Caffeinated beverage of choice

[Architect]

I used to be, in the words of Samuel Johnson, a hardened tea drinker. Unfortunately it started to interfere with sleep and behavior so I've gone cold turkey for a year. Now I'm trying it once a day or less to see how I can handle it. One concern is possible long term effects. My older parents have sleep issues and have to take Ambian for it. I hypothesize it is due to a combination of long term moderate alcohol and coffee consumption.

The problem for me is that without a little tea I'm a dull fellow. With a cuppa on board I get so much more done and have focus.

 

[Dr. Freeman]

Zip-fizz.

 

[MsAnthropy_Indefatigably]

I've not experienced trouble sleeping over a patterned period of time. I suppose if I ever do, I will stop drinking coffee full time and long term. I do stop drinking it for days at a time, but it never lasts. I don't drink soda that often but I drink coffee every day. And not no 8 ounces either.... I always get the biggest cup possible and I like getting the stronger ones and I NEVER DRINK DECAF!!! That's just blasphemy... lol

When I don't drink coffee and have to be up in the morning and function-able, I develop headaches if I have too much pressure that day. And it doesn't go away until take a nap.

 

[Architect]

The sensitivity didn't manifest until into my 40's, which I think is common enough. Fortunately I've never had issues with chemical dependence. I can start and stop drinking caffeine with abandon and it doesn't bother me. Likewise when I was younger I took up pipe smoking as an affection (I had a predilection for everything Einstein) and was able to drop it to no ill effect.

 

[Solitaire U.]

Cappuccino, home-brewed from fresh, finely-ground dark roasted Chiapas coffee beans.

(Not to be confused with those disposable cups of coffee-scented hot milk sold at places like Starfucks).

*Edit* (1 dose) Every morning, with a very occasional other in the afternoon, time and access to Espresso machine permitting. Caffeine does not affect my sleep unless consumed less than two hours before retiring.

 

[Moocow]

Matcha green tea... thick and frothy. Lots of l-theanine in it to go with the caffeine.

 

[Dr. Freeman]

I've never really been a fan of either tea or coffee.

 

[Architect]

Matcha green tea... thick and frothy. Lots of l-theanine in it to go with the caffeine.

It was frequent trips to Japan that got me into tea. Japan however have a different form of production than anywhere else. They go for mouth puckering astringency combined with a sweetness, and a field to production time as low as possible. Matcha in particular is grown in shade to increase it's sweetness, and this has the effect of lowering the chlorophyll, decreasing the anti-oxident content and increasing the caffeine and I believe I-theanine. The result is pure rocket juice.

I don't drink much Japanese tea anymore since the Tsunami, they've found radiation on the leaves. A friend who lives in Japan sends me tea care packages occasionally though.

 

[DeadonDreaming]

It was frequent trips to Japan that got me into tea. Japan however have a different form of production than anywhere else. They go for mouth puckering astringency combined with a sweetness, and a field to production time as low as possible. Matcha in particular is grown in shade to increase it's sweetness, and this has the effect of lowering the chlorophyll, decreasing the anti-oxident content and increasing the caffeine and I believe I-theanine. The result is pure rocket juice.

I don't drink much Japanese tea anymore since the Tsunami, they've found radiation on the leaves. A friend who lives in Japan sends me tea care packages occasionally though.

RADIATION TEA!!

 

[Intellect]

It was frequent trips to Japan that got me into tea.

Same here. I've always enjoyed tea, but it wasn't until I went to Japan (and the rest of Asia) that I started to drink it regularly. Sencha is my favorite.

As far as caffeine goes, I also have a soft spot for energy drinks (Red Bull / Monster) and drink them occasionally.

P.S. - For any tea drinkers here: I highly recommend you experience an authentic tea ceremony in Japan at some point. It's quite amazing.

 

[Jennywocky]

I picked coffee but I like diet soda too... the caffeinated kind.

Funny detox story -- I spent a month overseas (Asian area) last year and only had access to instant coffee (Nestle) and barely any soda... I was scrounging for cans of brand-name diet soda in the oddest places. I also didn't really have access to sugar either. Chocolate yes, but candy, no.

I had always been a Diet Pepsi girl for years and years, ever since I made the switch to diet back in 1998 or so. I just liked it better than Diet Coke.

