For the caffeinated beverage drinkers out there, the choice between tea and coffee may seem easy. Some prefer coffee, while others would choose tea. There are also those who don’t mind either and will drink whichever one is available.
No matter the choice, it is important for people to know the differences between tea and coffee. By analyzing the variety, accessibility, and health benefits of both, it becomes clear that tea is better than coffee.
First of all, there is a much larger variety of tea than there is of coffee. The main categories of tea are white, black, green, and oolong, each with its own many variations. For example, one common type of tea is jasmine, which is any tea infused with the floral scent and taste of jasmine flowers. Fruits can also be infused in tea, creating a whole other world of flavor. With this much variety, it’s impossible to not find something to suit your own unique taste.
Coffee can also be made in many different ways. From the concentration of the grounds to the flavors and toppings that can be added, there are ways to try and make coffee that is suitable for you. However, some of these varieties of coffee are often not easily accessible.
One such coffee is Golden Ratio coffee, a light-brew, low acidic coffee that is around two dollars per serving and is only sold on the company’s official website. In contrast, a cup of Earl Gray Supreme tea from the high-grade brand Harney & Sons is much cheaper, ringing in at 41 cents. Harney & Sons tea is sold at stores such as Target and Walmart, making it easier to restock at home or try out new flavors.
Another reason why tea trumps coffee is that tea has been shown to be beneficial for your health, while coffee has some shakiness surrounding its positive effects.
Studies have shown that coffee may exhibit health benefits as well: some claim that coffee decreases a person’s risk of death and cardiovascular disease. In an article by USA Today regarding these studies, Dr. Steven Nissen, Chief Academic Officer of the Heart and Vascular Institute at the Cleveland Clinic gives his input. “I don’t think there’s any evidence for harm, but I don’t think there’s any evidence for benefit,” he claims. Dr. Nissen reveals that these studies only show a correlation between coffee and health and do not show the ways in which coffee provides these benefits, which makes the studies misleading.
Meanwhile, tea has been scientifically proven to have health benefits. According to Penn Medicine, each category of tea has its own multitude of health benefits. For instance, green tea is known to help lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and black tea is known to support the immune system. Teas, especially green tea, are full of antioxidants and flavonoids, which are the components that make them healthy. With the lack of proof of causation in studies conducted on coffee’s supposed prevention of death and cardiovascular disease, it is safe to say that tea has the upper hand healthwise.
Both coffee and tea have their own unique attributes, but in the end, tea is better than coffee in a variety of ways. Next time you have to make the choice between tea and coffee, have these differences in mind and choose wisely.
