The ritual and connection around coffee are huge. I was more of a social coffee drinker, but my body has told me in no uncertain terms that it *does not* want coffee. But I love the smell and miss the taste, and miss the connecting process of making and drinking it while hanging out with my husband – and he laughs and says he feels pretty much the same about alcohol.
Yes, I’ll drink tea, or Rasa (an adaptogenic coffee alternative). They’re good, but not quite the same. It’s taken time to let them be what they are, letting their brewing methods and their smells be imprinted on the ritual, and move out of being disappointed that they’re not coffee.
Wow, this was great! I always suspected coffee could be an addiction, but the way you describe it makes it even more real. I knew someone who would get caffeine headaches if he didn't have a cup before noon.
I like a cup every morning to start my work day, and I see now that I'm lucky there's no real pull for more. I too didnt get into coffee until i was older; maybe halfway througu college. And i still didnt drink it constantly. Once i started working, though, is when I began a cup a day. Then when I spent 3 months on the Appalachian Trail, I abruptly was cut off from coffee. I'd get it maaaaaybe once a week in town if I was lucky. It was interesting being able to get up and begin hiking, no caffeine in sight. And yet I'd be awake and alert!
Sorry for the rant; I hadn't even thought about that stuff for a while until I read your article.
It's fun to hear a little of the story of your relationship with coffee. Now that you know what it's like to feel alive and alert without caffeine, you can do without it if needed. I think that breaks any link to addiction. It would be great to hear about the AT sometime - that's what first caught my attention in your writing.
I definitely think it depends based on the addiction, but for the most part I agree! (Also I don't know of I'd say I was ever "addicted" to caffeine in the same way that some of my loved ones suffer from legit addictions)
And hey, awesome!! I absolutely love ranting about the AT. I have a Trail Log tab thingie on my Substack that sorts out only my AT related entries in one place. Right now, I'm in the middle of writing about New Hampshire.
I got shiveres as I read this - I have exactly the same thing!😂 Stopped drinking coffee many times to prove to me that I am not addicted etc etc.
But I realized I dont need to be this strict. Now I usually drink coffee on the weekends. But I also got a great coffee alternative: Guarana. Its much better for the gut, no crazy crash, and coffein gets "released" in small doses for up to 6-8 hours from one 2g dose! I love it! + Its kind of a superfood and not expensive. Thank me later;)
That's funny you've had a similar experience with coffee. Guarana is a blast from the past. When I was getting into lifting weights after college, guarana was recommended. I don't remember what it was like. Is there a brand you like? That's half the challenge.
It feels good to hear, David. Thanks for letting me know. I worried it was a trite topic and that few would like my post. I didn't realize it was a unique perspective.
I get this! 👍 😊 Thank you for posting it. I was a middle-aged coffee beginner too, and yeah…
The ritual and connection around coffee are huge. I was more of a social coffee drinker, but my body has told me in no uncertain terms that it *does not* want coffee. But I love the smell and miss the taste, and miss the connecting process of making and drinking it while hanging out with my husband – and he laughs and says he feels pretty much the same about alcohol.
Ritual and connection are huge, surpassing the coffee itself in my view. Do you drink other beverages while your husband drinks coffee?
Yes, I’ll drink tea, or Rasa (an adaptogenic coffee alternative). They’re good, but not quite the same. It’s taken time to let them be what they are, letting their brewing methods and their smells be imprinted on the ritual, and move out of being disappointed that they’re not coffee.
You captured the essence of this truth so well. We all know that feeling of disappointment that something isn't like something else we love.
Wow, this was great! I always suspected coffee could be an addiction, but the way you describe it makes it even more real. I knew someone who would get caffeine headaches if he didn't have a cup before noon.
I like a cup every morning to start my work day, and I see now that I'm lucky there's no real pull for more. I too didnt get into coffee until i was older; maybe halfway througu college. And i still didnt drink it constantly. Once i started working, though, is when I began a cup a day. Then when I spent 3 months on the Appalachian Trail, I abruptly was cut off from coffee. I'd get it maaaaaybe once a week in town if I was lucky. It was interesting being able to get up and begin hiking, no caffeine in sight. And yet I'd be awake and alert!
Sorry for the rant; I hadn't even thought about that stuff for a while until I read your article.
It's fun to hear a little of the story of your relationship with coffee. Now that you know what it's like to feel alive and alert without caffeine, you can do without it if needed. I think that breaks any link to addiction. It would be great to hear about the AT sometime - that's what first caught my attention in your writing.
I definitely think it depends based on the addiction, but for the most part I agree! (Also I don't know of I'd say I was ever "addicted" to caffeine in the same way that some of my loved ones suffer from legit addictions)
And hey, awesome!! I absolutely love ranting about the AT. I have a Trail Log tab thingie on my Substack that sorts out only my AT related entries in one place. Right now, I'm in the middle of writing about New Hampshire.
Nice, those posts must be popular! Thanks for the conversation.
I got shiveres as I read this - I have exactly the same thing!😂 Stopped drinking coffee many times to prove to me that I am not addicted etc etc.
But I realized I dont need to be this strict. Now I usually drink coffee on the weekends. But I also got a great coffee alternative: Guarana. Its much better for the gut, no crazy crash, and coffein gets "released" in small doses for up to 6-8 hours from one 2g dose! I love it! + Its kind of a superfood and not expensive. Thank me later;)
That's funny you've had a similar experience with coffee. Guarana is a blast from the past. When I was getting into lifting weights after college, guarana was recommended. I don't remember what it was like. Is there a brand you like? That's half the challenge.
I buy the guarana from nu3, they have their own brand. But I dont know if they sell internationally.
Thanks, Tobias. :)
Haha, you too?!
It feels good to hear, David. Thanks for letting me know. I worried it was a trite topic and that few would like my post. I didn't realize it was a unique perspective.