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I quit caffeine

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Re: I quit caffeine

#81
post #67

I grew up in a house where coffee wasn't allowed, so I've actually never had it before. I have avoided nearly all caffeine my whole life out of habit (one of those cases where a rule you grow up with sticks with you even if the original justification for it didn't). Drinking a Coke is enough to make me bounce off the walls. I've often wondered what would happen to me if I tried coffee or an energy drink, but based on…

Will a Diet Coke give you the same effect as a Coke? I'm curious how much of your bouncing is due to the caffeine versus the sugar and/or some synergism.

I think so? I've had the same question and have been meaning to do a actual controlled experiment, but haven't ever gotten around to it. I know I react badly to sugar, and I'm fairly certain I also react badly to caffeine separately, but don't have enough data points to draw a solid conclusion yet.

Re: I quit caffeine

#82

I catch a lot of flak for all the money I waste by buying coffees at coffeeshops, but it's my way of rate limiting. If I want a cup of coffee, I first have to make myself presentable, go for a walk, and pay a cost. I also feel a bit weird about going back to the same place twice in one day, so that usually dissuades a follow-up trip, or at least makes me go on an even longer walk. Caffeine plays with everyone differe…

real life and society as rate limiting balancing mechanism :)

Re: I quit caffeine

#83
post #2

I didn't quit caffeine, but I cut down massively by keeping it in a Zojirushi mug that keeps it hot all morning instead of drinking from a regular mug. Because it stays hot, I just sip it, and that way I only drink one mug in the morning and occasionally one in the afternoon, instead of the 3 or 4 mugs I would drink previously.

Similarly, I use a really skinny mug that keeps coffee hot longer than usual, and I make sure it stays hot by going back to the microwave and reheating it as needed. The heat keeps me from chugging it.

I also brew half-caf and mix it with half water before heating it. I know I sound like a crazy person.

Re: I quit caffeine

#84
Caffeine is delivered quite differently based on the brewing method. I find that 4 or more shots of espresso a day will lead to an eye twitch, while one or two cups of Philz deliver the caffeine far more smoothly.

French press seems to be somewhere in between, the extraction is different than pour over. Philz's extraction time is even shorter than a regular pour over. They use a lot more beans than Blue Bottle but the water flows through the grounds much quicker.

If you can't go cold turkey, try avoiding espresso and French press and the jittery feeling might subside.

Re: I quit caffeine

#85

For me, I didn't like being physically addicted to something. I've switched to decaf coffee, because I still like coffee and the morning ritual. But I limit myself to 2 cups, and I have herbal tea later in the day if I still want something to sip on. The same goes for (added) sugar - it's amazing how you feel when you stop eating candy/ice cream/sweetened drinks/etc. And it's surprising how bad you feel when do you h…

Have you found good decaf anywhere? I drink only espresso and haven't found any decaf that isn't miserably bland.

Re: I quit caffeine

#86

I catch a lot of flak for all the money I waste by buying coffees at coffeeshops, but it's my way of rate limiting. If I want a cup of coffee, I first have to make myself presentable, go for a walk, and pay a cost. I also feel a bit weird about going back to the same place twice in one day, so that usually dissuades a follow-up trip, or at least makes me go on an even longer walk. Caffeine plays with everyone differe…

Wait you have to presentable to get coffee from a coffee shop? I've made a terrible mistake

Re: I quit caffeine

#88
So what exactly is the benefit of not drinking coffee? I usually drink 1-2 cups daily (espresso), and don't see it as a big deal. Sometimes I skip it for a day, and I don't feel much differently.

Re: I quit caffeine

#89

I catch a lot of flak for all the money I waste by buying coffees at coffeeshops, but it's my way of rate limiting. If I want a cup of coffee, I first have to make myself presentable, go for a walk, and pay a cost. I also feel a bit weird about going back to the same place twice in one day, so that usually dissuades a follow-up trip, or at least makes me go on an even longer walk. Caffeine plays with everyone differe…

I like to rate limit with my own coffee snobbery. Free pots of coffee at work? No thank you, I don't want any of that swill. I'm going to use my mini hand-pumped espresso maker for a single shot of espresso.

I did used to drink the coffee at work and ended up drinking a lot of it. Crappy coffee, better drink it fast cause I just need the caffeine. Or my cup is not warm anymore so better chug the rest of it, or add more hot coffee to the mug. Rinse and repeat.

Re: I quit caffeine

#90
I use coffee (just Nescafe Azera) to kickstart me in the mornings, but I stop consuming at lunchtime. This limited window acts to keep some sort of lid on the quantities I consume, as well as hopefully leaving me un-caffeinated by bedtime.
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