Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with coffee and caffeine

A dark, rich cup of coffee creme, please!

backseatpilot — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:40:31 -0800

What makes European coffee different from American coffee? While in Europe the other week, I was reminded about how much different their coffee is from ours in America - darker, thicker, richer. I often saw it listed as "Kaffee Kreme" on menus, and regular "drip" style coffee seemed to be nonexistent.

I'd like to recreate that style of coffee at home, but I'm not sure how. It seemed almost, but not exactly, like a large espresso - but espressos were also on the menu, so it seems obvious that it's something different. What's the secret?

I have a normal drip coffee maker, a French press, and a stovetop "Tassimo" pot - can I make European coffee with these? Do I need other equipment?

Bonus: the single serve coffee machines I saw there were awesome - pick a coffee drink and the machine grinds beans and gives you a perfect brew, none of this K-cup crap. Is there anywhere I can buy one of those in the States?

How do I made delicious coffee?

InsanePenguin — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 07:58:32 -0800

Coffeenewbfilter: Good, cheap coffeemaker? Instead of drinking Coke in the morning (irritates my acid reflux,) I've taken to drinking coffee (which I sort of had to force myself to like, but now I do.) Instead of spending money at Dunkin Donuts every morning, or god forbid, Starbucks, I've decided to buy a coffeemaker.

Problem is, I don't know anything about coffee or coffee makers. I like black coffee from Dunkin Donuts. That's pretty much the only coffee I've ever had, but I really enjoy it. How can I get this experience at home for less than $50? I don't need fancy, but I'd like a programmable one so I don't have to wake up earlier than I already have to for work.

Why does caffeine give me a paradoxical effect?

the jam — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:00:08 -0800

For the past year, caffeine has had a strange effect on me. I drink soda or coffee -- and within minutes, I feel groggy, fuzzy headed, and almost kind of drunk. I get absolutely no stimulating effects. The more I drink, the more fuzzy-drunk I feel. Caffeine used to make me feel wonderful -- awake, cheerful, on-point. I've never drank an excessive amount (2 coffees a day, max). Can anyone explain what might be going on in my brain chemicals?

Get people caffeine-buzzed off of my cookies

rachaelfaith — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 18:07:41 -0800

How do I get caffeine into my cookies? Hi there! I'd like to somehow caffeinate the cookies I bake. I know these exist, and if I were a simple person, I would just buy them. But I'm not simple, and I want more variety! I found this as well, but the people I'm baking for are oatmeal-averse.

I'd eventually like to make caffeinated chocolate chip cookies, dark chocolate cookies, and maybe... peanut butter cookies?

Should I take the advice of the second website and just try to replace some of the liquid with coffee or espresso, and add finely ground beans?

Maybe you've done this before [because you have crazy caffeine-junkie friends] and can guide me.

Thanks, Hive!

What's the caffeine content of coffee made in an Aeropress?

cheapskatebay — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 09:12:06 -0800

What's the caffeine content of coffee made in an Aeropress? Based on many glowing MeFite testimonials, I requested and received an Aeropress for Christmas. It makes terrific coffee and I'm grateful for getting the idea here. Perhaps some of you Aeropress junkies can help me with a caffeine-related question.

I only drink decaf. A houseguest I'll be hosting this weekend drinks regular. I'd like to make her coffee using the Aeropress. For decaf, I use 2 scoops of beans are used to make one mug of coffee. Can anyone enlighten me as to the caffeine content if I were to use that formula to make her a mug of regular coffee? I don't want to buzz her into the stratosphere, nor give her too little caffeine to kick off her morning. She's used to drinking 2 cups each morning, and if there's a heightened caffeine content I'll just mix some decaf into the regular to reach the appropriate level.

I saw this thread in a coffee forum, and if I'm reading the comment at the very bottom of the page correctly, it looks like most methods of making coffee, including the Aeropress, give you a similar amount of caffeine, although that particular example focused on a single scoop Americano.

I've made this too complicated! I suppose what I'm looking for is the real-world formula: a person used to 2 cups of regular should get... 2 "shots? made with 4 Aeropress scoops?... of Aeropress coffee.

