I’ve always loved coffee. Well, except espresso. Too bitter for my soul! LOL. Back in my university days, I experimented with different kinds of coffee like a mad scientist—mocha, cappuccino, latte, you name it. But my go-to was Tora Bika minipacks. Ah, those little sachets of caffeine magic. Only 15 taka for a cappuccino back then, and I’d be up all night before exam day, determined to learn the entire syllabus in one go. Spoiler alert: I stayed awake, but my results? Let’s just say coffee wasn’t the miracle worker I thought it would be. LOL.
Even though I was guzzling down cappuccinos like water, I always made sure not to get too dependent on it. Some of my friends, though? They couldn’t sleep at night, constantly complaining about headaches. I told them, “It’s the coffee!” but they didn’t want to hear it. They’d rather sip away than admit that their daily brew was the culprit behind their misery.
Fast forward to now, coffee and I have a whole different relationship. I’m no longer pulling all-nighters for exams (those days are long behind me!). These days, I only let coffee into my life occasionally—like when the office kitchen calls my name, tempting me with that rich, familiar aroma. Or, even better, when I’m out on a date with my wife, and the barista’s whipping up something special. That’s when I’ll indulge, savoring each sip like I’m rekindling an old flame.
Well, I’ve learned the hard way that coffee can be a double-edged sword. Sure, it gives you that energy boost, but too much and you start feeling jittery and weird, pretending to be productive when your brain’s really just saying, “Why are we doing this to ourselves?”
Back in university, I drank so much coffee that I became dependent on it just to function. I stayed awake all night, but my brain was running on empty. Without coffee, I was too tired to focus, and with it, I was too wired to think straight. It was like running on a hamster wheel, going nowhere fast.
Then came my first office job. The kitchen was a dream come true—unlimited coffee, all day, every day. I started with 2-3 cups a day, thinking I could handle it. For a while, I was riding the caffeine high like a pro. But soon enough, I realized I was falling back into that same old trap of dependency.
One day, I decided to quit cold turkey. No more coffee for me, I thought. BIG mistake. Suddenly, I was sluggish, sleepy, and craving caffeine like never before. That’s when I knew: I was hooked. But I pushed through, determined to reclaim my energy levels naturally. The office kitchen still tempts me every now and then, and occasionally, I give in. One cup here and there when I’m feeling really tired. But every time I do, I can’t help but think, “Here we go again!”
But why don’t I drink it more often?
These days, coffee and I have struck a balance. We’re not in a daily relationship anymore, but we still see each other from time to time. A cup here and there—whether it’s at work or on a date with my wife—keeps things exciting without letting the dependency creep back in. Coffee’s great, but I’m the one in control now.
Here’s to the occasional cup of coffee, and to the love-hate relationship that keeps life brewing!
