Switching from Soda to Coffee
October 4, 2023 8:29 PM Subscribe
I drink between 12 & 24 cans of soda a day. I have a few ailments and my doc wants me to lower the amount of soda I drink. She would prefer water, but knows that I don't like the taste of plain water or those droplet flavorings. As a compromise, she recommended trying to get into coffee and just have a few cups throughout the day.
Help me put on and take off training wheels.
My first day of coffee was a wonder of diarrhea and sour tastes. I have a keurig and would really like to make use of it. I don't have very much money for a lot of extras or items like Dunks or Starbys. I don't know a lot about different types/strains of coffee. I could probably afford some cream or something but am not wealthy and have very little extra money. Things are tight. Quitting the soda will definitely help with that! I'm not sure what information I could be missing but I will answer questions while trying not to threadsit. I don't think this should matter but the ailments are: Diabetes, Bipolar, Depression and ADHD.
My first day of coffee was a wonder of diarrhea and sour tastes. I have a keurig and would really like to make use of it. I don't have very much money for a lot of extras or items like Dunks or Starbys. I don't know a lot about different types/strains of coffee. I could probably afford some cream or something but am not wealthy and have very little extra money. Things are tight. Quitting the soda will definitely help with that! I'm not sure what information I could be missing but I will answer questions while trying not to threadsit. I don't think this should matter but the ailments are: Diabetes, Bipolar, Depression and ADHD.
Are you drinking regular or diet soda right now?
posted by michaelh at 8:36 PM on October 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by michaelh at 8:36 PM on October 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
Give Rooibos tea a try. Tea is very economical - just hot water and some twigs.
posted by dum spiro spero at 8:38 PM on October 4, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by dum spiro spero at 8:38 PM on October 4, 2023 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: I drink coke zero. I'll look up Rooibos, but she said specifically coffee because of caffeine withdrawal. Rooibos might be great down the lines.
posted by Mr. Hazlenut at 8:42 PM on October 4, 2023
posted by Mr. Hazlenut at 8:42 PM on October 4, 2023
There's a whole universe of caffeinated teas: Regular English breakfast tea if you want cheap and easy to find, Yerba mate if you want the herbal earthy taste, matcha if you like smoothies.
posted by dum spiro spero at 8:49 PM on October 4, 2023 [11 favorites]
posted by dum spiro spero at 8:49 PM on October 4, 2023 [11 favorites]
I recommend a variety pack of k cups so you can do a little taste test—make notes on which flavors you like and which you don’t. If you drink milk, try adding milk a tiny bit at a time until it tastes right to you. A lot of people find flavored coffees like hazelnut and vanilla to taste sweeter even without sugar added.
The digestive stuff goes away for most people pretty quickly, otherwise nobody would drink the stuff ;)
posted by kapers at 9:08 PM on October 4, 2023
The digestive stuff goes away for most people pretty quickly, otherwise nobody would drink the stuff ;)
posted by kapers at 9:08 PM on October 4, 2023
This sounds really hard! I'd try cutting the sodas one at a time, so on the first day have 11 instead of 12. For every 3 or 4 sodas you cut (so every 3 or 4 days) add a cup of coffee and see if you like that. Don't worry too much about the types, you're not trying to be a connoisseur.
Aside from going to starbucks for each cup, K-cups are the most expensive and wasteful way to get coffee. Do you have a kettle or other way to boil water easily? If so, an aeropress makes great coffee one cup at a time from whatever can you get at the grocery store. It's a cheap device and lasts forever. The filters are cheap too. I love the coffee with chicory mixed in. A can is like $7 and it makes many many cups.
I seriously wouldn't do this all at once! One time I stayed for a week with a friend who didn't eat any carbs, so I didn't have any bread. I was used to eating bread several times every day. It was weeks until I was pooping normally again. You don't want to go through that (caffeine is certainly involved in this ... process). You want to do this super gradually, over weeks. There's no hurry!
posted by fritley at 9:12 PM on October 4, 2023 [16 favorites]
Aside from going to starbucks for each cup, K-cups are the most expensive and wasteful way to get coffee. Do you have a kettle or other way to boil water easily? If so, an aeropress makes great coffee one cup at a time from whatever can you get at the grocery store. It's a cheap device and lasts forever. The filters are cheap too. I love the coffee with chicory mixed in. A can is like $7 and it makes many many cups.
I seriously wouldn't do this all at once! One time I stayed for a week with a friend who didn't eat any carbs, so I didn't have any bread. I was used to eating bread several times every day. It was weeks until I was pooping normally again. You don't want to go through that (caffeine is certainly involved in this ... process). You want to do this super gradually, over weeks. There's no hurry!
posted by fritley at 9:12 PM on October 4, 2023 [16 favorites]
I can’t believe I just recommend hazelnut to Mr Hazelnut themselves. I’m sure you’re aware.
posted by kapers at 9:14 PM on October 4, 2023 [15 favorites]
posted by kapers at 9:14 PM on October 4, 2023 [15 favorites]
Since you already have a Keurig, how about a variety pack of pods. This box of 24 has 6 different coffee flavors and costs around 60 cents per pod I think. Does your doc want you to cut out artificial sweeteners too?
posted by spamandkimchi at 9:23 PM on October 4, 2023
posted by spamandkimchi at 9:23 PM on October 4, 2023
I've slowly weaned myself off soda, and I only drink 1 dozen cans a week this week (LOL)... diet A&W root beer. :)
What really quenches my thirst is a pitcher of Crystal Light lemon tea in pitcher packs. I buy them in 2x 12 pitcher packs at a time, and I put one pack in 1 gallon pitcher. When chilled in a fridge, it's a good thirst-quencher. I don't like the smaller Crystal Light "water bottle" packs though. They often have some strange after-taste, esp.when the water used are not ice cold.
I drink tea occasionally, and you should NOT need any sugar, milk, etc. for plain tea. It won't be sugary sweet, but it should be a different type of refreshing.
I personally don't think switching from soda to coffee would work well, without adding a ton of sweetener.
posted by kschang at 9:24 PM on October 4, 2023 [5 favorites]
What really quenches my thirst is a pitcher of Crystal Light lemon tea in pitcher packs. I buy them in 2x 12 pitcher packs at a time, and I put one pack in 1 gallon pitcher. When chilled in a fridge, it's a good thirst-quencher. I don't like the smaller Crystal Light "water bottle" packs though. They often have some strange after-taste, esp.when the water used are not ice cold.
I drink tea occasionally, and you should NOT need any sugar, milk, etc. for plain tea. It won't be sugary sweet, but it should be a different type of refreshing.
I personally don't think switching from soda to coffee would work well, without adding a ton of sweetener.
posted by kschang at 9:24 PM on October 4, 2023 [5 favorites]
I strongly second the recommendation to check out tea. Potentially instead of coffee. A cup of coffee can have 4x or more the amount of caffeine compared to Coke Zero (34mg/can). Perhaps check out the lower-caffeine tea options: green tea, oolong, prince of wales.
I see you listed bipolar. Bipolar + caffeine can be a slippery slope. That's probably an tremendous understatement. Ask me how I know.
"...caffeine-induced manic episodes occur after excessive caffeine consumption, meaning more than 600 mg per day."
"...patients with BD who drank coffee had more suicidality and a higher frequency of manic episodes than noncoffee drinkers. One case report described a patient with remission of seasonal manic episodes after withdrawing from high caffeine use..."
In any event, hats off to you for making this change. I strongly suspect it will benefit your health in many many ways.
posted by jerome powell buys his sweatbands in bulk only at 9:40 PM on October 4, 2023 [9 favorites]
I see you listed bipolar. Bipolar + caffeine can be a slippery slope. That's probably an tremendous understatement. Ask me how I know.
"...caffeine-induced manic episodes occur after excessive caffeine consumption, meaning more than 600 mg per day."
"...patients with BD who drank coffee had more suicidality and a higher frequency of manic episodes than noncoffee drinkers. One case report described a patient with remission of seasonal manic episodes after withdrawing from high caffeine use..."
In any event, hats off to you for making this change. I strongly suspect it will benefit your health in many many ways.
posted by jerome powell buys his sweatbands in bulk only at 9:40 PM on October 4, 2023 [9 favorites]
I would switch to cold brew coffee! It’s much smoother than regular coffee, so you shouldn’t have the sourness issue, and buying ground coffee is way cheaper and less wasteful than k-cups. You don’t need special equipment, just put grounds and water in a jar overnight and then strain out the grounds. Plus a glass of iced coffee will be much more like drinking a soda than a mug of hot coffee. I like mine with cream, no sugar, but I’ll drink it black as well since the flavor is nice. Good luck switching. Maybe try alternating a soda and a coffee, then two coffees to every soda, etc till you’ve switched entirely?
