People who prefer tea over coffee usually have these 7 subtle personality traits, according to psychologists

It started as a simple switch. One too many heart-racey mornings after downing coffee like it was a fire extinguisher and I figured—maybe it’s time to dial things down. So I grabbed a box of peppermint tea from the corner shop and gave it a shot.

I wasn’t expecting a lifestyle change. But over time, it became less about the caffeine and more about the ritual.

The slower pace, the different kind of alertness, the warmth that felt like a soft yes rather than a hard jolt.

What surprised me most, though, was that other tea people? They were kind of… like me. Not just in drink choice—but in vibe, in how they thought, how they moved through the world.

Turns out, psychologists have found some interesting patterns that echo this, too.

People who gravitate toward tea — especially when it’s a long-term preference — often share certain personality traits. Quiet ones. Subtle ones. But meaningful.

Below are 7 of them. Some I recognized in myself. Others made me laugh because they explained things I never thought needed explaining. If you’re a tea person—or curious if you might be—see how many of these feel familiar.

1. They’re more reflective than reactive

The biggest shift I noticed when I stopped mainlining coffee? The way I processed things. I wasn’t firing off responses like a rapid-texting teenager anymore. I was thinking, pausing, weighing.

Tea drinkers tend to take that extra breath. There’s a reason tea is linked with mindfulness in so many cultures—it lends itself to a slower rhythm.

Psychologists often associate tea-preferring personalities with higher levels of reflective thinking — the ability to pause and analyze before reacting. That doesn’t mean they’re timid or passive. It means they’re measured. In conversations, they’ll often choose their words carefully. In conflict, they’re more likely to de-escalate than escalate.

When I look back at conversations I’ve had with other tea-first folks, there’s often less edge and more curiosity. Less “I need to win this argument” and more “What’s actually going on here?”

If you’re someone who needs time to think things through before speaking up, this one probably resonates.

2. They lean into quiet routines

I used to think I was weird for enjoying the sound of a kettle almost as much as a playlist. There’s something grounding about routines that don’t demand anything of you, especially ones you repeat daily.

Tea lovers tend to have a soft spot for rituals. It’s not just about hydration—it’s the way the tea is made. The warming of the cup. The waiting. The steeping. The exhale after that first sip.

According to behavioral researchers, people who build consistent daily habits—especially around calming activities—score higher on measures of psychological resilience.

It’s not about rigidity. It’s about comfort through repetition.

Tea-first folks are often the ones who journal at night, water their plants on a schedule, or have a favorite mug that’s practically part of the family. The world can be chaotic.

These rituals become little anchors. They say, “I’m here. I’m steady.”

3. They’re sensitive—but in a good way

Tea people tend to feel things. Not in a dramatic, sob-on-the-sidewalk kind of way. But in that soft, tuned-in-to-everything-under-the-surface kind of way.

A psychologist friend once told me that tea drinkers often score higher on sensory sensitivity and emotional awareness. That tracks. I can tell if someone I know is off just from the way they say “hey.”

And I’m definitely the one who notices the lighting in a restaurant or how the texture of a shirt feels after two hours.

This sensitivity isn’t a flaw — it’s a feature. It means tea people are often the ones who can read a room before anyone speaks. Who pick up on tone shifts. Who are moved by music or stories in unexpected ways.

Coffee sometimes turns down that awareness by pushing everything into overdrive. Tea, on the other hand, sits with it. It doesn’t dull you. It sharpens you gently.

4. They’re more intuitive decision-makers

This one surprised me at first — but it makes sense. In my own life, I’ve noticed that the bigger decisions I’ve made (switching careers, moving cities, saying no to projects that “look good on paper”) didn’t come from long Excel-sheet logic. They came from a gut feeling.

Research shows that people who regularly engage in slower, meditative activities—think tea rituals or brief open-monitoring sessions—are likelier to trust (and act on) their gut instincts.

Research into intuitive cognition — thinking that relies on gut instincts, not just analysis — shows that people who regularly engage in slower, more meditative activities (like tea rituals) are more likely to trust their inner compass.

That doesn’t mean they’re impulsive. It means they’ve learned to hear their inner yes or no without needing external validation. I’ve said no to big partnerships because something felt off — and months later, I found out why.

I didn’t have the proof, just the feeling.

If you’re a tea person, odds are you know what I mean. You might not be the loudest in the room, but you’re usually right about who to trust. That quiet gut speaks loudly when you give it space.

5. They’re often creative in low-key ways

Tea-first people aren’t always the ones launching the next big art installation. But dig a little, and you’ll find creative fingerprints all over their lives.

It might be how they arrange a desk, the way they write captions, the books on their nightstand, or how they plate even a simple meal. It’s not about showing off—it’s about quiet expression.

Psychologists often link creative sensitivity with a preference for environments that allow space — both mentally and physically. And tea people? They naturally carve out space. They don’t jam their calendars. They don’t fill silence with noise. They let thoughts breathe.

Personally, I’ve written some of my best lines during tea breaks.

Not writing time. Not “work hours.” Just in the in-between. If you’re someone who gets your best ideas while staring at steam rising from a mug, you’re not alone.

6. They don’t need the spotlight (but they’re usually watching everything)

A funny pattern I’ve noticed with my tea-preferring friends: they’re often the quiet ones in a room full of loud talkers—but when they do say something, it lands.

Tea-first folks often have a personality trait called low extraversion with high perceptiveness.

Translation: they’re not loud, but they’re tuned in. They may not dominate a group chat, but they’re paying attention to who’s talking too much, who’s not being heard, and what’s not being said.

These are the people who notice when you changed your hair even slightly. Who remember what you were worried about last week. Who pick up when someone’s laugh is off.

They may avoid the spotlight, but they’re the emotional lighting tech backstage—making everything feel more intentional, more humane.

7. They value depth over drama

This is maybe the most defining tea-personality trait I’ve come across. Tea lovers, in my experience, aren’t here for the chaos. They’re here for meaning.

That doesn’t mean they don’t gossip (everyone does a little). But they tire of the he-said-she-said faster. They want real talk. Vulnerability. Ideas. Curiosity.

One psychologist described this as a “high depth orientation” — the tendency to seek out authentic experiences and reject superficial noise.

Tea people want the why, not just the what. They ask questions that go a layer deeper. And they’re comfortable sitting in silence while the answer takes shape.

If you’ve ever been told you’re “intense in a calm way” or “easy to be around but unexpectedly deep,” this trait is probably part of your wiring.

Coffee culture is quick cuts and bold notes. Tea culture is slow infusions. Same volume. Different frequencies.

The bottom line

Not everyone who prefers tea over coffee fits all seven of these traits — but I’ve seen enough overlap to believe it’s more than coincidence.

If you recognized yourself in some of these, you’re not just “someone who doesn’t like coffee.”

You’re probably someone who moves through the world a little differently — more intentionally, more sensitively, and with a little more attention to the quiet layers.

And if you’ve always been a coffee-first person?

No shade. But maybe next time, try a mug of chamomile or a smoky oolong and see what parts of you show up in the stillness. You might discover sides of yourself that only speak up when things get quiet.