Coffee and tea drinkers are always at ends over which beverage is the healthiest. As a consistent drinker of both coffee and tea, I usually struggle to choose sides. But today the answer is clear – tea is the better choice.

Coffee may be the go-to morning beverage for a jolt of energy after a long night of studying, but there are some downsides to drinking too much of it. According to The Tea Site, there is about 90 mg of caffeine in a regular 8 ounce cup of coffee compared to 65 mg of caffeine in the same size cup of tea. The higher dosage of caffeine causes an increase in heart rate and could put those with a history of heart disease at risk. Fortunately, that risk can be decreased by drinking tea. Green and black teas offer high levels of antioxidants, which fight off the formation of unstable free radicals that can damage the body by pairing with molecules responsible for aging, tissue damage and some diseases. Can your can of soda pop do all of that?

Although you might lose out on some caffeine, drinking the right tea can help keep your weight in check. White tea encourages specific cells in the body to break down and utilize fat cells. It may even block the formation of new fat cells, according to Livestrong.com. Tea can trim your waistline, but coffee can increase it if you’re drinking fancy concoctions. Drinks like frappuccinos, mochas and anything with flavored syrup can have a major effect on your calorie intake. If you’re still not convinced, a cup of herbal tea has two calories while a grande skinny latte from Starbucks packs in 131 calories.

So the next time you can’t decide on a morning beverage, hot or cold, choose tea. It offers a variety of health benefits and most importantly, you won’t have to worry about plaguing people with coffee breath.