There is some evidence for coffee helping both diabetes and depression, so I wouldn’t really see a need to taper off it after switching.
posted by music for skeletons at 9:44 PM on October 4, 2023 [15 favorites]
There is some evidence for coffee helping both diabetes and depression, so I wouldn’t really see a need to taper off it after switching.
posted by music for skeletons at 9:44 PM on October 4, 2023 [15 favorites]
Hey, I am a former avid soda drinker to coffee connoisseur. I went from at least 5 sodas a day to one every few months. Here's what worked for me:
If you can handle a few weeks of getting over the bitter flavor, honestly I would try to drink your coffee black (though definitely try out different flavors!). I've only ever had black coffee, it is what I got my palette used to (despite formerly starting off my day with a Dr. Pepper) and now sugary coffee is disgusting to me. It is just not coffee to my taste buds! This will allow you optimal guilt-free cups.
I replaced my day-time soda cravings with sparkling water because gosh, I just missed the feeling of drinking a carbonated drink. If you feel yourself craving a soda, it might not just be the caffeine but the carbonation. Do you think you would be into flavored sparkling water?
Now, I have become a coffee snob and must say that Kuerig is neither the most economical or the best quality. I personally love making drip-coffee or using a French press. The way you make coffee definitely changes its flavor profile and these are easy and cost effective ways to make it. Try out different methods to see which one works for you! For drip coffee, you only really need a kettle, a filter holder and a recipient. French presses are easy to find and not too expensive.
Good luck!!!
posted by Blissful at 10:01 PM on October 4, 2023 [4 favorites]
If you can handle a few weeks of getting over the bitter flavor, honestly I would try to drink your coffee black (though definitely try out different flavors!). I've only ever had black coffee, it is what I got my palette used to (despite formerly starting off my day with a Dr. Pepper) and now sugary coffee is disgusting to me. It is just not coffee to my taste buds! This will allow you optimal guilt-free cups.
I replaced my day-time soda cravings with sparkling water because gosh, I just missed the feeling of drinking a carbonated drink. If you feel yourself craving a soda, it might not just be the caffeine but the carbonation. Do you think you would be into flavored sparkling water?
Now, I have become a coffee snob and must say that Kuerig is neither the most economical or the best quality. I personally love making drip-coffee or using a French press. The way you make coffee definitely changes its flavor profile and these are easy and cost effective ways to make it. Try out different methods to see which one works for you! For drip coffee, you only really need a kettle, a filter holder and a recipient. French presses are easy to find and not too expensive.
Good luck!!!
posted by Blissful at 10:01 PM on October 4, 2023 [4 favorites]
I drink a fair share of Coke Zero but my other equal pleasure is tea, particularly Chai-style teas. Chai has not only the tea flavour, but also a number of spices that help add zing. I use artificial sweetener and cream, but you don't necessarily need them, especially if you're trying to get used to new stuff. You can get chai tea bags (at least around here), which contain both the tea and the spices.
The cheapest way to try in bulk would be to get basic black tea bags, and then add whole spices which are relatively cheap in bags and last a long time. You can either strain the result, or use a drinking vessel that filters it out; my contigo autoseal mug keeps all the big spice hunks in. Or you could boil a big handful of spices in a pot of water for a good long time, then strain the spices out and add a glug of the spice water to the tea. In particular, Coke is primarily flavoured with orange, cinnamon and vanilla; you could add any one of these (orange peel, cinnamon stick, vanilla extract) to a tea as it brews.
posted by Superilla at 10:37 PM on October 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
The cheapest way to try in bulk would be to get basic black tea bags, and then add whole spices which are relatively cheap in bags and last a long time. You can either strain the result, or use a drinking vessel that filters it out; my contigo autoseal mug keeps all the big spice hunks in. Or you could boil a big handful of spices in a pot of water for a good long time, then strain the spices out and add a glug of the spice water to the tea. In particular, Coke is primarily flavoured with orange, cinnamon and vanilla; you could add any one of these (orange peel, cinnamon stick, vanilla extract) to a tea as it brews.
posted by Superilla at 10:37 PM on October 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
If caffeine intake is a big factor in this, there are companies that package caffeine-tapering pill packs that are designed to gradually lower your dosage over time.
Add cinnamon to your coffee.
And Key Lime La Croix tastes like skittles.
posted by itesser at 10:50 PM on October 4, 2023 [5 favorites]
Add cinnamon to your coffee.
And Key Lime La Croix tastes like skittles.
posted by itesser at 10:50 PM on October 4, 2023 [5 favorites]
K cups are expensive and make only bad-to-mediocre coffee. They also require more maintenance than the more analog methods. Their sole benefit is in the convenience.
I agree that cold brew is the way to go.
+You can make a batch for the week so it's almost as convenient as cracking open a can
+It's cold, which is more similar to soda
+You don't have to fiddle with brewing temperature or measuring by the gram
+You can just microwave it if you want it hot
+No equipment except a strainer
An Aeropress or French press are also good choices. They can make a really good cup once you learn how and are somewhat multifunctional. (Aeropress can fake espresso*. French press can be used for tea.)
Coffee can be simple (buy pre-ground and toss a scoop into a drip coffee maker, add creamer) or complex (grind your own beans, measure with a scale, heat water to a specific temperature, brew for an exact length of time, add milk and cream and sweetener).
Once you determine your brew method, take a minute to Google "best roast for [method]" and "grind size for [method]" so you know what to buy at the store and how to choose the grind size. Lots of grocery stores will have a grinder in store. I think pre-ground is made for drip coffee makers. I recommend buying unflavored and adding your own spices or syrup.
You might know a coffee enthusiast who has equipment to lend out and an interest in helping you get aquainted. You could save money you'd lose experimenting.
You'll definitely want to make the switch gradually and take into account convenience, caffeine, sweetness, flavor, and carbonation. (Carbonation can cause stomach issues but it might be hard for you to give it up long enough to find out.)
*Pour an espresso shot over ice and top it with sparkling water. It's delicious and needs no sweetener.
posted by meemzi at 10:58 PM on October 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
I agree that cold brew is the way to go.
+You can make a batch for the week so it's almost as convenient as cracking open a can
+It's cold, which is more similar to soda
+You don't have to fiddle with brewing temperature or measuring by the gram
+You can just microwave it if you want it hot
+No equipment except a strainer
An Aeropress or French press are also good choices. They can make a really good cup once you learn how and are somewhat multifunctional. (Aeropress can fake espresso*. French press can be used for tea.)
Coffee can be simple (buy pre-ground and toss a scoop into a drip coffee maker, add creamer) or complex (grind your own beans, measure with a scale, heat water to a specific temperature, brew for an exact length of time, add milk and cream and sweetener).
Once you determine your brew method, take a minute to Google "best roast for [method]" and "grind size for [method]" so you know what to buy at the store and how to choose the grind size. Lots of grocery stores will have a grinder in store. I think pre-ground is made for drip coffee makers. I recommend buying unflavored and adding your own spices or syrup.
You might know a coffee enthusiast who has equipment to lend out and an interest in helping you get aquainted. You could save money you'd lose experimenting.
You'll definitely want to make the switch gradually and take into account convenience, caffeine, sweetness, flavor, and carbonation. (Carbonation can cause stomach issues but it might be hard for you to give it up long enough to find out.)
*Pour an espresso shot over ice and top it with sparkling water. It's delicious and needs no sweetener.
posted by meemzi at 10:58 PM on October 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
So coffee means many different things to different people. As a starting point, filtered will normally be a lot less overwhelming than anything espresso based. If you want to explore filter coffee you can absolutely make it by the cup. Be ready to top up your cup with a bit more hot water to make the coffee weaker as you learn what you like/don‘t like.
When you are standing in front of the shelf with coffee notice how the packages are talking about different strengths and flavours. You want the words ‚mild‘ or ‚smooth‘ or ‚lightly roasted‘.
Cold brew is soooo much less acidic. If you want a hot drink you can top up with hot water instead of cold.
Not all sweeteners are created equal and while I can tolerate many in cold drinks in a hot drink I will only have erythritol.
Take care with milk - some coffees are a shot of espresso topped up with milk. That basically turns a beverage into a meal…so be careful what you get used to.
English breakfast tea is very smooth and a very nice lightly caffeinated drink. Splash of milk.
posted by koahiatamadl at 10:59 PM on October 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
When you are standing in front of the shelf with coffee notice how the packages are talking about different strengths and flavours. You want the words ‚mild‘ or ‚smooth‘ or ‚lightly roasted‘.
Cold brew is soooo much less acidic. If you want a hot drink you can top up with hot water instead of cold.
Not all sweeteners are created equal and while I can tolerate many in cold drinks in a hot drink I will only have erythritol.
