Tea or coffee

Gosh Doodledog it's never occurred to me to discriminate between visitors. Whether it's family, friends, or the man whose come to look at the boiler, I give them a quick run down of what's available. I've never minded if someone asks about alternatives because I'm pretty fussy myself.

Deedaa

Gosh Doodledog it's never occurred to me to discriminate between visitors. Whether it's family, friends, or the man whose come to look at the boiler, I give them a quick run down of what's available. I've never minded if someone asks about alternatives because I'm pretty fussy myself.

I do the same. But am a bit more discerning with biscuits, I generally offer the biscuit tin with nice run of the mill biccies in it but the extra chocolatey biccies from M&S stay in the cupboard 🫣

I haven't drunk tea for around 50 years. I only drink instant coffee and I would have to buy tea if I knew acquaintances were coming. I don't drink water, so I would go without if coffee wasn't available.

Deedaa

Gosh Doodledog it's never occurred to me to discriminate between visitors. Whether it's family, friends, or the man whose come to look at the boiler, I give them a quick run down of what's available. I've never minded if someone asks about alternatives because I'm pretty fussy myself.

But how often does it happen that the boiler man visits? Once a year? If he called in every week or so and brought his friends, would you offer them all anything you have in the house, or just tea or coffee?

I seem to be out of step here, but to me offering strangers a drink is just not the same as doing the same for friends and family. It's enough of a faff to prepare 12 cups of tea/coffee as it is, without factoring in different milks, levels of caffeine, flavours of fruit tea and so on for virtual strangers. I don't mind doing that for F&F, but when it's a regular meeting of people I don't see otherwise I don't see it the same way at all. I used to try to oblige their requests, but now I just say no, sorry, I only have tea and coffee and whatever biscuits are on the plate .

I remember as a child being offered a glass of milk at my mum's friend's house and (as I hated milk) saying no thanks, but could I please have Ribena and getting into trouble for asking, as I hadn't been offered that. Maybe it scarred me for life?

I only drink peppermint tea and always keep some bags in my handbag so that I can politely refuse usual tea/coffee when offered and give them one of mine instead. I’m not aware that anyone takes offence - after all they only need to add hot water to it! For anyone who visits us we have Yorkshire Tea decaffeinated, a huge variety of fruit/mint teas and Dowe Egberts instant coffee. I’m not really a fan off ‘posh’ coffee as I’ve never found one I’ve liked. Although I did once have a fabulous coffee Lavazza in Zante but I don’t know which kind it was and I wouldn’t want to waste money trying all the Lavazza coffees out!

Does anyone ever make a pot of tea with leaves, I do this occasionally with some Darjeeling tea leaves, and get the best cups and saucers out. Usually when we have friends or family staying over.

I have to refuse a coffee ,because I have an intolerance to it .
It causes pain and diarrhoea.
Sometimes people try to insist that a decaffeinated one would be OK and it isn't.
If I need a laxative I'll drink one cup of weak coffee and usually regret the cramps effect is dramatic .

So it's always tea .

I have a couple of glass teapots with strainers built in, and use them for leaf tea. If I'm just making one cup I tend to use a teabag in the cup, but the glass teapots are very pretty, particularly with fruit tea.

Not rude at all. I personally absolutely hate any type of coffee, including in food, and refuse point-blank to touch it. I completely fail to understand the worldwide obsession with it. It's absolutely vile in all forms, the look, smell and taste. I don't like the word ''coffee'' either.

I always ask for tea, if they don't have it, then I'm OK with water!

I always prefer tea but will drink coffee if there’s a latte or cappuccino on offer

I love a good coffe e, not one of those ghastly dossettes or instant. If that's not on offer then I'll take tea, drink masses of all sorts of tea, preferably leaf tea but happy with most teabags.

I have spent my life refusing tea as I can't stand the stuff. I always say I'm happy with coffee or water if they don't have any. Nobody has ever seen taken aback or made me feel as If I'm being rude.

I always say would you like a tea or coffee. I don't mind coffee myself but prefer tea. However, I like tea how I make it! So sometimes it depends if I feel lucky!

DW went off coffee when she became pregnant, Sago, but when a scan at twenty weeks revealed that she was expecting twins, she shot round to my office, and only coffee would do. She never went off it again.

I don't drink tea at all and I'm fussy about coffee since I retired and no longer drink instant as I did at work, only fresh filter coffee which is what I make at home. I usually have a sachet of fruit tea in my bag and sometimes ask to have hot water for that if I go somewhere that only has instant coffee or depending on the occasion may take a coffee bag with me. Fortunately many of the places I go regularly have filter coffee as standard and if not I provide my own or just ask for a glass of water. I always apologise for being fussy!
It isn't rude to ask for an alternative as many people have a strong preference and inviting someone for a cuppa generally means either tea or coffee.

I just say no thanks if offered coffee. Usually I’m offered an option, tea or water, but sometimes not.

The best was when DD was a student. Her flatmate said, “We do have gin if you’d rather.”

I offer tea or coffee to visitors and nowadays they can opt for decaf if they like.

I don't usually drink tea but if offered it I suppose I would accept.

I can't stand tea. I can only drink coffee with lactose free cows milk. I always have my own fruit tea bags with me just in case they don't have any. Nobody is offended when I turn down their tea or coffee and only too happy to make me my fruit tea.