The Coffee House

[Gary A.]

No coffee for me. Caffeine free since 2003. Except for the occasional Diet Coke. I buybthe caffeine free version for at home but they never have that when out.

Wow! I had no idea. So, that makes you caffeine-free and no coffee for @terri.

What made you go caffeine free? My one sister doesn't regularly do caffeine, but it has more to do with the fact that she doesn't like hot drinks. She'll do the occasional soft drink, but she's mostly a water drinker. Similarly, her one daughter dislikes most sweets and hates soda, which is a stark contrast to all other nieces and nephews (and probably most kids her age).

I've thought about giving up coffee, but I find that I drink it more because I enjoy the warm drink rather than the caffeine. I take it with me in the morning to work, and that's all I ever have. If I want more later, I do decaf. I've tried tea, but I can't really find one that I like enough to replace coffee. I do tend to like teas with mint, so maybe I should explore that more.

I have never been a coffee drinker. I think that is because my mom loves (turn your eyes away @Gary A. and @JonA_CT) that gross instant coffee and it always smelled and tasted so terrible when I was growing up that I just never wanted to drink coffee. And now I see no reason to add a "vice" to my others! The no caffeine at all started when I gave up soda for a long time after my daughter was born and I was trying to lose the baby weight and also no caffeine while nursing... I missed my soda though so I switched to caffeine free diet coke a few years ago but only occasionally as it's so bad for you.

Gary is having a ton of success with the soda maker. Gary gifted one to his youngest daughter and she is equally pleased with the results. She's been purchasing carbonated water by the case at Costco and now no more. There are tons of flavorings to add, but Gary would rather go a la natural with fruits and berries and melons from the yard.

 

[Gary A.]

Gary hasn't had any coffee in about a week.

 

[Gary A.]

In Bonn we prepare for the cherry blossom. Big party, too many tourists to even get through with a bicycle (lasts for two weeks), let alone a car, and I live in the middle of it:

Cherry Blossom - Bonn - Aktuelle 2018 - Lohnt es sich?

Cherry Blossom Festival

Blog - Kirschbluete Bonn

A neighbor had a Cherry tree. He would pack it in ice every winter in order to get some fruit. lol

 

[terri58 1]

So, that makes you caffeine-free and no coffee for @terri.

I've slowly re-introduced coffee back onto my menu. After a long break, while dieting, I returned with only limited use of cream, and it wasn't very good. We've found some new beans at a local farmer's market that are really good, though. Even limiting my cream to 3 TBS, I've been able to enjoy it. Still only have coffee a couple-three times a week, though. I also made up a batch of my own masala, so I make a mean chai now and love it.

 

[Gary A.]

Mary Lou hasn't had any coffee for about a year. She didn't like black coffee and decided it was easier to eliminate the coffee with cream and sugar altogether as opposed to exercise in order to combat the calories.

 

[Gary A.]

Buenos Dias Coffee Hoser and non-Coffee Hosers. It is another cool morning, about 59F presently. Gary has prepared Maggie's breakfast of yogurt, bananas and some BBQed chicken. Soon we will be off on our walk.

 

[JonA_CT]

Buenos Dias Coffee Hoser and non-Coffee Hosers. It is another cool morning, about 59F presently. Gary has prepared Maggie's breakfast of yogurt, bananas and some BBQed chicken. Soon we will be off on our walk.

Maggie eats better than me.

She can't have my coffee though.

 

[waday]

I have never been a coffee drinker. I think that is because my mom loves (turn your eyes away @Gary A. and @JonA_CT) that gross instant coffee and it always smelled and tasted so terrible when I was growing up that I just never wanted to drink coffee. And now I see no reason to add a "vice" to my others! The no caffeine at all started when I gave up soda for a long time after my daughter was born and I was trying to lose the baby weight and also no caffeine while nursing... I missed my soda though so I switched to caffeine free diet coke a few years ago but only occasionally as it's so bad for you.

Instant, oi. There are only a few instant coffees that I can drink. I think the main problem with instant (aside from it's taste), is that the flavor is never "strong" enough for me. It's either made too weak, or too much powder making it sludgy.

At Gary's house, we're beginning to explore all the teas that we can craft up from backyard stuff. We have lots of herbal tea ingredients in the back ... citrus, tarragon, verbena, lemon balm, different flavored mints, a green/black tea plant and a coffee plant, et cetera. Gary needs to search for a good herbal tea DIY book.

When the wife and I traveled to Ecuador, we stopped at a couple Juan Valdez Cafes here and there. They sold a packet of what appeared to be dehydrated fruits and spices. I could have sworn I took a picture of the package, but I can't find it.

I've slowly re-introduced coffee back onto my menu. After a long break, while dieting, I returned with only limited use of cream, and it wasn't very good. We've found some new beans at a local farmer's market that are really good, though. Even limiting my cream to 3 TBS, I've been able to enjoy it. Still only have coffee a couple-three times a week, though. I also made up a batch of my own masala, so I make a mean chai now and love it.

Ooo.. chai! Yum! I never did sugar in my coffee (aside from flavored coffees when I do mochas/etc). But, I do like creamer. I've gone up significantly in my creamer usage, so I do need to watch that from time to time. I probably use about 2 tablespoons, maybe 3. I used to just have a sprinkle. Ugh.

 

[JonA_CT]

Black coffee is a lot easier to stomach when it's the good stuff.

I've pretty much stopped ordering coffee at breakfast restaurants around here, and I get my fix before I leave home. Since Dunkin is really the main option around here, I have to take my lumps and either order with a little bit of milk or up the ante for the cold brew which isn't terrible cold and black.

 

[smoke665]

Gary hasn't had any coffee in about a week

What????? First no wine, now no coffee, you are seriously starting to worry me that something serious is wrong!!!

@JonA_CT we just got our order in last week, so we're good for at least 6 weeks on coffee. Costa Rican, Honduras, and Ethiopian. Should be an interesting 6 weeks. Currently finishing up on the Guatemala.

 

[SquarePeg1]

My mom is hard core. She likes her Taster's Choice instant coffee with no sugar and the teeniest drop of milk. It's disgusting.

 

[davidharmier60]

Along with Houston we've now come to Pasadena for my freaking uncle. Now once we get the ok for the parts we go to our bank then up to his place.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

 

[vintagesnaps]

I could drink instant coffee if I had to - any port in a storm.

I started drinking coffee when I started teaching, that's what did it! I use cream, but don't like it sweet, even flavored. Sprinkled a little cinnamon in it today.

Which just ended up making me cough I'm so congested with this weather. Had snow Sunday, lots of rain and thunder overnight/this morning; the river level was already up this weekend. Now the sun's coming out, but more rain and storms later. OK mother nature, March is over!

 

[Frank F.]

today our daughter's room was subject to the holy inquisition by my lovely wife....

honi soit qui mal y pense

 

[Gary A.]

Buenos Dias Coffee Hoser and non-Coffee Hosers. It is another cool morning, about 59F presently. Gary has prepared Maggie's breakfast of yogurt, bananas and some BBQed chicken. Soon we will be off on our walk.

Maggie eats better than me.

She can't have my coffee though.

Maggie eats better than Gary.