Take care with milk - some coffees are a shot of espresso topped up with milk. That basically turns a beverage into a meal…so be careful what you get used to.
English breakfast tea is very smooth and a very nice lightly caffeinated drink. Splash of milk.
posted by koahiatamadl at 10:59 PM on October 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
I strongly recommend making any dietary change with the attitude of addition, not subtraction. Your end goal can be to swap out sodas for different beverages but your journey should be to explore the diverse world of drink options available to you as a modern person in the world. It’s not what can you one for one swap with a soda, it’s more, you are only so thirsty in a day and there are so many interesting ways to quench that thirst.
Definitely start with a small adjustment. Aim to drink two beverages that aren’t soda a day. Sparkling water, though I loathe it, seems to really do the trick for a lot of soda drinkers I know. Maybe sprinkle those in between during the day when you are not really focusing on taste, or when you are having a strongly flavored food that you would enjoy without another taste combating it.
Iced tea is very economical and you can make it in many different ways. If you think you hate iced tea because all you’ve had is awful lemony instant stuff, please give it another try. Hibiscus tea is particularly good iced and doesn’t have caffeine, though you can often find it blended with caffeinated teas. Mint tea is also delicious iced and I think has a lot of the herbal sweetness that is part of Coke’s flavor profile. Roasted barley tea is probably my most recommended iced coffee substitute, I love the stuff and it’s got a kind of caramelized nutty taste. For sweeteners you can buy the same two non-sugar sweeteners used in Coke Zero and slowly lessen the amount as your taste buds adjust. You can make a big pitcher at a time with just two tea bags steeped overnight in the fridge and have something to drink for most of a day. Tea people like myself tend to have kind of a collection, so if you know a friend who drinks tea definitely ask to have some taste tests. I know that I would love to have a friend try some things from my tea cabinet and if they found something they really liked I’d insist they take it home.
For coffee, I find myself wanting it more often the older I get, which I was not expecting. I am somehow more of a snob about it than I am about tea, though, and find that k cups are almost universally awful without a lot of doctoring. If you find an affordable drip machine or French press, perhaps at a resale shop, definitely get one. I like simple drip coffee best when it has a small splash of milk - the dairy really amplifies the tasty flavors and masks the ones I don’t like as much, without interfering with the smell which is definitely my favorite part of coffee. Black coffee is good in certain circumstances, namely, at a diner with a plate of hash and eggs, either too early in the morning or too late at night or both. But I don’t think it’s something a person can just cultivate a taste for out of the blue. Iced coffee is another creature altogether and I think might be the thing for you. Learn about cold brew and see if it seems achievable for you to do at home. Splurge a little and buy some cold brew to try first of course, to see if you like it better. There are also some pretty good instant coffees available these days. I keep Mount Hagen instant in the house because I can make it with the same equipment I make my tea, and it’s very good iced.
Remember that your sense of taste is actually very flexible. If you are not always blasting your mouth with the pungency of Coke Zero, you will begin to be able to taste the different aspects of other beverages you try. A salt-laden diet swapped gradually for a lower salt diet does not mean the person will just be craving salt always and in denial about it - our bodies actually adjust to taste smaller amounts of salt more vividly over the course of a few months and then salty things taste too salty. (This happened to me and chicken nuggets. I could not finish the nugs! I was honestly a little upset.) The same kind of thing happens with sweet and sour and spicy and bitter. You might find that coffee is unappealing to you now, but as you explore other beverages like teas, smoothies, horchatas, fruit infusions, milks, and even mocktail things like shrubs and juices laced with bitters, that coffee ends up being delicious down the road. I wouldn’t force it, is my point.
posted by Mizu at 11:01 PM on October 4, 2023 [3 favorites]
Definitely start with a small adjustment. Aim to drink two beverages that aren’t soda a day. Sparkling water, though I loathe it, seems to really do the trick for a lot of soda drinkers I know. Maybe sprinkle those in between during the day when you are not really focusing on taste, or when you are having a strongly flavored food that you would enjoy without another taste combating it.
Iced tea is very economical and you can make it in many different ways. If you think you hate iced tea because all you’ve had is awful lemony instant stuff, please give it another try. Hibiscus tea is particularly good iced and doesn’t have caffeine, though you can often find it blended with caffeinated teas. Mint tea is also delicious iced and I think has a lot of the herbal sweetness that is part of Coke’s flavor profile. Roasted barley tea is probably my most recommended iced coffee substitute, I love the stuff and it’s got a kind of caramelized nutty taste. For sweeteners you can buy the same two non-sugar sweeteners used in Coke Zero and slowly lessen the amount as your taste buds adjust. You can make a big pitcher at a time with just two tea bags steeped overnight in the fridge and have something to drink for most of a day. Tea people like myself tend to have kind of a collection, so if you know a friend who drinks tea definitely ask to have some taste tests. I know that I would love to have a friend try some things from my tea cabinet and if they found something they really liked I’d insist they take it home.
For coffee, I find myself wanting it more often the older I get, which I was not expecting. I am somehow more of a snob about it than I am about tea, though, and find that k cups are almost universally awful without a lot of doctoring. If you find an affordable drip machine or French press, perhaps at a resale shop, definitely get one. I like simple drip coffee best when it has a small splash of milk - the dairy really amplifies the tasty flavors and masks the ones I don’t like as much, without interfering with the smell which is definitely my favorite part of coffee. Black coffee is good in certain circumstances, namely, at a diner with a plate of hash and eggs, either too early in the morning or too late at night or both. But I don’t think it’s something a person can just cultivate a taste for out of the blue. Iced coffee is another creature altogether and I think might be the thing for you. Learn about cold brew and see if it seems achievable for you to do at home. Splurge a little and buy some cold brew to try first of course, to see if you like it better. There are also some pretty good instant coffees available these days. I keep Mount Hagen instant in the house because I can make it with the same equipment I make my tea, and it’s very good iced.
Remember that your sense of taste is actually very flexible. If you are not always blasting your mouth with the pungency of Coke Zero, you will begin to be able to taste the different aspects of other beverages you try. A salt-laden diet swapped gradually for a lower salt diet does not mean the person will just be craving salt always and in denial about it - our bodies actually adjust to taste smaller amounts of salt more vividly over the course of a few months and then salty things taste too salty. (This happened to me and chicken nuggets. I could not finish the nugs! I was honestly a little upset.) The same kind of thing happens with sweet and sour and spicy and bitter. You might find that coffee is unappealing to you now, but as you explore other beverages like teas, smoothies, horchatas, fruit infusions, milks, and even mocktail things like shrubs and juices laced with bitters, that coffee ends up being delicious down the road. I wouldn’t force it, is my point.
posted by Mizu at 11:01 PM on October 4, 2023 [3 favorites]
I strongly second the recommendation to check out tea. Potentially instead of coffee.
Something else you could try is Kombucha. This is made from fermented sweet tea where bacteria have broken down the sugar and caffeine to give a distinct base taste. It can then be flavoured. You can either make or buy it, it can be flavoured in a variety of ways and it can be carbonated like a soda. The drink has a number of claimed health benefits. Worth a try perhaps as a direct replacement of soda.
posted by rongorongo at 11:14 PM on October 4, 2023
Something else you could try is Kombucha. This is made from fermented sweet tea where bacteria have broken down the sugar and caffeine to give a distinct base taste. It can then be flavoured. You can either make or buy it, it can be flavoured in a variety of ways and it can be carbonated like a soda. The drink has a number of claimed health benefits. Worth a try perhaps as a direct replacement of soda.
posted by rongorongo at 11:14 PM on October 4, 2023
As a caffeine addict… taper your dose and Advil is your friend. Whip out some math and calculate what caffeine dose you were drinking daily and then taper down by the equivalent of half a can to a can a day.
Also… Can’t you just taper the soda than switch to coffee? Or just use wake up caffeine pills to the same amount as you calculated above.
For the future… I drink juice mixture say 20% juice 80% water it’s more refreshing than plain water for sure. Especially if it’s lemonade.
Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good here.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 11:18 PM on October 4, 2023 [3 favorites]
Also… Can’t you just taper the soda than switch to coffee? Or just use wake up caffeine pills to the same amount as you calculated above.
For the future… I drink juice mixture say 20% juice 80% water it’s more refreshing than plain water for sure. Especially if it’s lemonade.
Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good here.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 11:18 PM on October 4, 2023 [3 favorites]
Three thoughts. I've had to make the same switch when it was in college, and it was doable. Hard, but doable.
1. If you specifically want to try out coffee: You already have a Keurig machine. Some place like Whole Foods is going to have better quality coffee in those Keurig pods than a regular grocery store. Yes, the actual pods are wasteful, but it's easier to start with where you're at, just to see if you actually *like* coffee. If you can get to a WF store, the clerks there are generaly very knowledgeable, and should be able to steer you towards a box or two of coffee you may enjoy. Whole Foods Capsule Coffee.
