, they both contain caffeine and may offer many health benefits. But, which one is better?
You May Like: Folgers Classic Roast Instant Coffee Caffeine Content
Green Tea Vs Coffee: Which Is Better For Your Health
2 ).
In the United States, more than 85% of adults consume caffeine regularly, with an average daily intake of 180 mg, which is the amount of caffeine in about 2 cups of coffee .
People consume green tea and coffee for their characteristic taste and health benefits.
You may enjoy a cup of coffee by brewing roasted and ground coffee beans, while you can prepare green tea by steeping the unfermented leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, also known as the tea plant .
This article compares the benefits and downsides of coffee and green tea, as well as healthy and less healthy ways to prepare them.
4 ).
However, coffee provides more than three times the amount of caffeine than green tea. An 8-ounce serving of coffee provides 96 mg of caffeine, while the same amount of green tea provides 29 mg .
According to research, intakes of 400 mg of caffeine per day are considered safe for adults. However, the recommended limit drops to 100 mg per day for teenagers and 2.5 mg/kg per day for children .
Caffeine is one of the most studied substances, due to its multiple beneficial health effects. These include (
- increased energy levels, alertness, attention, and wakefulness
- lowered mental and physical fatigue
- quickened reaction times and improved accuracy
- enhanced exercise performance
- improved memory and mood
Evidence also suggests caffeine has protective effects on brain health, reducing the risk of dementia and other degenerative diseases (
16 ).
Reasons Why Coffee Is Better Than Tea
Many people feel strongly about their coffee and tea preferences. That might be because both drinks are often consumed as a daily habit. Many people that drink coffee like to have a cup right at the start of their morning. It gives them a significant energy boost and works as a vital aspect of their morning routines.
Tea is also prevalent. There are many different benefits to having a cup of tea, especially if its one like green tea, which has many antioxidants.
Whether youre a tea or coffee lover, there are benefits to drinking a cup of joe that you cant ignore. Not to mention the incredible richness of flavors and that fantastic feeling after taking your first sip of the day.
From a simple cup of joe from the electric coffee maker in your kitchen to the artisan coffee shops boasting delicate latte art, the smell and flavor of that freshly brewed coffee cant be beaten.
Why Coffee is better than Tea? The reasons to love caffeine are endless, but weve narrowed it down to the top 11 reasons why coffee is so many peoples beverage of choicesorry, tea drinkers.
You May Like: Refurbished Jura J6
Why Is Tea Good For You
Tea has a long list of health benefits.
- Tea contains rich antioxidants, which are known to fight inflammation. Theyâre also good for keeping your blood vessels healthy and preventing them from hardening over time1
- Tea contains rich antioxidants, which are known to fight inflammation. Theyâre also good for keeping your blood vessels healthy and preventing them from hardening over time
- One study showed that adults who drink more than two cups of green tea a day have a lower risk of cognitive brain function impairment than those who drink less than three cups a week.2
- Another study found that drinking lots of green or black tea significantly lowers the risk of strokes.3
Heres What Caffeine Does To Your Body And Mind In The Morning
Coffee and tea obviously both contain caffeine, but at different levels.
One 8-ounce cup of black coffee contains about 95 milligrams of caffeine, whereas the same amount of black tea boasts 48 milligrams, Samuels said. A cup of green tea comes with around 29 milligrams. Clearly, in this example, the effects of caffeine will be most readily felt when indulging in a cup of coffee.
Most of the benefits of caffeine truly depend on the drinkers genetic disposition.
We metabolize caffeine in the liver, and some people have genetic mutations that make them fast or slow metabolizers of caffeine, Samuels said.
Caffeine is metabolized by an enzyme in the liver that is encoded for by the CYP1A2 gene. About half of the worlds population possesses a variant of that gene that leads to the slow processing of the stimulant, Samuels said, and its difficult to genetically test for it.
The best way to assess your tolerance is by monitoring your symptoms and working with a nutritionist, she said. As a rule of thumb, if you feel jittery, have difficulty sleeping and detect a rapid heart rate after consuming caffeine, try to stay away from having too much of it.
Our stress levels can also affect the way we deal with caffeine because both caffeine and stress can elevate cortisol levels, which is bad for the body in the long term.
Speaking of cortisol, the human body already has naturally high levels of the hormone in the morning in the first place.
