Are you a coffee person or a tea person?

by Elizabeth Harper, Posted Oct 21st 2006 @ 4:03PM

In a recent essay on coffee in America, essayist Julia Keller proclaimed that there is a fundamental difference between "coffee people" and "tea people." The difference between the two is a "a cultural divide that cuts across movies, and TV, and literature, and life.... Coffee is scraped knuckles and bum luck; tea is an extended pinkie and inherited wealth."

As someone who's been known to drink both, I'm at a bit of a loss. (Perhaps I secretly have a split personality?) But, honestly, am I the only one who sees a similarity in the finicky preparation requirements of both beverages? A precise amount of coffee or tea needs to be added to a precise amount of water at a precise temperature for a precise amount of time. A mistake in the amount of coffee grounds or tea leaves; the amount of water or its temperature; or the amount of time it sits will all have a definite impact on flavor. Of course, the fact that most of us make our coffee in a coffee pot (which does all the temperature work on its own), may make all the difference. But do you see yourself as a particular affectionado of one hot beverage over the other?

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Filed Under: Drink Recipes
Tags: america, caffeine, coffee, drink, drinks, tea

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Reader comments (Page 2 of 2)

10-23-2006 @7:46AM Lord Jezo said... Speaking of tea, this morning I have finally found a tea too strong for me.

Yorkshire Gold by Taylors of Harrogate.

I picked up a box yesterday and for the first time in years I have had to take the tea bag out of my tea cup. Normally I will drink Asian teas and let it seep for an hour, I could never get my tea strong enough. White, green, oolong.. I would just take the leaves and leave them in the cup until I was finished drinking. Even loose Typhoo tea from the UK, I'll fill up a bag, toss it in my cup, and let it take over.

But this Yorkshire Gold stuff. Man, this is intense. Within a few minutes the tea was so dark that I could not even see the bottom of the tea bag. The flavor was the strongest I have ever had.

I think I have found my match.
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