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Imagine starting your day without any coffee. Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, Tim Hortons and vany other chains thrive on our coffee addiction. Add to that the fact that many of us have already had a cup or two even before venturing out to get a cup from one of those chains. Well, an Anonymous Coward has written in to tell us of some hard-working folks who had to give up real coffee for months at a time!
For years, the hard-working astronauts aboard the ISS had to begin their day with freeze-dried, reconstituted coffee served in plastic pouches. Now, this gross injustice may finally be remedied. The resupply mission scheduled to be launched today (Tuesday) will carry a new model of space espresso maker. Manufactured by Lavazza and the Italian aerospace firm Argotec, the machine is specially designed for microgravity operation, and uses off-the-shelf Lavazza coffee packets.
(Score: 2) by Kilo110 on Thursday April 16 2015, @01:06PM
That was my thought as well.
"Imagine starting your day without any coffee."
I don't need to imagine since I've been doing that for the better part of 3 decades. I'm just as awake as my caffeine-addicted coworkers. And I don't need to waste time buying a morning pick-me-up.
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Thursday April 16 2015, @02:45PM
Yes well that depends in large part on your own personal brain chemistry. I have struggled with caffeine addiction my whole adult life. I have been caffeine-free for periods up to a year, and I can attest that what you're saying about being just as alert without it is true. I can also say that during the times when I was purposely weaning myself from it I did train myself to perceive the smell of coffee as poison (which is actually easier when it's Starbucks you're smelling).
But...
Coffee is lovely. Caffeine is wonderful. I never developed an addiction to drugs, because I never had the crime quotient or bank balance to do so. But I also was afraid to try, because my system's response to mere caffeine was so euphoric that I somehow knew that if I ever sampled heroin I'd be done for. And I do. Feel euphoric after drinking coffee, that is. And when I quit caffeine, you don't want to be within 3 counties of me, I'm that cranky and evil.
So, take that for what it is. Everyone's chemistry is different, and condemning others for their coffee addiction (because your own dopamine levels are sufficient) is tantamount to picking on the fat kid for liking food--it's just how they're wired.
Washington DC delenda est.