Eli5: Why does coffee brew in a French press or coffee machine, but tea steeps in a bag?

Question

Why not a coffee bag? Or a tea press?

EDIT: I stand corrected— they do exist!! Thanks for all the answers!

In: 14

Answer 1

You can get coffee bags, it is just less common. I only ever see it in hotel rooms. Coffee doesn’t stay fresh as long. That is why ground coffee is in air tight bags, while tea bags often sits loose or in paper slips.