Coffee

It takes me about two weeks to fully stop coffee. Low energy, lethargy, and general coffee cravings.

But after those two weeks, I'm fine. That lasts until I need to stay up late, drink some coffee as a utility and I'm back on the treadmill.

It's not a routine, it's a state of flow. It's movements repeated and perfected over the years. When I brew my espresso, l'm in the zone. I weigh my beans. 18g. I spritz them with water. I pour them in the grinder, I grind. I declump with my 3d printed WDT tool. I tamp, I clean the edges of the portafiler, I attach it to the grouphead, I put the cup under it and I launch the brew. I admire it as it flows. It's beautiful. It never gets old.

When it's done, I dump the puck, rinse the portafilter and the group and give it a quick brush. It's ready for the next shot.

I brew one to two pots with the V60 every morning. Probably couldn't skip it for fear of a headache.

I make a pot of pour over every morning for me and my wife after the cats are fed. It's a nice little quiet moment after the cats stop yelling and before work starts. I try to keep it peaceful and free from distractions, just me and my thoughts for 15 minutes or so. It's a nice little exercise in stillness and reflection.

Pour over (V60) or Aeropress from freshly ground nice beans. Light or medium roast, natural processed, fermented or honey processed. Syphon on saturdays. I also have a moka pot and an espresso machine, but to be honest I rarely use them.

Can go without coffee but why would I want to?

I use a flair 58 lever espresso machine. Some days I'll have 5 serves of 20g in 60g out. I usually have two or three, I sometimes go weeks without coffee with no ill effects

Most days it's an Areopress, sometimes V60. Very rarely, moka or phin. I can and do skip coffee. I do 3 days in a row "dry" every month or so to keep an eye on caffeine addiction. If I get headaches, I take a longer break and dial back usage.

I backcountry backpack and have started carrying caffeine pills in my first aid kit. Not for myself, but for people I run into who are suffering from withdrawal headaches. I've met a couple people who drink several cups per day in their normal life, then cut to one while backpacking or none at all, not realizing they'll go through withdrawal.

It’s a my time thing. A moment for me before the potential shit of the day starts and other people happen.

I can go without it but I’m worse company. While ths caffeine is a thing, sure, it’s not really the main point of the experience.

Hopper knew. Coffee and contemplation.

I just forget one day and then don't have coffee for a month or two before I remember 🤷‍♂️

Otherwise it's either using my picopresso or a tiny french press.

Don't even suggest such a thing. Coffee is life.

I’m working on cutting back because it’s getting more expensive and I’m definitely addicted. I’ve tried titrating to decaffeinated, but it is even more expensive and hard to find good decaffeinated coffee.

Aeropress most days, because I like the paper filter. Occasionally French Press, especially cold brew or light roasts that can use the extra robustness. Automatic pour over occasionally, if there’s multiple people. Aeropress for 3 is too much.

I’ll skip it if I can’t get something palatable but I will be a slow person, probably with a headache.

French press usually, sometimes a pour over or a moka pot.

But no routine. I switched to decaf a few years back after I got tired of needing coffee instead of enjoying it. Now I make a brew whenever I feel like it. With no caffeine, that can be first thing in the morning or last thing at night, doesn't matter. Some days I'll have four cups, some whole weeks I'll have none.