Students are packing up their bags and heading back to campus, prepping to spend many a day and night combing over lecture notes and textbook outlines. Whether memorizing in the early morning or burning the midnight oil, there’s something no study session would be complete without: a cup of something caffeinated. In most cases, this means coffee or tea.
But which drink is better for fueling your brain and supporting you in getting that “A?” The answer may not be as simple as picking one beverage over the other. What you might need can depend on the time of day you drink it, what benefits you seek, and even your sensitivity to caffeine.
So, grab your favorite mug or to-go cup and let’s break down if coffee or tea is right for your educational extravaganza.
Coffee and Tea are Great Study Buddies
Before we pit the two against each other, let’s find some common ground. Coffee and tea both make great study companions. Here’s what they have to offer:
- Caffeine: This stimulant is great for boosting productivity, enhancing alertness, and increases the activity of your brain and nervous system. Caffeine can also dilate blood vessels in the brain, increasing blood flow and providing more oxygen to brain cells.
- Ritual: The ritualistic practice of brewing a cup of coffee or tea can give you a sense of routine. These mindful moments can help prepare you to focus and set the tone for your study sessions.
- Comfort: If you’re opting for a hot option, a warm cup of coffee or tea can help you feel calm and ready to take on your study materials.
- Antioxidants: Both coffee and tea contain powerful compounds known as antioxidants that can protect your cells and reduce mental fatigue.
- Health Benefits: There are several short-term benefits to coffee and tea consumption including increased alertness, increased mood, faster reaction times, enhanced cognitive function, and improved cardiovascular health.
When it comes down to it, coffee and tea have a lot in common. That said, there are still some key differences between the two beverages and how they affect your body and mind.
How Coffee and Tea Contrast
Now that we’ve established what’s the same about these two drinks, let’s take a look at some of the differences.
Coffee
Coffee typically contains more caffeine than tea. Most often, the caffeine content in coffee delivers stronger boosts of energy. This can be especially helpful when you need an extra jolt to power through long essays or to solve intense problem sets. A standard cup of coffee has about 95 milligrams of caffeine. The difference in caffeine content can impact your cognitive abilities while studying.
This is the option you want to grab when you’re looking for an instant boost. That said, coffee for studying may also have its drawbacks.
The recommended daily intake of caffeine for healthy adults in 400 milligrams. Too much caffeine on the other hand may cause jitters or sleep issues. It can also increase symptoms of insomnia, anxiety, and heart dysfunction.
Enjoy the appropriate amount of coffee for a temporary boost, but try not to drink it too close to bedtime.
Tea
A standard cup of black tea contains about 48 milligrams of caffeine, and a standard cup of green tea contains even less at around 28 milligrams. Tea also contains an amino acid known as L-theanine. This provides a gentler lift and promotes a state of “calm alertness.”
Tea can provide a more balanced and sustained boost in energy. Tea may be the preferred option when studying, because it provides long-term focus. This can be especially helpful when studying complex material or work that requires deep thought.
Black tea is the most comparable to a cup of coffee and may be best for providing a balanced focus. With less caffeine, green tea offers a gentler solution that supports mental clarity.
Caffeine’s Effect on Studying
Now that we know what’s similar and different about the two drinks, let’s talk a little more generally about caffeine. How does it help or hurt your study efforts?
Memory and Concentration
Caffeine can definitely help you maintain your concentration and boost your memory while studying. But, if you’re lacking motivation or having a hard time concentrating, caffeine will not be a long-term solution for you. Caffeine can affect people differently, so drink caffeine in moderation and understand how caffeine may affect your memory and concentration.
Alertness and Focus
Caffeine in coffee and tea can temporarily increase your level of alertness and focus. Coffee supplies almost instant results, making it ideal for getting you kickstarted when you need a surge of energy. That said, you’ll want to time drinking it right as you might start to feel a crash after a few hours when the caffeine has worn off. Due to the high levels of antioxidants in tea, your body will absorb the caffeine more slowly. This makes for a gentler release of energy and alertness and may help you avoid a crash after the fact.
Anxiety and Stress
Like we mentioned, drink caffeine in moderation, and be especially mindful with coffee. If you struggle with stress or anxiety, excessive caffeine consumption can exacerbate your symptoms. If you feel especially stressed due to the impending exam or final paper, stick to one cup of coffee. Or, better yet, opt for tea instead. The L-theanine compound in tea can help reduce anxiety and make you feel more relaxed. The best part? You get to enjoy the calm without feeling drowsy! Tea is a great option for studying, helping you feel calm and focused all at once.
What to Drink Based on How You Study
There’s no one-size-fits-all study drink just like there’s no one-size-fits-all way to study. What works best really depends on how you prefer to study.
Find out what kind of studier you are and what drinks will best fuel your success.
The Marathon Studier
You know that studying is a marathon, not a sprint. You spend countless hours in the library or at your favorite copy shop hunched over meticulously highlighted notes. You start at noon and end at midnight with plenty of snack breaks to keep you energized.
And you should drink tea.
