I've given up coffee...

uberwolf

I love coffee, good coffee. Maybe not to the level that some here, but I've lurked on this forum and I've considered my Gaggia and grinder investment at times.

My Bald Barista in the morning was savoured, and a second coffee later in the day was a respite from whatever work was throwing at me. But I've given it up.

I consider myself dependent on coffee, can't function without it. Given a choice between instant and no coffee, it's no coffee, but there's always the real stuff available.

I've given up caffeine actually. Tea and coke have gone too, but those I'd go days between, weeks in cokes case.

Ideally I could return to having a cappuccino over the paper at the weekend, but I've given up coffee before and slipped back into the full daily routine.

I'm not even sure whether it's an emotional dependency, or physical. I've certainly suffered withdrawal - and mainly wrestling with the habit. Had my first decaffeinated yesterday. Bit pointless though.

Has anyone else toyed with this, or can relate to it?

Mr E

How much did you drink a day? Must have been alot to feel this way...

RE*AC*TOR

Hey Uberwolf! You sound a little over-cautious of dependency, I wouldn't call a 2 coffee a day habit a problem.

The fact that you'd go without any coffee if only given the choice of instant confirms this for me.

Sounds to me like your denying yourself a simple pleasure. We shouldn't all have to live like monks.

Thomas_S_Hunterson

There's worse things out there. I know addiction is a dirty word, but it's just caffeine. Life is short. It's not damaging you or those around you.

rua327

Killer, Im a tad dependant on coffee myself first thing in the morning but I make myself feel better by drinking plenty of water during the day to "flush" me as such. Id try this before going cold turkey NO Christmas pun intended).

rockbeer

I have to stop for a while every so often. Maybe for a month or so a couple of times a year. I don't know if there's any science behind this, but I feel as though the caffeine builds up in my system and after a few months heavy coffee drinking I start to feel wretched - dizzy, nauseous, fuzzy-headed. I stop for a bit and give my system a chance to clear out, then start all over again.

Just realized this probably bears no relation whatsoever to your original question, op.

Mr Magnolia

I also wouldn't be worried about a consumption level like that. There are worse things then enjoying a coffee, still though, if you feel you need to...

uberwolf

rockbeer wrote: »

Just realized this probably bears no relation whatsoever to your original question, op.

nah it does. Thanks.

I've considered the monk issue - and I'm not sure. My body is not a temple, and I'd like to be able to enjoy the occasional coffee.

The cost is a consideration, I must spend 3 weeks wages on coffee over a year. (maybe if I could find a 'plunger' variety that actually produced tasty coffee)

But my attitude really has been of late, 'don't talk to me until I've had my coffee' and that is a dependency.

alastair

Decent decaf beans are a perfectly good substitute imo*.

*Disclaimer: I'm not an addict - so I'm just going on the taste rather than the buzz.

uberwolf

Santa brought a Gaggia Classic.


(what grinder will I buy?)

RE*AC*TOR

Santa is a very nice man.

If you are just grinding for the Classic and don't also require grinding for french press / filter etc then the Iberital MC2 from happydonkey is a great grinder for the price.

Otherwise, the usual suspects, Gaggia MDF, Rancilio Rocky at the medium end.

Higher end, Macap M4, Mazzer Mini etc.

Mr Magnolia

Happy days.

JPA

This thread has taken a funny turn.

Blue_Wolf

Uberwolf,my dear brother. You're not exactly off the coffee still are you? Well at least you dont smoke or drink every night like I do so having 2 coffees a day should be the least of your worries.