system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why does Tea and Coffee taste bad when it's watered down, even though they're mostly water?
gpt
Coffee and tea are a specific ratio of water to "stuff;" the stuff is the oils and other chemicals from the coffee beans or tea leaves.

So when you brew a cup of tea, the box of tea will tell you "Steep this tea bag in X water for Y minutes."  That's like a recipe - it makes sure there's the right amount of stuff vs. water.

Pouring extra water in there messes up that ratio, and it tastes worse.  Just like if you put too much flour in a cake or too much water in a soup.