Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day, it gives you the right energy to face daily commitments. For caffeine advocates, coffee is better than tea because it helps improve focus and works faster.
Tea, on the other hand, is considered an afternoon drink, to be enjoyed next to a tray of sweets. In short, the most popular drink in Britain seems more suitable for a moment of relaxation than for the rush of the morning hours.
But the challenge between the two drinks cannot be played only with energy shots. To understand what is better between coffee and tea, it is also necessary to analyze other components, such as flavor, the benefits they bring, and the chemical composition.
Both are rich in antioxidants and hydrating, provide health benefits and, promote the ability to be alert and improve performance.
However, the caffeine content is different.
In terms of taste, it is difficult to take a clear position. Some love the concentrated flavor that is hidden in a cup of espresso, while others prefer to take a few more minutes and drink their cup of tea every morning.
In Hong Kong, an innovative solution was adopted to respond peacefully to the ancient struggle that pits coffee lovers against tea consumers. Yuanyang is a drink prepared with tea and coffee together in the same cup.
But if you are not yet ready for this union of traditions and you prefer the intensity and purity of the flavor of tea or coffee, with this article we will help you understand which is the right choice, analyzing in detail the characteristics of the two drinks.
Is there more caffeine in tea or coffee?
Caffeine is the most widespread stimulant in the world and is present in coffee, cocoa, tea, cola, guaranà, and mate berries plants.
Tea and coffee are caffeine-based drinks that have a place of honor when it comes to consumption.
However, for the same amount of tea and coffee, the caffeine content is never the same. For example, a cup of espresso extracted with a professional coffee machine contains only 60 milligrams of caffeine, while coffee extracted with a traditional coffee maker has about 85 milligrams.
This means that in addition to the quantity consumed, the caffeine content also varies according to the method and duration of preparation.
So is there more caffeine in tea or coffee?
It depends!
Decaffeinated coffee contains less than 15 mg of caffeine. A smaller amount than green tea which has about 28 mg.
In general, however, almost all coffee drinks have more caffeine than green tea and black tea, the two best known and most popular qualities.
When it comes to coffee, the most caffeinated choice is cold brew, which has around 96 milligrams.
But why do you have to pay so much attention to the caffeine content?
Excessive consumption of this substance can lead to various types of disorders, from insomnia to hypertension.
To reap all the possible benefits from consuming caffeine, nutritionists’ advice is not to exceed 300 milligrams per day (don’t be scared, it’s not a small quantity! Doing the math, it’s almost 4 cups of coffee a day).
If, on the other hand, you want to limit your caffeine consumption, just alternate coffee and tea with herbal teas and decaffeinated coffee.
What are the differences between caffeine and theine?
Caffeine, theine, guaranine are substances derived from different plants but identical on a chemical level. These are natural alkaloids, with the same molecular composition.
That is, drinking a cup of coffee or sipping tea has the same stimulating effect since the active ingredient is practically the same.
Caffeine was discovered in 1819 while theine was isolated a few years later, in 1827.
These substances are present in the leaves, seeds, and fruits of coffee and tea plants.
So if you want to know if theine and caffeine are the same things, the answer is “somewhat”. In other words, from a chemical point of view, they are the same but the first is extracted from tea leaves while the second comes from coffee beans.
At the organoleptic level, we are talking about totally different things. Anyone knows how different a cup of tea is from a cup of coffee.
At the organoleptic level, we are talking about totally different things. Anyone knows how different a cup of tea is from a cup of coffee.
Remember the 300 milligrams of caffeine per day that must not be exceeded? Well, consider that even those must be included in the calculation of daily consumption, otherwise you risk incurring unpleasant side effects.
In nature, caffeine and theine occur as a white, solid, and odorless substance.
Thanks to its invigorating and stimulating properties for the central nervous system, caffeine is also used in the chemical industry. Several drugs contain this active ingredient, intended to treat migraines or to combat sleepiness.
Through a chemical process, it is possible to extract caffeine from tea and coffee, obtaining products with an identical flavor but without caffeine (decaffeinated coffee, decaffeinated tea).
What are the benefits of tea and coffee?
If, when it comes to breakfast, you can’t decide which drink to prepare, we will give you some information on the beneficial effects of tea and coffee.
Both drinks can help you improve performance and stimulate brain function.
Espresso lovers will no doubt tell you that coffee is better than tea because it helps reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. The daily intake of coffee inhibits insulin resistance with surprising results: those who consume at least a cup a day has a 7% lower risk of developing the disease.
In activities that require adrenaline, caffeine is very effective as it increases the levels of adrenaline in the blood. The result? The energy level goes up and the body performance lasts longer. According to several studies, the improvement in those who perform physical performance is as much as 12%.
But the benefits don’t end there.
Coffee is also a source of B vitamins and minerals, such as manganese and potassium. Vitamins and minerals have an indispensable function for the body as they strengthen the immune system and help prevent viruses and seasonal illnesses. With a couple of cups, 11% of the daily dose of vitamins is already reached.
The benefits of tea are no exception.
According to the National Cancer Institute, the most loved drink in Anglo-Saxon countries plays an important role in fighting cancer cells that cause liver and breast cancer. Tea is a drink rich in antioxidants, promotes the elimination of free radicals, and helps prevent the oxidative damage responsible for tumors.
Green tea is an excellent ally during a diet because it speeds up the metabolism and promotes the dissolution of fats.
It also improves circulation and reduces the risk of neurological diseases.
Which of the two drinks gives you a wider choice?
To this question, avid tea drinkers can only answer that tea offers a huge variety of flavors. You can choose from an infinite list of flavors since the tea leaves can be mixed with other ingredients such as lemon, ginger, orange, cinnamon and create different kinds of drinks.
However, this statement is not true for tea purists, for whom only classic flavors exist, such as green tea, black tea, white tea, oolong, red tea, yellow tea, and moringa. While flavored teas are not admitted on this list.
If we talk about preparations, however, we can say with certainty that coffee is better than tea.
Starting only from the extraction methods we can count a large number of types: from French press to filtered coffee, from traditional Moka to Turkish coffee, from lever coffee machine to automatic machine.
Regarding coffee varieties, there are endless options. Espresso is a versatile drink that lends itself exceptionally to many recipes.
In any case, it is an explosion of energy and taste to start the day and face any type of activity.
And then there are the different proposals that arrive from all over the world: Turkish coffee, cappuccino, latte macchiato, iced coffee, etc.
Not to mention the coffee cocktails, such as Espresso Martini, Irish Coffee, or White Russian, capable of giving some sparkle to any type of event.
Espresso is also the basis of many sweet recipes, from the famous tiramisu to Sicilian granita, all absolutely irresistible.
Did you make your choice?
Is coffee better than tea? The doubt is almost Hamletic, but with this article, we have clarified some of the main characteristics of these two drinks.
Both contain caffeine and can give you the energy to face your daily tasks. Coffee in particular acts faster and helps maintain remarkable performance longer.
Coffee contains antioxidants, B vitamins, and minerals that strengthen the immune system. So it intervenes effectively in the prevention of colds and flu diseases. Caffeine also plays a notable role in diabetes prevention.
In terms of variations, coffee is the winner of this comparison. Espresso lends itself to many imaginative and tasteful preparations, from iced coffee to coffee desserts. Although, despite the variety of uses of coffee, freshly extracted espresso remains a unique and unparalleled drink.
If you love espresso and the variety it offers, enter our store and discover the models of lever coffee machines available.
Our range of coffee machines is ideal for your business or for making a unique coffee at home.