Differences Between Coffee & Tea

• Tea and coffee come from two different types of plants. Lew Robertson/Creatas/Getty Images

  Although coffee and tea are popular warm beverages throughout the world, several key differences between them set each apart as a unique drink. Coffee and tea lovers alike use these differences to distinguish between the key features of these drinks.

Type of Plant

• All types of tea come from the Camilla sinensis plant. This plant has the potential to grow into a tree, but tea growers keep the plant trimmed to the height of a bush for easier picking. Coffee also comes from an evergreen tree. Tea is produced from the leaves of the Camilla sinensis plant, while coffee is produced from the seeds found inside berries on the coffee plant.

Origins

• Coffee plants grow in the "coffee belt," a region of suitable conditions that goes around the world and includes Latin America, Africa, the Arabian peninsula and the Caribbean. Within this belt grow two varieties of coffee: arabica, which grows at higher altitudes above 3,000 feet, and robusta, which grows at lower altitudes and produces stronger coffee. Tea grows in tropical and similar climates such as India, China, Africa and Sri Lanka. Tea also has two varieties: camilla sinensis sinensis, which originated in China, and camilla sinensis assamica, which originated in the Assam region of India.

Production

• The method used to produce tea depends on the type of tea being produced. Black tea requires that the leaves oxidize before the drying process. Green tea requires that the leaves should only wither before the roasting and drying process. Production of coffee starts with the red coffee berries. The seed is removed from the berry and roasted. Manufacturers sell the roasted beans either whole or ground.

Caffeine

• Brewed coffee contains more caffeine than any type of brewed tea. An 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee contains approximately 85 milligrams of caffeine. Robusta varieties of coffee contain more caffeine than arabica varieties. An 8-ounce cup of black tea contains approximately 23 to 110 milligrams of caffeine, while an 8-ounce cup of green tea contains approximately 8 to 36 milligrams of caffeine. Also, the longer that the tea steeps in the water, the higher the level of caffeine.

Benefits

• Caffeine and tea both have types of antioxidants, but are reputed to have different health benefits. Tea has been linked to lowering cholesterol, stress relief, weight control and helping with cancer and other diseases. Consumption of coffee has been linked to fewer gallstones, stable blood sugar, and reduced risk of developing Parkinson's disease.