Read Also: Grinds Coffee Pouches Sales
What Determines How Much Caffeine Is In Tea
The factors are similar to the ones weve just discussed. The amount of caffeine in tea depends largely on the type of tea leaves used and the way the tea is made.
You might think that all types of tea would contain the same amount of caffeine, since they are all produced from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. However, its not quite that simple. The leaves used to make black tea are oxidized after theyre picked oxidation is why black tea is black, and it also makes caffeine more available. White tea is only slightly oxidized, and green tea isnt oxidized at all. That explains their difference in appearance and flavor, and their lower caffeine content.
The amount of leaves used to brew tea has an impact as well. Standard-sized tea bags all contain the same amount of leaves, of course, but you can brew a more highly-caffeinated pot or cup of tea by using a large amount of loose leaf tea. And naturally, the longer the steeping time, the more caffeine that will be transferred from the leaves.
Finally, we get to temperature. Hot water used to make tea usually doesnt reach the same temperatures generated in a coffee machine, so less caffeine will be released. Boiling water will create a more-caffeinated cup than warm water conversely, real cold-brewed tea will contain about half the caffeine that youll find in a cup of hot tea.
The Health Risks Of Coffee
We’ve all been there: One venti latte too many and suddenly we’re jittery and running to the bathroom. Despite coffee’s many benefits, it’s possible to get too much of a good thing. Generally, this comes down to coffee’s caffeine content, which varies, but typically averages around 100 milligrams per eight ounces.
A number of health conditions can be aggravated by caffeine, from acid reflux to overactive bladder to irritable bowel syndrome. Excess caffeine can even mess with your mental health! An older study from 2005 found that caffeine exacerbated anxiety and sleep disorders. Pregnant women should also be careful about coffee consumption, as it’s recommended to consume less than 200 milligrams of caffeine during pregnancy. If you’re living with any of these conditions , try switching to decaf.
It’s worth noting, too, that coffee’s flavor compounds have a dark sideliterally. Tannins stick to the teeth, causing staining. Mitigate these effects by swishing with water or brushing your teeth after your morning cup.
You May Like: Is Snapple Caffeine Free
Coffee Could Lower Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes
The relationship between coffee and diseases like type 2 diabetes is still being studied.
However, there have been instances where increased caffeine consumption led to a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. In a study published in 2014, researchers from Harvard concluded, Our data provide novel evidence that increasing coffee consumption over a four-year period is associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes.
Another study, conducted by another group of researchers, concluded that this relationship between caffeine and a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes might be because of 3 significant compounds found in coffee.
The compounds they identified may actually be the parts of coffee responsible for reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
New research is always coming out, but the studies that have looked closely at the benefits of coffee seem promising. However, its always best to keep the amount of extra sugar you put in your coffee to a minimum.
Like coffee, there are indications that tea can also reduce the risk of developing diabetes. But not all tea.
One study in Japan found that people who drank six or more cups of green tea a day were 33% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who only had one cup per week.
Your Mood Might Change
It could be from the caffeine, or it could be from the socializing people do when sipping a cup of joe, but studies, including one published in 2018 in the journal Nutrients, have shown coffee can improve mood and lower your risk for depression. Making the switch to tea could make you lose out on those benefits. Even if it were the caffeine, it would mean youd need twice as much tea, says Angelone.
Don’t Miss: Nips Coffee Candy Caffeine
Coffee Or Tea: Which Is Healthier For You
Tea or coffee, coffee or tea? The decision of which beverage to choose at breakfast or your afternoon pick-me-up is as old as the American Revolution when drinking coffee instead of tea served as a sign of patriotism. These days, of course, the choice is merely a matter of personal preferenceand the potential health benefits of each.
But is one better for you than the other? Here’s a look at coffee and tea’s unique wellness-boosting properties, plus a few possible risks.
Why Is Coffee Bad For You
Coffee has a few cons too:
- A study has shown that unfiltered coffee is linked to heightened cholesterol10
- Due to its high caffeine content, coffee can raise blood pressure11
- Women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant should be cautious about drinking coffee, or any other high-caffeinated drinks. High levels of caffeine can case a low birthweight or even a miscarriage12
Also Check: Can I Have Coffee When Fasting
Caffeine In Coffee Vs Caffeine In Tea: The Bottom Line
Most people dont choose coffee vs. tea on the basis of caffeine content. But those who do will usually get more caffeine from a cup of coffee than they will from a cup of tea.
