**TL;DR – Both coffee and tea are great drinks with various benefits but this is not an argument based on preference like flavor or side effects. In terms of market share and variety of health benefits, coffee has a slight upper hand over tea.** The debate between coffee and tea has been going on for years but a good argument can be made that coffee has a slight upper hand on tea. Both drinks a very popular and your opinion on which is better will depend on what part of the world you reside from. Although tea has a long and complex history than coffee with a wide variety of consumers, coffee is currently the dominant industry in terms of market value and has a variety of health benefits. In economic terms, tea is the most widely consumed hot drink with Turkey, Ireland, and the United Kingdom as their top consumers [1]. However, total tea production and retail roughly sum up to $58 Billion (USD) which is far behind the coffee industry [2]. The coffee shop industry alone reached $47.5 billion (USD) in 2019 [3] while the global coffee market is anticipated to reach $134.25 billion. Both industries are growing but the coffee market has expanded in recent years and will continue to expand due to rapid urbanization (and therefore more demand for coffee shops), rising e-commerce retail sales, increasing instant coffee preference, and growing demand for specialty coffee [4]. In terms of health benefits, both coffee and tea have generally positive benefits. Both help prevent cancer and lower chances of Alzheimer’s disease [5]. Tea improves your immune system and protects the body against kidney stones, and coffee helps to protect against Parkinson’s disease, lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes and liver cirrhosis [6]. Since both seem to be relatively equal at preventing diseases, coffee is slightly better because of its antioxidants. A single cup of coffee boasts more antioxidants (200 to 550 milligrams per cup) than one cup of black or green tea (150 to 400 milligrams per cup) [7]. [1[ Top 10 Tea Loving Countries In The World https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/top-10-tea-loving-countries-in-the-world.html [2] Global Market Report: Tea https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/ssi-global-market-report-tea.pdf [3] Size of the coffee shop market in the United States from 2018 to 2020 https://www.statista.com/statistics/1032200/coffee-shop-industry-market-size-us/#:~:text=Therefore%2C%20it%20may%20come%20as,percent%20from%20the%20previous%20year. [4] Global Coffee Market (2020 to 2024) https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200513005323/en/Global-Coffee-Market-2020-to-2024---Insights-Forecast-with-Potential-Impact-of-COVID-19---ResearchAndMarkets.com#:~:text=The%20global%20coffee%20market%20is,the%20period%20spanning%202020%2D2024. [5] Coffee vs. Tea: Is One Better for Your Health? https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20161223/coffee-vs-tea-is-one-better-health [6] Coffee vs. Tea: Is One Healthier Than the Other? https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/coffee-vs-tea#better-choice [7] Is It Better To Drink Coffee Or Tea First Thing In The Morning? https://www.huffpost.com/entry/better-drink-coffee-or-tea-morning_l_60088481c5b62c0057c2d119

**TL;DR – While there have been numerous arguments as to which drink is more superior, coffee or tea, it should be noted that each of these have their own health benefits and health risks. Consequently, neither one is better than the other, they're just different and should be consumed in moderation.** Caroline Tien (2020) who is a freelance writer covering health and science issues, confirms this for us when she mentions that both tea and coffee are in fact beneficial to our health in a number of ways. Both contain and provide good sources of caffeine and antioxidants – chemical compounds that may reduce your risk of certain conditions like cancer or diabetes and which helps us in feeling energized. According to Tien, coffee should be consumed when one needs a quick energy boost, especially since one receives an immediate and bigger buzz – as it contains about twice as much caffeine as tea. Christopher Gardner who is the director of nutrition studies at the Stanford Prevention Research Center confirms this when he notifies us that one cup of coffee typically contains 80 to 100 mg of caffeine, while one cup of tea only contains 30 to 50 mg of caffeine. Matthew Chow, an assistant clinical professor of neurology at the University of California Davis School of Medicine, further endorses this claim when he says, "Generally speaking, coffee has two to three times more caffeine compared to a similar-sized black tea." Alternatively, Tien informs us that tea should be consumed if one wants more sustained energy (energy that is sustained over a longer more prolonged period of time) and attention levels. Especially since both green and black tea contain L-theanine – a chemical that metabolizes caffeine over a longer period of time. Additionally, a small study conducted in 2008 found that participants who consumed a combination of L-theanine and caffeine did better on an attention test as opposed to those who consumed caffeine only. Importantly, this study concluded that a *combination* of coffee and tea improved both cognitive performance and attention. In another study that was conducted in 2015, it was found that people who consumed a moderate amount of caffeine have a lower risk for type 2 diabetes – as opposed to people who do not consume any caffeine. Furthermore, these people were also less likely to develop certain cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, as well as, cancers, e.g. colon cancer, uterine cancer, and liver cancer. Moreover, since everyone's caffeine tolerance is different (different reactions), the FDA does caution against one consuming more than four to five cups of caffeine per day as this can lead to: nausea, diarrhea, insomnia, anxiety and elevated heart rate. In extreme cases, an excess amount of caffeine can even cause epileptic seizures. Evidently, both coffee and tea (whether alone or together) need to be consumed in moderation, since having more than four or five cups per day can provide health risks from the amount of caffeine. So while we’ve seen both the similarities and the differences between these two drinks, it's clear that neither one is better than the other. Ultimately, it depends on the individual’s overall health (medical conditions) and personal preference. Or as Chow puts it, "There is no clear winner between tea and coffee." In terms of your health, the choice basically comes down to which effects you are looking for. Should you drink tea or coffee? Why coffee can give you a quicker buzz, but tea may provide more sustained energy https://www.insider.com/tea-vs-coffee [accessed February 21, 2021].

