I'm sort of coming at this from the sidelines, because while I drink coffee, I think I do so quite moderately, about two half mugs in the morning, after I get up at about 6:30. (I don't do full mugs, because I find they cool down and then I don't enjoy the taste as much.)

Once in a very blue moon, I might have an espresso or a Turkish coffee in the afternoon or evening, as a kind of sybaritic pleasure. For the taste, primarily. I suppose I could be unconsciously craving the stimulus, but I don't think so... I used to roast my own coffee beans, and I really really like the taste of coffee. LOL.

I used to smoke cigarettes, back when everybody did, especially young gay guys. I quit so long ago it feels like another lifetime, yet I have never ever ever stopped craving nicotine. I didn't even like smoking, but if I tried to quit, I would suffer terribly.

I've quit drinking coffee from time to time, sometimes because of poverty (lol) but never has quitting coffee made me feel anything physical. I would just miss it very much because I like it and I guess probably because I'm very used to it and I crave routine.

But then with the relatively small amount that I drink, maybe I'm not addicted to caffeine. Maybe it takes more coffee than what I drink to create addiction?

I don't know. I remember when I was in the military working rotating shifts, which is just hell on the body, I subsisted on coffee and diet Coke, so I think I probably was addicted to caffeine at that point in my life.

Anyway, random thoughts from a coffee lover who doesn't actually drink much coffee.

I'm interested to read about your experiences and perspective because of how different they are from mine.

You don't know what you don't know.

Thanks!