2. If you want a caffeinated beverege that isn't soda: I personally love and adore tea! However, tea is an entire world, especially if you are unfamiliar with it. I also find that even black tea has a different caffeine feel; it's more of a slow roll throughout the day, instead of the jolt of energy/crash I get with coffee or caffeinated soda. You'll probably do best with a black tea caffeinewise. I personally drink mine with milk, no sugar. If you only have access to a grocery store, I like Twinings teas. You can also get tea pods for your Keurig from Twinings. Twinings.
3. If you like the feeling of carbination, and/or drinking out of a can, and can handle a small amount of agave? Liquid Death Sparkling Water has flavored sparkling water, and also vitamin fortified iced tea. I drink them all the time. However, you may want to clear it with your doctor in terms of the agave. Liquid Death Sparkling Water.
posted by spinifex23 at 11:22 PM on October 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
1. If you specifically want to try out coffee: You already have a Keurig machine. Some place like Whole Foods is going to have better quality coffee in those Keurig pods than a regular grocery store. Yes, the actual pods are wasteful, but it's easier to start with where you're at, just to see if you actually *like* coffee. If you can get to a WF store, the clerks there are generaly very knowledgeable, and should be able to steer you towards a box or two of coffee you may enjoy. Whole Foods Capsule Coffee.
2. If you want a caffeinated beverege that isn't soda: I personally love and adore tea! However, tea is an entire world, especially if you are unfamiliar with it. I also find that even black tea has a different caffeine feel; it's more of a slow roll throughout the day, instead of the jolt of energy/crash I get with coffee or caffeinated soda. You'll probably do best with a black tea caffeinewise. I personally drink mine with milk, no sugar. If you only have access to a grocery store, I like Twinings teas. You can also get tea pods for your Keurig from Twinings. Twinings.
3. If you like the feeling of carbination, and/or drinking out of a can, and can handle a small amount of agave? Liquid Death Sparkling Water has flavored sparkling water, and also vitamin fortified iced tea. I drink them all the time. However, you may want to clear it with your doctor in terms of the agave. Liquid Death Sparkling Water.
posted by spinifex23 at 11:22 PM on October 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
I sometimes dislike drinking water. I make a pot of tea - 5 tea bags - and a batch of frozen lemonade. Mix together. It's watery, you can make it with regular or decaf tea, and it's pleasant. I was given some Crystal Light lemonade mix and will use it up, so sugarfree is an option.
I make a pot of coffee. My coffee pot says it's 8 cups, but it measures as @ 5. It uses an insulated steel carafe, and no burner. Because it not on a burner, it can be reheated in the microwave with limited loss of flavor. I no longer eat dairy, and I miss coffee with lots pf whole milk, which deals with bitter and sour tastes pretty well. Coffee has health benefits, as does tea. I drink 2 - 3 cups a day, not after 2.30 or so. Try milk, may help it be tolerable.
posted by theora55 at 11:35 PM on October 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
I make a pot of coffee. My coffee pot says it's 8 cups, but it measures as @ 5. It uses an insulated steel carafe, and no burner. Because it not on a burner, it can be reheated in the microwave with limited loss of flavor. I no longer eat dairy, and I miss coffee with lots pf whole milk, which deals with bitter and sour tastes pretty well. Coffee has health benefits, as does tea. I drink 2 - 3 cups a day, not after 2.30 or so. Try milk, may help it be tolerable.
posted by theora55 at 11:35 PM on October 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
Former diet coke drinker here. I found coffee hard to drink - too much caffeine too quickly and I didn't love the taste. I'm making do with some Pure Leaf unsweetened iced tea to which I add splenda. The 18.5 oz bottle has 77 mg caffeine so about 2 coke zero cans worth. I haven't yet replicated the slow dose of caffeine diet cokes provided.
Brewing your own with a mix of decaf and caffeinated tea might get you closer to diet soda doses.
posted by oneear at 11:40 PM on October 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
Brewing your own with a mix of decaf and caffeinated tea might get you closer to diet soda doses.
posted by oneear at 11:40 PM on October 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
If you want to make loose leaf tea, here's a bonus hint: do NOT use boiling water. After it boiled, turn off heat and leave it for about 2 minutes, THEN use it to make tea. Boiling hot water turns tea bitter and undrinkable. This is especially true if you want to make Chinese tea, which is better consumed hot, but NOT THAT HOT!
posted by kschang at 2:49 AM on October 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by kschang at 2:49 AM on October 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
I always use boiling water for making black tea. I like it just fine.
posted by Too-Ticky at 2:51 AM on October 5, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by Too-Ticky at 2:51 AM on October 5, 2023 [5 favorites]
Hang on - let's back up a few steps here.
OP - can you say a few words about WHY you like soda? Because us recommending things to you will only fit if they match the need you're meeting with soda right now. And maybe that's part of the reason why coffee isn't working. Maybe it's not just the flavor that hits the spot for you, maybe it's that it's cold, maybe it's that it's carbonated, maybe it's some other thing.
I'm going to make a few recommendations here, but I'm also going to explain WHY I'm recommending them; so if you see me recommend something that hits your needs you can speak up, and that can help us narrow things down. (Or the opposite - if I assume something wrong, you can say "no, not that at all".)
I'm assuming part of the reason your doctor has said to cut out soda is because of the sugar content. If so - you may indeed prefer tea. I personally drink both coffee and tea, but I tend to put about HALF the sugar in tea that I do in coffee, purely because of the taste; tea isn't as 'Harsh' to me as coffee is. And there are a ton of different kinds of tea - the Liptons/English Breakfast/etc. black teas, all the fancy green teas, and all the herbal teas. Those all have different caffeine levels (some have no caffeine), and all different flavors, and you may find that some you don't need ANY sweetener at all. I don't take any sugar in any of the herb teas, and I don't take milk in either the herb teas or the green teas.
If you want to dip a toe into the regular black-tea kind of tea - you can get a box of tea bags for about five bucks, and then making tea is as simple as dropping a bag in a cup and pouring water over, and letting it sit for like three minutes. Try it that way, then try it with just a LITTLE sugar and milk.
If you prefer something cold - that's even easier. Get a quart-size jar or pitcher, dump four or five tea bags into it, fill it with water, and stick it in your fridge overnight. That's it. You may still want sweetener in it.
If you're concerned about caffeine - try cold MINT tea. I have a pitcher of this going in my fridge most summers; make sure you get tea bags that have just mint and nothing else. There are some mint teas that are a blend of different mints, and some that are just peppermint; either one would work this way, although the pure peppermint would really be refreshing. Same thing - four tea bags in a pitcher, fill with water, it lives in your fridge. I don't take ANY sugar or milk in this, and in the summer it really hits the spot.
If you are looking for a whole variety of weird flavors, tea is also an idea. Tea makers are always playing around with throwing things into their tea, and always HAVE been; and sometimes some of those flavor combinations become an established thing. You've heard of Earl Gray tea; that's just black tea with some dried bergamot herb leaves mixed in. A tea maker tried doing that a couple hundred years ago and it became a huge hit. There's also a black tea called "Lapsang souchong" which is smoked, and some people find they don't need sugar in it that way. There's also a green tea called "genmai green tea" which has puffed rice mixed in (I actualy really like that, it tastes a little like popcorn).
That said - if you really want to stick to trying coffee, there are a whole variety of coffees to try too. And this brings me to my final recommendation....
You're close enough to a city (I checked) that would likely have a fancy indie coffee shop. (I'll memail you a recommendation, in fact.) Try visiting one on a weekend afternoon, and talk to the baristas - tell them that you're a coffee newbie, and ask if they can kind of walk you through what the options are. If they can do some kind of a "tasting" or samples, even better. They can maybe help make recommendations about the kind of coffees to try, and how to make them; they may even let you have a taste of "here's what lighter roast is like" or whatever. Tea shops also do this kind of thing - a tea shop near me always has four pots going with tea for people to have a taste if they can't make up their mind what they want, and they even have "tea tasting" events. It'd be a fun thing to do on a Saturday afternoon and also it would be a way to "try before you buy" and learn things.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:17 AM on October 5, 2023 [7 favorites]
OP - can you say a few words about WHY you like soda? Because us recommending things to you will only fit if they match the need you're meeting with soda right now. And maybe that's part of the reason why coffee isn't working. Maybe it's not just the flavor that hits the spot for you, maybe it's that it's cold, maybe it's that it's carbonated, maybe it's some other thing.
I'm going to make a few recommendations here, but I'm also going to explain WHY I'm recommending them; so if you see me recommend something that hits your needs you can speak up, and that can help us narrow things down. (Or the opposite - if I assume something wrong, you can say "no, not that at all".)
