America runs on anxiety

Tea:

A man walks into a bar and asks the bartender for a cup of cream on the rocks with a caramel drizzle. The bartender pulls out a coffee pot and adds about two drops to the icey milk concoction and hands it to the man. The man says ‘Thank you’ and walks out. 

The man drinks the coffee, feeling energized and ready to anxiously tackle his first task of the day: an existential crisis. 

But just when one crisis is solved, another arises. This next order of business will have to be taken care of in the restroom. 5 times within the hour.

Does this sound like an ideal way to live – this endless cycle of exhaustion countered with crippling anxiety and bathroom blitzes?

Coffee is a drug that brings many unpleasant side effects and can be damaging to human health. Though large amounts of caffeine may help with productivity, too much caffeine can cause insomnia, irregular heart rates, muscle tremors, gastrointestinal irritation, anxiety and a slew of other negative side effects, according to the National Library of Medicine.

For many coffee consumers, the motivation to indulge in liquid anxiety stems from the need for increased energy. Overworked employees, busy parents and exhausted college students often rely on caffeine just to make it through the day. In this context, coffee is consumed for its energizing effects rather than enjoyment. The problem may not be the caffeine itself, but rather the excessive amounts that the average American consumes.

Ultimately, the issue lies within American culture, which promotes a lifestyle that seems only achievable with large quantities of caffeine. However, there is hope: tea. 

Not only does tea contain half the amount of caffeine, but it includes many other health benefits as well. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that regular tea consumption can lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, contributing to overall cardiovascular health. 

Green tea provides antioxidants that can help with digestion, lower inflammation, enhance memory and alleviate stress and anxiety. Black tea can lower blood sugar levels, enhance focus and reduce the risk of stroke.

Sipping on a spot of tea provides a distinctive experience that the average American is sorely lacking. While some teas contain caffeine and can boost productivity, this isn’t the primary reason for drinking tea. Many choose tea for the comfort and relaxation it provides, savoring quiet moments amidst a hectic day.

It’s not just about gaining an advantage; it’s about the simple pleasure of pausing to enjoy a moment of tranquility on a chaotic day.

Coffee fuels the addiction of caffeine and an unsustainable lifestyle. Tea promotes peace. 

Coffee:

A cup of well-made pour-over coffee takes five minutes. A good shot of espresso can take fifteen minutes to dial in. Decent latte art takes weeks to perfect. Good coffee takes time. 

Bad coffee, however, takes no time at all. A shot of espresso–or at least what might pass as espresso–is pulled at the press of a button. A pot of drip coffee is brewed in three minutes. You can order ahead on an app, add five different flavors and have it ready for pickup or dropoff immediately. Now. Give me satisfaction now. And sip it all away in the span of a commute. 

The lack of care and slowing down in our fast-paced American culture has tainted what coffee should be. Instead of being a connector, it has become a severance. But this corruption of coffee is not its true form. Its purest form is something beautiful and special; a thread to connect and an opportunity for care.

If we weren’t in such a hurry to drink our coffee, maybe roasters wouldn’t burn it without a care. Maybe if we cared to unearth the layers and secrets that a good mug of well-made coffee can share, we would find a new place for peace. 

I understand the need for speed. I understand the desire for the quick consumption of a sweet and caffeinated something to get through a night of studying. I’ve been there. This is not a guilt trip. It’s a wake-up call. Hopefully a call that alerts you more than a caramel macchiato can.