I basically don't like coffee and rarely drink it, but there are a few times a year when I suddenly crave coffee, and that's exactly what's happening right now.

Whether caffeine, like that found in coffee, is good for people who meditate is a matter of opinion. Some traditional yoga practices suggest avoiding it, while in Buddhism, it varies by sect. For example, Theravada Buddhism (Southern Buddhism) doesn't have specific restrictions because it's not mentioned in the scriptures, so it varies depending on the sect.

In my case, I used to get headaches and experience breathing difficulties when I drank coffee, so I basically avoided it. Occasionally, I would try it out of curiosity, but I usually regretted it. However, recently, I've been able to tolerate it a little more. I still don't particularly enjoy it, but I have these periods when I crave it, and when I do drink it, I usually get bored before finishing a whole pack, leaving the rest untouched. So, I'm basically someone who doesn't drink coffee.

Recently, I realized something interesting. The common saying that "drinking coffee at night will prevent you from sleeping" was definitely true for me in the past. However, since my meditation practice has progressed, I can now drink coffee and still sleep soundly, while also being alert and conscious. This seems contradictory, but it allows me to rest well.

However, this isn't always the case, and sometimes I just can't sleep. So, there seem to be certain conditions, and more research is needed.

Also, I still fundamentally dislike coffee. So, even if there are these effects, I wouldn't drink it just for that. It's just that I've noticed these effects.

When I don't drink coffee and go to sleep, it's normal, and I can still sleep soundly and be in a relatively awakened state thanks to the effects of meditation. However, the level of alertness I experience when I drink coffee before sleeping is something else.

This was quite a discovery for me. Coffee itself isn't that delicious to me, and I'm someone who prefers plain "water" the most, so I don't particularly like murky water. However, if I have this level of alertness, coffee might not be so bad after all. That's what I'm starting to think. Of course, after a few times a year when I crave coffee, I stop wanting it, so I end up not drinking it.

As I mentioned before, I used to get headaches, nausea, and breathing difficulties just from drinking coffee. I also used to dislike tea, so I probably have a general aversion to caffeine. I like delicious green tea brewed in a kyusu teapot, but I don't like bottled tea. I never thought I would be interested in coffee like this.

I've been feeling this change for about the past six months. I can live without it, and I don't want to become too dependent, so I try to take a few days off. However, when I drink coffee before going to sleep, I sleep very comfortably at night.

Also, I think I can get by with less sleep. I can wake up feeling alert after only 4 or 5 hours of sleep, and I wake up easily in the morning.

There are some side effects, such as feeling very sleepy during the day. I sometimes feel a strong urge to sleep for 30 minutes or an hour, and that sleepiness is so strong that I can't resist it, even with coffee. However, I think it's okay if I just take a nap during the day.

On weekdays, I try not to drink too much coffee at night because, although I wake up easily in the morning, the strong sleepiness during the day can interfere with my work.

It's said that drinking coffee "prevents you from sleeping." In my case, that was definitely true for me in the past. Now, thanks to the effects of meditation, I can fall asleep easily and wake up feeling refreshed. However, I seem to be experiencing a side effect of not getting enough sleep, which causes me to feel very sleepy during the day.

Even with these side effects, I wake up feeling very refreshed, so I want to observe the changes caused by coffee (in the long term) as long as it doesn't cause any significant problems.