how old were you when you started coffee?

[gshase]

Wife and I have never had a cup.....I love the smell of coffee beans though. It was rough being in the Navy and I think I was the only guy on the Forrestal that didn't drink it.

[Jrboulder]

14 or 15 but never really liked it, mostly home brew Folgers and what not. When I needed some occasional get up and go Red Bull was my drink, which eventually turned into a habit. Recently I've decided to cut way back on sugar so I bought some Starbucks K-cups. Holy smokes how have I been missing out on this stuff.

[wdfifteen]

I was in college at 18. I could have 8 hours of sleep and a stack of pancakes and sausage for breakfast and be asleep in class by 10 AM. I eventually found out I was hypoglycemic. Cut out the heavy carbs for breakfast, but I still liked the coffee.

[FPB111]

I was 5, living with my grandparents. I got myself up fed and off to school. There was always a pot of coffee in the morning, gramps left for work ~7. So I had 4 slices of toast (Wonder bread) or a bowl of cereal and a cup of coffee with milk for breakfast most mornings.

[wdfifteen]

^^
Sounds like you've had an interesting life.

[Brian 162]

My mother let me have a couple of sips of black coffee starting when I was 5. My first job at a gas station when I was 13 they bought me coffee with cream and sugar all the time. I'm now 57 and I drink a pot of black coffee every day when I'm home.

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

LOL if my doctor said I needed to give up coffee i'd find a different doctor.

I was having a hard time because of my arrhythmia and my electrophysiologist said to lay off the caffeine. It was hard until I found out Starbucks can make decaf. I was so happy, I drank a lot of decaf. Then my doc tells me decaf still has some caffeine, so drink in moderation. lol

[p911dad]

My brother and I were ushers at our church (downtown large congregation). After we helped get folks seated and the services started he would take me over to a 24 hour coffee shop down the street. So I must have been 15 or 16 at the time - been guzzling the stuff ever since!

[sand_man]

My first job out of college, 24. I used to drink it Monday through Friday at the office and skip it on the weekends. I always had headaches over the weekends and worried that I had a brain tumor...then I finally figured out I was suffering cafine withdrawals. Doh! Now I drink 1-2 cups seven days a week. I like it black.

[sjf911]

In college at 18. Had my meal service in a women's dorm, drinking coffee made a great excuse to hang out in the cafeteria after eating.

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by sjf911

In college at 18. Had my meal service in a women's dorm, drinking coffee made a great excuse to hang out in the cafeteria after eating.

Lucky guy! Or maybe not so lucky. lol My dorm was co-ed and the women lived next door to me. Seeing them in their bathrobes without makeup was an eye opener.

[rusnak]

College freshman year. I had to pour half a packet of chocolate into a small cup of coffee in order to drink it. Then when I started working, I needed the HELL out of coffee and started drinking it with non-fat milk. Haven't stopped yet.

[Cooper911SC]

Originally Posted by red-beard

8 years old - after church

This was pretty much me. Plus I'd always take coffee with cream at any formal family dinner. (Easter, Christmas, etc. )

By Jr. High I'd have a cup of black coffee any time available.

By High School (1991) Coffee Houses were just blossoming in popularity as "hang out" spots. Free live music or poetry readings etc. Fun and social, but not a bar...

I have always preferred a Cappuccino or Latte for Espresso drinks, but mostly like medium or dark roast drip brewed black coffee.

Today at 40yo I drink 1 or 2 cups a day of black pour over drip at home.

My Dad can't do coffee... wrecks his stomach.
Same for my wife. She's an avid high quality loose leaf tea drinker. Loves the smell of coffee and can have coffee based/flavored desserts, but not "the real thing"

Strong flavors appeal to me in general. I'm an IPA beer guy and Gin Martini with the 1/2oz of Vermouth...

[NY65912]

I started drinking coffee at about 13 or 14. My grandfather who lived with my family emigrated from Italy to Brazil as a child. He worked on a coffee plantation picking coffee beans from childhood into his early 20's. Grandpa then came to America. Coffee was a big thing in the house.

Having 2 grandparents and a father that were born in Italy espresso was served every night. In fact it was my job to make it. I used to love going in to the coffee store that sold beans of every kind in sacks. The aroma was intoxicating to me.

Grandpa drank coffee and smoked morning noon and night. I can still remember the sound at night of he preparing his tiny 2 cup pot (he had Parkinson's) so that he could have his coffee and cig as soon as he awoke in the morning.

I would get a little coffee here and there as a child but started drinking it when I went to junior high school. Now, I only drink 2 cups of decaf a day. Too many heart palpitations.

[onewhippedpuppy]

16 I think, I had a 7 am class in high school and needed something to pep me up. It looked like milk by the time I was done dumping creamer and sugar in it. Today I don't ruin the goodness with anything.

[dad911]

Originally Posted by red-beard

8 years old - after church

Hey r-b, you're in texas, can ya help a buddy out and ship some of this to NJ?

Texas Coffee Recalled Over Viagra-Like Ingredient | Time.com