The Day 2 Blues: Our Roaster Surviving the Spring Reset

Spring always does this to us.

Everyone starts talking about "detoxes" and "fresh starts." Suddenly, your social feed is full of people cutting out sugar, booze, or caffeine like it’s just the Canadian thing to do once the snow starts melting. So, I made a call.

No coffee.

Yeah, I’m a coffee roaster. I know how it sounds, it’s like a hockey player giving up skates. It’s a bit absurd. But I wanted to see what happens when I actually hit the brakes for a bit.

I’m writing this right in the thick of it. Which means my brain is basically a screensaver of rotating coffee cups while I’m trying to focus. Our Colombia drip is haunting me. It’s hot, smooth, and has that perfect transition from roasted nuts to, of course, maple syrup. It’s not making this easy.

What’s actually going on in my head? (The Science Bit)

To understand why I feel like a zombie, you have to look atadenosine. Think of it as your brain’s "sleepiness meter." It builds up all day long, making you feel more and more tired until you finally crash.

Caffeine is a total sneak

It’s shaped just like adenosine, so it jumps into the "parking spots" (receptors) in your brain where sleepiness is supposed to go. It blocks the signal. Your brain stops realizing it’s tired, so you feel awake even when you aren't.

On top of that, it kicks your adrenaline into gear, that’s why your heart beats faster and you feel sharp. It even taps into dopamine, which is that little "happy hit" you get after a sip that makes the whole world feel a bit more manageable.

The problem? If you drink it every day, your brain just builds more "parking spots" to keep up. You get less sensitive to it. You need more fuel just to feel normal. You don’t even realize it’s happening... until you stop.

The Struggle is Real

That’s where I’m at. Day two. 
I’m still getting my work done. I’m not falling over. But there’s this constant, nagging "want" sitting in the back of my mind.
It’s not a huge dramatic crash; it’s just a persistent need.

Plus, there’s the physical side. Caffeine usually tightens the blood vessels in your brain. When you quit, they open up wide, and that sudden shift in blood flow can make your head feel like it’s under a pile of bricks. Or, honestly, it could just be a Chinook rolling in.
Living in Calgary, IYKYK.

When you’re used to five or six cups a shift, your body is used to a very specific rhythm. When you take that away, your brain just keeps looking for the beat, but the music has stopped.

The Decaf Dilemma (And why Swiss Water is King)

Everyone online says that by day seven, you feel like a new person. Better sleep, steady energy, calm nerves. That sounds great, but I’m not there yet. I’m still in the trenches. Thanks people of Reddit.

And this is where decaf enters the chat.

See, "decaf" isn't just one thing. There are a few ways to get the "buzz" out:

  • Chemical Solvents: They steam the beans and wash them with chemicals to pull the caffeine out. It’s cheap, but it can strip away the flavour. A lot of people aren't crazy about the idea of chemical leftovers, either.
  • Carbon Dioxide: They use high-pressure CO2 to zap the caffeine. It’s clean, but the gear is crazy expensive, so you only see it at a massive industrial scale.
  • The Swiss Water Process: This is the one we swear by.

It’s actually pretty cool, no chemicals, just water and patience. First, they soak green beans in hot water to pull out everything, the caffeine and the flavour. They toss those beans, but keep the water (which is now full of coffee goodness).

They filter that water through carbon to trap the caffeine but leave the flavour behind. Now they have "Green Coffee Extract", basically coffee-flavoured water with zero caffeine.

When they soak a new batch of fresh beans in that liquid, something clever happens. Because the water is already "full" of coffee flavour, the flavour stays inside the new beans. But because there’s no caffeine in the water, the caffeine rushes out to find a balance. You end up with a bean that tastes exactly like it should, just without the jolt.

The Best Decaf in Town

So, why am I still suffering?

We use Swiss Water because it actually tastes like real coffee. It definitely hits the spot. But here’s my personal tension: I’m on day two, and I’m debating if drinking a decaf is "cheating."

I realize now that I miss the ritual. I miss the smell, the warmth of the mug in my hands, the routine of it while I work. I had like 5 cups of tea today, it is not the same!
Decaf solves the ritual, but does it just make me want the real thing more?

I don't have the answer yet. I haven't reached the "promised land" of day seven. I’m just here, at The Roasterie, staring at my Colombia beans and writing through the cravings.

And just to be clear, I’m not giving up the roaster life. Not even close. I’m still at the shop every day, smelling the beans and getting the roast profiles just right. I’m just not the one drinking the "high-octane" stuff for a minute.

I’m also not planning on becoming "the one who doesn't drink coffee" forever. That’s not who I am. I love coffee way too much to walk away. But every once in a while, you’ve gotta give your nervous system a bit of a "breather." It’s like a hard reboot for your brain. It’s a huge benefit to do this once in a while; it keeps your system from getting too used to the constant jolt and lets your body find its own rhythm again.

That’s honestly why I’m so glad we have our Swiss Water decaf on the shelf. (Me making decaf americano, while thinking about the rest of this article.)
Because right now, on Day 2, it’s a total lifesaver. It lets me keep my ritual, the warm mug, the steam, that deep Sumatra or Colombia flavour, without messing up my reset.
It’s the perfect way to give my nerves a rest while still enjoying a world-class cup. It proves you don't have to sacrifice the experience just because you're taking a break from the buzz.

So, I’m sticking with the decaf for a few more days to give my body that break it deserves. I’ll be back to my usual espresso routine soon enough. And when I finally do have that first cup of "full-power" coffee again, it’s going to feel like magic.

See you on the other side of day seven.