Monday, July 16, 2012

More Than You Ever Wanted To Know About My Coffee Drinking Habits

good morningThis morning I made my coffee much stronger than I usually do (not on purpose), and I have been bouncing around my house doing housework for over four hours now!!! I chattered like a squirrel to Thomas when he got up too. NOT like me, first thing in the morning, I can assure you. I'm wondering how the crash will be -- and this is only one cup of coffee...not even a mug...a cup!!

I am not a coffee drinker; I mean to say I do not have to have coffee every day. That makes me a bit alien in my family. I grew up with parents and siblings who did, and still do, have to have multiple cups of coffee throughout the day. I started drinking coffee early, as young as 8 or 9 years old. It used to be the standard thing for children in America to drink coffee, sugared and with lots of milk or cream, probably, on a regular basis; and I believe that during my parents' childhoods in the 20s and 30s, it was still a common thing. So it must not have seemed a bad or strange thing to my parents for their kids to drink coffee early. I never thought about it until I was older and realized that not all kids drank coffee at 8 or 9 years old.

But I never drank it every day, and I never had to drink multiple cups of it. I've never had a "caffeine headache", although at times coffee has helped me with my migraines. I have at different times preferred it black, with sugar only, or with cream and sugar, and currently I prefer it sweet and with real cream. I do not use artificial sweeteners or flavored creamer. I do not like it extremely strong. I don't mind if it's scalding hot, lukewarm, or cold. I will not let a bit go to waste just because it isn't hot, and I won't bother to warm it up either. I drink it when I want it because I like the taste, not to be sociable, out of habit, or because I need a caffeine boost. I prefer to drink from a dainty coffee cup with a thin rim, not a mug or thick cup.

Thomas hasn't had coffee for at least 15 years now, since it started hurting his stomach. He never liked coffee but drank it because he would get a headache if he didn't have a cup every day. Since he discovered that a cold can of Pepsi would take care of his headache, that is what he has each morning to get him going. Neither of my kids drank coffee until just a few months ago when Eler Beth started drinking it. She had discovered cappuccino a few years ago, and had it once in a while, always very sweet and usually with a lot of flavored syrups added to it. She always said she liked the smell of coffee, but not the taste. Sometimes if I made bacon in the morning and it happened to be a day when I wanted coffee, she'd get up, sniff the air and say, "It smells like Mamaw's house!" (That's my Mom.) And she was right. That's the way my Mom's house smells of a morning, like coffee and bacon. I remember when I'd visit my grandfather (Mom's dad), his house always smelled like coffee too. And I would always have a cup when I was there because his water made such really good coffee. He always used Maxwell House. When I was growing up Mom and Dad always preferred Folgers. With their water Folger's tasted better, but at my house, having experimented with several name and generic brands, I have discovered that Maxwell House works best with our city water, even when filtered.

So a few months ago Eler Beth started drinking coffee a few times a week. Now quite often she's the one who makes the coffee in the morning. When she visited my Mom and the girls recently for a few days, she really enjoyed sitting and having a sociable cup of coffee with her Mamaw.

Lately I've been thinking of things I'd like to write about in my blog, and, as one does, I've been composing posts in my head. These have mostly been memories from my childhood, and it seems like almost every one has had something to do with food, or drink, or eating. So I've had an idea for a series of posts, and I might just get around to writing them one of these days. Perhaps this post will be the first of that series. Until then, hope you have a good day, with or without coffee!

coffee club

13 comments:

Donna. W said...

The only coffee I really feel I HAVE to have is my morning coffee. Two cups will fill the bill, but I often have three. If it were just me, that would probably be all the coffee I would want, but Cliff likes a couple of cups after dinner (noon), and if I'm making it for him, I may as well make some for me. I grind my coffee beans these days; our brand is Eight O'clock. I got tired of the coffee being really tasty when we first opened the can, and then losing a lot of taste before we could finish that container. I use some creamer in my coffee, Cliff drinks his black.

Lori said...

I rarely have more than one small cup -- I'm still going off that one strong cup from this morning early; haven't even had a nap yet! lol Eight O'clock is one brand I've never tried.

Paula said...

I like this entry Lori. I'm a lot like you as far as coffee goes. John doesn't drink coffee at all because of memories from childhood. His Mom put Castor Oil in coffee to get it down him. I've never seen him touch a cup of coffee.

Anonymous said...

Just look at it as a housekeeping aid. If you don't really feel like cleaning, fire up a strong cup. I love my coffee(& I have Starbucks stock, so that is my brand). I've had friends adamant bordering on hostile about the Dangers of Coffee. Not buying it. ~Mary

TARYTERRE said...

Quite the opposite of you, I grew up drinking tea. My parents used the Eight O'clock brand too.(my hubby is a coffee drinker) Like your daughter I LOVE the smell but just can't get past the taste of coffee. had to smile about your coffee high today. Once to be neighborly, when someone new moved into the neighborhood, I accepted an invitation to lunch. She poured me a cup of coffee. I figured to be friendly I'd drink it, pouring spoonfuls of sugar in it, so I could tolerate it. Everytime I'd get about halfway down, she'd fill the cup up again even if I protested. By the time I left I was so jittery I could NOT function. I had a coffee hangover for at least 2 days. LOL Hope your crash was a soft landing.

Lori said...

Terri, I grew up drinking iced tea, LOTS of iced tea, every day, all day long. I drink hot tea now and then, but I'm still an iced tea drinker. I couldn't have kept up with the top-offs your neighbor gave you -- just can't drink that much at a time. It's almost 10 p.m. here, and I'm still awake -- haven't had a nap all day, which is unusual. I only had four hours sleep last night, too!

Ken Riches said...

I did not grow up drinking coffee, and did not like it until college, but now have a pot waiting every morning when I get up. Love my strong black coffee!

Rose said...

I do have one cup of coffee in the morning to get my MOJO going but for the rest of the day I try to get in at least three cups of decaf green tea for health benefits and it also makes my bloodwork look better! Go figure!

ADB said...

I have two cups of coffee through the day, one in mid-morning and the other some time after dinner (in the evening). There was a time when I had 8 cups a day, sometimes of very dubious quality. I like the smell of freshly ground beans - yes, I grind the beans.

Lori said...

My Mom and Dad used to grind their own beans, Guido. And I can still remember the old coffee grinder they used. My Mom probably still has it put away somewhere. Love the smell of freshly ground beans!!

Beth said...

Ken loves his coffee, but I have never picked up the habit. I got my caffeine in Diet Pepsi form, but I've even cut most of that out (although all bets are off when we're on vacation). For me, it's apparently more of a temperature thing rather than a taste thing. I love iced tea, I love iced coffee, I love chocolate drinks from Starbuck's...but I don't care for any of those things if they're hot. Very rarely, anyway. I make an exception for café au lait in New Orleans!

Martha said...

I have to have my morning cup of coffee. I don't think I'd know how to get moving otherwise. I'm a creature of habit I guess :)

TARYTERRE said...

I don't drink coffee, never have. I'm a tea lover. But like you my hubby started drinking coffee as a youngster.