Many thanks in advance.

Nurze R4tch3t, c4n I h4v3 m1 t34?

sully75 — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 06:53:00 -0800

Can a couple of cups of tea make me totally anxious, and totally unable to sleep? Even two days later? I love, love, love black tea with milk and sugar.

I've pretty much stopped drinking it because I suspect it might make me really anxious and also mess up my sleeping, but I'm not sure.

I tend towards anxiety in the first place. Sleeping isn't usually a problem, although I've had a bit of a rough year emotionally and have had issues. Usually I go to sleep around midnight, exhausted, and then I'm wide awake at 4am. My new thing is that I get music going through my head, over and over, really loud. Usually it's music that I'm working on (I'm a fiddle player). I like fiddle music plenty, but at 2AM having the same tune going over and over in my head is no fun.

So to be clear, this definitely happens when I'm not drinking black tea.

I'm not sure if this is confirmation bias or whatever you call it. For instance, I'm housesitting at a friends house right now. We hung out till late, I had a couple cups of tea. That night I slept poorly on his futon. I didn't have any yesterday but I slept miserably.

I have a similar suspicion that it pushes my anxiety past comfortable limits, but it's hard to see a direct causation because I'm pretty anxious in general. And have been particularly anxious this fall, and have had maybe 4 cups of black tea.

Really the issue is that I'd like to drink black tea all the time, because I love it so much. But I'm afraid my head might explode. But don't want to deny myself the pleasure if I'm just a normal head case and it's not really doing much.

Any way I can figure this out?

Oh and btw I never ever drink coffee and never have. No caffeinated soft drinks (well, the occasional gourmet root beer).

Learning How to Like Coffee, and How to Like Beer

WCityMike — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 10:34:41 -0800

There are two beverages that nearly every American adult seems to like, but I dislike both: coffee and beer. I would like to develop a taste for both of them. For morning caffeine, coffee's free at most workplaces whereas pop isn't; and beer is a cheap mood alterer; but more importantly, both are social lubricants, one that isn't achieved by drinking a soda while others get either awake, buzzed or drunk. It's been a while since I had either, but remembering the tastes, I think it's that I dislike the bitterness in each drink. This isn't anything I'm torn up over, but I can see how acclimating myself to these would be helpful to things I'd like to develop socially. Anyhow, tips on how to change my tastes so that I can become a jittery, coffee-addicted beerhound would be appreciated. :-)

Cheap Beans, Rich Flavor.

mccarty.tim — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 18:29:13 -0800

What's a good whole bean coffee I can buy in bulk online on a college student budget? I'm a college student with limited money. However, I do like good coffee and keep a coffee grinder and an aeropress in my dorm. What brands should I go for? I'm a big fan of pacific coffees and blends of them. I would say the two best varieties that I've sampled would be Dean's Beans Moka Summatra and the Summatra blend from Starbucks. Starbucks is widely available, but it is, of course, really expensive, about $11 a bag here, for a bag that isn't even a whole lb. Dean's Beans is more reasonably priced, but the shipping makes small amounts not worth paying for if I'm not also ordering something else, which I only do around other coffee-lover's birthdays.

Is there any supermarket brand or internet brand that ship affordably? I'd like to be able to pay about $4-6 a lb after shipping, in quantities that vary from 2-5 lbs. I know ordering that much at once risks the coffee going stale, but I can deal with slightly stale coffee on my budget. Fair trade, organic, and shade grown would be nice touches, but I know it's a bit much to ask on my budget.

Also, my school is near Trenton, NJ. I'm a bit scared to go into the city, but it's worth it if there's a cheap wholesaler of beans in there.

Coffee Antidote For Falling Asleep?

salvia — Wed, 14 May 2008 02:14:28 -0800

I drank some coffee at 9 pm, and at 2 am, I am still wide awake. Anyone have tips for neutralizing caffeine or speeding it out of my system? Or for falling asleep while I'm still wired? In retrospect, this was a totally dumb thing to do. A couple weeks ago, though, I was almost completely immune. I could fall asleep right after having a cup.

