Have always been fascinated by Hyacinth Bucket's insistence on serving coffee. More snobbery?

As to tea: my mother (of Scottish descent) always heated the pot first. A cup of boiling water into the pot to warm it, toss it out and add tea and BOILING water. "Pot to the kettle never kettle to the pot."

For excellent tea in NYC, try the tea room at the Pierre. For affordable tea, try the tea room at the hotel on the corner of Madison and 56th. Damn! Can't think of the name. But Tourneau Corner is right there. They also have impeccably clean public restrooms. But please tip the lady there. She works hard.