I make about 16oz of slightly above average strength coffee when I wake up at 9-10am and drink on average about 12oz of it throughout the day until 3pm where I cut it off completely. I've found that this makes my mornings and early afternoons very productive (I think faster and can focus better) but I'm still able to fall asleep at night around 1-2am (as long as I exercise enough and have good sleep hygiene in general). I get a little slow around 4-5pm but overall it's a net positive addiction. I also usually drink much less or no coffee on Sunday and can sleep 9 or 10 hours that night.
I think my genetics mesh well with caffeine. My sister and everyone on my mom's side of the family loves coffee and none of us have any side effects from it. I discovered I liked it in college and it significantly boosted my motivation, grades, and life in general, so I kept with it. I tried going off it for a few months when I thought it was causing me sleep problems, but the cause was something else and I've been happily drinking coffee almost every day since.
I like coffee. Mostly because it tastes good, and I kind of like the ritual. In the last few years I've really gotten into it more. I use a coffee press and grind my beans fresh every morning.
However, I don't like being a zombie, unable to function until I've had my first cup, so I moved my "first cup time" back to 9:00 am. That means I keep a coffee grinder at my desk at work. I also limit my intake to about two cups per day for the same reason.
I drink decaf sometimes because coffee does taste good. Caffeinated I only drink rarely, like when traveling and I need to wake up really early.
I remember growing up seeing people brag about how much coffee they drink and how much caffeine they consume and how addicted they are to caffeine - it seemed like a stupid macho dick-measuring contest. Later in life I learned about caffeine tolerance and addiction, and that confirmed my initial biases about regular caffeine consumption.
I quit. I found it gave me digestive upset, and physical stress. (I.e. more likely to tense my muscles in response to a small external stimulus)
It’s been about a month, and a number of things sre better without it. Digestion is normal, far more consistent energy than before. Also much faster to get out of the house in the morning, which is nice.
Had been drinking it for years, but only started after college. Note: I quit all caffeine, including tea. Tea had similar effects on me.
I usually have one to two cups a day, sometimes three. The latest I usually have a coffee is around four in the afternoon unless I’m drinking socially.
I’ll also drink tea a few times a week.
Never drink instant. I grind my beans on demand and usually brew with an aeropress if I’m making one, or the appropriate sized moka pot for making several. (I also have a couple of coffee syphons, which are fun to watch, but too fiddly and too much cleanup for everyday use.)
I had a gastric bypass 1.5 years ago[1], which has made my ‘stomach’ a little more delicate. Some days everything is fine, other days it’ll sit a bit heavy or sour in the tummy. I’m also definitely sensitive to dairy now, and find lactose free milk more tolerable. Have switched from a cappuccino to a long black with just a squirt of cold milk when buying at the shop.
I want to try Death Wish Coffee[2] sometime just for a lark, but the cost of shipping to the Antipodes is ridiculous.
I started drinking coffee in college when I started smoking. I was dual-majoring and working and tried to have a life too, so burning the candle at 3-ends.
I switched to just black at my first internship where I had to get up at 4:30am
For 6 or so years I was reliant on it, at least two cups and usually 3 a day. When I was burning out I would be at 5 or 6. It would get to the point where I needed it to just function and I didn't know who I was without it.
But for the last month and a half I haven't had a full cup.
I quit coffee (and a few other additive things) really just to exercise my discipline and to not need anything.
The first day I went to a single cup. Then I switched to half a cup for the first week. It was really tough as I went through withdrawals: eye and lip twitches, real bad irritability, and having to have a steel will as it's all I could think about.
Now, I can have it as I please and not miss it if I don't have it. The smell is still wonderful but I don't want to go back.
I wasn't a coffee drinker until the past couple of years when I discovered that there's a world beyond starbucks over-roasted sugary crap and awful-tasting pods.
Now, I'm extremely addicted to a perfect vanilla cappuccino as long as it isn't made with nasty sugar-filled syrup.
It has gotten to the point where french press doesn't do it for me at home, so I'm going to invest in an espresso machine and grinder and learn how to make it by hand. I'm also a huge fan of the vanilla powder they use at Better Buzz in San Diego. That stuff is worlds better than the syrup.
While the caffeine helps after lunch, I find the ritual of having a smooth creamy warm drink in the afternoon is incredibly relaxing, and is a good excuse to be "still" and organize my thoughts for the rest of the day.
'have drank coffee every.single.day since about 2000. I'll have 2 in the morning - 1 generic maxwell house or folgers and the 2nd a breakfast blend or something else for a little variety. At home, just using a re-usable K-Cup in a Keurig.
If I need to get out of the house a bit, I'll go work at a Starbucks and have a tall there - never more then a tall as I won't sleep well. Or - wherever. Tim Hortons is fine. Panera's is fine. Spent 3 days at the local convention center last week; their coffee was fine. I'm really not picky.
