Coffee is a drug. Maybe not in the classic sense (it doesn’t lead to severe health problems or social dysfunction), but its effects on the body and brain share many similarities with addictive substances. It’s time to stop pretending – this is not a substance that leaves your central nervous system untouched.
There are still plenty of places around the world where people draw an artificial line between alcohol and drugs, and this article might stir up some angry protests. But it’s time to dismantle that notion and face the truth head-on.
Caffeine is psychoactive. And that’s pretty much the end of the argument right there. What does this wonderfully camouflaged substance, hidden in a delicious brew, do to us?
It stimulates the central nervous system. Like other drugs, it affects the brain by increasing alertness, improving mood, and reducing fatigue.
What else? It’s physically addictive. Regular consumption of caffeine can lead to physical dependence. I don’t need to throw research at you – I know I turn into a zombie when I’m on a coffee detox. Irritability, concentration problems, drowsiness… need I go on? Hardcore coffee drinkers don’t need this explained to them – they know it all too well.
And what about tolerance? I remember once after a two-month break, I ordered a double espresso. I started sweating, my pupils were as big as the moon, and I felt like I was on a solid dose of amphetamines.
Sure, my sensitivity to substances played a role here, but anyone would feel the punch after such a long break. The funniest part? That doppio the next day didn’t give me ANY effects. My body just snapped back to its old routine. Just classic drug addiction.
Coffee blocks adenosine receptors in the brain, which increases dopamine levels – the neurotransmitter responsible for pleasure and motivation. Similar mechanisms are seen with many drugs that affect the dopamine system.
Even though coffee is widely accepted socially, its mass consumption and ritualistic nature mirror the way other addictive substances are consumed. In some circles, people even refer to a “cultural addiction” to coffee.
So why do we drink it? Turns out, in the long run, we’d be better off just drinking water. But – and this may sound odd drinking coffee together builds bonds. It’s like when, in our younger years, we’d share our first adventures with psychoactive substances in a group. Nothing brings people closer than flirting with fate. Sharing the experience of something we might not… survive. And yeah, it’s neither smart nor good, but it’s undeniably human. With coffee, the risk is lower, but we’re still partaking in a ritual that has a faint hint of… danger. 🙂
Every time I catch a whiff of coffee, I’m reminded of a scene from a travel book (not sure if it’s true or not) where a Muslim, a Christian, and an atheist sit together drinking coffee and debating. And that’s what it’s all about! It’s better to increase awareness of reality together than to distort it. And we may have different beliefs, but coffee is coffee.
matt