26. Compilation – Does one say an after blessing after drinking tea or coffee?
27. Background:

The requirement to recite an after blessing after eating a food or drink is dependent on two factors: 1) The amount of food or drink that one consumed; and 2) The amount of time that this amount of food was consumed in. There are Halachic differences between food and drink in the above two criteria’s. The question regarding saying an after blessing after drinking hot tea or coffee, is particularly pertinent being that generally it takes much longer to drink a hot drink than to drink cold beverages, and hence the question is asked whether an after blessing can still be made after drinking a cup of tea or coffee. The following is the background ruling behind the above two factors as they apply to beverages. In B we will apply the final ruling regarding tea and coffee.

How much must one drink?[1] In order to be obligated to recite an after blessing after consuming a beverage, one must drink the amount of a Revius[2], within the amount of time to be explained next. This applies to all drinks.[3] [The exact measurement of a Revius is debated amongst the Poskim.[4] Practically, the widespread custom of the world, Sephardim, Chassidim, and Ashkenazim, follows the opinion of Rav Avraham Chaim Na’ah that a Revius contains 86 milliliters, which is the same Gematria as the word Kos. However, there are some members of Lithuanian Jewry who are stringent like the Shiur Chazon Ish of 150 milliliters. Likewise, some in Chabad are stringent like other measurements.]

Within how much time must the Revius be drunk?[5] Some Poskim[6] rule that the Revius amount must be drunk within the time it [normally] takes a person to drink a Revius, in order to say the after blessing. Thus, if one quickly drank a half of the Revius in a faster pace than most people, and then after a slight delay finished drinking [the remainder of the Revius], then if from the start of the drinking until the completion [of the drinking of the Revius] the amount of time it takes a normal person to drink a Revius did not yet pass, then the two gulps join each other to obligate an after blessing. If, however, it took more than this amount of time to drink the Revius, then the two gulps do not join each other and an after blessing is not recited. (Furthermore, even if one did not stop for even a moment from drinking the Revius, although he drank it very slowly in a way that it took him more time that a normal person who drinks a Revius, then an after blessing is not.[7]) [According to this opinion, an after blessing is never recited after drinking a hot beverage such as tea and coffee, being that it takes more than a Revius timespan to drink a Revius of the hot beverage.] However, other Poskim[8] rule that the Revius amount can be drunk within the time it takes a person to eat a Pras of bread [i.e. Kdei Achilas Peras, which is between 3-4 minutes[9]] just as we rule regarding foods. [According to this opinion, an after blessing is recited after drinking a hot beverage such as tea and coffee, so long as a Revius of the liquid was drunk within Kdei Achilas Peras.] Practically, the main opinion follows the second, latter opinion, [and hence so long as a Revius of the beverage was consumed with 3-4 minutes an after blessing is recited].[10]

1. The ruling:

One who drinks hot coffee or tea [or other hot beverage] a few sips at a time, is nevertheless to recite an after blessing, so long as he consumed a Revius [i.e. 86 milliliters] of the beverage within Kdei Acilas Peras [i.e. 3-4 minutes]. [If it took him more than Kdei Achilas Peras to consume a Revius of the beverage, then an after blessing is not recited. To note however that many Sephardim have the custom to not recite an after blessing after drinking tea and coffee as rules the first opinion above.]

[1] Admur in Seder 8:1; Luach 2:1; Michaber 210:1; Rambam Brachos 3:12

[2] This is opposed to the Shiur of a Kezayis by food, which is approximately 27 grams

[3] See Admur ibid that it applies to alcohol, and even wine due to doubt

[4] See Admur 472:18; Sheiris Yehuda Y.D. 11; Tzemach Tzedek 102 and 320; Shiureiy Torah 3:6 and in chapter 1 in length; Koveitz Yagdil Torah NY 60 p. 263-264 in a Ksav Yad of Tzemach Tzedek in name of Admur; Kitzur Hilchos Shabbos Miluim p. 18; Tikkunei Mikvaos [Levin] chapter 10 p. 93

[5] Admur in Seder 8:6; Luach 2:7; 472:20; 612:15

[6] 1st opinion in Seder Birchas Hanehnin 8:6 and Luach 2:7; 2^nd opinion in Admur 472:20; 1^st opinion in Admur 612:15; 1^st opinion in Michaber 612:10; Rambam Shevisas Assur based on Tosefta Yuma 4:42:4; M”A 472:11

[7] Admur Seder ibid in parentheses; Luach ibid; Seder 8:2 regarding eating;

[8] 2^nd and main opinion in Seder Birchas Hanehnin 8:6 and Luach 2:7; 1^st and Stam opinion in Admur 472:20; 2^nd opinion in Admur 612:15; 2^nd opinion in Michaber 612:10; Tur Raavad Terumos 10:3 based on Kerisus 13a; M”A 472:11