I'm assuming part of the reason your doctor has said to cut out soda is because of the sugar content. If so - you may indeed prefer tea. I personally drink both coffee and tea, but I tend to put about HALF the sugar in tea that I do in coffee, purely because of the taste; tea isn't as 'Harsh' to me as coffee is. And there are a ton of different kinds of tea - the Liptons/English Breakfast/etc. black teas, all the fancy green teas, and all the herbal teas. Those all have different caffeine levels (some have no caffeine), and all different flavors, and you may find that some you don't need ANY sweetener at all. I don't take any sugar in any of the herb teas, and I don't take milk in either the herb teas or the green teas.
If you want to dip a toe into the regular black-tea kind of tea - you can get a box of tea bags for about five bucks, and then making tea is as simple as dropping a bag in a cup and pouring water over, and letting it sit for like three minutes. Try it that way, then try it with just a LITTLE sugar and milk.
If you prefer something cold - that's even easier. Get a quart-size jar or pitcher, dump four or five tea bags into it, fill it with water, and stick it in your fridge overnight. That's it. You may still want sweetener in it.
If you're concerned about caffeine - try cold MINT tea. I have a pitcher of this going in my fridge most summers; make sure you get tea bags that have just mint and nothing else. There are some mint teas that are a blend of different mints, and some that are just peppermint; either one would work this way, although the pure peppermint would really be refreshing. Same thing - four tea bags in a pitcher, fill with water, it lives in your fridge. I don't take ANY sugar or milk in this, and in the summer it really hits the spot.
If you are looking for a whole variety of weird flavors, tea is also an idea. Tea makers are always playing around with throwing things into their tea, and always HAVE been; and sometimes some of those flavor combinations become an established thing. You've heard of Earl Gray tea; that's just black tea with some dried bergamot herb leaves mixed in. A tea maker tried doing that a couple hundred years ago and it became a huge hit. There's also a black tea called "Lapsang souchong" which is smoked, and some people find they don't need sugar in it that way. There's also a green tea called "genmai green tea" which has puffed rice mixed in (I actualy really like that, it tastes a little like popcorn).
That said - if you really want to stick to trying coffee, there are a whole variety of coffees to try too. And this brings me to my final recommendation....
You're close enough to a city (I checked) that would likely have a fancy indie coffee shop. (I'll memail you a recommendation, in fact.) Try visiting one on a weekend afternoon, and talk to the baristas - tell them that you're a coffee newbie, and ask if they can kind of walk you through what the options are. If they can do some kind of a "tasting" or samples, even better. They can maybe help make recommendations about the kind of coffees to try, and how to make them; they may even let you have a taste of "here's what lighter roast is like" or whatever. Tea shops also do this kind of thing - a tea shop near me always has four pots going with tea for people to have a taste if they can't make up their mind what they want, and they even have "tea tasting" events. It'd be a fun thing to do on a Saturday afternoon and also it would be a way to "try before you buy" and learn things.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:17 AM on October 5, 2023 [7 favorites]
Oddly relevant video :
Ice-T tries coffee for the first time
posted by i_mean_come_on_now at 5:26 AM on October 5, 2023 [2 favorites]
Ice-T tries coffee for the first time
posted by i_mean_come_on_now at 5:26 AM on October 5, 2023 [2 favorites]
I love coffee and, boy, Keurig coffee is . . . not great. There are a bunch of tea options for Keurig, though, and those are generally more palatable. The coffee aisle in most (US) grocery stores will have plenty of non-coffee caffeinated pod options that you can experiment with. You can also get refillable pods and use whatever coffee or tea you want--much cheaper.
My wife the supertaster went through the same soda-to-water journey years ago and now happily drinks plain water, even with meals. The key for her was a slow transition. She hates sparkling water and most bitter flavors, so she relied on non-carbonated but still sweet drinks like Gatorade, Vitamin Water, etc. to bridge the gap and slowly added plain water into the mix. It took time, but it worked.
posted by ailouros08 at 5:29 AM on October 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
My wife the supertaster went through the same soda-to-water journey years ago and now happily drinks plain water, even with meals. The key for her was a slow transition. She hates sparkling water and most bitter flavors, so she relied on non-carbonated but still sweet drinks like Gatorade, Vitamin Water, etc. to bridge the gap and slowly added plain water into the mix. It took time, but it worked.
posted by ailouros08 at 5:29 AM on October 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
Cutting out soft drinks might make you miss bubbles, but there are caffeinated and carbonated teas out there. Hoplark actually makes tea brewed with hops in addition to tea leaves — there's even a cola variety.
posted by emelenjr at 5:56 AM on October 5, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by emelenjr at 5:56 AM on October 5, 2023 [2 favorites]
Cold brew fizz!
Find a cold brew concentrate you like (or make your own) and mix with a super bubbly plain seltzer!
posted by greta simone at 6:21 AM on October 5, 2023 [2 favorites]
Find a cold brew concentrate you like (or make your own) and mix with a super bubbly plain seltzer!
posted by greta simone at 6:21 AM on October 5, 2023 [2 favorites]
Echoing the caffine content, 34 mg of caffeine per canned code zero. A cup of of coffee averages about 100mg so about three cans.
If your willing to try the caffinated bubly bounce drinks they contain the same amount of caffeine per soda and don't contain artifical sweeteners. Artificial flavorings are in them though.
I drink coffee zero as my drink of choice and if I can't find coke zero that's what I end up buying. Some people hate em but I like them just fine.
posted by AlexiaSky at 6:22 AM on October 5, 2023 [2 favorites]
If your willing to try the caffinated bubly bounce drinks they contain the same amount of caffeine per soda and don't contain artifical sweeteners. Artificial flavorings are in them though.
I drink coffee zero as my drink of choice and if I can't find coke zero that's what I end up buying. Some people hate em but I like them just fine.
posted by AlexiaSky at 6:22 AM on October 5, 2023 [2 favorites]
I do not like hot beverages but I do love Diet Coke and as much as I've tried to quit it, I still drink one most days. Some other things I do for substitutes that I like:
I have a Bodum Cold Brew coffee maker. I don't make mine very strong so I drink it straight -- I use about 3-4 tablespoons of coffee grounds, fill the rest with water, let it sit in the fridge overnight and then plunge it the next morning. This usually gets me about 2-3 days of morning iced coffee which I drink at the strength I brew it. I don't add cream or sugar. I drink many different brands of coffee but always something flavored -- unflavored just tastes gross to me in this.
I have a Rubbermaid One Gallon Pitcher that I make iced tea in. I brew it cold (I only discovered that was a thing recently!) so all I do is throw in 8 cheap black tea bags, fill with water, leave in the fridge overnight, and fish out the tea bags the next day. I drink this as brewed and do not add sugar or anything. The gallon probably lasts me 3-4 days.
posted by jabes at 6:31 AM on October 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
I have a Bodum Cold Brew coffee maker. I don't make mine very strong so I drink it straight -- I use about 3-4 tablespoons of coffee grounds, fill the rest with water, let it sit in the fridge overnight and then plunge it the next morning. This usually gets me about 2-3 days of morning iced coffee which I drink at the strength I brew it. I don't add cream or sugar. I drink many different brands of coffee but always something flavored -- unflavored just tastes gross to me in this.
I have a Rubbermaid One Gallon Pitcher that I make iced tea in. I brew it cold (I only discovered that was a thing recently!) so all I do is throw in 8 cheap black tea bags, fill with water, leave in the fridge overnight, and fish out the tea bags the next day. I drink this as brewed and do not add sugar or anything. The gallon probably lasts me 3-4 days.
posted by jabes at 6:31 AM on October 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
The thing with doctors is that they are constantly pressed for time. So they make one suggestion at a time, and trust you to go back if it doesn't work out.
Parsing the doctor's words, it sounds to me like:
"Not that much soda, ideally water, one option is coffee." They meant "give coffee a try" rather than "coffee and only coffee."
I bet if you went back and said coffee wasn't working out great, is tea ok, you would get a "tea is fine."
posted by dum spiro spero at 6:43 AM on October 5, 2023 [9 favorites]
Parsing the doctor's words, it sounds to me like:
"Not that much soda, ideally water, one option is coffee." They meant "give coffee a try" rather than "coffee and only coffee."
I bet if you went back and said coffee wasn't working out great, is tea ok, you would get a "tea is fine."
posted by dum spiro spero at 6:43 AM on October 5, 2023 [9 favorites]
Target and Aldi have pretty affordable (Aldi's always are, Target's Good & Gather brand are still competitive but they also have sales pretty often) k-cup coffee that is good, generally mild unless you choose a specifically dark roast, and also come in very good flavors if you want to go the flavored route (as I do). Both of them will have a peppermint mocha variety out within the next month usually, until then my go-to at Target is the Double Chocolate, and Aldi has a maple out right now.
