Back at it. . .

I started back at work on Monday feeling pretty refreshed after two weeks off, today however not even a double ristretto and a flat white first thing in the morning could stave off a headache that must be a 'return-to-work' headache.

It felt like a caffeine withdrawal head pain and lasted the whole day. There has been a reasonable amount of research into caffeine withdrawal, and at times it has been inconclusive as to whether or not it exists.

Some of the more recent research has been based on the hypothesis that it does exist, but not for everyone.

I know that any day in which I do not have a good coffee in the morning I am likely to be rewarded by a headache that sets in around 11.30 in the morning and remains until I go to sleep.
Others I have discussed the topic with describe everything from migraine-level blinding headaches to a mild irritability as the symptoms of their own withdrawal.

Caffeine is a drug, we do become accustomed to its use and can become dependent on its effects. I usually drink two coffees each day - most of my friends assume I drink many more, and on occasions I have, but most weeks it is 2-per-day, not out of any particular sense of moderation, more just because that is enough to give me the beneficial feelings without imposing the ill-effects of over caffeination.

This is one of the reasons I like to make sure that I drink really good coffee - with only two a day there is no point wasting it on nasty, stale coffee from just anywhere.

I had a brilliant ristretto at Epic this morning and it reminded me of one of the reasons that I like Perth cafes - they each seem to have something that they specialize in. I can walk into any one of nearly a dozen cafes on my route to work and get a coffee that exceeds anything that I could buy anywhere in Perth a few years ago.

If I go further off my path of travel then there are an even greater number of Perth Cafes that have gone way beyond the average. My experience in other cities is limited, but from what I hear others say it does seem that Perth has a remarkable number of specialty cafes where the quality of the coffee is paramount.

A lot of that has to do with our local roasters who contribute their expertise in training as well as roasting to the cafes that they supply.

The result in a generally high standard - once you know where to go. I think 2009 may have to be a year where once a month I try to ensure that I go to a cafe that I have not yet visited. There are a few new cafes, as well as some that have been just out of my reach and I think I'd like to learn from their owners and baristas as well.

Also this year I will be doing some writing for BeanScene Magazine and hopefully manage to profile some of Perth's baristas and roasters over the year - We have so many interesting coffee people in the Perth areas that it is getting to the point where the focus of the article will have to be decided by a coin toss.

I've also just been promoted at work which will keep me busy on that front and I now have the opportunity to work with my own team, as well as with the other teams I already work with. I have successfully introduced good coffee to the office and our plunger gets a daily workout. The downside of this is that on days where we run out of good coffee (like today) everyone notices immediately.

As penance for failing to ensure supply i have put together a bag of my personal blend from last week - Yemen Ismali and El Salvador Himalaya. With any luck that gift of atonement will keep me alive in the office until Friday.