Ask HN: What's your relationship with coffee?

23 pointsby felixmcvor 9 Jahren58 comments

60 comments

I make about 16oz of slightly above average strength coffee when I wake up at 9-10am and drink on average about 12oz of it throughout the day until 3pm where I cut it off completely. I've found that this makes my mornings and early afternoons very productive (I think faster and can focus better) but I'm still able to fall asleep at night around 1-2am (as long as I exercise enough and have good sleep hygiene in general). I get a little slow around 4-5pm but overall it's a net positive addiction. I also usually drink much less or no coffee on Sunday and can sleep 9 or 10 hours that night.

I think my genetics mesh well with caffeine. My sister and everyone on my mom's side of the family loves coffee and none of us have any side effects from it. I discovered I liked it in college and it significantly boosted my motivation, grades, and life in general, so I kept with it. I tried going off it for a few months when I thought it was causing me sleep problems, but the cause was something else and I've been happily drinking coffee almost every day since.

Pharylonvor 9 Jahren

I like coffee. Mostly because it tastes good, and I kind of like the ritual. In the last few years I've really gotten into it more. I use a coffee press and grind my beans fresh every morning.

However, I don't like being a zombie, unable to function until I've had my first cup, so I moved my "first cup time" back to 9:00 am. That means I keep a coffee grinder at my desk at work. I also limit my intake to about two cups per day for the same reason.

lr4444lrvor 9 Jahren

I find tea provides a longer, better modulated boost, without the gastrointestinal distress or bad breath.

dumbmattervor 9 Jahren

I drink decaf sometimes because coffee does taste good. Caffeinated I only drink rarely, like when traveling and I need to wake up really early.

I remember growing up seeing people brag about how much coffee they drink and how much caffeine they consume and how addicted they are to caffeine - it seemed like a stupid macho dick-measuring contest. Later in life I learned about caffeine tolerance and addiction, and that confirmed my initial biases about regular caffeine consumption.

graemevor 9 Jahren

I quit. I found it gave me digestive upset, and physical stress. (I.e. more likely to tense my muscles in response to a small external stimulus)

It’s been about a month, and a number of things sre better without it. Digestion is normal, far more consistent energy than before. Also much faster to get out of the house in the morning, which is nice.

Had been drinking it for years, but only started after college. Note: I quit all caffeine, including tea. Tea had similar effects on me.

LiamPavor 9 Jahren

I gave up for the same reasons, had a migraine for a week although I have coffee at the weekends as a treat...

anotherevanvor 9 Jahren

I usually have one to two cups a day, sometimes three. The latest I usually have a coffee is around four in the afternoon unless I’m drinking socially.

I’ll also drink tea a few times a week.

Never drink instant. I grind my beans on demand and usually brew with an aeropress if I’m making one, or the appropriate sized moka pot for making several. (I also have a couple of coffee syphons, which are fun to watch, but too fiddly and too much cleanup for everyday use.)

I had a gastric bypass 1.5 years ago[1], which has made my ‘stomach’ a little more delicate. Some days everything is fine, other days it’ll sit a bit heavy or sour in the tummy. I’m also definitely sensitive to dairy now, and find lactose free milk more tolerable. Have switched from a cappuccino to a long black with just a squirt of cold milk when buying at the shop.

I want to try Death Wish Coffee[2] sometime just for a lark, but the cost of shipping to the Antipodes is ridiculous.

I’m also a big fan of Mr Black[3].

[1] https://www.michevan.id.au/content/adventures-in-bariatric-s...

[2] https://www.deathwishcoffee.com/

[3] http://mrblack.co/ and https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_778190/mr-black-col...

valbacavor 9 Jahren

It's been an interesting one to say the least.

I started drinking coffee in college when I started smoking. I was dual-majoring and working and tried to have a life too, so burning the candle at 3-ends.

I switched to just black at my first internship where I had to get up at 4:30am

For 6 or so years I was reliant on it, at least two cups and usually 3 a day. When I was burning out I would be at 5 or 6. It would get to the point where I needed it to just function and I didn't know who I was without it.

But for the last month and a half I haven't had a full cup.

I quit coffee (and a few other additive things) really just to exercise my discipline and to not need anything.