When I came back to the States, I found I now hated Diet Pepsi. It tasted a lot sweeter to me than Diet Coke did at that point, after the month of detox, and even left me feeling a bit ill. Just too much sweetness. I'll drink it on occasion now if it's all I have available, but I strongly prefer Diet Coke instead.

Go figure.

 

[pjoa09]

Dangerously addicted to Coke Zero.

I was on regular Coke and then I learned of Diet Coke and then I learned of Coke Zero.

Coke Zero is like getting smashed in the face with a snow ball.

I think I should get some alternatives, slowly shifting to coffee.

 

[Lot]

RED BULL!

I love the stuff. I drink the sugar free red bull. Other wise the regular stuff hurts my teeth. I also drink diet soda. As other have mentioned, diet coke and coke zero are good. I don't like coke zero unless it's cold, though. It tastes like flat soda. Diet Dr Pepper is great, warm and cold. Lately I've had to drink the generic brand soda, Dr Thunder, Select, and what ever other ones there are.

 

[Kuu]

I enjoy coffee and tea equally, but I drink neither for the caffeine. Not any more, at least. In the past I was a heavy coffee drinker, but I've come to realize caffeine is a shitty substance, because one does build up tolerance, and become addicted, and without it you feel like shit. Not to mention the crash that comes after it wears off, specially with significant sleep deprivation like my 20-hour workday. And the jitters that come when consuming it in excess. After I stopped drinking tons of coffee daily, my mood improved significantly.

If I need a kick to pull through a day (or several) to "get so much more done and have focus" I have found other substances provide significantly better effects for significantly less drawbacks.

My older parents have sleep issues and have to take Ambian for it.

I thought it was normal for older people to need less sleep, but perhaps what you're talking about is beyond the normal.

I've not experienced trouble sleeping over a patterned period of time. I suppose if I ever do, I will stop drinking coffee full time and long term. I do stop drinking it for days at a time, but it never lasts. I don't drink soda that often but I drink coffee every day. And not no 8 ounces either.... I always get the biggest cup possible and I like getting the stronger ones and I NEVER DRINK DECAF!!! That's just blasphemy... lol

When I don't drink coffee and have to be up in the morning and function-able, I develop headaches if I have too much pressure that day. And it doesn't go away until take a nap.

Congratulations, you are addicted to caffeine! The fact you have no trouble sleeping is because you've developed tolerance for it, which is not surprising considering the regularity and quantities that you consume.

Withdrawal symptoms – including headache, irritability, inability to concentrate, drowsiness, insomnia, and pain in the stomach, upper body, and joints – may appear within 12 to 24 hours after discontinuation of caffeine intake, peak at roughly 48 hours, and usually last from 2 to 9 days.[67] In prolonged caffeine drinkers, symptoms such as increased depression and anxiety, nausea, vomiting, physical pains and intense desire for caffeine containing beverages are also reported. Peer knowledge, support and interaction may aid withdrawal.

Regarding carbonated sweetened drinks... that shit is diabetes and obesity in a can. Let's not even get started on "energy drinks".

 

[snafupants]

I'm pretty sure the sugar/caffeine is added to sodas to engender chemical dependency, perhaps in youngsters. The ol' Joe Camel technique. I mean, sugar is sweet and renders the drink more palatable but caffeine in coke...it's not for the flavor enrichment.

 

[TriflinThomas]

I'm very sensitive to any sort of stimulant, they all make me sweat but I usually have a small cup of black tea with honey in the morning.

 

[Moocow]

It was frequent trips to Japan that got me into tea. Japan however have a different form of production than anywhere else. They go for mouth puckering astringency combined with a sweetness, and a field to production time as low as possible. Matcha in particular is grown in shade to increase it's sweetness, and this has the effect of lowering the chlorophyll, decreasing the anti-oxident content and increasing the caffeine and I believe I-theanine. The result is pure rocket juice.

I don't drink much Japanese tea anymore since the Tsunami, they've found radiation on the leaves. A friend who lives in Japan sends me tea care packages occasionally though.

Sort of a rocket zen juice I think. I use it to meditate and it drives my brain to wonderful heights.
It's a damn shame to hear about their tea exports though. I think I always got mine from china anyhow. Do they even allow the radioactive tea to be exported?

