My Papers: Part Two, Té o café?

Introduction

For the next paper, I was to write a compare and contrast informative essay. I struggled so much with a topic that I had to postpone the paper and do the third paper before this one. At first, I was going to compare and contrast Perfume's old music to their music, but I didn't have enough information. Next, I was going to compare and contrast two small cities I have lived in, but I still didn't have enough information. So, I decided on an easier topic. Tea or coffee? I was going to change the name from Spanish to English, but I forgot, so...It's still in Spanish. I hope you enjoy!

Coffee illustration I made when I was a little bored.

The Paper

Charis Johnson

English Composition I

Monday, June 1, 2020

Té o Café

Both tea and coffee are widely consumed beverages. Caffeine “is the most studied and consumed stimulant in the world”[1], so comparing tea and coffee is a great topic to discuss. The main points of similarities and differences I’ll be discussing are the types, how they are made, and the health effects of both. Tea and coffee are both delicious beverages to enjoy for any day of the week. 

Tea is produced similarly; leaves and petals of flowers and plants are dried and also steeped in hot water. Tea is produced by picking the best parts of the Cameillia sinensis plant and going through the 4 processes of making tea. After picking, Next is withering, where they take out 30%-40% of the moisture in it by “laying out the tea leaves… on a wire mesh.” while air is passed over them so that they can evenly dry out[8]. After that, the tea leaves are rolled and broken up, which brings us to Oxidation. The tea’s “taste, color and  strength” all depend on how long the leaves are oxidised, which means, exposed to oxygen. In that process, the “enzymes in the leaves react with the air around them” which changes the color of the leaves. The color of the leaves helps distinguish the strength and type of tea. By lowest to highest of strength there are green, oolong and black, respectively. 

Coffee is produced by roasting the berries of a coffee plant, grinding them and steeping them in hot water. Coffee beans come from a berry on the coffee plant. They are first picked either by a machine or by hand. After that, they are processed by wet or dry processing. Dry processing is an older form of processing in which the coffee beans are, like tea leaves, left in the sun to dry for about 2 weeks. Wet processing is when you take freshly picked beans, wash and ferment them so that the pulp of the berry around the bean is easier to remove [9]. Like oxidation with tea leaves, roasting determines the flavor the coffee bean will produce when brewed. It all depends on the timing. 

There are many types of tea. The most common types of teas include green, black, oolong, and herbal. When most think of tea, herbal teas come to mind, even though sometimes, they aren’t considered traditional teas because they don’t come from the original tea plant[2]. Like coffee, you are able to add creamer or milk. To make it lighter and creamer, sugar is added depending on your preference. Some teas are flavored with fruits such as peach, raspberry and blueberry. They can also have deeper flavors like chocolate and caramel, but aren’t as common as herbal flavors. 

The two main types of coffee include Arabica and Robusta. Arabica coffee makes up for over 60% of coffee production around the world.[6] It is a more acidic coffee than Robusta. Robusta has a higher caffeine content and the plants are easier to maintain than Arabica. Coffee has strong dark flavors such as chocolate and hazelnut. Though, sometimes it will have fruity undertones. Though coffee is traditionally consumed warm like tea, it can be drunk cold. Also, some bakers use coffee flavorings or espresso to enhance chocolate flavors in cakes.

Drinking tea has many health benefits that are similar to coffee’s. Because tea has flavonoids that are antioxidants that may reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease and clogged arteries[2]. Because caffeine “works by blocking the effects of adenosine”, a brain chemical that makes you tired, and stimulates the “fight or flight” anxiety response provided by adrenaline, the excess stress can cause a myriad of issues from insomnia to high blood pressure. Aside from that, because of the laxative effects of tea and coffee, drinking it in excess it can cause digestive issues such as acid reflux and diarrhea. [5]

Coffee is sometimes thought of as an energy drink due to its caffeine content. The health benefits of coffee include reduced risk of “diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Irritable Bowel Disease, and liver disease”[3]. Both tea and coffee reduce inflammation because of their antioxidant content. Antioxidants “help rid the body of free radicals”[] which are tox waste products that contribute to inflammation. The suggested amount of caffeine that should be consumed for effective energy and comfort is less than 250mg[7]. A basic amount of coffee(6oz) contains about 95 mg of caffeine[7]. Studies show that consumption of excess caffeine from coffee or tea can cause anxiety, acid reflux, and other problems[3]. While coffee is all well and good in moderation, the consequences of overconsumption are great. 