I have also used iced tea to back down my soda consumption, as I don't really want more than one coffee a day. I want something I can grab mindlessly, and tea I only have to think about making once every other day or so.
posted by Lyn Never at 6:55 AM on October 5, 2023
I have also used iced tea to back down my soda consumption, as I don't really want more than one coffee a day. I want something I can grab mindlessly, and tea I only have to think about making once every other day or so.
posted by Lyn Never at 6:55 AM on October 5, 2023
So, at the moment, you're drinking between 4 and 8 litres of coke zero a day. That's a lot of liquid, a lot of caffeine, a lot of acid and carbonation, and a lot of sweetener. I'm not sure which of those things the doctor is really suggesting you cut down on.
Coffee is an acquired taste. You'll need to experiment but if your experience with it suggests that what you've had is probably brewed too strong for you. Lower strength coffee would be a thing to try, as is diluting it with hot water or adding more milk. If you haven't tried adding sugar/sweetener it's worth seeing if that helps or hinders. Also, flavoured coffee might work well, or iced coffee rather than hot coffee.
I also drink a lot of sugar-free cola (around the equivalent of 5-6 cans a day). Coffee would not be my go-to replacement because I drink cola for the cold carbonation as well as the caffeine. I could (and occasionally do) replace it with a coffee, some non-caffeinated soda and some cordial-based drinks. That cuts way down on the acid, some on the caffeine and carbonation, but keeps my liquid and sweetener consumption almost the same. So it depends what you're really trying to achieve.
posted by plonkee at 7:52 AM on October 5, 2023 [5 favorites]
Coffee is an acquired taste. You'll need to experiment but if your experience with it suggests that what you've had is probably brewed too strong for you. Lower strength coffee would be a thing to try, as is diluting it with hot water or adding more milk. If you haven't tried adding sugar/sweetener it's worth seeing if that helps or hinders. Also, flavoured coffee might work well, or iced coffee rather than hot coffee.
I also drink a lot of sugar-free cola (around the equivalent of 5-6 cans a day). Coffee would not be my go-to replacement because I drink cola for the cold carbonation as well as the caffeine. I could (and occasionally do) replace it with a coffee, some non-caffeinated soda and some cordial-based drinks. That cuts way down on the acid, some on the caffeine and carbonation, but keeps my liquid and sweetener consumption almost the same. So it depends what you're really trying to achieve.
posted by plonkee at 7:52 AM on October 5, 2023 [5 favorites]
My daughter dropped soda cold turkey. That was 6+ years ago.
I don't drink much soda, but I've found Arrowhead flavored seltzer to be a good substitute for soda. No artificial flavors and very bubbly. They have lemon, lime, orange, and plain flavors.
Experiment with different brands until you find a flavored seltzer that you like.
I'm glad you're exploring options other than colas/sodas. They really are not good for anyone. Good luck to you!
posted by SoftSummerBreeze at 9:28 AM on October 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
I don't drink much soda, but I've found Arrowhead flavored seltzer to be a good substitute for soda. No artificial flavors and very bubbly. They have lemon, lime, orange, and plain flavors.
Experiment with different brands until you find a flavored seltzer that you like.
I'm glad you're exploring options other than colas/sodas. They really are not good for anyone. Good luck to you!
posted by SoftSummerBreeze at 9:28 AM on October 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
I can’t emphasize what EmpressCallipygos said enough: the most important information here is why you like to drink Coke Zero. If it is purely the caffeine, then sure, coffee is an okay substitute (and you will need far fewer ounces of liquid to hit the equivalent caffeine)—but you could also just as easily use caffeine pills to get an exact dose. (Especially if you don’t even like coffee!)
But with that many a day, I suspect the *experience* of drinking cans of soda is most of the benefit. What elements of that give you the most pleasure? Is it the snap of the can opening, or the mouthfeel of drinking from it? The coldness, or the carbonation? The chemical acid taste (said with love, I love Coke Zero), or the way it coats your mouth? The habit of grabbing it from the fridge, or the habit of constantly sipping?
Apart from hydration/caffeine, if you don’t drink Coke Zero what will you miss? I agree with others here who think coffee might not necessarily be the best substitute, and that your doctor was probably tossing out ideas without thinking too much about the specifics.
And, FWIW, I don’t think you need to take in any shaming language or emotion around addiction. Not only is it never helpful, but you are also well within what is culturally considered to be normal caffeine consumption. Your Coke Zero intake contains between 408 and 816 mg of caffeine per day. A single Starbucks venti of plain brewed coffee contains 410 mg of caffeine. That would be a lot of caffeine for some people, but merely a day’s first step for others.
posted by CtrlAltDelete at 9:59 AM on October 5, 2023 [8 favorites]
But with that many a day, I suspect the *experience* of drinking cans of soda is most of the benefit. What elements of that give you the most pleasure? Is it the snap of the can opening, or the mouthfeel of drinking from it? The coldness, or the carbonation? The chemical acid taste (said with love, I love Coke Zero), or the way it coats your mouth? The habit of grabbing it from the fridge, or the habit of constantly sipping?
Apart from hydration/caffeine, if you don’t drink Coke Zero what will you miss? I agree with others here who think coffee might not necessarily be the best substitute, and that your doctor was probably tossing out ideas without thinking too much about the specifics.
And, FWIW, I don’t think you need to take in any shaming language or emotion around addiction. Not only is it never helpful, but you are also well within what is culturally considered to be normal caffeine consumption. Your Coke Zero intake contains between 408 and 816 mg of caffeine per day. A single Starbucks venti of plain brewed coffee contains 410 mg of caffeine. That would be a lot of caffeine for some people, but merely a day’s first step for others.
posted by CtrlAltDelete at 9:59 AM on October 5, 2023 [8 favorites]
Way easier to add a good new habit than it is to cut an undesired habit, so in your shoes I wouldn’t even really try to taper off the soda - just just add in some water, gradually increasing the amount, and see if that makes you want to drink less soda.
Maybe drink a small glass of water- even just a shot glass - with every meal. Gradually increase to larger glass sizes over the course of a few months.
In terms of liking the taste - you don’t actually need to like it to just drink it anyway. i would say pretend you’re an animal and simply drink it. If you start with a tiny cup it’s a minimal amount of discomfort. As the cup gets larger over time, your thirst should decline too so you may drink less soda.
Over time you’ll get used to the taste, and then must gradually ramp up the glass size every week or so, until you’re drinking a pint of water a few times a day, and then pretty likely one day you’ll probably realize you like it.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 12:48 PM on October 5, 2023 [2 favorites]
Maybe drink a small glass of water- even just a shot glass - with every meal. Gradually increase to larger glass sizes over the course of a few months.
In terms of liking the taste - you don’t actually need to like it to just drink it anyway. i would say pretend you’re an animal and simply drink it. If you start with a tiny cup it’s a minimal amount of discomfort. As the cup gets larger over time, your thirst should decline too so you may drink less soda.
Over time you’ll get used to the taste, and then must gradually ramp up the glass size every week or so, until you’re drinking a pint of water a few times a day, and then pretty likely one day you’ll probably realize you like it.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 12:48 PM on October 5, 2023 [2 favorites]
You mentioned ADHD. Caffeine is a stimulant, and many people with ADHD use it to help with focus (whether or not they also take other stimulant medication). I would keep this in mind as you swap out soda for something else, you might be benefiting from caffeine more than if you didn’t have ADHD.
posted by third word on a random page at 12:50 PM on October 5, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by third word on a random page at 12:50 PM on October 5, 2023 [3 favorites]
This is a bit of a read, but Tom Petty did a lot of work to figure out how to make the perfect cup of coffee. Yes, *that* Tom Petty. And TP wouldn’t lie to us.
posted by MexicanYenta at 1:54 PM on October 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by MexicanYenta at 1:54 PM on October 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Hi all, I'm blown away by the amount of kind and thorough answers that this thread has gotten. I'll try to give a bit more background especially towards the points of what do I like about Coke Zero.
The Coke Zero thing... I feel like a commercial for them, but the amount I drink I should have partial ownership. I like the caramel test. I love the "ahhh" feeling I get when I take a chug. I like the way it feels between the roof of my mouth and my tongue when I take a pill. Is that carbernation? Maybe. I'm not sure. I like it nice and cold. Another component to my addiction to soda is that it is very expensive.
I enjoy both hot and cold beverages. I drink black tea pretty frequently now but don't feel like it gives me the caffeine buzz. I had a cup of black coffee (Walmart's Great Value Brand) but it made me sick to my stomach. I could tolerate it I suppose.
I want to enjoy it and to be a grown up and be able to enjoy a cup of coffee when invited out. Or to have a nice cup when I wake up before work.
