When you're just griping and the internet answers whether you like it or not.

And you end up learning something so it's cool.

​So I  have an unusual relationship with the stuff known as coffee, and its frequent companion, caffeine. I'm 99% caffeine free, but love coffee, and very occasionally feel like I could use a little zing.

I drink reduced-acid caffeine free coffee at home. Usually black, but sometimes as a faux mocha with hot cocoa in it. I occasionally indulge in a decaf mocha (or decaf pumpkin spice) while out & about. I do eat chocolate, probably more than I should, but not enough that the caffeine becomes an issue. I drink lots and lots of herbal tea.

I have been at that level of decaf for a number of years now. 

The problem is, every once in a while, I have the sort of day where I really wish I could have a little more zing. Not like 50/50 caffeine zing. Just like 5 servings of acid-reduced decaf zing (total shot-in-the-dark estimate), but all in one serving.

And yesterday I had that problem, and griped about it on the internet.

And in response, I got a flurry of friendly helpful answers that I'd already considered and/or tried and/or that presented other problems that kept them from being that answer which I really wasn't looking for because really I believe it just requires a fairy godsperson to show up and just grant me that wish. But spoiler alert: in the end I did learn something that I will look into trying.

To begin with the problem & the problems with the solutions:

Decaf isn't enough on these rare days.
5 servings (say, 16-20 oz each) of decaf might be, but takes more of a toll on my stomach than I'm prepared to risk, even with my reduced acid brand.

Any and all kinds of tea (black, green, white) will have the same issues:
Regular will have too much caffeine.
Decaf won't have enough.
Tea (except herbals which have no caffeine) will have the acid issue and I've never seen a reduced acid version to try.

Cold brew - requires planning & is a solution for frequent use. When I need this, I need it now-ish, not hours or more later. And if I make it & leave it in the fridge? It's a fuzzy science experiment waiting to happen. I don't need this very often. I also prefer my coffee hot, and microwaving it never seems to be the same.

Chocolate will bring too many calories if I attempt to eat enough to give me the zing I need.

If I encounter this feeling while I'm driving, I buy some cherry or vanilla coke, swig about 2 shots' worth, and I'm good. But sitting at home & working, I want a beverage I can enjoy. Ideally, I want a full-cup-of reduced-acid hot coffee drink with that level of caffeine sort of answer.

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My ideal solution is:

• Something ready in a few minutes (normal coffee/tea brewing time), not hours
• No massive additional calories in comparison to coffee/tea like chocolate brings
• Single serving size, no pitchers and combos of tea bags or storage in my fridge
• No artificial sweeteners
• Preferably hot
• Preferably reduced acid

I basically want what I have - Puroast reduced acid house blend - in a 90/10 decaf/caffeinated mix. At least I think that's what I want, but  I don't expect to find that without the intervention of a fairy godsperson.

BUT… because of the internet and the determination of some (salutes you who know who you are), I *have* learned about cascara! With some poking around to verify estimated caffeine levels, this just might work. Also, I never considered loose leaf tea. I could blend a very small amount of loose leaf green, maybe, with an appropriate loose leaf herbals. I've done loose leaf tea. I have the stuff. The problem is I get a little nutty in wanting ALL teh FLAVURrrrs.  :) But this I think I can do.

So, I have 2 things to try that I would not have known about had I not griped on the internet. Thank you, wonderful friends & wonderful internet!