Monday, March 5, 2007

A Tale of Two Coffees

You will probably not be surprised to hear that I inherited my love for coffee from my mom.

However, there is a story there...

My mother, as far back as I can remember, always had a cup of coffee next to her.  She never drank anything else.  And, since it was an all day affair with her, she somehow got used to drinking instant coffee. 

Nescafe instant coffee, all day long.  I can hear all the coffee lovers going 'ewwwww' all across j-land!

So, all day, all night, Nescafe was in her hand.  She never drank soda, or water, or anything else.

Fast forward to around 1980.  Mom was having problems with cysts in her breasts.   Our family doc told her to switch to decaf coffee.

No problem, the switch is made, Decaf Nescafe it is from now on.

On day two, my mom remembers waking up with a horrible headache.  By day four, she is really miserable, and decides to call the doctor, it is about 2 weeks since she saw him, since she waited to finish the last of the caffeine bottled of Nescafe before switching.

Mom tells our Doc that she must be dying from some sort of brain tumor because she has a horrible headache, that has been torturing her NONSTOP for the last 4 days.

He tells her that she needs to calm down, because he just had given her a thorough exam, and there was no evidence of anything wrong.

Maybe Mom changed something in her food?  She says no at first, but then remember the switch to decaf, and tells the Doc.

He says, 'Maybe, how many cups do you drink a day?'

Mom answers, 'Oh I don't know, maybe 30.'

The Doc nearly falls off his chair, but mystery solved.  He tells her 'You are having major caffeine withdrawal, it will stop as soon as your body gets used to it, but for now, to stop the headache, have a cup of coffee with caffeine.'

Mom does, and the headache leaves, and then she weaned herself off more slowly!

Unbelievable, huh??  But true!!  lol

Finally, when I was a junior or senior in high school, Mom started to drink brewed coffee.  We had a microwave then, so she would reheat whatever was left over and drink that after she came home from work. 

Thus, began the new phase for my mom.  And, even me.  I would do the same.   I did get a good thermos style coffee carafe as soon as they were out a few years back, so it kept the coffee fresher throughout the day. 

But, nothing is like that first fresh cup.  So, for years, since I have seen the Keurig single cup maker in a catalog we receive, I have wanted one.

Then, my Hubby, as I described earlier in a November entry, bought me the knock off version of that, the Senseo.  And, it was not very good at all.  I still pined for the Keurig.

Thankfully, this past November, Hubby (upon the kids insistence) got me the Keurig. 

Mom, at first, still kept drinking her pot of coffee, reheating the left overs as the day goes on.  Then, more and more, she starting making herself the fresh cups. 

And, now, she is hooked.  It really is awesome to have that perfectly fresh brewed 'first cup' each and every time!  So, that is why we are waiting for the phone call for me to get the bigger version, and Mom will take this one upstairs for her to enjoy!

All the coffee lovers win!  And, I ordered tea K-cups for my dad to try, too!  He usually only has one cup of coffee in the am, then switches to tea.  :-)

So, that's the tale of the two coffees, and how after Mom turned me on to coffee, I have turned her on to better coffee.

be well,
Dawn

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh your poor mom with that horrible headache!  I can't imagine how awful it must have been!  And with that much caffeine in her and suddenly withdrawn, no wonder!  I am glad it got fixed but so sorry she suffered that long with it.
Congrats on getting the fresh one-cup maker of you choice!
loving you
karyl

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you are finally getting your Keurig. Your poor mom must have felt so terrible! Keep her coffee flowing...decaf, of course.--Cin

Anonymous said...

That was a wonderful tale . I loved reading it. I have heard of serious caffeine withdrawal from coffee. I mostly drink tea. You might think I was British I drink so much(winks) Love ya Indigo

Anonymous said...

Awesome Story.  I love coffee.  Hence Latte' Dah.  :)
http://journals.aol.com/mrsm711/LatteDah/     Tracy

Anonymous said...