[9] Conclusion of Rebbe in Sefer Haminhagim [English] p. 93 to suspect for three minutes; Conclusion of four minutes: Shiureiy Torah 3:15 [p. 303] and Piskeiy Teshuvos 210:1 that so is the widespread custom; See Piskeiy Teshuvos 475 footnote 53 that if one is in doubt if he ate it within 4 minutes then he is not required to re-eat, and may rely on the other opinions; For a full overview on this subject, See: Shiurei Torah 3:15 for the following other opinions mentioned: 4.5, 5, 6, 7.5, 8, 9; See Sefer Haminhagim ibid and footnotes 342-344; Piskeiy Teshuvos 158:7 and 210:1; 271:9; 475:10; The following are the various opinions in Poskim:

Two minutes: Some Poskim rule that Kdei Achilas Peras is 2 minutes. [Rav Y.Y. Knaievsky in Shiuran Shel Torah Shiureiy Hamitzvos 30]

Three minutes: Some Poskim rule that Kdei Achilas Peras is 3 minutes. [Igros Moshe 4:41 in name of Marcheshes; Orchos Rabbeinu p. 70 that so was custom of Chazon Ish; Sefer Haminhagim ibid and footnotes 342-344 in tradition from the Tzemach Tzedek, in name of Rav Hillel Miparitch, that the minimum of Achilas Peras is 3 minutes and maximum 7 minutes. The Rebbe concludes there in the footnote that one is required to suspect for the above tradition.]

Four minutes: Some Poskim rule that Kdei Achilas Peras is 4 minutes. [Shiurei Torah 3:15 [p. 303]; Aruch Hashulchan 202:8; Kaf Hachaim 210:5; Piskeiy Teshuvos 210:1 that so is the widespread custom]

Opinion of 6-8 minutes: Some Poskim rule that the Shiur of Kdei Achilas Peras is 6-7 minutes. [Tzemach Tzedek Shaar Hamiluim 1:8-10, brought in Ketzos Hashulchan 36 footnote 5; 59 footnote 4; Shiureiy Torah ibid footnote 35; Sefer Haminhaghim [English] p. 93 regarding Tishe Beav] Other Poskim rule that the Shiur of Kdei Achilas Peras for 4 Kebeitzim [i.e. Yom Kippur] is 8 minutes, while the Shiur for eating Mitzvos or after blessing is 6 minutes. [Gulot Ariel Chidushei Mishnayos Mikvaos 10:7 in name of Alter Rebbe “I received in the name of my great uncle, the Alter Rebbe, that the Shiur is eight minutes, as he measured the eating an egg by an average person and it took two minutes, and so is my custom to rule”]

Opinion of 9 minutes: Some Poskim rule that the Shiur of Kdei Achilas Peras is 9 minutes. [See Shiurei Torah 3:15; Piskeiy Teshuvos ibid]

Chabad custom: See Gulot Ariel Chidushei Mishnayos Mikvaos 10:7 in name of Alter Rebbe that the Shiur is two minutes per Beitza for a total of 6 minutes for food Mitzvos and 8 minutes for Yom Kippur [See Shiuriei Torah p. 204]; See Sefer Haminhagim ibid and footnotes 342-344 for a quote of various opinions of Achilas Peras, and for a tradition from the Tzemach Tzedek, in name of Rav Hillel Miparitch, that differs from the response of the Tzemach Tzedek which placed Achilas Peras as 6-7 minutes and rather places Achilas Peras as minimum 3 minutes and maximum 7 minutes. The Rebbe concludes there in the footnote that one is required to suspect for the above tradition. Accordingly, one should try to eat the Kezayis within three minutes. However, if one ate it within four minutes, and perhaps even within 6-7 minutes, one can rely on the Tzemach Tzedek’s other rulings. Vetzaruch Iyun, as perhaps Safek Brachos Lihakel. In any event one is to be very careful in the above.]

[10] Admur Seder ibid; See also Admur 612:15 where he rules like the 2^nd opinion; However, see Admur Luach ibid who concludes “Safek Brachos Lihakel”; Likewise see Admur 472:20 who concludes to initially be stringent like the 1^st opinion and so ruled M”A 472:11; Peri Chadash 472; Elya Raba 472:15; Chok Yosef 472:13; Derech Hachaim 472:9; Chayeh Adam Haseder 3; M”B 472:34; Kaf Hachaim 472:68; See Sheiris Yehuda 15 that Admur told him that here he decided to be lenient being that by a Shiur Revius its possible even the Rambam agrees that we measure by Kdei Achilas Peras, and his dispute is only in a case of Malei Lugmav, such as Yom Kippur and the night of the Seder.