To think this is so AGEING

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Being over-specific about how you want your hot drink. Don't do it! You can choose milk and/or sugar. That's it. Any further instruction makes you sound like you buy your shoes from an insert in the Telegraph weekend supplement.

'Just dunk the bag and take it out quickly could you?'/'Not too much milk, please'/'just the one sugar, but if you could make it a smallish spoon'/'I prefer a good slug of milk'.

Urgh. Verbal varicose veins.

Actually OP - sadly I think you are right. I hadn't really thought of it before, but it is 'old' behaviour.

The people in my family who do this seem older than those who don't, even if I know those who don't are a good 5 -10 years older.

Like travelling with slippers, and only eating in the same 4 restaurant chains where you "know" you'll find something you like, it's does seem "old person" behaviour.

When younger people do it, it does seem to make them sound prematurely middle aged. When middle aged people do it, it makes them come across like they are just before retirement. When pensioners do it, it makes them sound like they are circling the drain.

Conversely, people in their 80s who are still interested in "new" and come across as younger than they are, rarely are the types to flap about which type of milk someone has in before they'll agree to have a brew or not.

Old ladyish isn't really the best thing to use as an insult on a website mainly intended for mothers.
As for tea and coffee, people get one chance. If I get weak, milky tea or instant coffee I don't accept a hot drink from them again. I do go to some effort to make them drinks to their taste. But I'm 203 years old and from an alien species, so that's no help.

Tea with sugar is minging though.

How do we feel about water-before-teabag in the cup or pot?

Iron brew for me thanks. One sugar and please do not put the milk in before the water if using a mug / tea bag combo.
If I have never met a person before I will just say 'fairly strong, one sugar please'. If I know someone well, I'll be more specific. I appreciate people telling me how they like theirs, after all I want to make a brew my guest will actually enjoy. Not an age thing at all.

'In fact, even better, just offer teapot, jug of milk and sugar bowl separately so I can do it myself.'

No, I probably won't. Not because I'm a big meanie. But because there's twenty of you for a conference and I've been told to bring this to you in your seat. There's only one milk jug. The younger person beside you just asked for milk and one. Could you maybe just do the same?!

I totally agree! Making tea for my parents and in-laws has turned into complicated note-taking exercise. Everyone wants it different - quick, get the teabag out, no milk just a dash of cold water. Just a tiny bit of milk. A bit of milk - Oo unless you've got some lemon? Coffee please, but just a small one. Arrgghh!
I thought the older generation grew up with teapots when everyone basically got the same cup of tea!
Does it home to us all do you think?

OP, as you are so disgusted by AGEING you felt the need to put it in caps, I'm wondering

A) why?
B) what horrific age do you allocate to fussy tea drinkers?

I have to say, I've heard the word "ageing" in a tone of horror, more times on MN than in the rest of my life. I've only been here eight months

We had a secure key system in an old block of flats I lived in and when I went to get an extra key cut, the locksmith said "is it all old folk in your building?" (In relation to the process that had to be followed to get an extra key). I was in my 20s then and I said "no, we are all around my age....is not wanting to be burgled associated with being elderly!?" Your OP reminded me of this.

YABU.

If you're making someone a cuppa, make it how they like it otherwise it's pointless.

I love a cup of tea but I can't abide strong tea. So if someone offers to make me one its 'no sugar, not very strong and plenty of milk please'. I'm 29...I really don't see how that's aging!

My dad runs cold water straight from the tap into his mug of tea-with-milk to cool it down. That's just wrong.

*come

Eh? If I didn't remind my DMIL (who is significantly older than me) how I like my tea, it'd be homeopathic tea with a double serving of milk.

Likewise, I return the favour by not serving her builder's tea with a scant dash of semi-skimmed

Now if you mean 'non-sweetened, decaff soy latte, short, no foam & something random on the side' type instructions well those people aren't old, they're fussy and ought to order their own drinks or at least write them down: perhaps order business cards, if your order is really fucking odd

X post, at a conference no one should expect you to take detailed instruction but still don't see what AGEING has to do with it.

I've been particular about how I like my tea since I was about 7. How the hell is it ageing to know how you prefer something?

The fact that I've been drinking tea as long as I can remember, including having it in a tuppaware beaker when I was a toddler is more ageing, actually :o

Peanut Safari for black tea, Devon Tan for Earl Grey. I'm not even 40yo old yet. Used to be like you, OP, but when you get a bit older you learn to take your kicks where you can get them. So yeah, you're probably not wrong.

All in twenties in my well mannered office. Still all make tea for each other how we like it.

Oi. I travel with my Assam tea bags.

Milk and sugar?

No sugar thanks. And just a dash of milk.

Ageing?

Couldn't give a shiney.

AddToBasket "'Can I get you a cup of tea or coffee...?' " I think you should say May I not Can I as the latter suggests that you might not be capable of making a cup of tea/coffee hmmm ponders that one

And I don't drink tea much, anymore, and definitely not PG Tips, but I love this ad :o

I know that some young people are specific and that they like hush puppies and thermal nighties and .

I was drawing inference from general observation not from specific incidents. Basically, I make a lot of tea. (And coffee.)

Sparkling anothe Nigerian Sunset here please thank you

I prefer people to state their preferences in the beverage department btw.

"No, I probably won't. Not because I'm a big meanie. But because there's twenty of you for a conference and I've been told to bring this to you in your seat. There's only one milk jug. The younger person beside you just asked for milk and one. Could you maybe just do the same?!"

Can't I have the wee plastic pots of milk and sugar sachets (of which I'll only use three quarters), then?

typo another not anothe ^^

I like a medium strong coffee with red top milk, no sugar and please don't use the same spoon to stir it that you used in somebody else's tea or coffee if they take sugar. You can use the same spoon if they have coffee (black or white) with no sugar.

I don't like tea.

Guess my age?