Coffee VS Energy Drinks

[edyzmedieval]

I've started to have an unhealthy addiction to energy drinks, particularly on demanding days where I have a lot of stuff to do, also personal projects and also doing other things like going out. I don't drink alcohol, nor do I smoke or drink coffee, but loving Red Bull and an occasional Monster Energy apple flavour is not really ideal.

Since I should be substituting those things with a small cup of coffee, can someone help me wean off the energy drinks and go for a coffee? I tried coffee, Arabic coffee in fact, it was too bitter and strong for my taste to be honest.

How do I get into coffee?

[Seamus Fermanagh]

I've started to have an unhealthy addiction to energy drinks, particularly on demanding days where I have a lot of stuff to do, also personal projects and also doing other things like going out. I don't drink alcohol, nor do I smoke or drink coffee, but loving Red Bull and an occasional Monster Energy apple flavour is not really ideal.

Since I should be substituting those things with a small cup of coffee, can someone help me wean off the energy drinks and go for a coffee? I tried coffee, Arabic coffee in fact, it was too bitter and strong for my taste to be honest.

How do I get into coffee?

This should have been a poll

Unless you are lactose intolerant, the traditional "starter" approach to coffee is a latte. The milk smoothes the bitter a notch. Sugar to taste.

[Andres]

Coffee is a bit of an acquired taste. As Seamus said, you can start with a latte. You could add some sugar. Within time, you'll learn to appreciate coffee with a cloud of milk and no sugar.

Then you're ready for manhood and will learn to drink it black.

Frol then on, once you've learned to love the bitterness, a whole new world will open to you with strong espresso and ristretto.

[edyzmedieval]

I had the Arabic coffee, no sugar, very bitter. Woah. Woke me up instantly but at the same time couldn't drink it.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Eventually, you work up to Navy 'mid-rats' coffee. [higher ratio of ground bean to liquid volume, pinch of sea-salt or strained seawater tossed in] Mid-rats are the "middle of the night rations" served to the crew working 0001-0400.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Arabica can be a bit harsh on the palate. Colombian or Jamaican Blue Mountain would be my suggestion.

[Beskar]

Why not be British and drink tea?

[Hooahguy]

This thread is making me regret swearing off coffee...

[edyzmedieval]

Why not be British and drink tea?

Too strong for me. I had an Earl Grey once for breakfast and it made me shake my head. I don't like anything that's bitter or particularly strong. In fact I like my tea to be more like an infusion of fruits, and I really love tea. Just not the heavy earl grey / black tea ones which slap me into waking up.

[Beskar]

Too strong for me. I had an Earl Grey once for breakfast and it made me shake my head. I don't like anything that's bitter or particularly strong. In fact I like my tea to be more like an infusion of fruits, and I really love tea. Just not the heavy earl grey / black tea ones which slap me into waking up.

I was thinking more Breakfast/Builders tea than the fancy ones.

Herbal Teas are good though. The one I usually have is Strawberry and Cranberry flavoured.

[edyzmedieval]

Breakfast / Builders tea...? Don't know them, any more info?

Love the fruit infusions, as I said. Ginger / apple / strawberry.

[Goalum]

Tea's strength depends on brewing time obviously - how much you leave the bag in to stew - if you want a light tea, leave it for a short time

The short answer for coffee is: visit Greece and you'll leave with an unheatlhy coffee addiction. There are coffee shops everywhere, everyone is hanging with a coffee cup in their hands and most people work in coffee shops or cafeterias.. the economic crisis actually made the trend worse..

americano/filtered coffee [with some milk/sugar] is a good start - from there you go to espressos, cappuccinos, freddos [ice] versions of the two, frappe [greek invention, essentially whiped summer coffee] macchiatos etc

personal favorite is a double espresso - no sugar

[edyzmedieval]

I find it interesting how the land of fruit juice and excellent Mediterranean diet is so into coffee. (Greece)

Currently typing as I drink a Monster Energy.

[ReluctantSamurai]

Energy drinks are not so good for insulin levels in the body:

https://endocrinenews.endocrine.org/...trol-in-teens/

“Results show that consumption of a caffeine-containing energy drink results in a 20-30% increase in insulin and glucose levels in response to a glucose load. Since caffeine persists in the system for four-six hours after consumption, continuous insulin resistance associated with regular caffeine-containing energy drink consumption in adolescents could contribute to increased metabolic risk in susceptible individuals later in life through persistent interference with their regular glucose metabolism.”

But the results cannot be predicted long-term:

https://www.health24.com/Medical/Dia...-risk-20151204

But the human body is capable of adapting to continued doses of caffeine, Battram said, and it's not clear the insulin resistance shown in this study will persist long enough to cause health problems. "We don't know if this insulin impairment you're seeing will continue over days," Battram said. "We don't really know long-term what this is doing. We can't say this is having a negative effect on us."

Strangely enough, caffeine in coffee may have the opposite effect:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-...r/faq-20057941

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/coff...-diabetes.html

My own personal opinion is that energy drinks are probably ok as long as you don't abuse them by consuming large quantities. My own personal preference is coffee, and I drink no more than two cups in a day.

[Goalum]

I find it interesting how the land of fruit juice and excellent Mediterranean diet is so into coffee. (Greece)

Currently typing as I drink a Monster Energy.

