One Year Without Coffee

Why I Quit

Since becoming a working professional—about 12 years ago until early last year—I was drinking 1-2 venti-sized coffees daily. Then one weekend, when I didn't have my usual coffee, my head felt like it was going to split open. This is Caffeine Withdrawal Headache.

When you consistently consume caffeine, your brain blood vessels stay constricted. When caffeine supply stops, those constricted vessels suddenly dilate, increasing blood flow to the brain. The nerves surrounding the blood vessels get stimulated, causing headaches. These typically start within 12-24 hours of stopping caffeine and peak at 48 hours.

I was furious. Like Sun Wukong with his headache-inducing golden headband—not drinking coffee shouldn't make my head hurt this much. So I quit.

Easier Than Expected

I had done a 30-day coffee detox challenge two years ago, so starting this time was smoother. Back then, I went to cafes often and faced lots of temptation, but over the past year, remote work plus childcare meant fewer cafe visits. When I did go, I only chose places with decaf options, so it naturally became a habit.

Changes Over One Year

As I wrote in my previous post, drinking coffee never really interfered with my sleep. I have the kind of constitution where I fall asleep the moment I lie down. Yet the changes were distinctly noticeable.

My sleep quality definitely improved. When I measured sleep quality with Whoop two years ago, there was some difference, but with only a month off, the effect felt weak. After a full year, it's clearly different. Sometimes I get so tired I want caffeine for a boost, but these days even one cup of coffee keeps me awake at night. It showed me just how much tolerance I had built up over time. Sleeping well after 1-2 venti cups wasn't actually a good thing.

My wife says my teeth look whiter since quitting coffee. The tannins in coffee cause tooth discoloration, and stopping seems to have naturally improved this. A nice bonus.

Caffeine Detox Becoming a Trend?

Lately I've noticed more people around me doing caffeine detoxes. Related articles and content seem to be pouring out too. I noticed this because the reactions changed. When I said I was quitting coffee before, most responses were "Why quit?", "Can't sleep?", "Can't live without coffee~". But these days I hear "I don't drink it either!" or "Should I quit too?" much more often. Kind of interesting.

Anyway, dust is accumulating on my blender and Aeropress. I haven't put them in storage yet in case guests come over, but since I have no coffee beans at home now, I should probably organize them soon. I might keep the Aeropress for travel though. Morning coffee while camping is precious, so I'll pack the remaining decaf beans for this summer's camping trip.

Saved Quite a Bit of Money Too

Coffee was almost a necessity, but looking back now, the bean costs were quite substantial. Truth is, that money now goes to AI subscriptions, but it's better than paying double, right?

I used to think I could never quit coffee because of work, so it's surprising that I did. I think the power of parenting played a role. I had to be careful about the sound of grinding beans with the blender because of the baby, and got quite a bit of nagging about it—but in hindsight, it was good nagging.

Coffee Alternatives

First off, I drink a ton of water. I haven't completely quit caffeine—just coffee—so I occasionally drink things like green tea. But somehow it's different. Drinking green tea doesn't keep me awake at night.

Actually, rather than the caffeine benefits, the diuretic effect makes me go to the bathroom more, which creates a positive cycle of drinking even more water. I personally don't like sweet things like cola, so just drinking water makes me feel healthier.

Conclusion

One year without coffee—what started as frustration over caffeine withdrawal headaches turned out to bring better sleep, whiter teeth, and savings. It's not mandatory, but if your head splits every weekend, it's worth a try.

Refs

• 30-Day Coffee Detox Challenge (2024) - My 30-day caffeine detox experience from 2 years ago
• Caffeine Withdrawal Symptoms - WebMD - Causes and symptoms of caffeine withdrawal headaches
• Weekend Headaches and Coffee - Cleveland Clinic - The relationship between weekend headaches and caffeine
• What Happens When You Quit Caffeine - Healthline - Comprehensive guide to caffeine withdrawal symptoms