 

[YoungGuns]

I used to get unlimited free soft drinks where I worked. I would constantly be drinking heavily caffeinated and high sugar stuff without even think about it. I had constant highs and lows that I thought were normal. If my family or working conditions were very negative (which is often) it would trigger lows. The lows were genuinely bad lows that could possibly have been diagnosed as depression.

A few weeks being fired from my job and having to go out and actually buy the stuff, I eventually decided to completely eliminate caffeine. This revelation happened after I started waking up after tons of sleep feeling like I had been up for 20 hours instead of refreshed. I never had withdrawal headaches and such; the caffeine was more of a habit and something I mindlessly compulsively did than a hard addiction.

That was about 3 months ago. My mood has been MUCH more stable; I haven't had any lows. I'm still not 100% sure if the lack of a job is more of a factor than caffeine, but I genuinely don't think it is. I do now occasionally have a glass of Coke or something from a restaurant, but I don't feel the compulsion to continuously get refills of the stuff instead of lemonade or something.

All that being said, Mellow Yellow in a can or sometimes as a fountain drink is my favorite caffeine-packed drink.

 

[YoungGuns]

I think these pictures also contributed in me letting up on caffeine:

Drug Free:

On Caffeine:

More info:
http://www.trinity.edu/jdunn/spiderdrugs.htm

 

[TriflinThomas]

I think these pictures also contributed in me letting up on caffeine:

Drug Free:

On Caffeine:

More info:
http://www.trinity.edu/jdunn/spiderdrugs.htm

You do realize that spiders' bodies are extremely small compared to human bodies? Plus, they're a completely different species (they aren't even mammals); and I couldn't find any info on the doses given to the spiders.

 

[YoungGuns]

You do realize that spiders' bodies are extremely small compared to human bodies? Plus, they're a completely different species (they aren't even mammals); and I couldn't find any info on the doses given to the spiders.

I'm aware that it obviously can have a much more drastic and possibly completely different affect on spiders. But on some level, the webs demonstrate how there's a possibility of it affecting cohesiveness...or maybe it's just the affect of being really really hyper.

Either way, I think I'm much more stable without caffeine, and I have problems with moderation when it comes to food/drinks when I have easy access.

 

[TriflinThomas]

I'm aware that it obviously can have a much more drastic and possibly completely different affect on spiders. But on some level, the webs demonstrate how there's a possibility of it affecting cohesiveness...or maybe it's just the affect of being really really hyper.

Either way, I think I'm much more stable without caffeine, and I have problems with moderation when it comes to food/drinks when I have easy access.

Ok, just making sure

 

[Proletar]

I'm addicted to caffeine. When I know I'll not be able to have my precious cup (who am I kidding? Mug.) I just pop one of them pills. All to keep the headache away.

 

[TriflinThomas]

I'm addicted to caffeine. When I know I'll not be able to have my precious cup (who am I kidding? Mug.) I just pop one of them pills. All to keep the headache away.

I used to be the same way, it's better to just quit.

 

[DeadonDreaming]

Wow, after seeing those spider webs, I'm going to stop drinking caffeine! It seems anything can impair you :S

 

[snafupants]

Well, I'm enjoying a nice, steamy cup of java right now.

Yeah, caffeine is the boogeyman though.

Spoiler

More for me.

 

[redbaron]

I haven't had any caffeinated beverages for about 3 years. I was never a regular drinker, but I decided to just forgo it completely since the effects of caffeine are almost entirely negative, and none of the apparent positives are anything I have trouble with.

I think it's pretty sad how many people are addicted to caffeine these days, who can't concentrate without their coffee/tea/insert beverage here. Same with people who (as Kuu so accurately described them) drink canned diabetes.

 

[Jennywocky]

Wow, after seeing those spider webs, I'm going to stop drinking caffeine! It seems anything can impair you :S

I figure I can postpone worrying about it until the day I start shooting webbing out of my butt.

 

[DarkRoom]

At home I usually drink Earl Grey but when I'm out, I'll have a caramel latte. I also used to drink waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much Coke but I've quit it now. Trying to shrink my waistline a little.

 

[Bucca]

Tea. Nothing stronger than green tea generally. I used to drink Coke Zero and coffee by the liters but now have the occasional Zevia insead.