Actually its the smokers_while_sipping_coffee country

We have the highest numbers of cancer from smoking [in proportion], the highest numbers of smoking [in proportion] - and coffee is basically at this moment the country's raison d'etre it would appear.. you make a living by making it or serving it, you discuss your life over it with friends, you go on a romantic date "for a coffee" - you chill having one alone and watch the girls/boys pass by..you have one in order to start your day..

Its the essential ingredient, the very zen i'd say of the greek way

[PROVOST]

Was reading an atricle that showed all the horrid effects of "Energy Drinks" what they do to one's organs etc.

Coffee is not perhaps great to be drinking too much of but got to say after reading the article I was so glad I don't drink them.

As it is I am max a 2 cups per day coffee drinker and the average is only one cup per day.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Actually its the smokers_while_sipping_coffee country

We have the highest numbers of cancer from smoking [in proportion], the highest numbers of smoking [in proportion] - and coffee is basically at this moment the country's raison d'etre it would appear.. you make a living by making it or serving it, you discuss your life over it with friends, you go on a romantic date "for a coffee" - you chill having one alone and watch the girls/boys pass by..you have one in order to start your day..

Its the essential ingredient, the very zen i'd say of the greek way

So the quintessential expression of Greek culture is an import via their Turkish conquerors...

The ironies of history abound.

[Goalum]

So the quintessential expression of Greek culture is an import via their Turkish conquerors...

The ironies of history abound.

Sounds like an answer to things i was writing in the brexit thread [or perhaps elsewhere,who knows], but yes..ironies abound - as ironic as Constantin the great's statue outside York cathedral..

[Goalum]

Sounds like an answer to things i was writing in the brexit thread [or perhaps elsewhere,who knows], but yes..ironies abound - as ironic as Constantin the great's statue outside York cathedral..

..Or Queen Victoria's statue in Edinburgh castle, same irony - sorry, forgot you are [likely] Scottish Seamus

[Seamus Fermanagh]

..Or Queen Victoria's statue in Edinburgh castle, same irony - sorry, forgot you are [likely] Scottish Seamus

Irish and Polish mostly. When the Irish came to America and realized how truly horrific their traditional cuisine was, they married pretty much any other Catholic to find a decent meal.

[edyzmedieval]

Oh boy... it can't be that bad!

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Oh boy... it can't be that bad!

Traditional Irish cuisine sucks. Boiled potato and cabbage, with old mutton when possible. Cream and butter were to be had, and fish near the coasts. Bread was for feast days and seasoning beyond salt was unknown.


Modern Irish cuisine is as vibrant and varied as any in Europe, but the traditional boil up was malfing bad.

[Montmorency]

Traditional American cuisine = pork, biscuit, apple, whiskey

Better or worse?

[FilthyWV]

I can't imagine my life without a cup of coffe. Energy drinks are harmful

[Goalum]

Traditional Irish cuisine sucks. Boiled potato and cabbage, with old mutton when possible. Cream and butter were to be had, and fish near the coasts. Bread was for feast days and seasoning beyond salt was unknown.

It has something pure about it - the frugality of it. The ex-misus had a book on it and we tried a few of the broths and boils, it wasn't bad

When the Irish came to America and realized how truly horrific their traditional cuisine was, they married pretty much any other Catholic to find a decent meal.

Any other catholic than Italians, i suppose? Vying for control over the same territories prevented that i guess

[Xantan]

Traditional American cuisine = pork, biscuit, apple, whiskey

Better or worse?

Apple pie and whiskey I get, but biscuit?

[Montmorency]

Apple pie and whiskey I get, but biscuit?

I should say corn products more generally, anything with corn. Biscuits, corn mush, hoe cake, johnny cake, hominy grits, etc.

Slathered in maple syrup, molasses, pork fat, butter, whatever. We've always been greasy.

Washed down with whiskey. Or cider. Beer and wine were never too popular in the antebellum days.

Hmm, I guess it does sound better than potatoes and cabbage.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

I should say corn products more generally, anything with corn. Biscuits, corn mush, hoe cake, johnny cake, hominy grits, etc.

Slathered in maple syrup, molasses, pork fat, butter, whatever. We've always been greasy.

Washed down with whiskey. Or cider. Beer and wine were never too popular in the antebellum days.

You're really talking about the Old South with that particular list. Northerners tended toward wheats and ryes or potatoes for their starches. Rum was also a favorite, especially in the NE given the triangle trade, and beer not uncommon. Wine was for people wealthy enough to import it, so....

They did drink a lot of cider given their trust of the water in those days.

Hmm, I guess it does sound better than potatoes and cabbage.

Indeed. And BOILED, not even fried or usually even roasted. Boxty was a veritable example of haute cuisine by traditional Irish standards.

[Xantan]

I looked up boxty out of curiosity - it's a potato... pancake?

[Xiahou]

I always tell the people at the coffee shops when they ask if I want room for cream... "If it's worth drinking, it's worth drinking black." They probably hate me.

But, to the original post, there's a world of coffee variety out there. Probably any of it will take some getting used to- but if you found it too bitter, it could just be that it was roasted too dark or prepared badly. When I had more free time and disposable income, I used to roast my own coffee. I found I was generally attracted to light roast coffees from Africa for their brightness/fruitiness or a medium roasted Sumatra for it's smoothness.

This site can give you an idea of what some of the world's coffee regions are known for. Everything that's not complete garbage is some form of Arabica been. The alternative, Robusta, is only used in cheap coffees.
Also, please remember that Starbucks makes horrible coffee.