Just realised I've been drinking too much coffee for quite a long time - should I be worried?

[holidayquandary]

Hello. This might sound daft, but almost every day for approximately the past 2 years, I've been drinking instant coffee in the morning. I only have one cup. So here is the issue. I've been using a tablespoon of coffee granules instead of a teaspoon. You are only supposed to use a teaspoon. I only found out yesterday when I looked on the back of the jar. It says to use 1 teaspoon in very small letters. A tablespoon holds roughly 3 times the amount of granules.

I have been having some trouble getting to sleep at night, and I'm wondering if it's from having too much coffee. I've learned my lesson though and will only be using a teaspoon from now on.

🤣🤣🤣

A tablespoon is equal to four teaspoons. If you are only having one cup a day then overall it’s no so bad. Energy drinks probably have a higher caffeine content than your tablespoon coffee. Not that I’d advocate drinking those either.

That must be the rankest coffee though with that amount of coffee in it. How has it even been palatable!

It doesn’t say ‘you may drink only one cup per day’ does it.

Many people drink multiple cups a day, or drink barista coffee which is much stronger. You know that don’t you?

But if you’re struggling to sleep, cut back, of course.

This is nothing to worry about. It just means you’re having about 180mg of caffeine in one cup of instant, instead of around 60mg.

If you bought a coffee in a coffee shop it might have several hundred mg of caffeine in a single drink, depending on size.

A lot of people drink several cups of freshly brewed coffees a day, consuming an awful lot more caffeine than is in 1-3 cups of instant.

Given you’re having this is the morning, it won’t be affecting your sleep at night.

If I’m having instant I have at least two teaspoons , too weak otherwise.

This isn’t too much coffee, it’s just one strong coffee. Id always make instant with 2 teaspoons of granules so not even that strong, 1 teaspoon would be pretty weak Recommend caffeine for an adult is around 400ml a day (including caffeine in anything else you have like chocolate or tea), your cup will only be about 120ml so you’re a way off needing to be concerned. If you like your coffee that strong no need to change, and it’s unlikely that one coffee in the morning is affecting your sleep.

Yes your going to die now from those extra teaspoons. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

This can only be the tip of the iceberg of a very anxious and vulnerable individual

Jeez…

Caffine isn’t ideal for people with anxiety and you seem to be incredibly anxious so on that basis I would consider swapping to decaf and seeing the GP about your level of anxiety.

Honestly OP?

Have you asked anyone in real life about this?

I put 2 tablespoons into a coffee if using instant, I use full fat milk heated up in the microwave and 2 tablespoons of coffee. 2 sugars

You realise people on the continent virtually live on coffee dont you? Not instant, the real deal.

@holidayquandary …. Go on that holiday. You need a break!

You do realise many people drink multiple cups of coffee a day, don’t you? 🫣

They think that much coffee is good for health so no, no need to worry

I did a Jason Vale juice detox and felt horrible on day three. Tuned out to be serious caffeine withdrawal. Made me realise how much I was surviving on it

Up to 5 cups of coffee a day is good for your brain - and even protective against dementia! Don't worry at all. I wouldn't have thought your sleep issue was to do with a strong coffee in the morning but you could cut down and see if it makes a difference.

Did you not think that it tasted strangely foul? Unless they are having it with loads of milk, like a previous poster, people who put that much instant coffee in have usually built up to it, as their caffeine needs climb.

All instant coffee is foul, though, so perhaps it is hard to notice the additional foulness.

I have tried to give up coffee several times and failed... One caffeine withdrawal was so bad, I was nauseous and eventually vomited! I don't even have that much - 2 coffees a day at most (Nespresso pods).

Giving up coffee is really hard - I really enjoy the early morning coffee - sets me up for the day.

Well you say that, but its the only way to make instant coffee palatable, by having it really strong, it it tastes vaguely like actual coffee

Im just deliberating now whether to do an instant coffee or in the moka pot, i cant be arsed the faff sometimes to be honest.

It’s absolutely fine, OP, although sounds horrible! Do you mean an actual tablespoon, or are you just using a dessert spoon instead of a teaspoon? There’s quite a difference in volume.

If you’re having trouble sleeping, cut down to half the amount, and have it early enough in the day - definitely don’t have caffeine after about midday.

I’d caution against cutting it completely straight away though. Like @Thrownunderthebuz, I get splitting headaches, low energy and flu-like symptoms if I go a day or two without. Caffeine withdrawal is nasty, but since it’s supposed to be good for you, I’ve never bothered to push on through and just stop altogether.

God instant coffee is disgusting at the best of times let alone in that ratio. I doubt you’ve caused any lasting damage so don’t worry about it

It’s hard isn’t it. My mother worked in a casino where they had free filter coffee all day. When she tried the detox she was really ill. It certainly made her significantly reduce her intake.

You’re one of those people that I wonder about, like how do you get through the day on your own? Seriously? First of all why did you think a tablespoon of instant coffee was normal? Secondly surely the coffee was disgusting? Thirdly if you’re only drinking one cup of sludgy tablespoon coffee a day why do you think that would be a problem when many people drink lots of cups of coffee throughout the day having overall more than your tablespoon of granules?

Only in Australia 😉

otherwise it’s 3tsp to 1 tbsp

I gave up caffeine last year. I was an 8 to 10 cup of proper machine coffee person. I tapered off over a few weeks until I was down to one a day and that wasn't so bad. Until the first day I had none at all. Massive three day headache and vomiting!

I haven't touched caffeine since and never will as I couldn't face withdrawal again!

Ahh to be fair I lived in Oz in my early twenties. Good to know I’ve not being following a lot of recipes well for the past 30 years 🤣

I’m still alive though so there is hope for the OP!