The first day I went to a single cup. Then I switched to half a cup for the first week. It was really tough as I went through withdrawals: eye and lip twitches, real bad irritability, and having to have a steel will as it's all I could think about.

Now, I can have it as I please and not miss it if I don't have it. The smell is still wonderful but I don't want to go back.

shostackvor 9 Jahren

I wasn't a coffee drinker until the past couple of years when I discovered that there's a world beyond starbucks over-roasted sugary crap and awful-tasting pods.

Now, I'm extremely addicted to a perfect vanilla cappuccino as long as it isn't made with nasty sugar-filled syrup.

It has gotten to the point where french press doesn't do it for me at home, so I'm going to invest in an espresso machine and grinder and learn how to make it by hand. I'm also a huge fan of the vanilla powder they use at Better Buzz in San Diego. That stuff is worlds better than the syrup.

While the caffeine helps after lunch, I find the ritual of having a smooth creamy warm drink in the afternoon is incredibly relaxing, and is a good excuse to be "still" and organize my thoughts for the rest of the day.

lsiunsuexvor 9 Jahren

'have drank coffee every.single.day since about 2000. I'll have 2 in the morning - 1 generic maxwell house or folgers and the 2nd a breakfast blend or something else for a little variety. At home, just using a re-usable K-Cup in a Keurig.

If I need to get out of the house a bit, I'll go work at a Starbucks and have a tall there - never more then a tall as I won't sleep well. Or - wherever. Tim Hortons is fine. Panera's is fine. Spent 3 days at the local convention center last week; their coffee was fine. I'm really not picky.

So, minimum 2, max 4 or 5 a day. Always black. I don't love the taste but I do like Starbucks the most. But I don't hate the taste either. I used to use a ton of sugar and milk - that ended about a decade ago now.

ceedanvor 9 Jahren

I have ~12oz (not a small cup (8oz) but also not a big one) usually every morning, but not usually out of necessity. I could skip it and function mostly the same. Sometimes I can tell that it's actually over-stimulating and prevents me from focusing, especially when I drink it on an empty stomach. I usually try to have it with a bite of food.

I order coffee whenever I'm out for breakfast/brunch, 2 or 3 cups

I also sometimes have a latte or small cup of coffee before going to the gym, especially if I'm trying to go after work. It helps me avoid getting stuck on the couch and relaxing as soon as I get home.

abby_cohen_221vor 9 Jahren

"it's complicated"

I kid I kid. No but really, coffee is my fuel. About 3 cups a day.

doug1001vor 9 Jahren

roughly the same as a crack addict's relationship with crack. Writing this while standing in a long line at Philz.

hungerstrikevor 9 Jahren

I stopped drinking caffeine a couple of months ago, in preparation for another attempt at quitting smoking. I also did not need the extra energy boost in the morning.

Also, it turns out that if you have a cuppa tea or coffee after quitting for a while it makes you feel the effects very strongly. I don't really like it, other than the taste.

My path to quitting caffeine was to first switch to green tea in the morning for a while and then to Tulsi tea which is made from holy basil, which has a lot of very nice health benefits especially for smokers.

HokieGeekvor 9 Jahren

I like the smell of it and in some foods it is great. Only somewhat enjoy drinking it if it's sugared up but I don't like really sugary drinks, so it is a fine line.

I do love me some tea, though.

captn3m0vor 9 Jahren

I'm with you. Don't like it if it's bitter, and adding sugar is a big no, so I end up drinking coffee maybe once/twice a month.

Drink a cup of tea almost every day though.

mialmondvor 9 Jahren

All resources I've ever read argue that coffee is super helpful. Probably, I'm a sort of outliner. I drink no more than 1 cup of coffee per day and in 5 years this habit has gifted me with painful heartburns and chronic gastritis.

Initially, I started consuming coffee only because my mom has Parkinson's disease and coffee is supposed to have preventive properties. I'm afraid I will end up with ulcer sooner than I will live to Parkinson's onset.

dnauticsvor 9 Jahren

you could always switch to nicotine.

mialmondvor 9 Jahren

Smoking increases the risk of lung cancer by 23 factor. Green tea is an alternative, but I hate it.

Tomminnvor 9 Jahren

Parent probably means chewable or vaporized nicotine.

twobyfourvor 9 Jahren

I've cut it out of my life, with some reluctance. I never loved drip coffee much, though it's not bad with milk. But I'm hypersensitive to caffeine and simultaneously hate being caffeine-dependent.

