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2 Likes
Let us gather together, coffee dissenters
danielznelson
Alum Inactive Sage Inactive ⭐
This may be the most worthless discussion in 7Sage's recent history, but in the event that it may help someone in similar shoes to mine, I thought I'd err on the safe side and post this anyway.
There are perhaps three things that I hate above all else in this world: the never-ending zombie craze, country music, and. COFFEE. The last of these - the putrid, nightmarish toxin eighty-some percent of Americans seem to enjoy drinking - is the worst of them all. I once enjoyed Plants v. Zombies, and I occasionally manage to walk in and out of a store without noticing but for a second some song about a pickup truck, but coffee will never grow one me. A teaspoon of it in even the sweetest of desserts will have me immediately putting down my fork and reaching for what is hopefully a full glass of water. So what did frequently flu-ridden me always do the night (mid-morning) before a half dozen midterms? I drank a crap ton of matcha.
For the purpose of this post, I found a Daily Mail article, which will hopefully do all of the science talk for me.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2713411/Would-swap-coffee-Matcha-green-tea.html
Having been a frequent drinker of matcha for the past five years or so, I am confident that I can speak knowledgeably about its benefits. The caffeine kick isn't immediate and dramatic as is the kick from a coffee break, but the subsequent crash is absolutely nonexistent. You may notice a lengthened alertness that extends beyond the length of the LSAT (a big plus, if you ask me) both from the caffeine, which is absorbed more slowly than is caffeine from coffee, and the plentiful amount of goodies also found in the drink (see article for the actual specifics on this). While tea holds a fraction of the amount of caffeine compared to coffee, matcha is very different, primarily because of the fact that the drink requires you to drink the leaves themselves as opposed to an infusion of them. Leaves used for [quality] matcha are a very particular fraction of a very particular variety, not to mention the delicate and ultra-specific processing these leaves undergo. This leads, among other things, to a higher concentration of amino acids and to a much better tasting product.
One of the greatest benefits of matcha in relation to the LSAT is the amount customarily consumed. As opposed to a cup of coffee or tea, a "cup" of matcha is no more than a few ounces from less than a tablespoon of powder. I don't know about anyone else here on this forum, but I am not about to wait one to two hours before actually starting the test, only to have to keep my bladder from bursting while working on the first three sections of the LSAT for the two hours afterwards. Matcha avoids this issue for me perfectly and also gives me a very positive, consistent, and crash-less boost.
Personally, matcha, and tea in general, is most attractive for its taste, aroma, and history, but for the purpose of the LSAT, the benefits of matcha are especially attractive. It has helped me tremendously in many instances over the years like the one aforementioned. Should anyone take the venture to try this tea, I would recommend experimenting with it a few months out before the test; buying it is a bit of an investment, and several accessories are pretty much required in order to prepare the tea. Making the tea takes some practice as well. And just because a product claims to be matcha a) doesn't mean that it actually is and b) doesn't mean it is of any decent quality. Plenty of green tea powders are marketed as "matcha" even though its from an entirely different leaf, harvest date, production process, et cetera. Fakes and poor products lead to reduced benefits (including caffeine) and at best sub-par flavor profiles. Hibiki-an and Aiya are among the more reputable and reliable sources for purchasing matcha.
As I mentioned, quality matcha is not cheap, but I think for some, it may be a worthwhile investment. I know matcha will be very helpful for me, as will my 180watch and Ticonderoga pencils. And for coffee-haters akin to myself, a drink such as this can be godsend straight from heaven.
There are perhaps three things that I hate above all else in this world: the never-ending zombie craze, country music, and. COFFEE. The last of these - the putrid, nightmarish toxin eighty-some percent of Americans seem to enjoy drinking - is the worst of them all. I once enjoyed Plants v. Zombies, and I occasionally manage to walk in and out of a store without noticing but for a second some song about a pickup truck, but coffee will never grow one me. A teaspoon of it in even the sweetest of desserts will have me immediately putting down my fork and reaching for what is hopefully a full glass of water. So what did frequently flu-ridden me always do the night (mid-morning) before a half dozen midterms? I drank a crap ton of matcha.
For the purpose of this post, I found a Daily Mail article, which will hopefully do all of the science talk for me.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2713411/Would-swap-coffee-Matcha-green-tea.html
Having been a frequent drinker of matcha for the past five years or so, I am confident that I can speak knowledgeably about its benefits. The caffeine kick isn't immediate and dramatic as is the kick from a coffee break, but the subsequent crash is absolutely nonexistent. You may notice a lengthened alertness that extends beyond the length of the LSAT (a big plus, if you ask me) both from the caffeine, which is absorbed more slowly than is caffeine from coffee, and the plentiful amount of goodies also found in the drink (see article for the actual specifics on this). While tea holds a fraction of the amount of caffeine compared to coffee, matcha is very different, primarily because of the fact that the drink requires you to drink the leaves themselves as opposed to an infusion of them. Leaves used for [quality] matcha are a very particular fraction of a very particular variety, not to mention the delicate and ultra-specific processing these leaves undergo. This leads, among other things, to a higher concentration of amino acids and to a much better tasting product.
One of the greatest benefits of matcha in relation to the LSAT is the amount customarily consumed. As opposed to a cup of coffee or tea, a "cup" of matcha is no more than a few ounces from less than a tablespoon of powder. I don't know about anyone else here on this forum, but I am not about to wait one to two hours before actually starting the test, only to have to keep my bladder from bursting while working on the first three sections of the LSAT for the two hours afterwards. Matcha avoids this issue for me perfectly and also gives me a very positive, consistent, and crash-less boost.