Oh... we are total Kcup disciples in this house! We even do hot lemonade and hot chai tea. Michael LOVES his chai tea!
I also remember my mom and her friends always sitting around the kitchen table - at any time of the day or night - with a cup of coffee.
Michael's mom did the "reheat in the microwave" deal with her little four cup maker until we got her a Keurig.
It's changing the way we drink!
Enjoy!
heather

Anonymous said...

Dear Dawn
hugs!
interesting article... and suppositions;
btw is your mother okay now? Howare you doing? Havea great hump day!
love,natalie

Anonymous said...

Great story. I drink decaf instant coffee. Sue me. LOL. That's because I only have a cup or two in the morning and I am too lazy to do all the steps in brewing coffee. I stick a cup of water in the microwave, voila!  I drink sweet tea most of the time. Hugs.

Anonymous said...

what a great story:) hope you get your Keurig soon:) we have an expresso maker, we both have one cup i don't make it like the real expresso i put in the coffee then fill the cup with water to the metal band and let it brew. I usually only need 2 of these and i am good to go lol but during the work week i am running late so i have regular coffee at work:) so good and the custodian agrees coffee is always better shared with a good friend

Deb

Anonymous said...

Danny loved Nescafe too...:-) He too always drank only coffee.
love ya,
carlene

Anonymous said...

I'm the only person at work who doesn't drink coffee...I just never liked it.  I DO drink Diet Coke like a fiend, though!!

Russ

Anonymous said...

I thoroughly enjoyed this entry being a coffee lover.  Thank you so much for sharing.  I am seriously thinking I should stick to decaf at night.  Have been increasing my tea.  So is the decaf what helps prevent breast tumors?  Am I understanding this correctly?  Just wondering.  Hugs,
Lisa

Anonymous said...

I love the firs t cup , too. I am so pining for a coffeemaker  like that. It is 2 AM and I may just give up on sleep for the night and get a cup.
Marti

Anonymous said...

Ooooohhhhhh!  My PaPa and Nanny used to drink Nescafe until the "brewed" coffee pots came out, too.  That is so funny.  I do hope you get your Keurig very soon!  Don't forget to post pictures!

De ;)
http://journals.aol.com/erarein63/DesThoughts/

PS:  Oh my mother stopped drinking Dr Pepper's back in the 80s cold turkey for the same reason.  She spent the 2nd day being more familiar with the toilet than she wanted with a massive migraine.  When she told me about this (pre-nursing days) I said "Mom...you can't just STOP drinking caffiene like that.  It's a drug.  Drink a Dr Pepper now and you'll feel much better!"  And, of course, she did.

Anonymous said...

My mom use to drink the instant...bleh !
Your right that first cup is the best !  I would love to meet with you at a nice coffee place sometime !
hugs,
Ellen

Anonymous said...

The first cup is always the best...drinking my first cup right now :)
My mom use to go through a whole pot of coffee just in the mornings. She now has really cut back.

Have a great Tuesday!

Hugs,
Gretchen
http://journals.aol.com/ksgal3133/LivinginSavannah2

Anonymous said...

I'm sitting here, sipping my first cup of coffee for the day, enjoying your journal and tales of two coffees.
I love my coffee. I become a crazy vicious ya know, somethin, if I don't get my precious liquid gold.
But, I officially nominate your Mothers daily intake as the Queeen of all Drinkable Gold. Yep, she wins.
Rebecca
http://journals.aol.com/justaname4me2/InTheShadowOfTheIris/

P.s. I must investigate this new dynamic first cup everytime machine!

Anonymous said...

i started drinkin coffee because of my mom she would always give me hers if she didnt anymore and i would always wait right by her for the rest of her coffee. She even wakes me up to this day and ask if i want her coffee.

Anonymous said...

I lurveeeeeeeeee coffee, yes, we Brits do drink it, we aint all Tea drinkers! I love it fresh and strong, just like my men!
Gaz xxxx ;-)

Anonymous said...

I come from a family of chain coffee drinkers, too.  My parents and most of my sisters used to go through several pots a day, but they have all cut way down for health reasons.  I can remember drinking coffee when I was 10 years old.
Lori
http://journals.aol.com/helmswondermom/DustyPages