The ADHD is pretty significant and so is the bipolar. I don't know that it matters. Works in progress pharmacologically.
I don't tend to do well with cream so I think black my be what I need to do. How can I make that taste less bitter? I saw someone post to add some water. Is that the only way?
I know keurig's aren't friendly to the environment... but currently its what I have. It was a gift, and even as cheap as they are I can't get a drip machine right now.
I'd love to hear anymore thoughts that you have. Thank you. RIP, Tom Petty.
posted by Mr. Hazlenut at 2:48 PM on October 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
The Coke Zero thing... I feel like a commercial for them, but the amount I drink I should have partial ownership. I like the caramel test. I love the "ahhh" feeling I get when I take a chug. I like the way it feels between the roof of my mouth and my tongue when I take a pill. Is that carbernation? Maybe. I'm not sure. I like it nice and cold. Another component to my addiction to soda is that it is very expensive.
I enjoy both hot and cold beverages. I drink black tea pretty frequently now but don't feel like it gives me the caffeine buzz. I had a cup of black coffee (Walmart's Great Value Brand) but it made me sick to my stomach. I could tolerate it I suppose.
I want to enjoy it and to be a grown up and be able to enjoy a cup of coffee when invited out. Or to have a nice cup when I wake up before work.
The ADHD is pretty significant and so is the bipolar. I don't know that it matters. Works in progress pharmacologically.
I don't tend to do well with cream so I think black my be what I need to do. How can I make that taste less bitter? I saw someone post to add some water. Is that the only way?
I know keurig's aren't friendly to the environment... but currently its what I have. It was a gift, and even as cheap as they are I can't get a drip machine right now.
I'd love to hear anymore thoughts that you have. Thank you. RIP, Tom Petty.
posted by Mr. Hazlenut at 2:48 PM on October 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
Coffee bitterness is usually a result of a bad match between roast level, brew temperature, and grind size. In general, dark roasts need to be brewed at a lower temperature at a proper grind size for the brew method and light roasts need to be brewed at a higher temperature. If the Keurig is really your only option I would stick with light to medium roast coffees because the brew temp is around 190 degrees for those machines, last I checked. You can save money and reduce environmental impact by using the reusable K-cup brewer and regular bags of coffee to fill it, but if you end up liking coffee the very first target for upgrading your setup is a burr grinder to pair with some cheap brew method, like a Clever dripper, aeropress, etc. It truly makes a world of difference.
Personally, I brew a single cup of light to medium roast coffee, freshly ground in a burr grinder, once a day using an immersion brewer (the Clever coffee dripper) and filtered water. My bean of choice is either Counter Culture's Hologram or my grocery store's light roast specialty coffee with tasting notes of fruit, chocolate, and wine. My coffee is so sweet that my mother recently accused me of putting Equal in it the last time I made her a cup--I had not. The advantage of the Clever dripper is that it's pretty hands off, uses a paper filter to remove coffee oils and grit, and is VERY forgiving if you leave it to brew too long because you're distracted. Being able to select my own grind size gives me the ultimate control over the sweetness of my cup--and I like it to taste quite sweet without additives like creamer or sweeteners.
As a former diet soda drinker and overconsumer of hot caffeinated beverages, I found my mental and physical health vastly improved when I switched to drinking one truly excellent cup of coffee per day, a great cup of tea in the afternoon (matcha or loose leaf, properly brewed) and seltzer and water the rest of the time. I LOVE the bite and pop of carbonation, and seltzer easily filled that need for me. My favorite seltzer brand is Spindrift--it has a "real fruit" taste to it that I find appealing. I also found that I can only stomach plain water drunk through a straw and it *must* be filtered to remove that chlorinated taste.
Good luck, I hope you can find a setup that replaces the pleasure you get from Coke Zero.
posted by MagnificentVacuum at 3:26 PM on October 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
Personally, I brew a single cup of light to medium roast coffee, freshly ground in a burr grinder, once a day using an immersion brewer (the Clever coffee dripper) and filtered water. My bean of choice is either Counter Culture's Hologram or my grocery store's light roast specialty coffee with tasting notes of fruit, chocolate, and wine. My coffee is so sweet that my mother recently accused me of putting Equal in it the last time I made her a cup--I had not. The advantage of the Clever dripper is that it's pretty hands off, uses a paper filter to remove coffee oils and grit, and is VERY forgiving if you leave it to brew too long because you're distracted. Being able to select my own grind size gives me the ultimate control over the sweetness of my cup--and I like it to taste quite sweet without additives like creamer or sweeteners.
As a former diet soda drinker and overconsumer of hot caffeinated beverages, I found my mental and physical health vastly improved when I switched to drinking one truly excellent cup of coffee per day, a great cup of tea in the afternoon (matcha or loose leaf, properly brewed) and seltzer and water the rest of the time. I LOVE the bite and pop of carbonation, and seltzer easily filled that need for me. My favorite seltzer brand is Spindrift--it has a "real fruit" taste to it that I find appealing. I also found that I can only stomach plain water drunk through a straw and it *must* be filtered to remove that chlorinated taste.
Good luck, I hope you can find a setup that replaces the pleasure you get from Coke Zero.
posted by MagnificentVacuum at 3:26 PM on October 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
Getting used to black might be the best longterm outcome, but if you happen to be avoiding cream/milk specifically because it's dairy, and are interested in trying alternatives, let me point out that oatmilks -- especially those marketed as "barista blend" -- blend into coffee really quite well.
The downside is they're pricier than milk -- especially, unfortunately, those marketed as "barista blend." Outside of those pricier ones, there are some that I find too thin or too sweet, and others that I find definitely good enough. Whole Foods' storebrand oatmilk (which, surprisingly, costs less than any brand at a normal supermarket), I think is totally good for coffee. And at Trader Joe's I like their "Unsweetened Almond Cashew & Macademia Nut beverage." (That recommendation might be a bit more controversial, but since that's the one I tend to pick up there, I can't remember how their others stack up).
posted by nobody at 3:35 PM on October 5, 2023
The downside is they're pricier than milk -- especially, unfortunately, those marketed as "barista blend." Outside of those pricier ones, there are some that I find too thin or too sweet, and others that I find definitely good enough. Whole Foods' storebrand oatmilk (which, surprisingly, costs less than any brand at a normal supermarket), I think is totally good for coffee. And at Trader Joe's I like their "Unsweetened Almond Cashew & Macademia Nut beverage." (That recommendation might be a bit more controversial, but since that's the one I tend to pick up there, I can't remember how their others stack up).
posted by nobody at 3:35 PM on October 5, 2023
I'm just going to pull this one thing out from what you said -
I want to enjoy it and to be a grown up and be able to enjoy a cup of coffee when invited out.
There are a lot of people - grownups, even - who just plain don't like coffee. So if you find you just plain don't like it? That doesn't make you "not a grownup", it simply makes you "a person who doesn't like coffee, and that's just that". There are tons of them! And a lot of them, if they are invited out someplace, have tea instead of coffee. And a lot of the places that would be serving coffee also serve tea, for exactly that reason.
Now - since you also said you like Coke's "caramel" taste; I wonder if maybe making things yourself, and sweetening them with brown sugar, would be worth a try. I know that we're trying to cut out sugar here, but I have a feeling that you may be weirdly more satisfied by a small amount of brown sugar in something, and would need less of it.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:37 PM on October 5, 2023 [6 favorites]
I want to enjoy it and to be a grown up and be able to enjoy a cup of coffee when invited out.
There are a lot of people - grownups, even - who just plain don't like coffee. So if you find you just plain don't like it? That doesn't make you "not a grownup", it simply makes you "a person who doesn't like coffee, and that's just that". There are tons of them! And a lot of them, if they are invited out someplace, have tea instead of coffee. And a lot of the places that would be serving coffee also serve tea, for exactly that reason.
Now - since you also said you like Coke's "caramel" taste; I wonder if maybe making things yourself, and sweetening them with brown sugar, would be worth a try. I know that we're trying to cut out sugar here, but I have a feeling that you may be weirdly more satisfied by a small amount of brown sugar in something, and would need less of it.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:37 PM on October 5, 2023 [6 favorites]
Based on your update, I’m going to nth the recommendations for cold brew, maybe with some sort of plant milk, since you don’t do well with cream.
posted by MexicanYenta at 4:30 PM on October 5, 2023
posted by MexicanYenta at 4:30 PM on October 5, 2023
I put a tiny bit of brown sugar in my coffee when I make it at home, and I find that it makes it really delicious. Also - diluting it with water helps mellow out the bitterness IMHO. I especially love pouring a cup of freshly brewed hot coffee over a pile of ice in a huge tumbler, and sipping on that all day.
posted by spinifex23 at 4:30 PM on October 5, 2023
posted by spinifex23 at 4:30 PM on October 5, 2023
Tea drinker here. A couple mugs of strong black tea should give you a caffeine buzz equivalent to any soda.
