Hold the caffeine, save some green

I’ll drink it hot or cold, with or without sweetener, skim milk or soy, flavored or original. Pickiness goes out the window when it comes to my coffee.

Give me a cup and I’ll make it work. I can’t live without it.

I was never a fan of coffee early in high school. I took my first sip from my mother’s daily mug and spit it right back out. But time passed.

With age came money — and social outings to Starbucks.

I went from frappes to lattes to coffee and milk. If this is coffee evolution, I should be downing shots of espresso by now.

Was I drawn to the drink by a desire for caffeine? Perhaps it was a desire to fit into a culture that embraces it. According to the 2010 National Coffee Drinking Report, “daily consumption of coffee beverages among consumers remained unchanged as compared to 2009, with 56 percent of adults partaking.”

I’m surprised it’s not higher. Even now, when I meet someone who doesn’t like coffee, I get confused. It just doesn’t register.

But the shock doesn’t stop there. The National Coffee Association of USA, which conducts the yearly study, also found that 84 percent of consumers have not changed their consumption habits despite the poor economy.

Coffee is a huge industry with a lot of costumers who empty their wallets daily for the drink. It’s an expensive habit, just like alcohol and cigarettes.

Recently, J.M. Smucker Co. raised the price of its Folgers, Dunkin’ Donuts, Millstone and Folgers Gourmet Selections coffees. Will the price increase affect sales?

Perhaps, but I’ll bet we’re willing to fork over the extra cash for the drink.

In America, we’re convinced there are things we just can’t live without. For me, the order goes: laptop, Blackberry, coffee. But this attitude costs each one of us a lot of money. The cell phone bill, the daily latte — it adds up.

It’s time to rethink our coffee habits.

Take this case study, conducted by a slightly less noted source than the National Coffee Association of USA: my sister. Although she was raised a Protestant, Sarah gave up coffee for Lent.

I expected complaints of headaches and withdrawal, but she was fine.

“It was all in my head,” she said happily. She now buys less coffee and still feels fine.

I’m not refuting the raw science. Caffeine is a proven stimulant, and if you need a quick jolt for a night of studying, there’s no better wake up call. But cutting back on coffee can be a great small step toward cutting back on other unnecessary expenses in your life.

So grab a glass of water, get an extra hour of sleep and save up for that new Blackberry you’ve always wanted.