My First Cup of Coffee

“Cup of coffee, dark, with an aroma so calling

high in caffeine, enough to keep you going

drink me up, why are you contemplating!”

A friend gave me a pack with a jar of coffee. I do not drink coffee as I have a phobia about its high caffeine content, but I love the aroma. Few days later, I decided to try it, because I felt tired and my usual tea have not been working. My friends tend to say coffee works like magic, keeps them awake and energetic. However, I was still skeptical about trying coffee because of the negatives and my dad told me a story of how he drank too much coffee over his revision period and ended up fainting in the exam hall. So I have always felt same might happen to me, if I over drink coffee. As a nutrition and food science student I know coffee is high in Caffeine and overdose can be toxic to the body. Therefore, to be on a safe side, I tried it mixed with hot chocolate, which have a lesser dose of caffeine. Thinking about it now, I could have just added enough milk to weaken the coffee drink, as a little dose could have cause a trigger if my body was to be sensitive to caffeine. However, I drink hot chocolate, so I am aware that my body reaction is neutral. Anyways, I drank the hot chocolate coffee drink it and waited for the magic to happen, I mean the energetic me to jump up and down the room. While I waited I felt fulfilled and confident during this period as I took the step to try coffee: like I have achieved something big. I felt like I overcame my fear of coffee.

Few minutes after, no changes, but I noticed I got much academic work done but I could not really say if it was the coffee or just the hot drink or my mindset, that coffee works. But I definitely did not go crazy neither did I fainted. It was a small dose, mix with hot chocolate, as I was taking precautions. Afterwards, I felt like I could try the coffee again when needed but next time without hot chocolate but maybe a weak cup of coffee, so as to gradually increase the dose while my body recognise the caffeine substance. Thinking a cup of coffee will kill me was a bit extreme. Sometimes I overthink things to the point that it becomes complicated, rather than me just taking action with the right guideline such as limiting the dose as a first time coffee drinker. I really do not know why I was scared to try it, maybe because I felt I will enjoy it and become a coffee drinker and over drink it, as I love the aroma of coffee. On the other hand, it could have been the story my dad told me, as well as the negative I have heard from people. They tend to say; I like coffee but it browns my teeth or I like coffee but if I drink it in the evening I cannot sleep. I always prefer to learn from others mistake as I know I cannot live long to make them all and learn from them by myself. However, I must not let that hold me back in trying new things. Although, I understand that I must use my initiative, as well as taking precaution. I felt proud of myself to have tried the coffee but also to have used my initiative as to not drinking it strong or without mixing it with something to weaken it. However I think adding milk would have been enough. I have learnt to be realistic through my thinking and rather than letting fear take control, to take time to reflect and analyse the situation, asking myself if I can do whatever it is and if not why, so I can find a way to overcome the fear. Because the best way to overcome fear is to face it.