 

[skip]

S. Pellegrino usually, root beer rarely.

 

[Absurdity]

Coffee. I drink a lot of tea, but it doesn't do anything for me. Strange, since I am pretty sensitive to stimulants.

 

[SpaceYeti]

Make to drink the coffee go time NOW!

 

[BigApplePi]

I used to drink coffee, tea and whatnot. When I took up sports I thought I had to eat healthy ... or at least what was beneficial to the sport. That meant no room for coffee. I recall whenever circumstances were that I had to miss my regular coffee, I didn't like the affects: headache. Now I drink milk, water and occasionally alcohol free beer. I'm caffeine free. Not sure about chocolate. I do have that but I hope below the caffeine threshold.

I try to keep regular sleeping hours (therefore no jet lag). Since I'm caffeine free, I feel best in the morning ... or anytime I haven't had a big meal. My brain is awake and I'm not troubled by that bodily need for drugs. Alcohol is another topic, but I don't like to drink it if I don't want to be dizzy or have a hangover. If I'm looking to be dizzy, alcohol is okay.

 

[Teohrn]

I don't drink sodas at all. I do however drink both tea and coffee, depending on how much effort I want to put into preparing my beverage.

The tea I drink is the regular stuff. The coffee I drink is not, at least not where I live.

I use roasted and finely ground coffee beans and boil them in one of these:

The result is this:

The result is very strong coffee with great taste.

 

[redbaron]

Since I'm caffeine free, I feel best in the morning ... or anytime I haven't had a big meal.

Agree 100%. Since I stopped having any caffeine at all, I get up easily and I'm never at a want for energy in the mornings. I can even forgo a decent sleep and operate almost perfectly with only 2-3 hours for most of a day - about 10 hours before I start to really notice an impairment.

I get tired earlier at night, but I don't see it as a bad thing. I gradually get sleepier until I'm ready to sleep, which seems pretty natural? I generally sleep at around 11pm-1am, starting to get tired about 9-930. It feels pretty natural and it seems like without any stimulants during the day, I maintain a very regular 24hour circadian rhythm.

I don't really eat big meals. Partly for the reason you described but also for others. I eat a bigger breakfast than other meals, but overall I don't eat that much.

Can't say I miss coffee at all.

 

[Architect]

Agree 100%. Since I stopped having any caffeine at all, I get up easily and I'm never at a want for energy in the mornings. I can even forgo a decent sleep and operate almost perfectly with only 2-3 hours for most of a day - about 10 hours before I start to really notice an impairment.

I've had to give up caffeine except as an occasional dalliance. In the last few years it disturbed my sleep too much, interfering with my ability to think during the day. Also I've never been a headache person and it started to give me headaches - terrible.

Dropping caffeine was easy, the harder part was that I unconsciously leaned on it for motivation in my work. Especially with daily routine and detail work, a cup of tea would help me plow through it. Now I've had to learn how to better manage that without the prop.

 

[Fukyo]

I use roasted and finely ground coffee beans and boil them in one of these:

The result is this:

The result is very strong coffee with great taste.

I drink turkish coffee as well. One small cup per day for the taste, not the alkaloid.

 

[Minuend]

This might because I'm a bit sensory clueless, but I don't really notice any effect from caffeine. I can be a heavy coffee drinker one week, then don't touch the stuff for several days and I can't tell a difference.

I drink both tea and coffee. I like hot beverages. Sometimes I drink just boiled water.

I do notice an improvement in energy when consuming sugar, though. But one often get sluggish later on. Exercising after eating candy is very tiring.

 

[Fukyo]

This might because I'm a bit sensory clueless, but I don't really notice any effect from caffeine. I can be a heavy coffee drinker one week, then don't touch the stuff for several days and I can't tell a difference.

Same.

 

[BigApplePi]

This might because I'm a bit sensory clueless, but I don't really notice any effect from caffeine. I can be a heavy coffee drinker one week, then don't touch the stuff for several days and I can't tell a difference.

Strange.

 

[C.J_Finn]

Mostly coffee, and I also drink tea sometimes. It helps me with thinking (same reason I like to smoke cigarettes), but I don't really notice a big difference like some people make it out to be unless I drink 3-4 pots in a day (only when I'm going thru a bout of insomnia and I want to keep myself somewhat functional).