Also, as others have said, there's really an enormous universe of tea options out there. I have a whole cabinet full of teas. I drink an Early Grey in the morning, a green tea in the afternoon, and a bunch of different herbal teas at other times of day when it's cold. I tend to like strong citrus flavors, so I'm partial to Tazo Wild Sweet Orange and Stash Meyer Lemon, which are both far more tart and intense than many citrus teas. But it took me years to settle on those. The point is, if you explore, you'll find many, many choices.
You can also make iced tea -- caffeinated or herbal. And you can make iced tea with seltzer -- even at the level of just tossing a tea bag into a glass of seltzer for a while. The range of flavors and combos is endless.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 4:58 PM on October 5, 2023 [2 favorites]
Also, as others have said, there's really an enormous universe of tea options out there. I have a whole cabinet full of teas. I drink an Early Grey in the morning, a green tea in the afternoon, and a bunch of different herbal teas at other times of day when it's cold. I tend to like strong citrus flavors, so I'm partial to Tazo Wild Sweet Orange and Stash Meyer Lemon, which are both far more tart and intense than many citrus teas. But it took me years to settle on those. The point is, if you explore, you'll find many, many choices.
You can also make iced tea -- caffeinated or herbal. And you can make iced tea with seltzer -- even at the level of just tossing a tea bag into a glass of seltzer for a while. The range of flavors and combos is endless.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 4:58 PM on October 5, 2023 [2 favorites]
I finally dropped sodas after 60 years of using them as my primary drink of choice. I also consider myself to be an adult, so when I splurge on an Icee that is my business.
Coffee needs a lot of hot chocolate in it before it is palatable. Mocha is fine. Bottles of Starbucks Frappuccino are a treat.
Bottled water works, particularly when exercising. The flavor drops are too chemical in taste.
I tried switching to diet sodas but that did not last for long. The taste was off.
My current beverage is brewed Luzianne tea and honey. I use a Mr. Coffee iced tea pot, a coffee filter in the basket and two tea bags for five cups of water (the pitcher has a water level for measuring). After the first brew I add two more tea bags for two pitchers, which lasts a couple of days.
I cover the bottom of the pitcher with honey before I add the basket and lid, slide it in place, and press the button.
After the first brew I stir the hot liquid, pour more water through the basket to filter more tea into the mix, and transfer the pitcher of tea to another container.
In a pinch I buy a gallon of Red Diamond sweet tea, but the tea tastes sour compared to the honey tea. I did not like using the tea bags.
posted by TrishaU at 5:18 PM on October 5, 2023
Coffee needs a lot of hot chocolate in it before it is palatable. Mocha is fine. Bottles of Starbucks Frappuccino are a treat.
Bottled water works, particularly when exercising. The flavor drops are too chemical in taste.
I tried switching to diet sodas but that did not last for long. The taste was off.
My current beverage is brewed Luzianne tea and honey. I use a Mr. Coffee iced tea pot, a coffee filter in the basket and two tea bags for five cups of water (the pitcher has a water level for measuring). After the first brew I add two more tea bags for two pitchers, which lasts a couple of days.
I cover the bottom of the pitcher with honey before I add the basket and lid, slide it in place, and press the button.
After the first brew I stir the hot liquid, pour more water through the basket to filter more tea into the mix, and transfer the pitcher of tea to another container.
In a pinch I buy a gallon of Red Diamond sweet tea, but the tea tastes sour compared to the honey tea. I did not like using the tea bags.
posted by TrishaU at 5:18 PM on October 5, 2023
Coffee throws my ADHD completely into a tailspin. No bueno. Makes me anxious and makes me puke.
I am, however, completely addicted to La Croix! Maybe flavored bubbly water (if it's something you can have?) will scratch the soda itch?
I am also really into tea. Oolongs, green teas, matchas, puerhs, various black teas... I'm a complete tea nerd and it gives me much pleasure as well as caffeine (and L-theanine) if I need it. Tea doesn't give me the bad reactions I get from coffee (well, I got over-caffeinated once at a tea festival after drinking tea pretty continuously for 10 hours... but that seems like an outlier!). If I need a delicious flavor, I go for an oolong. If I need a pick-me-up with a bit more caffeine to give me energy and help me focus, I whisk up a cup of nice Ippodo matcha.
posted by cnidaria at 8:57 PM on October 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
I am, however, completely addicted to La Croix! Maybe flavored bubbly water (if it's something you can have?) will scratch the soda itch?
I am also really into tea. Oolongs, green teas, matchas, puerhs, various black teas... I'm a complete tea nerd and it gives me much pleasure as well as caffeine (and L-theanine) if I need it. Tea doesn't give me the bad reactions I get from coffee (well, I got over-caffeinated once at a tea festival after drinking tea pretty continuously for 10 hours... but that seems like an outlier!). If I need a delicious flavor, I go for an oolong. If I need a pick-me-up with a bit more caffeine to give me energy and help me focus, I whisk up a cup of nice Ippodo matcha.
posted by cnidaria at 8:57 PM on October 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
Artifice_Eternity suggested making iced tea with seltzers, and I will second this, with the addition that you should try it with masala chai. I had an actual chai soda a few times, and it was pretty damn tasty, and I figure you can recreate something like it by steeping some masala chai tea bags in plain seltzer overnight. That'll get you some of the herbal/spice component of cola, plus the fizz. Since sugar is an issue for you, I would go without it at first. Maybe add just a bit of simple syrup or honey, or some kind of artificial sweetener. I feel like even a pitcher of this stuff made with multiple tea bags will still have less caffeine than the equivalent amount of Coke Zero. It's worth a shot, at any rate!
posted by yasaman at 10:18 PM on October 5, 2023
posted by yasaman at 10:18 PM on October 5, 2023
Oh -- another thing I forgot to mention: Just adding a splash of fruit juice, and/or a slice of fruit, to water. I often pour a little lemon juice -- like half a teaspoon or so -- into a tall glass of ice water. It's like lemonade without the sugar. Very refreshing.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 9:35 AM on October 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 9:35 AM on October 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
Bitterness is one thing but coffee that is not bitter can still be too strong. Adding hot water will result in weaker coffee, which may be easier for a coffee newbie.
But really, start with cold brew. It is a much smoother taste.
posted by koahiatamadl at 9:37 AM on October 6, 2023
But really, start with cold brew. It is a much smoother taste.
posted by koahiatamadl at 9:37 AM on October 6, 2023
I'd feel weird drinking that much coffee every day and it would probably make my body upset too. I'd think you'd be good with say 3 cups of coffee during the day. You can take it straight, with sugar, milk, coffee mate, or some combination of these. For the rest of your drinking (Is there a reason you need to drink so much every day? Unless you're talking about mini cans that's a minimum of 4L you're drinking every day) you could use carbonated water or green tea. Green tea is still caffeinated but you can keep adding water to the same pot and still have something nice to drink.
Have you tried drinking hot water? That's what I usually drink at work. I'll boil water in the kettle and fill up a mug and sip it until either its finished or has cooled down too much. It gives me something to drink but at the same time the temperature means I'm nursing it for a while. Also no extra caffeine or sugar or sweetener or other thing I may not want to ingest too much of.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 2:41 PM on October 6, 2023
Have you tried drinking hot water? That's what I usually drink at work. I'll boil water in the kettle and fill up a mug and sip it until either its finished or has cooled down too much. It gives me something to drink but at the same time the temperature means I'm nursing it for a while. Also no extra caffeine or sugar or sweetener or other thing I may not want to ingest too much of.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 2:41 PM on October 6, 2023
Sounds like carbonation is a big part of the soda thrill. Seltzer and sparkling water might do the trick. And you can get caffeine from tea or coffee or pills or chocolate covered coffee beans. There's a whole world of caffeine-delivery systems.
Also, coffee is nasty. It just is. The very best smoothest coffee in the world is bitter AF. There are acids in proper coffee that are not nice. But many things are enjoyable despite being nasty. Grapefruit juice, for instance. Very oily over-sugared donuts. Salted dried meats. Many foods that people love do not actually taste good.
posted by Lesser Shrew at 7:43 PM on October 6, 2023
Also, coffee is nasty. It just is. The very best smoothest coffee in the world is bitter AF. There are acids in proper coffee that are not nice. But many things are enjoyable despite being nasty. Grapefruit juice, for instance. Very oily over-sugared donuts. Salted dried meats. Many foods that people love do not actually taste good.
posted by Lesser Shrew at 7:43 PM on October 6, 2023
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posted by Mr. Hazlenut at 8:35 PM on October 4, 2023