Thoughts on Caffeine Culture: When Coffee Isn’t Cute Anymore By: Anushka Bhatt

 

Thoughts on Caffeine Culture: When Coffee Isn’t Cute Anymore

By: Anushka Bhatt

Let’s be honest—coffee culture is aesthetic. There’s something satisfying about holding a Starbucks cup on your way to school. But what started as a cute treat has become a coping mechanism.

Most teens don’t realize that caffeine is a stimulant drug. In small doses, it can improve alertness. But in large doses—especially daily—it can increase anxiety, disturb sleep, and make you more tired in the long run.

I used to drink a sugary iced latte every morning. Then I noticed the jitteriness. The crash. The headaches when I skipped it. That’s when I knew it wasn’t just “part of my routine”—it was a problem.

Now I drink coffee maybe twice a week. I rely more on sleep, water, and breakfast (yes, breakfast).

Caffeine isn’t bad. But dependence is. And no trend is worth sacrificing your health over.

Works Cited:
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine is Too Much?” fda.gov, www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/spilling-beans-how-much-caffeine-too-much.