Caffeine is a bitter, white crystalline xanthine alkaloid that is a psychoactive stimulant. Caffeine was isolated from coffee in 1820 by a German chemist, Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge, and in 1821 by French chemists working independently; namely, by Robiquet and by Pelletier and Caventou. It was Pelletier, noting that the drug had been isolated from coffee (French: café), who coined the word “cafeine”,[5] which became the English word “caffeine”

Psychoactive stimulant means that it gives the “natural” boost the zzz feeling. And if you are not zzz, then you will be then put into a turbo mode – a mode that allow you to do things at super-human level. Like work harder, run faster and jumper higher(exaggeration of course).

Regardless the definition of coffee and caffeine, what every human needs is the “boost” that gives us the super ability to do our normal tasks better. As we are used to the dosage of this harmless drug, we tend to get addicted. I myself I must say already addict to this(since young), and will be almost impossible for me to runaway from it. In fact, it has been a normal routine for me to drink coffee first thing in the morning. No water, no orange juice – that perfect espresso shot is the “sweet” dose that allow me to start my day.

So, what happened if I don’t get my coffee? Craving – what else is there. I don’t feel weak or sleepy, I just feel thirst for that shot(caffeine withdrawal syndrome). Then the question is, can I just forget about coffee and just drink plain water. Some say coffee is bad for human. Truthfully, I think I can’t do that. Coffee is like chocolate to some human. It’s food for the soul. The challenge is for me to avoid taking coffee with other additives that is high in calories. Things like milk, sugar and flavored syrup.

For example, if I was to drink a latte, that’s like drinking a whole glass of milk with few shots of espresso. Drinking latte without brown sugar is like a sin! So adding the brown sugar will just top up the number of calories. Glad that lately I have been able to get myself away from cappuccino and latte (does not help when the company provides the workers with an endless supply of latte and cappuccino). So now my coffee is limited to either black coffee (and milk for coloring) or espresso shots. It makes me feel less guilty, and of course cheaper. In Starbucks, it cost me RM7.95 for a Coffee Of The Day whilst a Latte or Cappucino will cost me RM11.15.

So now – do you drink coffee? And why do you drink it?