Author: Mirei

Writing Workshop I, Sophia University

Publication permission granted in August 2025

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There is a perception that English tea culture follows proper steps, while American coffee culture lacks them. However, the difference between the two solely reflects differences in historical development, social function, and cultural values. This distinction reveals how two parallel beverage traditions evolved to serve fundamentally different societal needs, each developing sophisticated but contrasting approaches to its respective drinks.

English tea culture developed its formal protocols during the Victorian era, when afternoon tea became a symbol of social refinement and class distinction. The ritualized steps—warming the pot, measuring precise amounts of tea, steeping for specific durations, and serving with particular etiquette—emerged from aristocratic practices. These customs were codified in etiquette manuals and reinforced through generations as markers of proper breeding and social status (English Al Fresco).

Furthermore, the tradition of adding milk to tea began in 17th-century Britain, initially serving a practical purpose. When tea was first imported, it was served in fragile porcelain cups, which could not resist the sudden heat of boiling water, often cracking. Adding milk first acted as a buffer, protecting the fragile porcelain from temperature shock. Over time, stronger, heat-resistant porcelains were invented, eliminating the necessity for this protective measure. However, the habit evolved into a social marker. The upper class, with their durable porcelain, would first pour tea and then add milk according to their taste. The working class, still using more fragile earthenware, continued the milk-first method to protect their cups. This distinction led the elite to associate adding milk first with the lower class, solidifying the divide. Even individuals like George Orwell commented on this, stating in his 1946 essay, "A Nice Cup of Tea," that pouring milk last was the only civilized approach to making tea (Saini, 2025). This example perfectly illustrates how primarily arbitrary customs can become powerful indicators of social position and cultural identity.

American coffee culture, conversely, evolved from pragmatic rather than ceremonial origins. Coffee soared in popularity after the American Revolution, becoming standard issue for soldiers by the Civil War in 1861, primarily for its caffeine rather than its often-bitter taste. This practical approach established coffee as a functional beverage designed to enhance productivity rather than facilitate social ritual. Coffee shops became accessible to the public in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, fueled by falling wholesale prices and the expanding railroad network, making coffee both widespread and affordable. During the Great Depression in 1929, food banks offering coffee and donuts solidified the expectation of an affordable, accessible cup, a legacy that persists today. World War II saw coffee again as a military ration, supplied by Maxwell House. However, it was the boom in post-war advertising, targeting the nuclear family through newspapers, magazines, and television, which truly cemented coffee's popularity throughout the latter half of the 20th century, often associating it with family life (Ashby, 2022).

Some might argue that formal tea rituals create more meaningful social connections than casual American coffee consumption, as structured ceremonies force deeper engagement while coffee culture remains superficial and transactional. However, this disregards how American coffee culture has fostered unique social bonding through inclusive spaces accessible to all backgrounds. Coffee shops serve as "third places" where spontaneous conversations flourish and diverse communities form naturally (Roberts-Ganim, 2023). The accessibility of coffee culture allowed authentic connections to develop naturally rather than through prescribed ceremonial steps.

In conclusion, the differing perceptions of English tea's formality versus American coffee's functionality merely reflect distinct historical developments and cultural values. Both traditions possess rich customs, yet they serve different social purposes: one emphasizes ceremonial bonding, the other individual efficiency. Neither is superior; they simply illustrate the diverse cultural landscapes from which they arose, each perfectly adapted to the societies that created and sustained them.

Works Cited:

• Ashby, Paul. “The History of the US Coffee Shop.” Perfect Daily Grind, 4 Jan. 2022, perfectdailygrind.com/2022/01/the-history-of-the-us-coffee-shop/.

• Roberts-Ganim, Madeleine. “Third Places: What Are They and Why Are They Important to American Culture? | English Language Institute.” Esl.uchicago.edu, The University of Chicago, 1 Nov. 2023, esl.uchicago.edu/2023/11/01/third-places-what-are-they-and-why-are-they-important-to-american-culture/.

• Saini, Lovlesh. “Milk First in Tea or Last in Tea? The Science and the Story?” Freshleaf Teas, 5 Feb. 2025, freshleafteas.in/blogs/articles/milk-first-in-tea-or-last-in-tea-the-science-and-the-story.

• English Al Fresco. 27 Mar. 2024, speakenglishalfresco.com/blog/tea-culture-uk/.