It's your best friend when you want to pull an all-nighter to complete an assignment and your energy booster before an important lecture session. Two- year-old Internet sensation Mila Stauffer recently expressed, in a social media rant, that 'a yawn is a silent scream for coffee.' Her mother shared the video and hashtagged it, #noshedoesntdrinkcoffee. Coffee consumption has long been debated. The UCLA Health System says that coffee consumption should be moderated or restricted for ages below 12. Similarly, American Academy of Pediatrics advises a limit of 100 mg of ca eine per day for ages 12 to 18. Since coffee has also been labelled as a beverage that stunts growth, and causes skin-related problems and hand tremors - how much is too much?
Right age for the beverage
Shubhangi Jagdev, 21, decided to stop drinking coffee when she noticed that she was extremely sensitive to it. She says, "I pushed myself to stop drinking coffee and stayed away from it for 66 days because I believe that's how long it takes to develop a habit."
"Too much caffeine may interfere with calcium absorption, which negatively affects growth in adolescents. I recommend starting towards the end of adolescence - 16 years and up. And, in some cases, I'd say start after 18 years of age because one person's caffeine tolerance differs from the other. Make a note of how many cups you can drink a day before you start feeling shaky and ensure you drink fewer than that number," advises Langton Bhudi, senior barista and shift manager, Drop, a specialty coffee shop in Dubai.
Shemaine Jones, head of marketing, Costa Coffee UAE, says that coffee is an acquired taste and that she started drinking coffee only after her teen years.
Anna Miriam Philip, 16, confesses that she enjoys coffee, but doesn't have it at all because her mother doesn't want her to make it a habit. "I do have some sips from my mother's cup occasionally. I think I'm not allowed coffee because caffeine isn't good at this age. I'm not too sure, but the right age would probably be 18 or 19. Many friends my age enjoy two cups a day, though."
Increased coffee intake began to get noticeable on Dhanvi Shah, 16, through acne on her face. "I was a regular coffee drinker as a growing child. Since I'm currently on anxiety medication, I steer clear from caffeine altogether."
A cup of calm
Demi Tresita, 22, claims that she spends most of her time 'pro-caffeinating'. "Coffee first; all other tasks come later," she says.
Coffee is a friend whether it's morning or night, and has been long associated with exam stress. "I first started drinking coffee during my Grade 12 exams. If I'm trying to keep myself awake to complete an assignment, I usually need two good cups of coffee," says Tanvi Shah, 22.
Similarly, Megha's love affair with coffee began when she was battling rigorous and long sleepless nights during her board exams. She continues to link coffee with stress, and says, "The maximum I have on taxing days might be around four cups. I never go overboard. I've realised that my body works in such a way that I get a terrible headache if I don't have at least that one cup of coffee in the morning," she says.
For Tanishq Joy, 22, coffee is 'a cuddle in a cup'. "If I'm in the mood or not, a cup of coffee is my instant fix," she says.
What to keep in mind
Co ee is usually restricted to a certain age group primarily because after a certain age (generally after puberty) people begin to react to coffee differently, reports indicate. A death due to caffeine overdose was reported in the state of South Carolina. Davis Allen Cripe had three caffeinated drinks in less than two hours - a McDonald's latte, a large Mountain Dew soft drink, and an energy drink. According to reports, Cripe's caffeine intake from the three drinks was about 500 mg.
"I'm advised by my mum to reduce my intake since she believes that coffee generates 'heat' in your body," says Sarah Sajid Ali, 22.
On the other hand, for Megha Cherian, 22, the ideal weekend is spent in the presence of good company, uninterrupted WiFi, and a cup of hot coffee. She says, "I'm not addicted to coffee. Addiction is a negative term; quite contrary to what coffee does for me. I have one cup without fail daily at 7.30 am, and that also depends on how little I've slept, how necessary it is for me to stay focused at work, and how much of a mood-change I might require."
Hand tremors, she believes, are a symptom of excess consumption of coffee. "I've observed that regular coffee drinkers have slightly shaky hands. My parents were concerned and they tried to stop me from drinking coffee. But, I've understood what my capacity is and continue to drink accordingly."
Is your coffee Insta-worthy?
Unique co ee art and the interiors of the cafe´ are usually Tanvi's criteria while posting a photo of her day's coffee on social media. "One of our key strategies is ensuring that our food and coffee is Insta- worthy. Our social media account went crazy when we launched Costa's freakshakes," shares Shemaine of Costa Coffee's marketing tactics.
It's almost impossible to scroll through your social media feed without double-tapping or 'liking' that #latteart post. With YouTube tutorials that teach you how to master latte art at home sans the machine, you're only a few clicks away from nailing the job of a barista. Fancy yourself as Gunther from Central Perk? How do you like your coffee?
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