Pondering Quitting Coffee Forever

23 Sep, 2024

After 21 days of living the high life without caffeinated coffee¹, I trotted down to Methodical Coffee inside Unity Park in Greenville, SC, and ordered a 12 oz dark roast filtered coffee. It was sublime.

Although my taste buds appreciated the coffee, my nervous system did not.

My fingers became shaky, making typing challenging. For many hours, my mind raced faster than Usain Bolt. I love racing in 5Ks, not ultra marathons, so why did I drink coffee on this day after not drinking it for 21 days?

I’m aware of four reasons:

1. My taste buds adore well-prepared coffee. From sourcing to roasting to brewing, Methodical Coffee does it as well as anyone. In 10 weeks, I’m moving out of Greenville, so I won’t be able to take a 15-minute stroll up Main St. or through Unity Park to enjoy this wonderful coffee. I’ll be temporarily living in the home I grew up in—more than 3 miles from the nearest coffeehouse that (almost) prepares coffee as well as Methodical Coffee.
2. I’m in experimental mode. After reading The Easy Way to Quit Caffeine earlier this year, I “quit.” This lasted 115 days, which is impressive—and the longest I’ve gone without coffee—but it was a mission failure. Soon after, I went without for 41 days and, most recently, 21 days. Many times in between, I went a handful of days without.
3. My taste buds got bored of the watermelon LMNT electrolyte drink mix beverage I was drinking instead of coffee.
4. I’ve been on a writing kick. Although chaotically, caffeine spurs ideas and sparks flow. It’s good for brainstorming ideas and writing the first draft but nothing else.

Each time I drink coffee after avoiding it for five-plus days, I regret it. Then I ponder the idea of never drinking coffee again. Then I drink coffee again. The regret vanishes if I drink coffee a few days in a row. Hello, hamster wheel.

I initially “quit” and have since taken several extensive breaks from coffee this year for a few reasons:

1. I hate how coffee makes me feel after not consuming it for five-plus days.
2. To discover if coffee is beneficial or detrimental to my health.
3. To discover if coffee disrupts sleep, even if the consumption amount and timing are ideal.
4. To see if doing so will help relieve or worsen fatigue.
5. To see if caffeine improves my blood pressure (it’s very low).
6. Stop thinking I need it to stimulate bowel movements.
7. I’m curious. What is life like without coffee? Is herbal tea better?

What’s Next?

I’m not sure. My mind is conflicted.

I’ve recently discovered the wonderful world of herbal tea. I had always stuck to mint from okay brands such as Tazo or something similar but cheaper from Amazon. Then I met Rishi Tea. I love their lavender mint, turmeric ginger, camomile medley, and elderberry healer. I’m eager to try more. Two weeks ago, I purchased a Hiware glass teapot. It’s been joyful to make tea with. I’ve only brewed Rishi tea bags in it, but I will purchase loose leaf tea soon. I’ve never purchased loose leaf tea, so this will be a welcome change.

On the other hand

Yesterday, I purchased a 12 oz bag of Late Night whole coffee beans from Methodical Coffee. I brewed some of it today; damn was it good. I want to try their Belly Warmer, Blue Boy, and others. They have subscriptions by usage, allowing you to never even have to think about ordering more coffee when you’re about to run out.

Sounds perfect.

I’m a coffee nerd. I drink it black. I care about the quality and origin of coffee beans. I own a manual burr coffee grinder. I set a timer when brewing coffee (including when boiling water to get the right temperature). I’m considering buying a kettle with temperature control presets for a more precise brew. I own a clever dripper and a French press. I’m contemplating purchasing an AeroPress or Chemex. I clean my palate with a few sips of water before consuming coffee (I discovered this trick while visiting Belgrade). Tiramisu is my favorite dessert.

My taste buds adore well-prepared coffee.

Before 2024, I drank coffee daily for over a decade. I took a few short breaks from it, but nothing like this year; I’ve gone without coffee on 205 out of 266 days.

I think coffee does more harm than good, but I’m not sure. The right amount and correct timing may benefit my health and fitness. I’m on a mission to find out, so I’ll study the minutia of coffee and caffeine.

I’ll continue taking extensive breaks without it, but I won’t quit forever (yet).

#Coffee