My best friend sent me a link to an article about how coffee consumption is correlated with lower rates of depression in women. She joked about how not having coffee in the morning would make her very grouchy. My gut response was that such research findings could very well be true, since I have experienced more emotional challenges since having to reduce my coffee intake.
I realize that one could simply say that I am undergoing withdrawal symptoms. However, I tried to cut off all caffeine consumption in order to sharpen my mind for my graduate comprehensive exam (based on the research conclusions that caffeine actually makes one's brain fuzzier and less alert) -- oh, big mistake. I felt stuck in the middle stages of the famed Oatmeal cartoon about the emotional roller coaster all caffeine addicts ride on a daily basis [http://theoatmeal.com/comics/caffeine]. Physically, mentally, emotionally draining -- although far less severe pain in magnitude than what individuals who are refraining from heroin and other such drugs are said to endure.
As I have mentioned in previous posts, I do miss the activities related to drinking coffee, such as sitting in coffee houses, meeting with friends for coffee, and so on. I admit, I also miss the thrills of drinking coffee in the evenings and being tremendously more productive (whee!) I still drink coffee [like a wonderful white I had just hours ago at Simply Life (http://www.openrice.com/english/restaurant/sr2.htm?shopid=18912)] but I am also thinking about whether my coffee-drinking days will soon be over, a phenomenon I could never fathom when expressed by other people, but all the more comprehensible now.
I hope you continue drinking coffee and writing about it. I'm about to move to Hong Kong and would love to know where I can find great espresso.
回覆刪除Cha Bing,
回覆刪除Thank you for commenting.
It is actually quite difficult to find good espresso in Hong Kong but there are some small holes in the wall that provide excellent service and flavorful beverages. I am not sure where you will be living here in HK, but I would certainly be glad to suggest some places, depending on your location.
Thank you! I'm not yet sure exactly where I will be living, but it will probably be in Wan Chai, maybe Central.
回覆刪除Cha Bing,
回覆刪除I would recommend Holly Brown in Central, as per my "Hot and Cold" post, and I will try to do a post on 8 Grams, which is modest but as-yet unparalleled in my esteem as a serious coffee bar with a modest, creative flair.
I also hope to visit more places in Sheung Wan, which are underestimated but far preferable to the conventional chains so ubiquitous in Central.
Thank you! I will be sure to mark these on the google map I am creating of places I need to visit upon arrival. Look forward to more of your posts. Hope you are able to drink more coffee soon.
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