Tea is definitely better than coffee because it contains less caffeine and so can be drunk closer to bed-time! What I like in a hot drink is the ability to cuddle up on the sofa before bed, watch a movie and have a cuppa, but because coffee contains so much caffeine I think tea is better for this purpose to allow for some sleep afterwards. Also decaffeinated tea is tastier in my opinion than decaf coffee and therefore my all standards I think tea is better than coffee, as the decaf and the regular breakfast version are tastier and more consumable late at night than coffee. I also love fruity teas which contain little/no caffeine and feel very refreshing to drink, in contrast to the quite heavy flavour of coffee which can be overpowering sometimes.

My personal preferences change on the mood I am in and what time of day it is. For instance, in the morning I would probably opt for a coffee (black one sugar), however after midday I would prefer a tea (black one sugar). I feel this preference is simply down to caffeine content and the affect it has on me personally, although I’d find it difficult to establish an ultimate favourite between the two

The difference between drinking coffee and tea depends on what someone ultimately wants. For someone that wants an energy boost, coffee is the definitive choice. It helps get people in the mood and the energy to start the day. The amount of caffeine is significantly higher than a can of soda. For comparison, Driftaway's website states a can of soda contains between 25 and 50 milligrams of caffeine, while a six-ounce cup of coffee contains around 100 milligrams. (1) However, drinking coffee excessively can lead to decrease of sleep, and increase in dependence. Coffee is, as my old friend put it, a "punch to the brain". For someone that wants something more soothing, relaxed but still healthy, tea will suffice. Per Healthline.com, tea contains an antioxidant known as L-theanine, which helps stimulate the brain. Tea does contain an amount of caffeine that also helps the brain maintain a sharp-mind (2). But when it comes to physical health, is one more preferable to the other? That is a bit uncertain. Healthline later notes in the same article that results from studies of the comparison between coffee and tea is inconclusive. They both contribute to weight loss, but in different ways. Coffee helps consumers lose weight by expending the body's fat tissue, while tea inhibits maintains a low blood pressure. Ultimately, it all comes to personal preference, and how one prioritizes someone prioritizes their health and daily activities. Personally, I have been more of a coffee drinker largely because it's more flavorful. It also motivates me to perform at the best of my abilities. However, I do not neglect the positive effects of tea on my personal health. Thanks to my aforementioned friend, I delightfully consume tea because it sharpens my mind. It's soothing and relaxing. So, whatever you choose to drink, drink it freely. CITATIONS: (1) Scott. “Coffee and Soda: A Comparison of Caffeine Levels, Health Benefits.” Driftaway Coffee, 16 Mar. 2016, driftaway.coffee/coffee-vs-soda. (2) Lang, Ariane. “Coffee vs. Tea: Is One Healthier Than the Other?” Healthline, 6 Oct. 2019, www.healthline.com/nutrition/coffee-vs-tea#antioxidants.

I enjoy both, but coffee wins out because it can usually administer more caffeine more efficiently, which is the only objective advantage I can think of between the two. The rest is entirely subjective.