Can we talk more about this black coffee business?
Melody | Tuesday, 4 March, 2008 at 8:59 PM After writing the original post in which I declared to the Internet that I am now drinking my coffee black, I learned that "you people" feel very strongly about your coffee. Which was a very cool thing, as far as I'm concerned. Seeing as how the pursuit of New And Interesting Cups Of Yummy Coffee makes up such a tidy chunk of my life.
So here's the thing. I guess it's been about two weeks since I've added no cream or milk... no non-dairy milk-esque product whatsoever to my coffee, in fact. Not a drop. (Seeing as how I was petrified that the second I tasted it, I'd give up on my little experiment immediately.)
And for about four days now? I've had this ever-increasing case of what I think they're now calling "acid reflux" and I grew up thinking of as "heartburn" and quite frankly I don't care what THEY call it, it just needs to stop happening inside of me.
I consumed about a half of the little tube of Rolaids I went down to the bookstore and grabbed in desperation today, and hope I brought the rest of 'em home with me, 'cause it looks like I'm gonna' need more if I'm to get through the rest of this evening with any comfort whatsoever.
Seems I now have to do some research. The idea of drinking my coffee black and how being a person who drinks her coffee black fits somehow into my mental image of the kind of person I think of as somehow cooler than my regular self who really quite likes her coffee a nice warm shade of caramel? You can just forget that. I'm not burning holes in my body just to prove I can do it. I'm fine with waiting out the taste and making my tastebuds acclimate to the less appealing sensation on my tongue, but I draw the line at this.
So I guess I have to find out if this is, indeed, what's going on. Any of you Coffee Lovin' People have anything to say on the matter, now? Miss Dena of the I Drink My Decaf Black Then Run 10 Miles denas...what about you? Any burning sensations in your chest? Whatcha' think I should do about this... hmmmm?
Reader Comments (7)
I guess my question is, how much coffee are you drinking? I never notice a problem from one or two cups. But if I do my "Panera thing" and sit there for 3 hours, refilling my cup every 30 minutes... then I do feel a bit icky. Less heartburn and more nausea. Does regular vs. decaf coffee make a difference in terms of heartburn? I have no idea.
Switch to mochas. See if that helps. ;)
Dena - actually less than when I had milk in it! Maybe 2 cups a day? I love your mocha idea, though.
Meanwhile, my dad sent me "a very Daddy" email sharing his knowledge of what I shared here, and I gotta' tell you, it didn't sound like great news. Seems he's had his own experience with acid reflux. Seems there's a lot more to the story than I realized. Seems, too, my Daddy did some of my research for me. And now you, too, can learn a honkin' pile of stuff about this little irritation, if you find yourself grabbing a pack of Tums more often than you did before...
Read Article from WebMD Here!
Thanks Dad! Love you...
PS: I had milk in my coffee today. It must have been just about the best coffee I've had in my life. No matter the outcome of the whole heartburn issue? I may just suck it up and go back to my old ways. At least now I know I can drink my coffee black if I need to. Maybe that's enough... :)
BTW--We Watson's like to save money, don't we? Go to Wal-Mart,Find the shelf which displays Tums, look beside it, and you will see Wal-Marts equivalent for half the price. I like the "berry" flavored ones. However, I now take by prescription a generic for a proton pump medicine. Don't do that unless a Doctor orders and prescribes it.
Dad
Melody, dear, while I didn't want to discourage you about black coffee, I must admit that I too used to drink my coffee black, but now am MUCH happier drinking it with milk in it and my tummy is MUCH happier, too. I had thought it was an age thing, and that may be true, but maybe it's a gene thing. Who knows? And mochas may be a solution, but - as a loyal Caribou coffee person - I have found Northern Lite lattes a good solution.
Having reverted to my "old ways" with a bit of the white stuff in my coffee for two days now, I'll agree with you about the happiness factor. It occurs to me that it's not necessarily my finest trait that I observe these arbitrary practices, weigh in on their value, decide "I should do that too..." and jump in. I like my coffee with milk. Sometimes a little sweet, too. Basic and simple facts. Now that I gave it the two week try and felt so miserable from Possibly that decision (not a heartburn in sight today!) I no longer feel so pressed to "be a black coffee drinker."
I'll stop in soonish and try one of those Caribou treats soonish...
Thanks!
My morning coffee is the one thing in life I will not compromise on. I have to have sugar and half and half. I drink one large cup and it needs to taste in the words of Goldielocks "just right". I drink diet sodas, ice tea with equal but my coffee can not be anything but in its original, "this is how I like it form." I will also admit to an occational Cafe Mocha from Panera or Starbucks. color me guilty.
Have been craving a cup of that "just right" coffee a lot lately, so I'm going to Tobacco USA to get some Southern Lights blend asap. Today, hopefully! MMMMMMmmmmmm! Cafe Mocha!!!
For anybody who cares, the little experiment with black coffee was over with this post. And the acid reflux has only come back on occasion, likely in response to those spicy foods my Dad mentioned in the email he sent me about WebMD...but never like it was when my coffee was black. (Haven't had anymore Insanity Wings either!) :)