Why? Long study sessions need sustained energy, not sharp spikes and crashes. The combination of caffeine and L-theanine in tea helps keep your focus locked without the jittery side effects of strong coffee.
Your best study drinks:
- Matcha Latte: This earthy green tea has the potential to improve your focus, memory retention, and help you manage your stress. Enjoy it with a milk of your choice and/or sweeten it with flavors like honey or vanilla.
- Earl Grey Tea: Enjoy a subtle energy lift without the jitters. If you enjoy specialty beverages and want a sweeter option, go for a London Fog latte with foam and vanilla.
- Iced Jasmine Green Tea: This refreshing, floral drink can enhance your focus, reduce your stress, and improve your memory. The jasmine is also especially helpful for keeping you calm in the chaos.
The Last-Minute Crammer
We’ve all done it. Whether you decided to prioritize other classes or just couldn’t find the motivation in time, you’re left staring at the bold deadline written in your planner. It’s now the night before the exam, and regret and panic are setting in.
You need coffee, stat.
This is when you need maximum firepower. A strong espresso or a tall cold brew gives you the mental energy to power through a pile of notes and might help you to better remember key details.
Your best study drinks:
- Cold Brew: With even more caffeine content than a typical cup of hot or iced coffee, cold brew can jumpstart your brain. This drink is quick, cold, effective, and there for you in a pinch.
- Americano: An Americano can improve your focus, memory, and cognitive function. Plus, the bold taste of a hot Americano can wake you right up.
- Espresso: If time is of the essence, opt for some espresso. It has a higher caffeine content than coffee at around 63 milligrams per one-ounce serving. Just don’t go overboard. Remember, you’ll need to sleep too.
The Group Studier
You work best when you collaborate and have a group chat for nearly every class you’re taking this semester. You enjoy gathering in community spaces and talking through your study sessions.
You should go for something social like a tea latte or flavored coffee.
It’s up to you based on what you prefer whether you want to choose coffee or tea. After all, lively conversation and collaborative studying keep you focused and engaged.
Your best study drinks:
- London Fog: This cozy classic will provide you with the sustained energy you need to help you manage your group study session.
- Hazelnut or Vanilla Coffee: Something about meeting up with friends and peers has us leaning into the sweeter side of things. Go for a flavored coffee to get all the benefits of regular coffee that’s a little easier to sip on.
- Iced Chai: Keep up your energy with this bold, spiced drink. Did you know that “chai” means tea? There’s a conversation starter for you and your study crew!
The Sensitive Studier
Maybe you’ve tried a caffeine-fueled study session before, and it didn’t quite work out for you. You’d like an extra boost, but your caffeine intolerance makes it a little more difficult for you to navigate what to order in a coffee shop. You tend to feel jittery or anxious when you drink coffee and tend to crash when it’s worn off.
You should drink low-caffeine tea or herbal blends.
You can still stay sharp without overdoing it. Choose drinks that are gentle on the system but still help you feel alert.
Your best study drinks:
- White Tea: The L-theanine in white tea will allow you to feel calm and may improve your focus. As a low caffeine option, this tea won’t disrupt your circadian rhythms so you can sleep soundly the night before your exam.
- Peppermint Tea: This caffeine-free herbal tea has the invigorating aroma and flavor of peppermint that can help stimulate your senses and increase focus without caffeine. It can keep you calm and help you power through mental fatigue.
- Rooibos Chai: This tea offers all the great taste of chai without the buzz of caffeine. Like peppermint tea, the taste and smell stimulates your senses and keeps you engaged.
Don’t Forget to Hydrate
Another thing both tea and coffee have in common? They’re both diuretics, which means they can dehydrate you if you’re not careful. Always keep a water bottle nearby when you’re studying with your favorite brew.
Alternate between your caffeinated beverage and water to keep headaches and fatigue at bay.
Coffee and Tea: Why Not Both?
Here’s a radical idea: you don’t have to choose one or the other. You can use both strategically.
Try starting your study session with tea to ease you in and increase your focus. Then, when that midday slump comes around, take a coffee break to get your spirits back up. When you’ve studied until your eyes get blurry, wind down with a caffeine-free tea that will help you rest and recover before bed.
What Works Best for You?
When it comes down to it, the best study drink is the one that helps you focus, feel good, and stay in the zone.
If you need a boost of energy fast, go for a bold coffee. If you want something long-lasting that will help you relax, brew some tea. If you’re sensitive to caffeine or want to study into late hours of the night, go for an herbal tea.
No matter your choice, Tradecraft has you covered with a thoughtful selection of beverages crafted to fuel your day (and your night-before cramming.)
So next time you’re prepping for an exam, outlining your big presentation, or just trying to survive a three-hour Zoom lecture, ask yourself: do I need coffee or tea? Or maybe… both?
Ready to power your productivity? Explore Tradecraft’s rotating collection of specialty coffees and teas and invite your campus to implement a Tradecraft coffee bar. We curate our craft beverages for quality, flavor, and the fuel you need to stay sharp.
