Virtually all airlines offer tea or coffee at some point during flight. Usually once the meal service has finished, it’s time for this to begin and the big silver pots of gloom arrive.

Cabin crew scurry down the aisle to the refrain of “Tea? Coffee?” and alternatively pour the drink or pass on to the next row where the whole dance begins anew. The question has to be asked – has anyone, in the history of aviation, ever received a decent drink from these pots?

Not The Greatest Coffee Or Tea

I must confess that I have sampled the tea and coffee served on one or two occasions. Tired after a long flight from the Antipodes and needing a pick me up, I have answered in the affirmative when the pots are proffered.


Not once has the steamy liquid streaming from the spout been anything to write home about. In fact, I would be hard pressed to think of someone I dislike enough to serve this so called beverage to.

Why Is It So Bad?

Were you expecting me to answer this question? I am actually asking – why does on board tea and coffee from the pots of gloom taste so bad? It is always unbranded – possibly ersatz – coffee and tea that is served. No self respecting manufacturer would put their name to it.


It can’t possibly have anything to do with the altitude. Tea made with tea bags in the air tastes just fine. The on board potable water is also very clean, so no blame can be apportioned there. Some airlines offer coffee options in a pre-prepared cup where you just add hot water and voila – drinkable coffee.

Overall Thoughts

When the coffee and tea pots go through the cabin there aren’t usually too many takers in my experience. When someone referred to these as the “big silver pot of gloom” I thought it very appropriate for the quality of the dreary drink dispensed.

With coffee culture being such a big deal in this day and age, surely the complimentary drink on a plane should be half decent. I have a feeling the cheapest and lowest common denominator product is being sourced, which is a bit of a shame.

Have you ever had a decent drink from these pots? Which airline has the best coffee or tea you have had on board a flight? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions please leave them below.

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Featured image via oneworld alliance.
Meme via EatLiver.com.
Airplane! still via YouTube.