Theine and caffeine are the basic components of two of the most widely consumed and appreciated drinks in our country: tea and coffee. While admirers of the latter tend to outnumber lovers of the former, it is equally well established that there is nothing to stop one from drinking both, obviously at different times of the day.
If, in fact, coffee is the morning drink par excellence, tea is very often consumed before going to sleep, especially on cold winter evenings. Yet, just like caffeine, tea is also able to provide the same energising effects, only many people do not know this.
The truth, in fact, is that theine contains a small dose of caffeine, which makes them almost identical, at least on a chemical level. So, if you are curious about the connection between these two substances, read on and find out what it is!
How caffeine and theine are extracted
Chemically speaking, caffeine and theine are exactly the same thing. Theine can also be considered a form of caffeine, but in smaller quantities than in coffee. Just to give you an example, a cup of your favourite espresso can contain up to 80 mg of caffeine, while a cup of tea contains at most 30 – 40 mg.
A lot also depends on the type of flavour you choose: both with regard to tea and coffee. Regarding the latter, as you know, its preparation is also fundamental: you will also agree that if you want to drink good coffee, you have to make it with the right machine.
This is why we at Pontevecchio have decided to specialise in lever machines: the only ones able to make you fully appreciate the taste of caffeine, allowing you to enjoy a coffee made properly. So, if this is your goal, all you have to do is go and consult our catalogue and discover the right coffee machine for you.
Perhaps, while enjoying your beloved cup of coffee, you might also start wondering how the coffee you are drinking was extracted, or rather coffee in general. Well, this is probably the biggest difference between caffeine and theine, as they are extracted differently.
In fact, as you certainly know, while theine is extracted from tea leaves, caffeine comes from coffee beans. The difference lies in the fact that the former contain polyphenols, i.e., special antioxidants that slow down the absorption of caffeine.
In the contrary, there is nothing in coffee beans that can slow down its effects, which is why it is pumped directly into our bodies as a kind of ‘electric shock’, resulting in an energising effect.
This is why coffee tends to give us a greater energy boost than tea. Nevertheless, there are particularly sensitive people who, if they drink a cup of tea before going to sleep, end up staying awake all night. A fact that clearly shows how the effects of tea and coffee intake are entirely personal.
Theine and caffeine: what’s the difference?
We, who love coffee, were really surprised to learn that theine and caffeine are basically the same thing: the real differences between these two substances are in the effects they have. Those of coffee you should know very well by now, but let’s summarise the main ones anyway, which are:
- increased and maintained state of wakefulness and activity;
- energy increase;
- aid in preventing cardiovascular diseases;
- aid in preventing certain forms of cancer, such as liver disease;
- stimulation of memory, concentration and mental abilities in general;
- improvement of physical performance;
- appetite control, thus helping to maintain good physical shape.
Tea, on the other hand, is also a drink that can provide considerable benefits:
- being rich in antioxidants, such as the aforementioned polyphenols, it fights free radicals in the body, helping to prevent cell damage and premature ageing;
- also helps reduce the risk of heart disease;
- green tea speeds up the metabolism;
- helps reduce the risk of developing certain forms of cancer, such as breast, colon and prostate cancer;
- stimulates digestion;
- helps reduce anxiety and stress.
As we have already told you, however, these benefits do not always apply and not for everyone, precisely because the effects of intake vary from person to person. The point about not overdoing it with quantities, on the other hand, applies to both coffee and tea, both of which should be taken in moderation.
Only in this way, in fact, can you truly enjoy the benefits offered by these drinks which, as you will have realised, rather than being divided by differences, are linked by similarities.
Conclusion
Just as theine and caffeine are two substances that practically go hand in hand, the same should also apply to tea and coffee. As we have amply demonstrated to you, we are in fact talking about the same thing, diluted in different quantities and drinks.
Of course, the idea of replacing your indispensable morning espresso with a cup of tea might justifiably make your skin crawl, but there’s nothing to stop you from enjoying this drink at other times of the day, perhaps when you’re entertaining guests, or if you want to treat yourself to a special ‘pampering’.
Keep in mind that the benefits of theine and caffeine are very similar, although they may vary depending on the beverages that contain them. Just as there are many qualities of coffee, there are also countless variations of tea. It is up to you to decide which ones to take according to the type of benefit you wish to obtain.
Since we know about coffee, we cannot tell you how you should prepare the tea to better enjoy the theine it contains. On the contrary, we know exactly what you need to do to enjoy a properly brewed cup of coffee, and the answer is: use one of our lever machines, which will introduce you to a new way of enjoying your favourite beverage.