Heres the rundown courtesy of the Mayo Clinic, using average caffeine content and a standard eight-ounce serving . As weve discussed, every serving of coffee and tea will be different, depending on where it comes from and how its made.
- Brewed Coffee: 96 milligrams of caffeine in the average cup
- Instant Coffee: 62 milligrams
Coffee Vs Tea How They Compare
While coffee and tea have many qualities in common, they also have several differences. They vary in caffeine and antioxidant content, energy impact, and weight loss effects. Their popularity depends on where you are and who you ask, and each has its own potential downsides. Before deciding which is healthier for you, its essential to look at how they vary.
You May Like: Descale Mr Coffee
Health Benefits Of Tea And Coffee
There are multiple health benefits to both coffee and tea. Studies have found a positive correlation between drinking coffee and a lowered risk for Parkinsons, colon cancer, liver disease, and type 2 diabetes. Tea has been found to boost your immune system, decrease inflammation, reduce your risk of cancer and heart disease, and improve gut health.
When it comes down to it both tea and coffee have some incredible health benefits and you should be fine adding either one to your diet. At the end of the day, every body reacts to both coffee and tea differently. If tea helps you feel better or healthier, than tea might be the best option for you. If youve never experienced any negative side effects from coffee, than its best to choose tea.
Caffeine And Coffee Preparation
The way you make your coffee will have a major impact on how much caffeine it contains. There are three key factors:
- Grind size: A fine coffee grind provides more surface area for extraction, meaning that more caffeine will be extracted in the brew. With a coarse grind theres more coffee packed into each piece, so less caffeine can be extracted.
- Brew time: The longer you brew coffee, more caffeine will be extracted.
- Temperature: Higher temperatures do produce more caffeine content but not in the range used to brew coffee. Espresso, home brewing and commercial brewing machines all use approximately the same temperatures.What about cold brew coffee, which should theoretically contain less caffeine because its made with cold water? Actually, it will initially have a higher caffeine level, because its made with at least twice the amount of coffee grounds. But when cold brew concentrate is diluted for drinking, its caffeine content ends up being about the same as regular brewed coffee.
We do need to discuss temperature in our next section, though.
Don’t Miss: Standard Coffee Table Length
The Benefits Of Morning Tea
In short, tea beats any alternative morning drink. Although it may not have the same amounts of caffeine as coffee, nor the same levels of vitamin C as orange juice, tea has a host of other benefits that make the case for tea hot or cold being your new choice of drink in the mornings. Like coffee, tea can help clear up morning grogginess, but thats not all. Its true that tea contains less caffeine than coffee, but its caffeine contents should be just enough to give you the energy boost you need without overdoing it, and you can always have a second cup if you need it. The caffeine in tea isnt the only thing thatll help wake you up and clear your head in the morning: tea contains L-theanine and amino acids which slow how quickly the body absorbs caffeine. This may seem like a negative at first, but once you realize this will not only prevent jitters and crashes but give you consistent energy for a longer period of time, it becomes a huge positive. A few cups of tea in the morning can eliminate the need several cups of coffee throughout the day. You wont just be feeling better, but youll be saving money as well.
Health Benefits Of Coffee Vs Tea
With antioxidants come health benefits, of course, and nearly every cup of tea or coffee offers its own array of perks. According to the Telegraph, coffee is beneficial to digestive health, while tea is tops for improving bone health, lowering cholesterol, maintaining or losing weight, reducing short-term anxiety and promoting heart health. In fact, a study published by the American Heart Association journal Circulation found that people with coronary artery issues experienced improved circulation after drinking black tea for only four weeks.
And when it comes to an evening beverage, nothing rivals the soothing sense of calm that accompanies a cup of herbal tea containing sleep-friendly flowers and herbs like chamomile and lavender. Better rest leads to greater wellness thanks to the restorative powers of deep sleep. Reducing stress over time results in a healthier heart and immune system, so even if you begin each day with a cup of coffee, consider signing off each night with an herbal tisane to ensure a good nights sleep and a fresh start in the morning.
Herbal Retreat Collection: Retreat to a place where restorative calm and peace are found with naturally caffeine-free herbal infusions to relax the mind and soothe the spirit.
No matter your preference, Tea Forte has something to suit you. Explore everything from our delicate herbal tisanes to our deep, rich black teas, perfect for coffee and tea lovers alike.
Top image by
You May Like: How Much Caffeine In Decaf Nespresso