The Truth About Young People's Coffee Addiction! (With Coffee Memes)

Alarm Clock Ringing

Yes, that's right — your vacation is over! Quick! Get up! Go to work! You're going to be late!

Scrolling through Weibo and WeChat Moments this morning, the most common posts were: "I can't take it anymore! I need a cup of coffee!" Clearly everyone had quite an eventful three-day holiday.

So on the first day back at work, from the moment you wake up until you get your coffee, you're in this state:

The Coffee Awakening

You thought the article ended there? Not at all — the writer just hit a mental block.

Colleague: "Have you had your coffee?"

Writer: "I had Red Label Geisha."

Colleague: "Okay, stop talking!"

Although I had coffee, it didn't seem to work. Then, back at my computer, I casually opened an article about "The Best Time to Drink Coffee" and took a look. Oh my goodness — turns out I drank it too early! (Colleague: Nonsense! You just stayed up too late.)

(The writer sitting at the computer)

The Science Behind Coffee Timing

American neurologist and researcher Steven Miller's study points out that drinking coffee at the right time is what keeps you alert. If you frequently drink coffee at the wrong times, you only develop an immunity to caffeine, and no matter how much you drink it will not have a refreshing effect. So what is the best time to drink coffee?

Our body rhythms follow a biological clock regulated by hypothalamic neurons. The biological clock is the body's 24-hour hormonal cycle that tells you when to wake, eat, sleep or do other things. Hypothalamic neurons control some basic functions of the body, such as the alternation between sleep and wakefulness and the production of cortisol, a hormone that keeps you awake. During the periods when cortisol appears, the body produces its own "natural caffeine," and if you drink coffee then, the effect of the caffeine in the coffee is greatly diminished, because you are already at peak alertness.

So when does cortisol peak? 8:00-9:00, 12:00-13:00 and 17:30-18:30. That makes the best times to drink coffee 9:30-11:30 and 13:30-17:00.

Of course, those cortisol peaks assume a normal sleep schedule. Most readers of this article probably do not go to bed at 9 PM and wake at 8 AM. So the reason coffee doesn't refresh you is more likely that you are sleep deprived — your adrenal glands are completely "dead" on the sofa. Going to bed early and sleeping early is the real solution.

Why We Can't Live Without Coffee

So if it doesn't really work that well, why can't we live without coffee? Because:

We need coffee to awaken our souls.

And.

The call of nature 💩

Whether coffee refreshes us or not doesn't really matter. Drinking coffee is just an "excuse" to switch into high-energy mode and to help our bowels move.

Why do you feel the urge to defecate shortly after drinking coffee? Mainly, the acidity in coffee promotes the secretion of gastrin, which accelerates gastrointestinal peristalsis. Because that acidity can irritate the stomach and intestines, it is not recommended to drink coffee on an empty stomach. If you already have stomach issues, coffee on an empty stomach can easily cause symptoms like stomach pain and diarrhea.

Although coffee has a laxative effect, some researchers note that you shouldn't rely on it too much for that purpose. If you have constipation, it is not because you lack coffee but because you lack fiber and exercise to support gastrointestinal peristalsis. Eating more fiber-rich fruits and vegetables and exercising more is the real solution.

The Ritual and Personal Meaning of Coffee

As the picture above suggests, the presence of coffee makes us feel that we truly exist. Facing the various pressures of life and feeling exhausted, the moment you drink coffee can give you a feeling of rebirth. It is a ritualistic anesthesia, and a ritualistic transformation: coffee "anesthetizes" our fatigue while giving us an excuse to change our state.

As times change, the personal meaning of coffee is evolving too. In the past, drinking coffee was about increasing social interaction; now it is about enhancing personal space. Go to a coffee shop today and you more often see people drinking alone — a book, computer or phone plus a cup of coffee, sitting for hours. Beyond drinking coffee, more and more people now enjoy making their own.

Drinking coffee can "anesthetize" you, and making coffee can heal you. Watching the grounds "bloom" during brewing, watching coffee slowly rise in a moka pot, can bring warmth to the heart. Whether it's instant or freshly ground, everyone can find peace while making coffee, with the goal of making a delicious cup for themselves.

Drinking coffee is slowly becoming something more personal — not for others, but as a reflection of a lifestyle attitude.

Colleague: "Are you done talking?"

Writer: "I'm done!"

Colleague: "You're a barista! What does vacation have to do with you?"

Writer: "Let me imagine, okay!"

Colleague: "Sleep early! Wake up and it's another day of brewing coffee! (Hypnotizing the writer) You live happily every day, every day is happy, you are very happy, happy, happy..."

"So I can't live without coffee because my job is being a barista!"

(Sounds profound, even with a hint of clarity.)

Image source: Weibo, Internet

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

If you are chasing a coffee that genuinely lifts a tired morning, Geisha is the variety that has conquered countless drinkers with its unique florals and superb sweet-tart balance — and its low yields, weak disease resistance and demanding cultivation keep its price high. To buy a Geisha that is both good and affordable, it helps to know the types and how they compare on value.

FrontStreet Esmeralda Red Label Geisha and FrontStreet Esmeralda Green Label Geisha come from Hacienda La Esmeralda, the estate that made Geisha what it is today. The estate's Geisha line splits into Red Label and Green Label. FrontStreet Red Label is officially "Esmeralda Special," grown at 1,600-1,800 meters; every lot must cup above 90 points and carries its own number, and each lot comes from one small plot — FrontStreet's Red Label is from the Jaramillo plot — so buyers can pick a lot to suit subtle flavor preferences. FrontStreet Green Label was originally "Private Collection," nicknamed for its green label background. Unlike the Red Label, it does not stress detailed plot information; it blends lots from several plots to express the estate's signature high-altitude Geisha flavor, and at a friendlier price its value is excellent.

For a first taste of the much-talked-about Geisha flavor, FrontStreet usually recommends FrontStreet Boquete Geisha, an entry-level Geisha from Panama's most representative specialty region. It lets you drink the classic orange-blossom, honeyed resonance of high-quality Panamanian Geisha at an affordable price, with an oolong-tea quality, delicate fruity acidity and clearly defined layers.

Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee, also has an estate famed for Geisha: Gesha Village, with a grading system as strict as Panama's. It grows three Geisha varieties — Gori Gesha, Gesha 1931 and Illubabor Forest — and separates lots as Gold Label RARITIES, Red Label GROWERS RESERVE, Green Label SINGLE-TERROIR and CHAKA. FrontStreet Gold Label is the Gesha 1931 variety, 10% of Gesha Village's total output and the estate's top coffee outside auction, often chosen by competition baristas; it uses a refined natural process and cups with complex, layered flavor. FrontStreet Red Label is the Gori Gesha variety, 15% of output, scoring 88 or above on the SCA 100-point scale, and as the estate's single-terroir series every lot number is fully traceable, including farm block, variety and processing date. For a more affordable Geisha blend, FrontStreet Strawberry Candy combines a Costa Rican honey-process coffee with a Panamanian Geisha, giving delicate florals plus sweet fruit — good for pour-over, moka pot, espresso machine or cold brew.