[jonheller]

I drank five to six cups a day, and felt like I desperately needed it, and scoffed at anyone who suggested I try getting by with less.

At some point I stumbled on an article about the adenosine receptors in your brain will actually compensate for this much caffeine by just growing more of them. I also read that you can actually "kill" these extra receptors by going cold turkey for a week.

So I did it, and it sucked (the second and third days were the worst). But that was a year ago and I now get an equal if not better effect from two cups a coffee each day.

[joncrane]

I didn't have to go cold turkey; I simply stopped drinking as much and my receptors managed.

The funny thing is, the craving for coffee when I'm at work is when I'm stressed out and want control over something. Well, coffee has a very neat little cause-effect system that would give me something to change reliably.

The problem is, I don't even particularly like the effects of that second or third cup of coffee; I just wanted the control to change my state of mind.

I'm not perfect and I still do reach for that 2nd or 3rd cup sometimes but by realizing I'm a better coworker with just the one first thing in the morning helps a lot.