Tea or Coffee? Choosing Between These Wellness Drinks

"Coffee and tea are among the most consumed beverages worldwide. Two-thirds of American adults drink coffee daily, says the National Coffee Association's 2025 survey, up 7 percent from 2020. In contrast, the Tea Association indicates that just under half the population drinks tea. (Some drink both beverages.) Tea attracts a younger, health-oriented crowd to new-age teahouses, a social setting akin to bars and coffeehouses."

"The most substantial evidence for tea's health benefits is its association with longer life. A 2024 meta-analysis of about 1.3 million participants found that moderate tea intake (1.5 to 2 cups per day) was associated with lower all-cause mortality and lower cardiovascular and cancer mortality. A 2025 meta-analysis reported that black tea consumption was associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease. These protective effects level off at two cups per day or more."

"A systematic review of green tea trials showed modest but consistent improvements in blood pressure, fasting glucose, and lipids. A substantial body of evidence links regular tea intake to a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes, with maximum benefits at 3 to 4 cups per day. Extensive analyses suggest that tea drinkers experience lower cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality, stroke incidence, and CVD events compared to non-drinkers. Among patients with metabolic syndrome, habitual tea intake is associated with both decreased mortality and fewer cardiovascular complications."

Coffee consumption is higher than tea consumption in the U.S., with two-thirds of adults drinking coffee daily and just under half drinking tea. Moderate tea intake (about 1.5–2 cups daily) correlates with lower all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality, with black tea linked to reduced coronary heart disease risk and benefits plateauing at around two cups. Green tea trials show modest improvements in blood pressure, fasting glucose, and lipids. Regular tea intake associates with lower type 2 diabetes risk, fewer CVD events, and reduced mortality among those with metabolic syndrome. Coffee links to lower death rates and reduced risks of diabetes, liver disease, Parkinson’s, and some cancers.

Read at Psychology Today