But I've been trying to cut back, which (on the bright side) does seem to have reduced my tolerance.

Even if you read this question tomorrow, advice for others who make the same mistake might be worth posting. My google searches haven't turned up much.

Going cold turkey on the bean brew.

Gordion Knott — Fri, 09 May 2008 05:16:41 -0800

I'm anxious to give up the Java, or switch to decaf. For health reasons. Give me hints on how to do this effectively. For me, caffeine is a migraine trigger. I've successfully given up daily cups of tea and coffee, switching to a morning cup of hot water and lemon. But on occasion--during long drives, on vacations, or when passing a local cafe with its bean roaster dialed to 11--the devil strikes, and I give into temptation.

I've tried switching to decaf, but I can't get enough of that jolt that comes with a shot of freshly brewed espresso. Just thinking about the energy spike makes me jones.

I've tried alternative eye-openers, such as daily 5-mile runs or weightlifting at the gym. With modest success. But what I'm looking for is a way to jump-start my nervous system, so that I'll be comfortable with decaf and not desperate for the real thing.

Are there any techniques, exercises, herbal supplements, et cetera, that approximate the caffeine high? Or any comes-from-experience advice on making a permanent departure from caffeine?

Ordering coffees from around the world, online

nitsuj — Tue, 06 May 2008 18:17:00 -0800

I enjoy drinking coffee from various regions. Is there a good online resource for A) determining good coffees from various regions and B) ordering said coffees online? For instance, I enjoy drinking Community Coffee from the New Orleans/Southern Louisiana region, and pick it up anytime I see it. But this doesn't happen often, so I end up buying whatever Coffee X that is available at my local grocer.

-What are some other good regional coffees?
-Where can I order them online?

Some notes: I don't like flavored coffee; no hazelnuts or vanilla flavors, please. I have a grinder, so I'd like to buy full bean if possible.

Spit, don't swallow - oral caffeine absorption

chrisamiller — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:09:41 -0800

I need some information on the amount of caffeine that can reasonably be absorbed through oral membranes. I have a friend who's having some GI problems, but doesn't want to give up her daily kick of caffeine. She's planning on trying to brew up some strong coffee, then swish it in her mouth for a while, until some of the caffeine is absorbed (thus bypassing the GI tract all together)

This seems plausible, as we both know that many drugs can be absorbed through the lining of the mouth. (through the surface of the cheeks and tongue, one relevant term is "sublingual"). We disagree on how effective this method can be, though. I don't think the absorption rate will be high enough to make it worthwhile - she's convinced it will work.

Seems like a simple enough question, but I'm having trouble finding information on the rates of absorption. There's lots of literature on other drugs, and even a patent for a breath-spray type caffeine delivery system, but no solid information on how much she could expect to reach her bloodstream.

So, masters of Google-fu, can anyone find me a source that tells us whether this is feasible? Would it be more feasible with a higher concentration of caffeine, that came from, say a caffeine pill (crushed or otherwise)?

Coffee Drinks beyond the Basics

mccarty.tim — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 08:53:55 -0800

What are good espresso-based drinks beyond the typical lattes, cappuccinos, and mochas? I love the coffee my aeropress makes (Yes, I know it isn't really espresso, but I don't care), but I'm getting a bit bored with just my typical drinks, which are pretty much just cappuccinos and lattes in the morning, straight espresso in the afternoon. Are there any good drinks that I can make with my Aeropress, a battery powered frother, milk, and whatever I can get from my campus convenience store? I'm not much of a mocha person and usually the natural sweetness of steamed milk is about as much sweetening I need. However, if you have sweet confectionary drinks you really like, go ahead and tell me. I'm curious, and it doesn't have to be traditional Italian either. These can be drinks made in an American mug or a demitasse.

