Coffee: The Good, The Bad, And The Caffeinated

Here at Fuse Lenses, we like our caffeine. Collectively, we drink anything from coffee, tea, energy drinks, soft drinks, and powered caffeinated drinks. Maybe you also enjoy your dose of caffeine, but how much is too much? Are we addicted to caffeine? Or does everyone just need to chill and sip on some tea?

The Good

If you’re not a morning person, sometimes you have to work a little harder to get out of bed. Maybe you are one of those people who set multiple alarms or who continuously hit the snooze button. This could be particularly true if you have a full-time job or go to school (or both). Maybe you have to stay up later than usual for a double shift or if your cramming for an exam or something else you procrastinated on. Maybe you have kids, either the furry or the human kind, that requires your undivided attention when you rather shut your eyes and pass out. Whatever the reason for your caffeine consumption may be, it’s safe to assume that caffeine has become a necessity for most adults to survive.

The Bad

If I asked you to name a coffee shop near your home, could you do it? Whether it’s a local shop or a coffee franchise, chances are, you probably could. And if you live in a large metropolitan area, you can probably name more than one. Even if you live in a small town, you can probably still name a place that sells coffee and/or tea. Small gas stations and convenience stores even sell refrigerated coffee and energy drinks.

In moderation, caffeine isn’t bad. Maybe you need an extra pick-me-up on a long road trip. Or if you have a lot of work to get done, you might need to offset the symptoms of tiredness and stay focused. But when people start to replace a normal amount of sleep with caffeine, that’s when things get bad. Also, when people give caffeinate drinks to children, things get a little controversial. Sometimes, high schoolers who don’t fully understand the effects of caffeine get addicted early on and it can mess with their long-term health. 

The Caffeinated

Mostly all Americans and others around the world are either currently caffeinated or have been caffeinated at some point in their lives. There is probably a coffee machine at your work or at least a place nearby where you can purchase it. You probably have one or more caffeinated drinks in your home.

The team at Fuse really like caffeine. We have a coffee machine in the office that’s used for brews daily, but we also each have our favorite caffeinated drink. When we asked around the office - we found that energy drinks help 99% of our Fuse employees through their 3pm slump. Red Bull, Monster Ultra Sunrise, and the Monster Zero Series are the flavors of choice for the owners and most of the team. Of course, coffee and tea were also popular answers. Our Communications Manager, Jessica, runs exclusively on double-shot soy chai lattes, and Customer Service Manager, Rosina, only drinks unsweetened teas or coffee. Our graphic designer, Alanna, can’t function without G-Fuel, a caffeine-packed flavor powder that keeps her going from the workday, through CrossFit, and into the night streaming video games. Our eCommerce specialist, Alexis, reaches for a Bang Black Cherry Vanilla when the works piling on and she needs an elevated heartbeat to tackle her deadlines. Then there is Itzel, our content writer, who likes sipping lattes in small coffee shops as she types up the next blog post.

So the next time you’re feeling drained on energy, make sure you reach out for your favorite caffeinated drink. Whether that be energy drinks, coffee, tea, soft drinks, or whatever else you enjoy. However, also remember to get a good night’s sleep, whenever you get the chance, and drink lots of water. Take care of your body and it will take care of you. Happy caffeine drinking to all!