So, minimum 2, max 4 or 5 a day. Always black. I don't love the taste but I do like Starbucks the most. But I don't hate the taste either. I used to use a ton of sugar and milk - that ended about a decade ago now.
I have ~12oz (not a small cup (8oz) but also not a big one) usually every morning, but not usually out of necessity. I could skip it and function mostly the same. Sometimes I can tell that it's actually over-stimulating and prevents me from focusing, especially when I drink it on an empty stomach. I usually try to have it with a bite of food.
I order coffee whenever I'm out for breakfast/brunch, 2 or 3 cups
I also sometimes have a latte or small cup of coffee before going to the gym, especially if I'm trying to go after work. It helps me avoid getting stuck on the couch and relaxing as soon as I get home.
I stopped drinking caffeine a couple of months ago, in preparation for another attempt at quitting smoking. I also did not need the extra energy boost in the morning.
Also, it turns out that if you have a cuppa tea or coffee after quitting for a while it makes you feel the effects very strongly. I don't really like it, other than the taste.
My path to quitting caffeine was to first switch to green tea in the morning for a while and then to Tulsi tea which is made from holy basil, which has a lot of very nice health benefits especially for smokers.
I like the smell of it and in some foods it is great. Only somewhat enjoy drinking it if it's sugared up but I don't like really sugary drinks, so it is a fine line.
All resources I've ever read argue that coffee is super helpful. Probably, I'm a sort of outliner. I drink no more than 1 cup of coffee per day and in 5 years this habit has gifted me with painful heartburns and chronic gastritis.
Initially, I started consuming coffee only because my mom has Parkinson's disease and coffee is supposed to have preventive properties. I'm afraid I will end up with ulcer sooner than I will live to Parkinson's onset.
I've cut it out of my life, with some reluctance. I never loved drip coffee much, though it's not bad with milk. But I'm hypersensitive to caffeine and simultaneously hate being caffeine-dependent.
What was really tough to cut out was espresso. Nothing in the world like an iced latte. Decaf after cutting out caffeine. But I developed a mild lactose intolerance, and none of the milk substitutes give nearly the same experience.
I drink 12-16oz a day. I avoid drinking more than that to avoid the health risks, like kidney stones. I'm pretty sure I'm addicted to caffeine at this point, but I haven't been curious enough to test that theory.
I don't find much mental effect from it ("I need my morning coffee to function" type thing), but the act of drinking hot coffee is quite comforting.
I used to drink two cups every day. I knew the perfect proportions and knew how to brew with those Melita single-cup drip cups.
Now, I usually drink a shot of espresso once or twice per week (either in a latte or before a morning workout in an “Americano”) and focus on getting my eight hours of sleep instead.
I started drinking coffee in highschool, 7 years ago, but I only drink on the weekdays. I rarely drink coffee on weekends, and if I do it's an afternoon treat. There are obvious mornings where I need coffee to function and kickstart my day, but I really just enjoy the taste of coffee... Oh and it keeps me warm in the cold office.
I was drinking a lot (4-5 cups a day, usually crammed into the morning) when we had a Keurig in the office. Caused a bunch of heartburn during any particularly stressful weeks.
I've cut back to a max of two cups a day, and feel a lot better. I also don't feel like I need to drink coffee on the weekends to repel a headache until Mondays now.
[+] [-] nicolashahn|8 years ago|reply
I think my genetics mesh well with caffeine. My sister and everyone on my mom's side of the family loves coffee and none of us have any side effects from it. I discovered I liked it in college and it significantly boosted my motivation, grades, and life in general, so I kept with it. I tried going off it for a few months when I thought it was causing me sleep problems, but the cause was something else and I've been happily drinking coffee almost every day since.
[+] [-] Pharylon|8 years ago|reply
However, I don't like being a zombie, unable to function until I've had my first cup, so I moved my "first cup time" back to 9:00 am. That means I keep a coffee grinder at my desk at work. I also limit my intake to about two cups per day for the same reason.
[+] [-] lr4444lr|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dumbmatter|8 years ago|reply
I remember growing up seeing people brag about how much coffee they drink and how much caffeine they consume and how addicted they are to caffeine - it seemed like a stupid macho dick-measuring contest. Later in life I learned about caffeine tolerance and addiction, and that confirmed my initial biases about regular caffeine consumption.
[+] [-] graeme|8 years ago|reply
It’s been about a month, and a number of things sre better without it. Digestion is normal, far more consistent energy than before. Also much faster to get out of the house in the morning, which is nice.
Had been drinking it for years, but only started after college. Note: I quit all caffeine, including tea. Tea had similar effects on me.
[+] [-] LiamPa|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] anotherevan|8 years ago|reply
I’ll also drink tea a few times a week.
Never drink instant. I grind my beans on demand and usually brew with an aeropress if I’m making one, or the appropriate sized moka pot for making several. (I also have a couple of coffee syphons, which are fun to watch, but too fiddly and too much cleanup for everyday use.)