What would be nice is for the drink to not require too much cleanup and be easy enough to make in under 10 minutes. But I'm partly doing this for my entertainment, so if you have any big, crazy elaborate drink that takes all morning, I'm all ears.

help me drink just the right amount of coffee

yomimono — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 05:03:55 -0800

How infrequently must I drink coffee to avoid becoming addicted? I love my coffee, but I don't love being tethered to it. I would like to figure out how frequently I can drink a shot of espresso (if it matters, usually with about 10oz of steamed milk) without becoming addicted and having to go through withdrawal. I weigh about 165lbs and my BMR has been guesstimated at about 1700kcal/day by various websites.

I did some searches, but was only able to find information on how to quit, which I already know well enough how to do.

If anyone is wondering about motivation, I go on a lot of wilderness trips and drinking instant coffee makes me feel like I'm digging around for cigarette butts to smoke. I also like being able to stop paying for fancy coffee on a whim without having to worry about a three-day headache.

Instant concentration enhancers?

zaebiz — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 15:42:42 -0800

I want to improve my reading and comprehension concentration for a few hours at a time using drugs/chemicals/foods only. Yes I believe you that meditation and exercise are the ideal solutions but I just want to be my usual averagely healthy self when Im not concentrating. I also don't care about negative short-term after-effects. Ok there's caffeine. Check. What about these energy drinks? Are some better for concentration than others? What about pure Guarana? I heard dark chocolate works for some people as well? What about Gingko? Have there been any studies done about chemically-enhanced concentration? What works for you?

Wherefore art thou coffe-o

zackola — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 06:25:40 -0800

Where can I find cold-brewed coffee within a 5 block radius of East 59th St. and Lexington Ave, New York, NY? I've recently joined the cult of cold-brewed coffee. I generally make my own on a nightly basis and bring it to work in a thermos. I occasionally forget to brew my daily coffee the night before. Does anyone know of any coffee shops, delis, street carts, or whatever, within a few blocks of here that serve cold-brewed coffee?

Caffeine fixes for a coffee hater

chickletworks — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 17:59:22 -0800

Please help me learn to love coffee, or suggest an alternative caffeine delivery method. Currently, I drink two to three 20 ounce bottles of Mountain Dew Code Red daily, which constitutes an absurd amount of my targeted daily caloric intake and cannot possibly be healthy. I need an alternative source of caffeine. I’ve already tried pretty much all the caffeinated products available from thinkgeek.com. Some of them are excellent, but at two to three bottles a day, it’s too expensive for me to order this stuff online and it isn’t available in my area.

So I guess that leaves coffee... eww. While I’ve never eaten dirt, I imagine it tastes exactly like coffee: earthy and bitter and yuck.

I haven’t tried many coffee drinks, but the only one I’ve liked was Starbucks’ White Chocolate Mocha. However, I can’t afford an $8-12 a day habit, and I don’t think the 20 grams of fat (!) in each one makes them any healthier than Code Red.

So how can I learn to like coffee, and to make palatable coffee drinks (read: ones that don’t taste anything like coffee) at home? I’m mystified by terms like “dry roast” and “espresso” and “foam.” I like the idea of flavored syrups, but I have no idea how to use them. Got any brand or recipe recommendations?

Caffeine—can't live with/out it

humblepigeon — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 11:50:46 -0800

Caffeine is killing me but I need it to work well. Is there an alternative? I work in a 'creative industry' and need to generate good ideas on a daily basis. Pretty much all my career I've drank a lot of coffee. Last year I was found to have high blood pressure (a family trait), so I cut it out. I suffered badly for a week or two, but became clean. The trouble is that I kinda lost my mojo. Over the past two weeks I've been reintroducing caffeine and, wow, the buzz is good. I've realized that it's just what I need to work well. But caffeine is slowly killing me. So is there an alternative? Maybe even a lifestyle change? Background info: I'm overweight and pretty unfit, and spend all day at my desk. However, I don't smoke and have never taken drugs.

CoffeeFilter: Does light roast have more caffeine than dark?

cerebus19 — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 11:11:57 -0800

CoffeeFilter: Does light roast coffee really have more caffeine than dark roast? I heard this from a barista at a Caribou Coffee the other day, and I've Googled it extensively. I've found sites that say there's almost no difference at all, and sites that seem to indicate that the difference is noticeable. I just don't know whom to believe.

