There has always been the ancient debate about which is best tea or coffee? Two very different drinks, which always seem to be categorised together. Obviously this article will not settle the debate, nor will it change your mind, but we will look to uncover all the positive and negatives of these culturally popular drinks, before giving our own verdict on what we feel to be a deserved winner.

Coffee

One of the great things about coffee is a heightened sense of energy and motivation. This is what makes coffee such a popular drink first thing in the morning when you are looking to crack on with the busy day ahead of you. The chances are that you will pop down to one of your local coffee shops or you will already have one of the many bean to cup coffee machines on the market sitting in your kitchen, waiting for you to wake up every morning for your first fresh brew.

There have been some reported health risks with the drink, as with any caffeinated beverage. Doctors have said that numerous symptoms and illnesses can be put down to drinking excessive amounts of caffeine. Just recently it was reported by researchers that coffee is one of the contributing factors towards high blood pressure.

However, it has also been reported that coffee can prevent illnesses, with reports saying it can cut the risk of developing breast cancer and it could reverse memory problems seen in Alzheimer’s. It should also be noted that coffee is not the only drink that carries caffeine, and when drunk responsibly and in moderation, the effects are minimal.

Tea

Then we come to the other side of the argument, which is a traditional English cup of tea. One of the benefits of tea is that there is such a wide variety to choose from which means if you do not like a traditional English tea with milk, the chances are you will like a mint, herbal or peppermint, and you will still be able to enjoy great tasting tea.

Just like coffee, there has also been a wide variety of reports on the affect tea has on your health. Reports in the past have claimed that drinking tea is healthier than drinking water as it rehydrates as well as fighting against heart disease and some cancers. However, the English inclusion of milk in our tea, blocks all these healthy effects on our bodies.

Caffeine is also a major factor when it comes to tea, especially when it comes to green and herbal tea as the amount of caffeine contained in such drinks is just as high as coffee, which means excessive amounts can have a detrimental effect on your health.

Verdict

So I’ve given you both sides of the argument, and I promised you my opinion, and for me there is no question. I would much rather drink a cup of coffee in the morning, than a cup of tea. My bean to cup coffee machines practically in use all day every day, and that’s because I love the taste and the energy it gives me. The popularity of coffee in the UK is far greater than tea, with demand for it constantly increasing every year.