Can You Go Back?

I never drank coffee.

College didn’t get me interested. Coffee breaks during summer jobs on the road crew didn’t either. Not even the last-nights-game-talk of colleagues milling around the industrial coffee pot, fancy espresso machine, or Keurig in the break room.

Until I did.

About 10 years ago, I found myself curious about the well-marketed health benefits of “clean” coffee plus brain-enhancing additives such as MCT oil or other healthy fats. I dove in. At first, it was a choke-it-down scenario. But the habit-cycle did its job.

Now I drink coffee.

Not with the fats anymore because I’ve moved on, but my first cup of the day does include a scoop of protein powder. And, of course, I’m also a coffee-snob. I’m not ordering a coffee from the server running around with the hopelessly burned-out pot. Nor from any pinky-peachy themed drive-throughs. I’m probably not having one from your Keurig. For sure, I don’t drink any brand that used to come in a metal can.

Starbucks? Ugh.

I do love a good latte or cappuccino. And much to my Italian friend’s horror, I will order one after 11 am if I’m in the mood. I’m a dumb American cliche.

I often wonder if I was better off before I drank coffee.

But can I go back? Is it a one-way valve?

This isn’t about coffee.