Does anyone know of a study of this question that's been done with actual, scientifically obtained data to back up a conclusion, one way or the other? I want to know how to get the most caffeine bang for my buck.

Good diet-friendly caffeinated drinks?

sprocket87 — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 19:23:42 -0800

Any good diet-friendly caffeinated beverages out there? Looking for something convenient, cheap, and low/no-cal/sugar. Does anyone have any recommendations for a caffeinated beverage with which to start my day? I love a good cup of coffee but my hectic schedule makes it difficult to homebrew daily. I don't have the time to stop for coffee daily, and frankly I don't want to pay the premium for coffee from a shop.

I'm planning on entirely eliminating pop and sugary drinks from my diet, so I'll be drinking just bottled water throughout the day. I'll make one exception for my morning kickstart, but I'd like something sugarfree or at least low-cal/low-sugar if possible. It does need to be caffeinated however, and the more kick the better!

I love Red Bull and I'm sure Red Bull Sugarfree would satisfy me, but $20/case of 12 is a bit too rich for my blood. Forget anything labeled Starbucks, as it's equivalently overpriced. The cheaper the better!

Finally, I need something convenient. If I don't have time to brew my own pitcher of French Press (or kettle of hot tea), I'd like to be able to just grab a bottle or a can from the fridge and down it in the car during my commute.

So, what miracle beverages can you recommend? Thanks for the help, [wired] MeFites!

I am wondering why coffee makes my stomach turn to the point where it feels like there's a third world war going on.

cheero — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 21:40:59 -0800

I am wondering why coffee makes my stomach turn to the point where it feels like there's a third world war going on. I don't drink coffee often, I'd like to say I do it maybe once or twice per week, if that. However, whenever I do drink it, it absolutely destroys my stomach. Sorry to get graphic, but after about an hour of consuming a cup of coffee, it leads to diarrhea. Everything goes directly through me.

Now in the past, my doctor said 'don't use milk or cream' and I tried that, but it did not do me any good, so milk/cream obviously werent factors in this problem.

I've done an ultrasound twice in the past 2 years, and the doctors kept repeating that everything is fine with my stomach.

What could it be?

My friend has a weird reaction to coffee. What's happening?

huskerdont — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 18:27:43 -0800

My friend has a weird reaction to coffee. What's happening? Posting for a friend without a MeFi membership.

An acquaintance of mine, whenever he drinks coffee, starts sweating uncontrollably. There is no shaking or any reactions associated with ingesting too much coffee, just heavy sweating. According to him, he continues sweating uncontrollable for about 2 hours after having each cup of coffee.

FWIW, he claims that he has no similar reaction to tea, soda or chocolate - just to coffee.

We decided to ask after I saw him after drinking a cup of coffee at a social event. He literally looked like a lawn sprinkler had gone off around him.

So what is this? A food allergy? A weird inborn coffeephobia? Other??

Inquiring caffeine lovers want to know.

Hyper-caffeinated Shock Coffee

NYCinephile — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 09:43:41 -0800

Have you ever tasted hyper-caffeinated Shock coffee? If so, your review?

How long does it take for caffeine withdrawal symptoms to go away?

Sonny Jim — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 18:47:21 -0800

I am currently going through caffeine withdrawal. I have gone for three days without any caffeine and still feel bad. I don't have headaches, I am just fatigued, irritable, foggy headed and unhappy. Has anyone else gone through this? How long before you started feeling normal again?

Don't handle when hot!

pdb — Wed, 04 Jan 2006 12:41:30 -0800

Why aren't coffee pots made from Pyrex? I don't drink coffee, so I have no experience with these things. I got my girlfriend quite a nice coffeemaker for Christmas, and printed on the pot itself (as well as all throughout the documentation) were several warnings about the fragile nature of the glass used for the pot - all of which led me to think that the pot is so fragile that it almost can't stand up to normal use.

Is there something about coffee that renders more durable glass products (like Pyrex or safety glass) unusable as coffee pots? Is it purely a price issue? It seems silly to make coffee pots out of glass that's so fragile that there need to be about 15 warnings about proper handling on the thing.