Tea and coffee are top 2 on the list of most common and popular beverages[4]. Some drink them for their caffeine content, and others because it’s warm and delicious. In addition to their similarities in brewin, they also share many similarities and differences, including the variations, the occasion the drink is drunk and the health effects of both. 

 

1. Did you use the point-by-point or block method to organize your body paragraphs? What made you decide to organize your essay in this way (3-4 sentences)? I used the point by point method because I thought that using that method would reduce the need to go back and read the previous paragraphs to understand what topic. I felt that using the block method would be ineffective for my paper

2. In what ways did writing a comparison/contrast essay differ from the Narrative essay you wrote in Touchstone 1? Give specific examples (3-4 sentences). One difference I noticed between my Narrative and the Compare and contrast paper is that I had to switch from the semi informal mode to the exclusively objective tone. While you have to only use chronological structure on the Narrative, I had to choose between the point by point method and the block method. It was different in ways of the purpose also; in my Narrative, I had to tell a story, while in this paper, I have to state the differences and similarities between two objects or ideas. 

3. Remember that the writing process is a recursive process, and your first draft of an essay is rarely your last. What part of the draft did you struggle with (3-4 sentences)? I struggled and I might always struggle with not having enough words in my draft. It may be that the topic I chose was too boring and that I don’t know enough about it to have enough words. Eventually, I would have enough words, but it takes a lot of brain power, which is good, I guess. 

Lang, Ariane. “Coffee vs. Tea: Is One Healthier Than the Other?” Healthline, Healthline Media, 6 Sept. 2019, www.healthline.com/nutrition/coffee-vs-tea.

Edgar, Julie. “Types of Teas and Their Health Benefits.” WebMD, WebMD, 20 Mar. 2009, www.webmd.com/diet/features/tea-types-and-their-health-benefits.

Nordqvist, Joseph. “Coffee: Benefits, Nutrition, and Risks.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 10 July 2019, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/270202.

Chavda, Ritu. “10 Most Consumed Beverages in the World.” TopTenslist.com, 3 July 2019, www.toptenslist.com/worlds-most-consumed-beverages.html.

Spritzler, Franziska. “9 Side Effects of Too Much Caffeine.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 14 Aug. 2017, www.healthline.com/nutrition/caffeine-side-effects.

Hutson, Caitlyn. “A Definitive Guide to the 4 Main Types of Coffee Beans: Atlas Coffee Club.” Atlas Coffee Club Blog | Club Culture, 21 Nov. 2019, club.atlascoffeeclub.com/4-main-types-of-coffee-beans/.

Bjarnadottir, Adda. “How Much Caffeine in a Cup of Coffee? A Detailed Guide.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 3 June 2017, www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-much-caffeine-in-coffee.

“How Is Tea Made.” Twinings UK & Ireland, www.twinings.co.uk/about-tea/how-is-tea-made.

“How Coffee Is Made?” Coffee Bean Corral, 21 Feb. 2020, www.coffeebeancorral.com/HowCoffeeIsMade.aspx.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elements of a Comparison/Contrast Essay

❒ Are there significant points of comparison or contrast between the two subjects you have selected? 

❒ Do you make clear comparisons or contrasts between the two subjects within the body paragraphs of the essay? 

❒ Are the body paragraphs organized either by point or by subject? 

❒ Have you used transitional words or phrases to indicate points being compared or contrasted? 

❒ Does the essay have a clear and consistent focus of comparing and contrasting two subjects?

Thesis Statement

❒ Have you included a clear, focused, and detailed thesis statement?

❒ Does your thesis state the subjects to be compared or contrasted and include the two or three points of comparison or contrast? 

❒ Is your thesis a single sentence located in the introductory paragraph?

Organization

❒ Is there an introductory paragraph that contains your thesis statement?

❒ Are there four or six total body paragraphs, each with a clear topic sentence?

❒ Is there a conclusion paragraph with a concluding statement?

❒ Have you used transitions to connect ideas between sentences and paragraphs?

Style and Tone

❒ Is the tone of the essay objective and informative?

❒ Have you carefully considered your word choices? 

❒ Is the purpose of your essay clearly to inform the reader about the similarities or differences between the two subjects?

Conventions

❒ Have you checked your essay for grammatical and mechanical errors?

❒ Have you used spell check or another method to check spelling?

Before you Submit

❒ Have you included your name, date, and course at the top left of the page?

❒ Have you completed the “Think About Your Writing” questions?

❒ Is your essay between 3-4 pages (approximately 700-1000 words)?