[ulrikrasmussen]

I quit cold turkey and consumed around 1200mg/day, not by drinking energy drinks but coffee, 6 strong cups of filter or more. I made sure to also quit caffeinated sort drinks and switched to herbal tea.

The immediate withdrawal symptoms started after around 24h and consisted of headache, cold sweats and brain fog that lasted around three days and seriously impeded my ability to work. However, the psychological craving just... never really got better once it plateaued. I always felt a bit more understimulated than before I stopped, and a bit less motivated.

I kept it up for about 1.5 years or so before I decided it wasn't worth it. The first cup of coffee seriously gave me euphoria comparable to a low dose of amphetamine. That was so pleasurable that I tried to keep my consumption to one cup per week, but even with that spacing I felt the tolerance build up again.

[hombre_fatal]

I limited to 1-2 servings of coffee by switching to an aeropress and a hand cranked grinder.

When I brew one big carafe, then I have this compulsion to drink it, like every new task needs a prelude where I get up to refill my mug.

But now there’s too much friction to brew the 2nd or 3rd cup since I know I won’t even feel it.

[ulrikrasmussen]

I ended up brewing just one cup of filter in the morning, then drinking one more cup when I arrive at the office. I have a rule to stop before 9am which I found is the latest I can do caffeine without disrupting my sleep. I think I am one of the slow metabolizers.