What was really tough to cut out was espresso. Nothing in the world like an iced latte. Decaf after cutting out caffeine. But I developed a mild lactose intolerance, and none of the milk substitutes give nearly the same experience.

Oh well.

luhnvor 9 Jahren

I drink 12-16oz a day. I avoid drinking more than that to avoid the health risks, like kidney stones. I'm pretty sure I'm addicted to caffeine at this point, but I haven't been curious enough to test that theory.

I don't find much mental effect from it ("I need my morning coffee to function" type thing), but the act of drinking hot coffee is quite comforting.

nunezvor 9 Jahren

I used to drink two cups every day. I knew the perfect proportions and knew how to brew with those Melita single-cup drip cups.

Now, I usually drink a shot of espresso once or twice per week (either in a latte or before a morning workout in an “Americano”) and focus on getting my eight hours of sleep instead.

It’s hard for me to drink coffee now.

hhsnopekvor 9 Jahren

I started drinking coffee in highschool, 7 years ago, but I only drink on the weekdays. I rarely drink coffee on weekends, and if I do it's an afternoon treat. There are obvious mornings where I need coffee to function and kickstart my day, but I really just enjoy the taste of coffee... Oh and it keeps me warm in the cold office.

Edit: ~3-5 cups a day

rharbvor 9 Jahren

I was drinking a lot (4-5 cups a day, usually crammed into the morning) when we had a Keurig in the office. Caused a bunch of heartburn during any particularly stressful weeks.

I've cut back to a max of two cups a day, and feel a lot better. I also don't feel like I need to drink coffee on the weekends to repel a headache until Mondays now.

Broken_Hippovor 9 Jahren

I like it. I generally only drink coffee or water. I've never gotten a "buzz" from it unless I drink unreasonable amounts, and have no problems drinking it before bed.

I generally only drink a cup at a time, off and on through the day. At home, I have a pour-over. I have a travel press that I take to work or elsewhere.

Tomminnvor 9 Jahren

Do you sleep well? I ask because almost every person I talk to who "has no problems drinking coffee before bed" also happens to have chronic sleeping issues, including me, five or so years ago.

marak830vor 9 Jahren

I was a massive coffee drinker. I have a Starbucks venti sized mug, I'd go through 6-7 a day, easily.

I haven't had more than 2 coffees a week in the last 6 months, and I still have issues sleeping :-p

I don't blame the coffee, although I think it comes down to personal biology.

PascLeRascvor 9 Jahren

I always have a cup in the morning, and if I have a meetup/workshop/project to get to after work, I'll have a small cup around 5-6pm. It's also nice to have a cup at work around 1-2pm but I just have to hide it from that one coworker who loves to tell everyone how unhealthy it is.

abalosvor 9 Jahren

I've started drinking coffee just in the last 1 - 1.5 years and I am not really sure how I feel about it. On one hand, I love the boost that it gives me in the morning to get into the zone fast. On the other hand, I am completely useless without it.

I also wonder if it doesn't decrease my attention span.

purvisvor 9 Jahren

I drink about 12oz of black combined with L-theanine every morning. Caffeine alone tends to induce anxiety.

PascLeRascvor 9 Jahren

I've recently started adding L-theanine to my morning coffee every day, but I feel like I don't feel the effects after a few days, so I go a day without and then it feels normal again the next day. Have you ever had this?

purvisvor 9 Jahren

It still does a pretty good job at preventing jitters. However, now that you say it, I think the first few times it had more pronounced effects. I'll have to try resetting my tolerance!

troyworksvor 9 Jahren

i have almost no relationship with it, as little or much when i want, whenever or wherever i want

fresh roast 88pt(grade A) usually natural processed 100% Arabica/peaberry, coffees, then immediate cold brew in fruit forward ristretto/espresso/full drip by the gallon, and have it in the fridge with a pump.

a couple seconds to pump the espresso, then add milk, water alcohol vanilla at any temp to taste. takes just seconds

it's naturally sweet black, and has no stomach upset, or jitters...just fades out smoothly.

usually a double shot with breakfast and a other at 11, sometimes one in the pm before a caffeiene nap, and sometimes one in a cockatail ( e..g. irish coffee if i have writing or debugging..helps me get into the zone)

for the road i just put it in a bottle/flask

it's available on etsy under cloud9 brewing systems.

peellevor 9 Jahren

For the longest time we had a torrid affair. Pot+ everyday. About 1.5 years ago, I quit cold turkey. What followed was 10 days of horrible headaches, weird sleep, and moods.

