the biggest difference is in what kinda coffee maker you have

If you have a decent set up you can make decent coffee out of folgers.

I indulge in several hot beverage experiences as part of my daily routine so I can't choose just one favorite. Each has its own meritorious qualities and benefits.

There's nothing quite like a hot cup of coffee in the morning to start my day. I invested in a tall mug imprinted with the McIntosh Labs emblem to sport my hi-fi pride. I used to consume 26-packets of sugar per cup of coffee back in my college days. Thankfully, I’ve overcome that terrible habit and presently take my 12oz coffee with cream and just two packets of stevia.

https://i.imgur.com/9NZg5T7l.jpg

The acts of drinking coffee or tea are richly-complemented by the glassware/china and environment in which it's consumed, so I've paid careful attention to both. While I have a china set for special occasions I usually enjoy my tea in a lovely and artful drip-glaze mug I acquired from an artisan online. Every afternoon I have a cup of cinnamon spice tea, and I wind down each evening with a cup of chamomile mint.

I also love hot chai, rooibos teas, and I keep a number of loose leaf blends handy for when I entertain. The Republic of Tea's Mango Ceylon Metabolic Frolic tea was the first blend I ever tasted - a gift from a lady-friend in my youth so it holds a special place in my heart.

I put together a Parisian cafe bistro setting in the alcove at the end of my kitchen, complete with Persian rug, an iron bistro set and a matching glass top from a hardware store, invested in velvet seat cushions, fairy lights for ambiance, an ornately-framed antique still-life painting, and silver and antique china tea settings for when I host a guest.

I want to ensure that their tea-drinking experience is as serene as possible.

(The lighting of the space is far-more subdued in real life - this is with a full flash.)

https://i.imgur.com/5lZXpBCl.jpg

I'm enjoying everyone else's contributions to the thread. Keep it going!

^that's awesome

I can't believe I've never posted in this thread since I'm an avid tea drinker (although ribbons and I had a tea conversation at some point). I normally drink my own blend of Earl Grey and Ceylon, Lapsang (or other smoked teas) being my other favourite; I only drink black tea with milk normally. I don't come close to being as stylish in my tea drinking habits as ISB, but I do have my treasured Jane Austen mug:
https://i.imgur.com/cy7ulCw.jpg
and this vintage tea tin:
https://i.imgur.com/1x761CZ.jpg

@ Marie, I love those Penguin Books mugs and occasionally see them at bookstores here. Good choice there with Pride and Prejudice! Btw, I did get the Lapsang Souchong and am acquiring a taste for it. :)

@ ISB, your Parisian iron bistro set is beautiful and I also love your stately McIntosh tall coffee mug. I used to drink coffee all the livelong day until a couple of years ago; and since then have switched nearly totally to tea.

Settled down this evening with some ginger tea and banana bread. I have a set of six of these cups and oblong saucers, which were hand-painted by an artist in Italy. I purchased them in an East Village antique store years ago and they were very inexpensive.

https://i.ibb.co/F6HDHCP/tea4.jpg

That glimpse of your house looks beautiful and cozy

Thanks, Marie. :) Btw, sorry I forgot to mention that I love your cool vintage Twinings English Breakfast tin. Looks like it's in mint condition too. Now I'm sure I'll be scouring Ebay for vintage tea tins, lol.

Thanks, ribbons! Your tea space looks wonderfully cozy as well!

Cocoa for me :) (Hot chocolate)

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm