Michelle Shnayder – Copy Editor 

From my first tentative sips of my grandmother’s cappuccino foam, coffee has been an integral part of my adolescent and young adult life. Coffee is a representation of adulthood; its fragrant aroma is associated with the taboos and privileges of being a grown-up. Now, being a relatively self-sufficient 20-year-old, my love for caffeinated cups of bliss has manifested into a full blown habit, cost-ing nearly $30 a week. Truthfully, I have no desire to stop chasing caffeine.

All coffee lovers have preferences, myself included. However, in homework emerged mo-ments of half asleep desperation, I have been comforted by many extra large cups of lukewarm gas station dark roast. Coffee has consoled me through breakups, midterms, long nights of arduous homework assignments, and long voyages to visit family. Morning cups of coffee, with the right person at the right time, make up so many precious memories. I have tried coffee in Paris, Italy, Russia, Mexico, Spain, Canada. I have happily enjoyed dark roasts, light roasts, lattes, cappuccinos, mochas, even americanos.

Today, I am as caffeinated as ever. On average, I drink between two and five cups of coffee each day. On vacations and weekends, that number goes up. During midterms and finals, that number sky-rockets. There is no way I could possibly pass a caffeine Breathalyser test. During finals week, if such a machine existed, I would likely break it.

In one school week, I visit the school’s various coffee establishments, namely Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks, a minimum of 14 times.

Through the years, I think I have developed a tolerance to the stimulating qualities of caffeine. Coffee barely gives me energy anymore. Coffee has become a hobby, a habit, a symbol for familiarity and adulthood, a way to meet people. At nearly six feet tall, I can vouch that caffeine does not stunt growth. My wallet, on the other hand, has experienced stunted growth, by way of gourmet coffee shops and sub-par gestations alike.

Or no, to caffeine

Alexandra Scicchitano –Reporter 

I am a junior journalism major, and I do not drink coffee. A surprise, perhaps, that a college student does not drink coffee. I do not avoid coffee because of the taste, I like the taste. I simply do not drink it because I do not see the value it holds. If I ever drink it, which is extremely rare, it is more for the taste than anything else. I do not usually drink soda with caffeine in it, either. I drink seltzer water the majority of the time, and I never drink energy drinks.

I go to sleep daily around 1 a.m., and I wake up every morning at seven. I should be tired all day; how do I combat that? Sometimes I take naps if I am tired, and I have the time. That is not too often, but most of the time I do nothing. I just live life. I do not see the need to have something helping you to make it through the day.

My boyfriend is crazy into coffee, and said he has headaches if he has not had any coffee that day. It is addictive. That is why people have headaches; they are having caffeine withdrawal, and that does not bode well for caffeine. I believe caffeine really is not good for you, especially if drinking three or four cups a day.

Caffeine does not make me feel good, personally, it makes me feel horrible. I have a roommate who drinks coffee and gets tired from the caffeine. Caffeine has vastly different effects on different people, so maybe it works for some, but not others. I have heard of some health benefits of drinking a small amount of caffeine, but drinking it just for the energy boost is not for me.

Photo Credit: Michelle Shnayder