14/02/2026
If you’re on three espressos a day and thinking about stopping, do it gently.
DON'T DO IT MY WAY!!!
Dropping straight to zero is a fast track to headaches and feeling oddly grumpy at everyone. I was so shocked at how it affected me. I went COLD TURKEY!
Instead, taper down over a few weeks — reduce by half a shot every few days or swap one espresso for a decaf to begin with. You can also push your first coffee a little later in the morning and let your natural wake-up hormones do some of the work.
A lot of the habit isn’t actually about caffeine — it’s about the pause. Keep the mug, keep the moment, just change what’s in it. I swapped it for beautiful ginger and kawakawa leaves and still kept the morning ritual.
Herbal tea, chicory coffee, hot lemon water or even a good quality decaf can help bridge the gap. Support your energy properly while you’re reducing: morning light, a short walk, decent hydration and protein at breakfast make a noticeable difference.
Expect a few wobbles as your system recalibrates.
Online it will say 'Mild headaches or fatigue often peak within a couple of days and then settle'. THIS IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT!
Magnesium, water and sleep help. I wish I'd known that or thought logically about it - but that is the way you learn big life lessons.
The aim isn’t to demonise coffee — it’s simply to feel steady without needing it. When your energy isn’t dependent on caffeine, you do feel good. I feel less puffy and hormonal responsive but gosh, I had to do the mahi!
Hope that's useful!
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