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

Folk wisdom says you don’t press tea. The caffeine is released in the first three or four minutes. Anything longer (or if you press it/squeeze the bag) and all you’re doing is releasing tannins that makes you nauseous and make the tea bitter.