My Favorite Addiction
April 1, 2007
Some vices are socially unacceptable. Some call for intervention. Some leave you shaking and alone, wondering how you ever let it get so out of hand. I’m not really sure where I fall on the spectrum of addiction, but I am far past the point of denying dependency. Like other addictions, mine is expensive, time-consuming, and an ever-evolving commitment. My name is Mara Sacks, and I am addicted to caffeine.
After years sipping along this long and rocky road to caffeine-induced lucidity, I am a self-declared expert. A snob perhaps. But when it comes to creative ways to hit the caffeine high, I’m knowledgeable to say the least. Maybe rocky is the wrong word to describe the caffeinated path. At times it has been smooth and dark. At others, hot and sensuous. A little scary perhaps, but always exhilarating and full of surprises. Regardless of the packaging, the drug is one I recommend whole-heartedly. I therefore invite you along the nostalgia tour of my fond addiction to guide you past the gateway and into the wonderful world of caffeine.
1. Kid’s Stuff. The first stop on the road to addiction is the Starbucks’ kiddy corner. The Frappucccino. The first time I slurped up was when I was twelve. I don’t remember it as vividly as I should, as the memory of the first time has been replaced by an amalgam of subsequent slurpy mornings. At $3.65 a pop, and without the mobility a license provides, I moved to the bottled variety pretty soon—a marked shift from frozen to liquid Frapps. I convinced my parents that high school would be out of the question if I weren’t properly equipped with Vanilla Frappuccinos at all times—at both houses. (Admittedly my broken home did not cause the addiction, but suffice to say his and her refrigerators were both stocked with the morning injection). First step to addiction: admit you’re an amateur, and go to Starbucks in Davis Square.
2. College Bound. At the onset of my Tufts education, I was still a loyal Frapper. On move-in day, I had cases piled high under my single bed. I had no intention of deviating from my sugary caffeine ways until a little truck I like to call The Bull rolled around the quad and into my life. For those who are too young to remember the wonderful days when the Red Bull truck roamed campus, distributing free cans of highly addictive, caffeinated urine, just know that you missed out. Finals time became a happy time on the hill, or at least a charged one. Sadly, The Bull couldn’t stay free for long, but luckily Jumbo Express is a fully stocked Red Bull source and the wings can be yours for only $2 a can. For caffeine-addicts with slower metabolisms, I recommend sugarfree Red Bull—all the punch and none of the guilt.
3. Parental Intervention. When I returned home from my first year at college, I brought my addiction with me. I would wake up at 7 a.m., groggy and bewildered, full of teenage angst, and the only saving grace that enabled a timely arrival to work was my newfound love for Red Bull. Weary of the destruction each new-age caffeine packed can promised, my mother got me off the smack and told me to drink regular coffee, like any other self-respecting adult. Brown and Brew is an excellent place to experiment with such self-respect. Mixing the various brews is the closest to chemistry I’ve ventured since high school. A base of French vanilla, with a touch of hazelnut and a dash of butter pecan will make the morning pass. This is by far the cheapest of all of my caffeine exploits, and I recommend it to the addict on a budget.
4. A Little Spice. As in any committed relationship, a healthy sense of adventure is key. To get out of my self-respecting-normal-coffee rut, I ventured to the trendy side and swallowed my first chai. Not bad. But also not loaded enough to keep me conscious for long. That was at least until I discovered the “Chai Charger” special at Brown and Brew. This caffeinated sweetheart combines the spicy adventure of Chai with the sweet-tooth penchant for hot chocolate and the kick of an espresso shot. As it has been removed from the drink special at Brown and Brew, and requesting the various ingredients adds up to almost $5, I recommend hitting up a similar blend at Davis Square’s Diesel Café. For variety, replace the hot-chocolate mix with a shot of vanilla syrup. You won’t be disappointed. It also commands a level of respect in the caffeine community, particularly when you order it quickly in a line filled with fellow edgy caffeine addicts.
5. My True Love. Although I make a conscious effort to venture out and try new and exciting ways to ingest my drug of choice, in the end, there is one drink that stands in a realm untouchable by any other. My true love will always be my sugar-free-non-fat-vanilla-latte. It’s really the best way to start the day. My commitment to the latte has necessitated the purchase of the Krups Espremio Espresso Maker, available at Crate and Barrel in Harvard Square. At some point, it’s time to take the plunge, admit you’re addicted and cut out the middle-man. Make the investment and have the convenience of the caffeine high in the privacy of your own home.
Mara Sacks, LA ‘08, has been addicted for eight years. She would like to thank God, her mother, and Starbucks for the strength to carry on.