The false god of coffee • Hacker News Board

Re: The false god of coffee

#11

Post by buugs » Sat, Oct 24, 2009, 3:55 PM UTC

Did that vacuum coffee pot look like some sort of weird drug setup to anyone else? I had never seen something like that.

I don't really drink coffee except maybe 1 cup after dinner once a month or something along those lines but I do drink black tea which probably still does have about as much caffeine as half a cup of normal coffee. However the times that I drink tea probably differ from the times that people drink coffee, rather than drinking it in the morning I usually drink one cup around 5 o-clock.

Re: The false god of coffee

#12

Post by sonofjanoh » Sat, Oct 24, 2009, 4:04 PM UTC

I thought coffee was an excuse for breaks. I drink when I'm bored or need a short break. I have never ever felt that a coffee can give me a kick not even when I had to drive for 2 days or learn for exams.

On the other hand if I find something really interesting and/or exciting it can keep me awake till morning and I can't wait to get it solved not needing any stimulant food or even going to the bathroom.

Re: The false god of coffee

#13

Post by buugs » Sat, Oct 24, 2009, 4:06 PM UTC

wrinklz wrote: post #7

Twining's loose-leaf Earl Grey (the square yellow can) is the perfect coffee replacement. With honey and milk, it pushes all the right buttons with minimal sugar/caffeine bounce.

A very nice earl grey (if you like stronger tasting teas) is earl grey bravo from adagio http://www.adagio.com/black/earl_grey_bravo.html

Re: The false god of coffee

#14

Post by Mz » Sat, Oct 24, 2009, 4:09 PM UTC

sonofjanoh wrote: post #12

I thought coffee was an excuse for breaks. I drink when I'm bored or need a short break. I have never ever felt that a coffee can give me a kick not even when I had to drive for 2 days or learn for exams. On the other hand if I find something really interesting and/or exciting it can keep me awake till morning and I can't wait to get it solved not needing any stimulant food or even going to the bathroom.

I know folks who have trouble giving up cigarettes in part because it's what they do on breaks and there is a social element to it. I used to spend time someplace where the entire staff seemed to smoke and smoking was about the only break activity available. If you tried to quit and went out front to chat with someone else on break, you could guarantee they were smoking. That made it hard for anyone to successfully quit.

So I can see that being a factor with coffee in the work place.

Re: The false god of coffee

#15

Post by jodrellblank » Sat, Oct 24, 2009, 4:11 PM UTC

vessenes wrote: post #4

I love the tracking of productivity idea. It's interesting, I also frequently use coffee to 'concentrate', but a little differently than you. I'll have tea or sometimes coffee in the morning (one cup) and if I'm not sleep deprived, that's it. If I need to work or focus on a task in the afternoon, I'll get a large coffee, clear my area of all distractions, get comfortable and try and crank through for as long as it ta…

How did you notice/know you were having serious blood sugar problems?

Re: The false god of coffee

#16

Post by rdtsc » Sat, Oct 24, 2009, 4:35 PM UTC

buugs wrote: post #11

Did that vacuum coffee pot look like some sort of weird drug setup to anyone else? I had never seen something like that. I don't really drink coffee except maybe 1 cup after dinner once a month or something along those lines but I do drink black tea which probably still does have about as much caffeine as half a cup of normal coffee. However the times that I drink tea probably differ from the times that people drink…

The vacuum pot ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum_coffee_maker) appeals to the geek in us. The brew is supposed to be more "pure".

I think just like with smoking, coffee brewing is a ritual and people enjoy the ritual just as much as they enjoy the taste and the effects of coffee itself.

I like tea. Recently I have gotten to like this strange black tea called pu-erh (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pu-erh_tea). I you like black tea, give it a try it definetly has a unique flavor. Some people really like it, some really hate it.

Re: The false god of coffee

#17

Post by obiefernandez » Sat, Oct 24, 2009, 4:36 PM UTC

I quit caffeine cold-turkey around March, because I was drinking too much (effects of tolerance?) and feeling jittery throughout the day, as well as having trouble sleeping at night. Slight headaches subsided after a couple of days.

Now I don't necessarily feel like I have more energy overall, but it is a lot easier to get out of bed in the morning and I feel like my energy levels are a lot flatter and more balanced throughout the day.

Still love the taste of coffee though - decaf soy latte is part of my normal breakfast routine.

Re: The false god of coffee

#18

Post by obiefernandez » Sat, Oct 24, 2009, 4:39 PM UTC

AndrewDucker wrote: post #9

btilly wrote: post #6

Caffeine is a mixed blessing. It is a stimulant, which helps you wake up. But your body compensates for the expectation of stimulation. Which means that a coffee drinker after coffee is about like a non-coffee drinker without coffee.

And this is why I gave up coffee. Nowadays I have absolutely no caffeine tolerance - so I can have a coke when out dancing and it keeps me going. Unlike ye olden days, when it had no effect whatsoever.

Try slamming a red bull next time you go dancing. Great legal high ;)

Re: The false god of coffee

#19

Post by awolf » Sat, Oct 24, 2009, 4:43 PM UTC

Coffee stimulates brain activity across the board whereas ADD treatments such as Ritalin and Adderall target just the specific parts of the brain used in learning and for concentration.

So does juicing your entire brain increase concentration? My money is on no. It just gives a good energized feeling and the illusion of being more focused.

Drink coffee because you enjoy it not as a productivity hack.

Re: The false god of coffee

#20

Post by GiraffeNecktie » Sat, Oct 24, 2009, 4:43 PM UTC

berntb wrote: post #8

Coffee is, on the average, good for the health for most people. (But tea is an ok replacement.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee_and_health#Benefits Do make your coffee with paper filters. [Edit: If you don't want to read the reference... paper filters removes some chemicals which are bad for cholesterol levels.]

And if you're using paper filters you might as well get yourself an AeroPress. Great coffee with tiny paper filters.