joys of coffee

[Viking Bastard]

I went to Starbucks for the first time when in London last summer.

It went like this:

A: "I'd like a coffe."
B: "What kind?"
A: "Black."
B: "What kind?"
A: "Normal black."
B: "What kind?"
A: "Uh... traditional old-school normal black?"
B: "Dry taste or mocca?"
A: "Uh... coffe taste?"

Etc.

 

[barsoomcore]

When I get a little... schnoggled at Starbucks is when I'm making an order for my office.

"I'd like five tall Ethiopians."

I keep expecting somebody to say, "Why, are you starting a basketball team?"

 

[Lazybones]

I was a regular coffee drinker for about 5 years, ordered Gevalia (they pulverize the beans, so it's almost the consistency of powdered sugar when you open the packet), frequent customer at Starbucks. I gave it up about 8 months ago.

Caffeine addiction is real, and as you build up a tolerance you'll have to drink more to avoid the withdrawal symptoms (headaches, drowsiness, general crankiness). Not everyone gets the symptoms in the same degree or frequency, so if you're a lucky person who's never had a caffeine headache, more power to you! But I was getting migrane-quality headaches after just a single day without coffee, and I wasn't that heavy a drinker (a few cups a day, tops).

I've heard that caffeine is the last socially-acceptable addiction. Certainly those coffee places make a ton of money on their venti lattes. I sometimes see people order venti espresso drinks at Starbucks (I still go for the hot chocolate) with 4 or even 5 shots, and I just cringe. I once drank a beverage with three shots and I thought my heart was going to explode after drinking half of it.

Sorry to be a downer on your thread, but you should be aware of the down side before you start the habit.

 

[Pierce]

BTW: This month's National Geographic cover story? Caffeine.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Lazybones, you have truth in your words but have failed to mention the many positive effects of caffien, including headache treatment, diabetes prevention, workout enhancement, etc...

And yeah, Gevalia is another coffee I drink but not often due to the high price for the high quality. Some of the best stuff.

I was a regular coffee drinker for about 5 years, ordered Gevalia (they pulverize the beans, so it's almost the consistency of powdered sugar when you open the packet), frequent customer at Starbucks. I gave it up about 8 months ago.

Caffeine addiction is real, and as you build up a tolerance you'll have to drink more to avoid the withdrawal symptoms (headaches, drowsiness, general crankiness). Not everyone gets the symptoms in the same degree or frequency, so if you're a lucky person who's never had a caffeine headache, more power to you! But I was getting migrane-quality headaches after just a single day without coffee, and I wasn't that heavy a drinker (a few cups a day, tops).

I've heard that caffeine is the last socially-acceptable addiction. Certainly those coffee places make a ton of money on their venti lattes. I sometimes see people order venti espresso drinks at Starbucks (I still go for the hot chocolate) with 4 or even 5 shots, and I just cringe. I once drank a beverage with three shots and I thought my heart was going to explode after drinking half of it.

Sorry to be a downer on your thread, but you should be aware of the down side before you start the habit.

 

[EricNoah]

Thanks for all of the advice! I decided to go with a cheap model to start with, one that makes a couple of cups at a time. I'm experimenting with the coffee brands now -- anything I decide I don't like I can just take to work and let others enjoy.

I've been having about a cup a day, but then I'm on vacation right now. When work starts up very likely it'll be more of a weekends-only thing (I'm not an early riser and doubt I'll have the gumption to make coffee in the morning). And drinking at work is out of the question -- too busy.

I have found that I have had less of an appetite the past couple of days, and that coffee is a nice substitute for dessert.

 

[Lazybones]

Lazybones, you have truth in your words but have failed to mention the many positive effects of caffien, including headache treatment, diabetes prevention, workout enhancement, etc...

And yeah, Gevalia is another coffee I drink but not often due to the high price for the high quality. Some of the best stuff.

Interesting, but some recent studies have shown that caffeine may have negative health impacts for diabetics:

http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20040807/food.asp

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5518110/

And I know that caffeine is in some headache medications (Excedrin, for example), but in my case (which qualifies as anecdotal, I know), the costs outweighed the benefits. Since dropping caffeine (I dropped soda and black tea as well, and really get it only in chocolate), the number of headaches I suffer has become negligible anyway.

 

[reveal]

One of the biggest things you can do to help yourself is to use the proper water-to-grounds ratio.

http://www.goodeatsfanpage.com/ABFP/ABTimeline/coffeehints.htm

The ratio is 2 Tablespoons grounds for every 6 ounces of water. So for a 2 cup pot (16oz) use 4 Tablespoons, 2 teaspoons of grounds. (That's about a rounded 1/4 cup)

I saw it on Good Eats and tried it and the coffee tasted better than I'd ever had before.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

I like coffee. A lot. However, I only drink two cups a day at most. I can't understand my mom who drinks about 5 cups a day. D@mn. Thats too much coffee. Of course I don't mean a standard cup by actual measurement, in that case it would be six cups a day for me and 15 for my mom.

I love Don Francisco's Brewed Coffee. However, I'm craving something stronger lately.

 

[jester47]

Crap, I forgot that you can actually survive without caffine!

Here in Seattle we have the four basic needs:

Food
Water
Shelter
coffee

In truth though, I try to avoid caffine as much as possible as it really plays havoc with my sleep cycle. But I do like the taste of coffee.

Aaron.