The Caffeine Fiends of Weldon High

In law school, coffee is more than a drink. It shapes our daily routine, particularly during exam seasons. The long morning lines and tables buzzing with laptops and casebooks at nearby cafés have become a familiar sight. Based on a small survey of 1L Schulich students, 73% of respondents drink coffee, and the majority (85%) consume no more than two cups per day. Affecting nearly three in four of our peers, coffee drinking is a common habit.

Epic highs and lows of coffee consumption

Law school can be stressful and can make caffeine feel like a daily necessity to fight exhaustion. According to Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, moderate caffeine enhances attentiveness and focus for understanding challenging materials. However, excessive caffeine disrupts sleep and memory, which harms our studying and well-being. A 2019 Nature Human Behaviour study found that even mild sleep loss weakens the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for reasoning and making decisions. Consuming excessive amounts of coffee also increases the stress hormone cortisol and exacerbates anxiety.

Given both the benefits and risks of coffee consumption, the key is not to quit caffeine but to manage consumption. Health Canada recommends a daily caffeine limit of 400 mg. That likely means no more than two cups of coffee per day, and it should be accompanied by adequate hydration and proper rest. Keep in mind that tea, cola, cocoa drinks, and even chocolate cakes may also contain caffeine.

High caffeine alternatives

If you are bored of your daily double-shot espresso, here are some refreshing choices to keep you within your daily caffeine limits:

Lemon Lime Cold Brew

Ingredients: cold brew coffee, ice, lemon or lime juice, mint leaves, sparkling water, honey or syrup.

1. Add ice to the glass until it is 70% full.

2. Pour 120 ml of cold brew coffee and 100 ml of sparkling water, then stir gently.

3. Squeeze an appropriate amount of lemon or lime juice. You may add some lemon and lime slices for extra flavor.

4. Garnish with mint leaves and add some honey or syrup to taste.

5. Mix well and enjoy!

Osmanthus Roasted-Milk

This recipe is for those who prefer tea to coffee as well as a reduced caffeine intake. It's a cup of warm roasted-milk is a perfect comfort in the cold winter.

Ingredients: 5 g black tea leaves, 3 g dried osmanthus flowers, 25 g sugar, water.

1. Bring 100 ml water, tea leaves and osmanthus flowers to a boil over low heat, then simmer for five more minutes.

2. Pour 450 ml of milk, continue to heat until boiling, then turn off the heat.

3. Strain out the tea leaves and osmanthus flowers.

4. Sprinkle some dried osmanthus on top to decorate your roasted-milk tea.

Pistachio Buttermilk Latte

Ingredients: pistachios, pistachio spread, milk, buttermilk, ice, coffee

1. Place one spoonful of pistachio spread in the bottom of the cup, then add 50 ml of milk and stir until smooth.

2. Add ice to the cup.

3. Pour one-third of the cup’s volume of buttermilk. Continue adding milk until the cup is filled to 90%.

4. Add the coffee (espresso, strong brew, etc.).

5. Garnish on top with pistachios.