THE BIOLOGY OF MY STARBUCKS COFFEE ADDICTION AND MIND EVOLUTION

Posted on August 19, 2012 by Jeffrey Newman

To be sure, I have a biological or psychological addition to my Starbucks coffee. Not only have I come to need it, I need it at the same time each day (6 a.m.) to feel “right”. I think the addiction is biological because I tend to feel more awake and alert after I am 2/3 through the Venti Pike but of course that too could be a conditioned response much like Pavlov’s dogs. If I had my own lab and the resources, I would take my own bloods at different times and run a variety of tests to see if I could isolate any unique constituents which correlate with the morning coffee. Suppose I find more cortisol or more oxygen resulting from the vasodilation effects on my arteries? Of course I could also examine the hormones to see if the coffee somehow spikes output from my adrenals. Many studies have been done on the benefits of coffee which convince me that something subtle is happening, maybe within the neuronal synapses which allow for speedy communication between my brain cells. This is impossible, of course, to measure and as such remains elusive. In addition, the articifical distinction between psychological and physical addition has been undone in science. It is all intertwined. Perhaps, if I had the money, I could run a functional MRI on my brain after morning coffee to see what portions are lighting up. I would like to see the sections just behind my ears to glow yellow as that is thoughts now to be the locales of brain creativity. Why does any of this make a difference? well for me, if I can determine what makes me feel so good and wanting to learn and write and get going after my morning coffee, perhaps I could reproduce the feelings at other times of the day. Now this brings me to a seasonal Starbucks markrting tool. Around this time of year, the company gives “treat receipts” in the morning, allowing a customer to buy a mid size cool drink after 2pm. Mine of choice is a frozen drink with a shot of expresso. The treat receipts end in September. I wonder if Starbucks has figured out how to lure me in just long enough to create an afternoon habit so that I enter the doors twice a day instead of once. It’s ok with me, as long as it works. Two bursts of creativity and sustained work a day would be well worth it but I do wonder if this has been studied by neurologists or psychologists for the company. How I feel after my morning coffee cannot well be expressed in words. It goes beyond feeling more awake, although that is a definite part of it. My heart seems to pump better. I feel more in balance and can think more calmly without as much worry or concern about the mundane things I need to do. It’s a bit like I envision a cigarette in that I sit back a bit and just let the mind flow. It is that flow which is so central to it all. To launch my days with that flow sets the whole tenor of things and even when I head towards the office, I seem to notice the trees and colors of things–none of which I did earlier. Now could some of this be ascribed to merely waking up or another process within my system? Perhaps. However, when I miss that morning cup I don’t seem to capture the morning flow. To be sure science will come up with more to help us understand what is going on with our morning coffee.  In the mean time, I will continue to begin each day unwinding and winding up with my morning Starbucks and all without any analysis but just enjoyment from the feelings of being alive. Cognitive development and self-evolution are possible at any age. Like anything else, pushing forward the minds-eye requires focus planning and above all daily effort.  Each habit that is developed which somehow advances the effort is another step updwards.  As silly as it may sound, my morning coffee is one of those habits that is assisting me in mind development.