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Comment by tensor | Hacker News Reader

Since we're throwing around anecdotes. I quit coffee for two years to help with anxiety. It did help with that, but there were zero other benefits, and the significant downside of not having something tasty to sip on.

After the first few weeks I didn't feel groggy in the morning without the coffee, but I definitely wasn't feeling any more rested. It didn't help me get to sleep any easier either. It also didn't help me get going in the morning any faster.

It did have some benefit to anxiety, but after I improved the original source of that anxiety (work related) I eventually went back to having coffee again simply because I really enjoy the flavour.

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Decaf works great for this.

I'm like 100% a rat pulling levers now that I'm vaping 0% nicotine and drinking decaf in the morning. If they start ringing bells before lunch I'm done for.

Yep, I think in year two or so I started having decaf. It was not bad.

All the decafs I tried did not taste as good as the OG.

There is great decaff out there but the choice is nevertheless limited compared to caff and the processing (ethyl acetate, supercritical CO2, swiss water) causes flavour changes which mean that you won't get the same range of flavours as you will with caff. Although ethyl acetate causes some unique positive changes (IMO) so there is that.

As an alternative perspective I found no good decaf coffee. I tried maybe 8 different coffees, all very well regarded, very hipster, none came close to creating good pour-over coffee. I admit it’s all about expectations but if you’re currently enjoying pretty fancy coffee and want to go decaf you’re going to be disappointed. Decaf black tea was even worse…

You're right in that there is much less variety amongst decaf coffee options, but there are a few good single origins out there.

BlendIn's Los Nogales typica is outstanding. It's the bean that convinced me to go full-decaf two years ago. (I drink caffeinated coffee now.)

Manhattan Coffee Roasters also has El Vergel, which is a good single origin with a dark, chocolatey taste profile. Great as a pour-over or as an espresso.

One Line Coffee in Columbus, OH also has a great decaf single origin. They deliver!

But, yeah, most decaf options are meh at best and pretty bad on average. Starbucks, of all places, has a reliable decaf roast that's alright and consistent.

Why not both! Delicious caffeinated in the morning, less-delicious-but-still-quite-nice decaf after 12:00. You don’t need to go entirely caffeine-free to enjoy most of the benefits.

Do you have AD(H)D?

I clearly have some kind of thing in that spectrum, though I never pursued a diagnosis because I don't really want or need to take medicine for it.

But I have noticed I am NOT relating to anyone in this thread, or the OP, about the effects of caffeine. Yours is the closest, being under-whelmed by the effects of caffeine.

I don't NEED it in the mornings, it doesn't keep me up at night (I can have an espresso shot after a steak dinner at 8pm and still sleep fine), I don't get headaches from skipping a day, and it doesn't make me feel wired at all. What I do notice is that I really enjoy the flavor, and I do find that I feel "braced" if that makes sense. Which might just mean maybe I should get diagnosed and adderall would indeed help me.

If you like a hot, bitter drink with roasted notes, roasted dandelion root tea is an incredible, low acid (and good for you) coffee substitute.

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