The document is a personal reflection by the author on their past addiction to coffee and the difficulties they had giving it up after joining the Mormon church. As a middle schooler, the author would drink 1-2 pots of coffee each morning for the energy boost it provided. They vividly describe the ritual and sensations of brewing and drinking a cup of coffee. After joining the Mormon church at age 13, which prohibits coffee, the author struggled through withdrawal symptoms like insomnia and cravings for months. Even over a decade later, they still feel temptation and longing when around the smell or taste of coffee.

1. Winie Jeudy
June 8, 2015
Composition
P a g e | 1
Coffee
It’s funny how little things that seem insignificant at the time, makes so much difference
later. In middle school, I would wake up early before school to make 1-2 pots of steaming hot
coffee to drink before I would have to deal with fellow idiot school mates. Just thinking about it
now makes my shiver in expectation. Each drop of the coffee brought me back to life from the
fogginess of last night’s sleep. I never thought I could live without coffee, and I am still not quite
sure if I do.
As a matter of fact, if I close my eyes right now, I can see and hear the coffee brewing.
The drip drop in the midst of the whirring of the coffee machine, as the liquid black gold slowly
fills up the Pyrex glass excite me. Hardly able to wait for my first taste, I quickly remove the
Pyrex from the holder and place a little pot under it as I quickly fill my oversized mug with the
little bit of coffee drips that already has collected in Pyrex. Drip drop, drip drop. The pot
continues to collect the sweet nectar of the Gods. Unable to contain my desires, I hold the cup up
to my nose and take a long, deep, intoxicating breath to rejuvenate my senses. Then, I blow on
the cloudy mushroom like steam pouring out of my hot mug, while I slowly touch the mug to my
mouth. Longing to fill my need to be one with this dark drink, I gradually taste the bitter coffee
before I drown it with creamer and sugar. Looking back, I can’t believe the power this little drink
had on my life.
Sadly, my love of this liquefied treasure had to come to an abrupt end just before I turned
13. I joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. Members of the church must
abstain from the life-giving, hair-tickling, patience-giving, kick-of-a-drink known as coffee.
Experts say it only takes seven days to go through withdrawal, but the mind did not know that.

2. Winie Jeudy
June 8, 2015
Composition
P a g e | 2
For months, I spent nights sweating in bed, shivering, unable to sleep, and I did not understand
why. I’d be happy if I was able to get 2-4 hours of sleep a night! And in the morning, I’d make a
steaming pot of herbal tea. Trust me, the smell of those tasteless, green leaves did not wake me
up. It just made me want to crawl back into my sweat soaked sheets and go back to sleep. I could
really go for a drink of java juice right now.
Furthermore, I cannot even begin to explain the urges I feel when I walk in the coffee
aisle of the super market. The aroma of the coffee beans make my stomach turn with shameful
desires. I look up and down the aisle, making sure there are no passerbys to witness my sin.
Coast clear, I take a coffee bean from the dispenser, and deliberately rotate it between my thumb
and pointer finger, inch by inch I leisurely move it to my nose. The warmth from my fingers
vigorously arouses that awaiting fragrance of ecstasy this little gem promises. Like a crack head,
unable to help myself, I take a hit. I close my eyes, take a deep, soul-filled breath and imagine
the tasty, warm java in my throat. Ashamed, I pull the beans away from my face, look at the
other beans reflectively, and command my feet to head to next aisle.
More than a decade has passed since I joined the church, yet my longing and need of this
forbidden liquid gold still holds me prisoner to its temptation. Anytime someone drinks coffee
near me, they have no idea of the thoughts I have. I envision myself making a fist, pulling my
arm back, making contact with their face, and knocking them out. That would give me plenty of
time to pick up their coffee, fondle, and have an affair with the brew… Maybe take a few sips
before running away for my dear life? However, if it was not for the fear of dropping my soap in
the jails cold shower, I would. I am not proud to say it, but I think I am still, very much addicted
to coffee.