I had a gastric bypass 1.5 years ago[1], which has made my ‘stomach’ a little more delicate. Some days everything is fine, other days it’ll sit a bit heavy or sour in the tummy. I’m also definitely sensitive to dairy now, and find lactose free milk more tolerable. Have switched from a cappuccino to a long black with just a squirt of cold milk when buying at the shop.
I want to try Death Wish Coffee[2] sometime just for a lark, but the cost of shipping to the Antipodes is ridiculous.
I’m also a big fan of Mr Black[3].
[1] https://www.michevan.id.au/content/adventures-in-bariatric-s...
[2] https://www.deathwishcoffee.com/
[3] http://mrblack.co/ and https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_778190/mr-black-col...
[+] [-] valbaca|8 years ago|reply
I started drinking coffee in college when I started smoking. I was dual-majoring and working and tried to have a life too, so burning the candle at 3-ends.
I switched to just black at my first internship where I had to get up at 4:30am
For 6 or so years I was reliant on it, at least two cups and usually 3 a day. When I was burning out I would be at 5 or 6. It would get to the point where I needed it to just function and I didn't know who I was without it.
But for the last month and a half I haven't had a full cup.
I quit coffee (and a few other additive things) really just to exercise my discipline and to not need anything.
The first day I went to a single cup. Then I switched to half a cup for the first week. It was really tough as I went through withdrawals: eye and lip twitches, real bad irritability, and having to have a steel will as it's all I could think about.
Now, I can have it as I please and not miss it if I don't have it. The smell is still wonderful but I don't want to go back.
[+] [-] shostack|8 years ago|reply
Now, I'm extremely addicted to a perfect vanilla cappuccino as long as it isn't made with nasty sugar-filled syrup.
It has gotten to the point where french press doesn't do it for me at home, so I'm going to invest in an espresso machine and grinder and learn how to make it by hand. I'm also a huge fan of the vanilla powder they use at Better Buzz in San Diego. That stuff is worlds better than the syrup.
While the caffeine helps after lunch, I find the ritual of having a smooth creamy warm drink in the afternoon is incredibly relaxing, and is a good excuse to be "still" and organize my thoughts for the rest of the day.
[+] [-] lsiunsuex|8 years ago|reply
If I need to get out of the house a bit, I'll go work at a Starbucks and have a tall there - never more then a tall as I won't sleep well. Or - wherever. Tim Hortons is fine. Panera's is fine. Spent 3 days at the local convention center last week; their coffee was fine. I'm really not picky.
So, minimum 2, max 4 or 5 a day. Always black. I don't love the taste but I do like Starbucks the most. But I don't hate the taste either. I used to use a ton of sugar and milk - that ended about a decade ago now.
[+] [-] ceedan|8 years ago|reply
I order coffee whenever I'm out for breakfast/brunch, 2 or 3 cups
I also sometimes have a latte or small cup of coffee before going to the gym, especially if I'm trying to go after work. It helps me avoid getting stuck on the couch and relaxing as soon as I get home.
[+] [-] abby_cohen_221|8 years ago|reply
I kid I kid. No but really, coffee is my fuel. About 3 cups a day.
[+] [-] doug1001|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] hungerstrike|8 years ago|reply
Also, it turns out that if you have a cuppa tea or coffee after quitting for a while it makes you feel the effects very strongly. I don't really like it, other than the taste.
My path to quitting caffeine was to first switch to green tea in the morning for a while and then to Tulsi tea which is made from holy basil, which has a lot of very nice health benefits especially for smokers.
[+] [-] HokieGeek|8 years ago|reply
I do love me some tea, though.
[+] [-] captn3m0|8 years ago|reply
Drink a cup of tea almost every day though.
[+] [-] mialmond|8 years ago|reply
Initially, I started consuming coffee only because my mom has Parkinson's disease and coffee is supposed to have preventive properties. I'm afraid I will end up with ulcer sooner than I will live to Parkinson's onset.
[+] [-] dnautics|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] twobyfour|8 years ago|reply
What was really tough to cut out was espresso. Nothing in the world like an iced latte. Decaf after cutting out caffeine. But I developed a mild lactose intolerance, and none of the milk substitutes give nearly the same experience.
Oh well.
[+] [-] luhn|8 years ago|reply
I don't find much mental effect from it ("I need my morning coffee to function" type thing), but the act of drinking hot coffee is quite comforting.
[+] [-] nunez|8 years ago|reply
Now, I usually drink a shot of espresso once or twice per week (either in a latte or before a morning workout in an “Americano”) and focus on getting my eight hours of sleep instead.
It’s hard for me to drink coffee now.
[+] [-] hhsnopek|8 years ago|reply
Edit: ~3-5 cups a day
[+] [-] rharb|8 years ago|reply
I've cut back to a max of two cups a day, and feel a lot better. I also don't feel like I need to drink coffee on the weekends to repel a headache until Mondays now.