Coffee, My Beloved: A Ritual and a Rant

Plus the Menu for the Week of February 3rd-7th

As I write this newsletter, I’m immersed in one of my most cherished rituals—a part of the day I covet and protect. It includes my red robe, my dog, quiet, a good book, and, of course, my 16 ounces of black coffee. No more, no less. If I drink an ounce over or under, my body protests: jitters if it’s too much, a headache if it’s too little.

I’m incredibly sensitive to caffeine.

I prepare my coffee the night before, setting up the machine with 8 tablespoons of coffee to 8 cups of water. When I wake up, after "putting in my eyes" (a phrase my contact lens wearers will appreciate), I head straight to the coffee maker, press the button, and feed my two cats and one dog while it brews.

Coffee is my beloved, and I know I’m not alone.

Mel Robbins and the Coffee Rules Debate

The other day, I stumbled upon a post from podcast host and author Mel Robbins. She was sharing advice on how and when we should drink our coffee—complete with a warning to always drink a full glass of water first. Intrigued, I kept scrolling.

A few hours later, my sister texted me, unprompted: “Does Mel Robbins even have the credentials to tell me how to drink my coffee?”

My answer? No.

This moment encapsulated one of the many reasons I’ve been tempted to log off social media for good. The platforms are flooded with unregulated, misinformed influencers dispensing advice that sounds authoritative but lacks a foundation in science. I get it—it takes time to do proper research!

So today, I’m diving into the “right way” to drink coffee. Spoiler: there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. My main takeaway? Don’t screw with the rituals that bring you joy.

Have you heard the phrase “don’t yuck my yum”? We use it in parenting sometimes. Well, Mel, don’t yuck my coffee buzz.

The Science Behind Coffee Myths

If you’re still here for the science, let’s address some common coffee myths. For this, I turned to the work of Brady Holmer, a researcher with a Master’s in Human Performance who has well summarized much of the (science-based) evidence on these topics.

• 1. Does coffee dehydrate you? Should you drink water first?

• 2. Should you wait an hour or two after waking up to drink coffee?

• 3. Is coffee good or bad for your heart?

• 4. How much is too much?