The warmth of a cup, the aroma of a steaming brew, the sound of a spoon tapping against porcelain – these are all the little things that make the day feel more organised. We start with coffee and end with tea. There is more to both these gestures than just taste and aroma. They are rituals that, when repeated day after day, form the framework of our everyday lives. They teach us mindfulness, help us find our rhythm, and sometimes enable us to simply spend time with another person.
In a world that is moving faster than ever, rituals provide an anchor. These rituals can take the form of meditation or a morning walk, but also the preparation of a cup of drink that has accompanied people at work, during conversations and in silence for centuries. Research shows that coffee and tea, two beverages with different histories and cultures, play a special role in this process.
COFFEE – A PORTRAIT OF AN EVERYDAY RITUAL
According to research by the Coffee & Tea Market Research Institute in Ustron, headed by Dr Sylwia Mokrysz, a proxy of Mokate SA, a cup of coffee in Poland is not only a source of caffeine, but also reflects lifestyle. The study Consumer Behavior as a Criterion for Segmentation of the Coffee Market in Poland, prepared by Prof. Łukasz Wróblewski and Dr Sylwia Mokrysz, reveals five distinct ‘faces’ of Polish coffee drinkers.
The largest group are the ‘Social Gourmets’ – women aged 25-54, for whom coffee is a way to meet, chat or celebrate a special occasion. They drink it at home, at work and in cafés. The ‘Practicals’ group, on the other hand, treat coffee more functionally, seeing it as a drink that gets them going and helps them with their daily tasks. The ‘Ordinaries’ drink ‘whatever is at hand’, while the ‘Pleasure Seekers’ – active, conscious consumers – find a moment of pleasure, a moment for themselves and an element of daily self-care in coffee. The youngest group, the ‘Energy Accumulators’, drink coffee as a natural energy booster to speed up the rhythm of their day.
As researchers note, coffee is much more than just a drink today; it is a microcosm of our habits and emotions. ‘Morning coffee is like turning on the day. Without it, it’s hard to get going,’ said one of the study participants. This simple statement encapsulates the truth about this modern ritual: we need small cues to help us find meaning in repetition, take a moment to pause and savour the present.
Coffee is also a unique social lubricant. In his study ‘Coffee and Tea in the Service of Consumer Quality of Life, Prof. Henryk Mruk wrote that sharing a cup of coffee or tea together is not only a pleasure, but also a way to build relationships. ‘Human brains are sociophilic,’ the author notes, ‘and conversations over coffee promote the production of serotonin, the happiness hormone.’ This scientific confirmation validates our intuitive sense that a cup of coffee brings people together. Whether in a café, at work or at home, it creates a space for connection, conversation and warmth.
TEA – MINDFULNESS IN A CUP
Although more delicate, tea has a similar power. Dr Sylwia Mokrysz, who has been researching tea culture for years, mentions the ancient Chinese dian cha tradition of ‘tea whisking’ in one of her texts. Practised during the Song dynasty, this art form involved rhythmically whisking tea powder with hot water until a delicate foam resembling a blooming flower was produced.
‘When I first tried whisking tea in the Song dynasty style, I was surprised at how much the experience resembled meditation. The movements are repetitive, yet they require concentration and fluidity. You calm your thoughts down almost immediately,’ Dr Mokrysz recalls. And she adds, ‘In a world where everything is accelerating, such a ritual allows you to slow down. It’s a moment to focus on taste, smell and harmony. Whisking tea is a lesson in mindfulness – the art of stillness.’
This approach fits perfectly with the spirit of contemporary mindfulness practices and the slow life philosophy. As well as being a drink, tea also becomes an exercise in presence, a way to reconnect with oneself. It is no coincidence that many modern tea ceremonies are now referred to as a mindful tea experience.
RITUALS THAT CREATE BONDS
From a psychological perspective, rituals such as making coffee in the morning or afternoon tea serve several functions. They organise time, provide a sense of predictability and build a bridge between the chaos of the day and the need for peace. However, as Prof. Mruk emphasises, their significance extends beyond the individual experience. They also provide a social space where bonds are formed. Cafés, tea rooms and home tables are places where we meet, talk and share our emotions.
Though seemingly insignificant, these meetings have a neurobiological dimension. When we drink coffee or tea with others, the serotonin levels in our brains increase, bringing with them a sense of happiness and belonging. This is why, as Mruk writes, ‘coffee and tea are the platform for what is the essence of humanity: building relationships’.
Contemporary life, full of hustle and bustle, paradoxically needs these moments even more. Rituals that once seemed ordinary are regaining their significance, becoming a way to care for ourselves and others.
THE TASTE OF EVERYDAY LIFE
So, when we reach for a cup of coffee or tea, it is worth seeing it as more than just an automatic gesture. It is a moment when we can engage with life consciously, experiencing the smell, warmth, sound and taste. In that moment, we are truly present.
Sylwia Mokrysz put it most simply, ‘All the faces of tea, from the everyday cup to sophisticated ceremonies, teach us one thing: drinking tea is about more than just quenching our thirst. It is a way to connect with culture, nature, and ourselves.’
Coffee and tea, in all their diversity, bring together the worlds of science and emotion, tradition and modernity. They remind us that the true quality of life does not always require big changes. Sometimes, all it takes is a calm sip of a drink, the warmth of the hand and mindfulness to make an ordinary moment important.