Now a days, I have 1 - 3 cups a week. Usually when I am working out of a cafe.

forthefuturevor 9 Jahren

I never really got into it.

To me it's the same as alcohol, I'm happy not to have a taste for them.

LyndsySimonvor 9 Jahren

I appreciate caffeine, but coffee and I don't get along - it upsets my stomach. Tea works well.

Most of my caffeine comes from Monster Zero Sunrise at the moment. It's very low carb (~2g net per can) and is fairly inexpensive on Amazon.

Tomminnvor 9 Jahren

In my disciplined days I used to have coffee/caffeine only on weekdays. Cannot recommend this protocol strongly enough. Mondays are amazing because the two-day detox is enough to resensitize you to caffeine.

emergedvor 9 Jahren

Every once in a while I'll have a 6oz cup of black. Probably on average 2-3 per week, with l-theanine. I like the taste and process of drinking it but not jitters/anxiety.

TYPE_FASTERvor 9 Jahren

I drank two six “cup” pots (really about 2.5 cups each) today. I just got a badge from the Dunks app that I’ve passed 20k points in the three years I’ve been using the app.

pan69vor 9 Jahren

Two cups a day. One in the morning when I wake up. The second one somewhere after lunch. Rarely I drink more than two a day.

I drink my coffee black. No milk. No sugar. Yummy...

matchmike1313vor 9 Jahren

I have a cup in the morning and another 2-3 cups up till around 3-4pm. I usually go to bed at 11:30pm and by that time the caffeine is at a normal level to sleep.

Mzvor 9 Jahren

Coffee and me have been getting together three or four times a week here lately. We are seriously dating and considering getting engaged.

mamcxvor 9 Jahren

What is a good coffe replacement? (not ilegal!)

ie: For stay alert, focused.

justboxingvor 9 Jahren

Cardio, esp. even a short 10 minute run in the morning does it for me. I do drink coffee though, trying to get off of it lol.

xelonvor 9 Jahren

I drink a cup of black coffee after lunch on weekdays. I don't even remember it on weekends because of two little monsters at home :)

[deleted]vor 9 Jahren

dmytroivor 9 Jahren

After moving to Stockholm, Sweden at least 3 espresso based drinks per day (mostly cappuccino), sometimes up to 5-6 cups. Winter is hard here.

gepitivor 9 Jahren

I never drink coffee. I don't like the taste.

tetraodonpuffervor 9 Jahren

love the smell, can't stand the taste, tried it three times in my life (espresso, cappuccino, in a tiramisu) and could not finish any of them, it's probably the only food item that I have such a huge disconnect between the smell/taste, as other items I hate and never have (say, alcohol) I also cannot stand from a smell perspective...

marojejianvor 9 Jahren

Relationship with coffee? Pair-bonded for life with a healthy sex life, due to constant positive feedback that built trust.

nickthemagicmanvor 9 Jahren

This describes my relationship with coffee as well.

batbombvor 9 Jahren

Crossland CC-1 in my office, Aeropress in my office, Chemex, French Press, and Astra Pro at home.

3-4 beverages a day on average.

sjs382vor 9 Jahren

Black. Three to five 12-oz cups per day, when I'm working.

Very rarely, I'll have a cup or two when not working.

nyddlevor 9 Jahren

4 espressoa day in various forms: 2 lungo or double espresso + cappuccino

hprotagonistvor 9 Jahren

1 9-cup moka pot with breakfast. Occasionally an espresso with lunch.

[deleted]vor 9 Jahren

SAI_Peregrinusvor 9 Jahren

It smells like a mixture of skunk and burning rubber to me. The taste is similar. My relationship with it is one of avoidance. I add powdered caffeine to orange juice instead. Also tea.

antisthenesvor 9 Jahren

Coffee goes in, code comes out.

steveharvillevor 9 Jahren

homemade cold brew only