Who Is More Particular: The Coffee or Tea Drinker?
Coffee and tea are like two heavyweights duking it out in the hot beverage ring. But this is one fight that will never be won by knockout. The winner will be determined by a vote of the judges which, it just so happens, are consumers. So who is more particular, coffee or tea drinkers?
The answer depends on who you ask. Your average coffee drinker will say he/she is far more particular than a tea drinker. The average tea drinker would respond with his/her firmly held belief that his/her comrades are much more discerning – which is why they drink tea to begin with.
Measuring by Consumption
Determining how particular consumers are based on consumption volume is a virtual draw. Data published by Indy 100 in 2016 shows the world pretty evenly split. Coffee is preferred throughout the Western Hemisphere as well as Western Europe – with the exception of England – while tea is the preferred drink in Eastern Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Consumption volume alone does not tell us much about which kind of drinker is more fussy. So let us move on to other measurements: the number of choices and public opinion.
Number of Choices
If we measure the particularness of hot beverage drinkers based on the number of choices in the marketplace, coffee would win hands down. Just go into any urban coffee shop and have a look at the menu. You will find straight black coffee, decaf coffee, and dozens of different lattes, frappes, espresso drinks, and so forth. Even more amazing is the fact that you can have five coffee shops within a few blocks that all have different menus.
This isn’t to say that tea only comes in one flavor; it does not. However, it is rare to see tea drinkers be so specific about what they put in their tea. Coffee drinkers obsess over creamers, syrups, and other additives. If the local barista doesn’t get the flavor combination just right, there could be hell to pay.
Vocal Opinions
A measurement of who is more fussy comes down in favor of tea drinkers when based on public opinion, particularly opinions found on the internet. For example, a blog post published by Seven Seas Tea in May 2016 says it all in the title: ‘Are Tea Drinkers Too Fussy?’
Author Margaret River makes the case that tea drinkers who are not particular about what they get in a restaurant should start being fussier. She makes the case that they should begin demanding as much quality and variety as their coffee-drinking counterparts.
In the end, whether you are particular about your coffee or tea is entirely your prerogative. Our goal at Galaxie Coffee is to make sure you have just what you want in your break room or office. If you have ever considered coffee service for your staff, please give us a call. We would be happy to explain how our service works and how you and your organization can benefit from it.