People will debate about practically anything, including whether coffee is juice or tea. Since we’re open-minded people, we decided to hear them out.
Both sides make some interesting points in the debate. But is it enough for us to change our minds and position on this popular beverage?
Today, we’ll sift through the facts to determine what coffee really is.
Let’s get brewing!
What is Coffee Made From?
Do you think your morning cup of joe is from actual beans? If so, get ready for an eye-opener. Surprisingly, these tiny bundles of deliciousness are seeds or pits inside a cherry-like fruit.
The fruit grows on plants in tropical locations throughout the world. They’re in Central and South America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Americans import crops from many countries, but Brazil and Colombia are the largest suppliers.
At harvest, farmers extract the seeds and then roast them. The roasting process plays a tremendous role in the strength and boldness of the final product.
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Once completed, the “beans” get shipped, ground, and eventually brewed in your Keurig or another trusty machine. It can take over two years from planting the seed until you enjoy it in your favorite mug. So, slow down and enjoy that rich taste a little more.
Can Coffee Be Juice?
Those who claim coffee is juice tend to cling to the fact that it originates from a fruit. However, knowing all the details is essential before you label something.
Juice is a product created from the flesh of a fruit. If you remember, coffee comes from the seed, not the flesh. Additionally, since it’s not technically a legume, it would be wrong to consider it a vegetable juice.
An infusion is likely the best option if you have to classify the process of making a cup of coffee. Drinks in this category involve steeping solid substances in hot water to pull out the flavor, aroma, and other properties.
So Then, Can Coffee Be Tea?
While coffee as a juice was easy to debunk, classifying it as tea will require slightly more effort. The process of making each of these drinks is very similar. Both use hot water to extract the flavor from a plant-based material.
However, the methods for each are entirely different.
Using your favorite brewing machine to create your jitter juice typically uses percolation. The water drips onto the fresh grounds, passes through a filter, and empties into the bottom of your pot or mug.
Moreover, tea traditionally comes from the Camellia Sinensis plant. The flavors get extracted from the leaves when placed in hot water. The longer the leaves sit in the water, the stronger the flavor. While they seem separate, using a French Press or Aeropress also uses an infusion method.
So, unless you label anything made through an infusion process as tea, coffee isn’t the same drink. The two beverages are significantly different. If you offered a friend tea and brought them a cup of joe, you’d likely confuse them.
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Was Coffee or Tea Discovered First?
While we’ve looked at whether coffee is tea or juice, some dive further into the debate to see which is older. Thankfully, this is a much easier question to answer. Getting to the bottom will require us to travel back in time.
We must set our clocks back to 2700 BC to find the answer. Many historians believe this is when tea was first a product of China. Although a legendary tale credits Emperor Shen Nong, people have yet to learn who or where it started.
The emperor went for a walk and became thirsty. He ordered a servant to prepare him a drink while he sat under a shade tree. As he sipped away, a leaf fell into his mug, turning the water green and creating a pleasing aroma.
Experts believe coffee first appeared around 900 AD in Yemen. Again, like the origins of tea, multiple stories exist. Some credit a mystic for watching birds get energy from certain berries. Another points to a sheik’s disciple eating berries to survive. He didn’t like the taste, so he put them in the fire and eventually tried boiling them.
In this case, it’s pretty easy to see that tea is about 3,000 years older. No debate is necessary for this discussion. And while we haven’t taken an official poll, coffee tends to be the most popular in the Americas and Europe.
Does Coffee or Tea Have More Caffeine?
The amount of caffeine in coffee and tea can vary considerably. It typically depends on the type, method of brewing, and the serving size. A standard cup of java has around 95 to 165 milligrams.
On the other hand, the same amount of tea will generally have about 30 to 70 milligrams. Again, it’s important to remember that it depends on the specific leaves and how you prepare them.
Luckily, if caffeine is a concern, both offer decaffeinated versions. These options allow you to enjoy the taste and aromas without the stimulation. It may be worth considering if your tolerance is low and you don’t like feeling jittery.
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Is Coffee and Orange Juice a Thing?
Few places produce more coffee and oranges than Brazil. Someone eventually had the bright idea to combine the two. Surprisingly, it’s much more popular than you’d think. It first arrived on the scene during the 1950s and has since become a standard part of breakfast.
When you visit a Brazilian cafe, you’ll likely find it on their menu. Some spice it up with espresso and blend it to form an even more unique concoction.
While it may not be something we’d drink daily, we’ll try just about anything once. Its popularity has spread worldwide, so it can’t be that bad. Right?
What is Coffee Tea?
We’ve cleared up that coffee and tea are essentially different beverages. However, some creative individuals will make tea from the leaves of a coffee plant. First, they roast the greens and then grind or crumple them up.
The next step is to brew or steep them in hot water. Doing so creates a drink similar to green tea and contains less caffeine. Other options include using the dried skins from the fruit of the plant. Many claim it tastes much sweeter and has an almost cherry flavor.
No Further Debate Needed
Now that you know more about coffee, it’s pretty clear that it’s neither juice nor tea. While it shares similarities with these two popular drinks, it’s typically in a class of its own.
The next time you hear someone debating about its classification, be sure to set them straight. Use your new knowledge to give this incredible beverage the credit it’s due.
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