Personally, matcha, and tea in general, is most attractive for its taste, aroma, and history, but for the purpose of the LSAT, the benefits of matcha are especially attractive. It has helped me tremendously in many instances over the years like the one aforementioned. Should anyone take the venture to try this tea, I would recommend experimenting with it a few months out before the test; buying it is a bit of an investment, and several accessories are pretty much required in order to prepare the tea. Making the tea takes some practice as well. And just because a product claims to be matcha a) doesn't mean that it actually is and b) doesn't mean it is of any decent quality. Plenty of green tea powders are marketed as "matcha" even though its from an entirely different leaf, harvest date, production process, et cetera. Fakes and poor products lead to reduced benefits (including caffeine) and at best sub-par flavor profiles. Hibiki-an and Aiya are among the more reputable and reliable sources for purchasing matcha.
As I mentioned, quality matcha is not cheap, but I think for some, it may be a worthwhile investment. I know matcha will be very helpful for me, as will my 180watch and Ticonderoga pencils. And for coffee-haters akin to myself, a drink such as this can be godsend straight from heaven.
Comments
Now let’s talk about this: Now, I love coffee. No really. My PS is about coffee. That being said, I completely agree with this statement. 99% of the coffee out there is total garbage. In fact, much of the coffee shop coffee out there is total garbage. Don’t drink bad coffee guys. For just a trivial increase in cost, you can treat yo self daily to a beautiful experience that does not taste like burnt tire rubber and sad children. And @danielznelson , I would propose that perhaps you do like coffee after all, and you have just been a victim of your own good taste encountering the swill that has been served to you in the past with the label of “coffee” outrageously attached to it. No one hates bad wine more than a wine lover. So too with coffee.
7Sagers. Go forth. And Treat Yo Self.
Edit. Realized links were totally in violation of forum rules. My bad. But still, go get some nice coffees!
These links are excellent. And you're probably right, though I'm afraid to try coffee due to the off chance that I would like it. I have even a petty, moralistic dislike for coffee, and I don't want to compromise my life of tea.
I'm a bit worried by this "special bowls and wisks" talk, as I am more of a protein bar for breakfast, microwave meal for lunch, Whole Foods chicken and pickles for dinner. Definitely NOT a ceremonial tea maker.
Any dump and shake methods/brands that still give you that smooth caffeination?
2. That's because you've never drank Colombian coffee ;p
Here is another option:
http://www.aiyamatcha.com/consumers/matcha-poducts/matcha-to-go-sticks.html
Honestly, I don't know why I hadn't thought of mentioning this off the bat. I haven't had this either, however.
Ha! I was shocked no one called me out on zombies. As as I already mentioned, as much as I claim to hate them, P v. Z was my jam back in college.
Thanks for the thread @danielznelson!
And I know I don’t have to tell y’all you’ve got to grind your beans fresh right? The finest coffee in the world will be Folgers within an hour after it’s ground.
I have not experienced matcha first hand, but I know that coffee makes me feel much better than 60mg of vyvanse did every day... don't forget exercise, assuming the cold snap goes back up where it belongs by June, I hope to cycle ~30km the morning of the LSAT, helps drown out distractions.
@pritisharma I personally would recommend Aiya and Hibiki-an. I can't claim either is the best, though of the products available online, I can't think of many more that are better. If you're new to matcha, however, I don't think you have to start there, though they do have entry-level matcha that is great to try.
If you really want to go all out, I would recommend a standard chawan (matcha bowl). It may seem ridiculous, but these bowls are made specifically for matcha preparation. They're super slick with higher walls and a smaller center. This helps to foam up the matcha and to avoid hot liquid spilling over the sides.
The whisk is probably the most important tool; I don't really use the spoon but a chashaku. I hardly think the difference matters. It's a good idea to get a fine-mesh sifter as well. All of these accessories are purchasable on Amazon, of course.
I would look up videos on Matcha Preparation and go to sites like MatchaSource and Hibiki-an for articles on preparation. You may have to find "matcha preparation" on the right side of the page. I personally but a tablespoon (maybe?) of water in the bowl with the sifted tea to make a paste before adding the rest of the water, but that is just personal preference.
@"Cant Get Right" mentioned Rishi Tea for cheaper though still good matcha. That wouldn't be a bad place to start.
https://youtu.be/fmukjUoevf4
@"Cant Get Right" My favorite tea period is longing and in particular, a first picking. Verdant Tea has the best dragon well I've tasted. Have you checked them out? If not, you should. They do things pretty differently and are incredibly informative and transparent. They also create new and unique teas, since they're selling almost exclusively to an American market. Their laoshan black is a work of art. My favorite type of tea in general would definitely have to be be high-elevation, lightly oxidized, Taiwenese oblongs - virtually any of them. I just love oblong in general, especially rolled ones.
Y’all have any cool teaware? I’ve got a Tokoname teapot which has really upped my game.
As far as Chinese oolongs, tieguanyin is a great start. Different oxidation levels are present for sure, but it's usually square in the middle. Baozhong and Alishan are some of my personal favorites as far as Taiwenese teas go, as well as Dong Ding, which is a darker roasted tea.
I think I’ve had a Baozhong before, but it was before I was really into tea so don’t really remember it. Will have to check some stuff out.