I recognize that the title of this column might stir up some controversy, especially among fellow coffee enthusiasts. Not to mention it puts me at risk of getting exiled from my beloved adopted home, Seattle. And yes, perhaps “Clarity > Coffee” even seems a tad hypocritical, considering that I’m writing this while enjoying a double shot at my local overpriced third-wave roastery. But I digress....

First, I’m in no way suggesting you—or we—should instead consume thimblefuls of “energizing” wheatgrass rather than continue our relationship with our BFF, Joe. Let’s be honest: Joe energizes us. He makes us alert. He leaves us happy. Sure, these effects can be fleeting, the result of the temporary dopamine response—“the motivation molecule”—that caffeine triggers in our brains. This causes us to build up our tolerance and increase our dependence on Joe’s services more often than we might take notice of. And when we try to fight our need for Joe, his absence leaves us tired and cranky, impairing our focus, memory, ability to plan, processing speed, and decision-making capabilities. All that notwithstanding, Joe’s often the first one we call on to boost our mental acuity and usher us through our midday slump.

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