Chapter 1: The Morning Ritual

Ah, can you sense that?

The aroma wafts through the air. The flavor dances on your palate. The warmth envelops your empty stomach.

This isn’t just any ordinary routine; it’s the cherished morning ritual, the delightful embrace of morning coffee.

For coffee enthusiasts like myself, caffeine serves as the fuel for a productive day. With just one cup, I’m primed to start my car and tackle the morning commute. Two cups, and I’m moving with a spring in my step. Three cups, and I could probably break a land speed record sprinting to work, barefoot. It’s the divine nectar that banishes the morning grumpiness.

My mornings are a bit unconventional. I drive my wife to her Kindergarten class, which means I’m up well before the sun rises. When you drop your child off and think, “Wow, this is early,” I’m already awake and at it. My alarm rings at 5 a.m., and after a few rounds with the snooze button, I usually roll out of bed around 5:30 or 5:45. I meditate, journal, and set my intentions for the day while the enticing aroma of coffee fills my senses.

I’ve programmed my little Mr. Coffee to brew on a delay, so all I need to do in the morning is pour that sweet liquid gold into my thermos and venture into the pre-dawn darkness. You’d find me cruising down Grand Concourse, savoring each sip at every red light. Yes, I’ll slow down for a stoplight just to enjoy my coffee without risking a burn. Honk away, impatient driver behind me; I’m in my morning zen.

This routine seems completely ordinary: wake up, drink coffee, drive.

Feeling a midday slump? Coffee.

Out and about with a free hand? Coffee time!

It seemed like a reasonable amount of coffee to consume. I’d ensure to cut myself off at least eight hours before bedtime and avoid lingering around Mr. Coffee while at home. So, I thought I was in the clear—just two cups, three at most!

Until one fateful day, everything changed...

The weather was gloomy, and I hadn’t ventured out for groceries. It was the perfect setting for a video game marathon. I donned my favorite pajamas, dimmed the lights, and set the mood for gaming. Sure, it could’ve been a great night for intimacy too, but my baby has a built-in sensor for that sort of thing, so those plans require scheduling.

Settling on the couch, I decided to give Mr. Coffee a break. I powered up my game console and dived into the action, only to suddenly feel... off. My head felt heavy and pulsing. The screen began to strain my eyes, and I felt nauseous, unable to muster the energy to get up. I tossed the controllers aside, hunched over, and thought the worst. Was I getting sick? Was I on the brink of death? My wife then posed a life-altering question.

“Did you have coffee?”

Nonsense! Mr. Coffee wouldn't betray me like that. I dismissed her concerns, attributing my sudden malaise to an illness. She suggested that I might be experiencing caffeine withdrawal, something I had never encountered before. She looked up the symptoms, and lo and behold—they matched perfectly.

Headache? Check. Light sensitivity? Check. Nausea? Check. But surely, I was dying. Anxiety? Double-check.

I took an Advil, went to bed, and woke up feeling just as awful. We decided to visit Starbucks, grabbed a cup of coffee, and just like that, I was back to normal.

What a revelation.

My wife pointed out that I had been a bit heavy-handed with my coffee consumption, and I had to admit she was onto something. My little Mr. Coffee may be small, but it can brew up to four cups in one go. A pot I can easily finish while driving to and from my wife's school. Sometimes, I’d even whip up a smaller pot just to keep me company while I write, clean, and fret about my jitters.

In hindsight, perhaps I wasn’t just enjoying two cups, three tops...

I had never envisioned myself experiencing caffeine withdrawal. Honestly, I thought my coffee habits were fairly typical. A cup in the morning and a cutoff in the early afternoon seemed reasonable, allowing me to sleep soundly at night. As long as I didn’t overdo it, I should be fine, right?

Upon reflection, I recalled my mother’s struggles with headaches from missing her morning coffee, and it hit me—I needed to cut back.

Caffeine withdrawal is no joke, and I feel like I only caught a glimpse of it. Coffee is so ingrained in our culture that we may not realize how reliant we are on it. Every shopping cart I fill seems to have a coffee cup, and the lines outside Starbucks often stretch out the door. I still remember my first visit to Starbucks post-lockdown; it felt like a super-spreader event, with cake pops everywhere. The takeaway? If you’re feeling jittery, it’s likely time to reassess your coffee intake.

Now, my goal is to limit myself to just one cup a day. And no, not a pot—a single cup! The experience of caffeine withdrawal was unpleasant enough, so I’ll opt for tea, water, or something other than that intoxicating aroma. I really need to stop thinking about coffee.

Chapter 2: Understanding Caffeine Withdrawal

In this insightful video, Michael Pollan shares his experiences and reflections on giving up caffeine for three months. He discusses the impact of caffeine on our daily lives and what he learned from the experience.

Chapter 3: The Coffee Dilemma

This video addresses the ongoing debate about coffee’s benefits and drawbacks. It explores whether coffee is a friend or foe to our health, offering insights from various experts.