From Somali Shaax to Caffeine Cult - my mother's disappointment in me

[Yaraye]

I was raised in a strictly no-coffee household. Coffee? Blasphemy! My mom was loyal to one thing and one thing only: Somali shaax — the royal brew of black tea, infused with spices, wisdom, and generational power. So naturally, our cabinets were stacked high with kenyan black tea and cardamom, and not a single coffee bean dared show its face in front of my mother

Then came adulthood… I entered the workforce about 2 years ago, and boom — they had FREE COFFEE. Free coffee, free sugar, free creamer, free betrayal. I said, “Let me just try it… for the flavors.” I was there for the southern pecan, the French vanilla, the liquid joy in tiny cups

One day I read the label on those creamers and realized I was basically sipping scented motor oil with a splash of sadness “Partially hydrogenated what?!” I nearly cried. I IMMEDIATELY switched to cow milk and sugar, like a reformed caffeine monk. Then I leveled up to the holy trinity: cow milk + brewed coffee + honey. No fake stuff. No chemicals. Just vibes and bitter ambition.

At first? That bitterness SLAPPED me. Like, I-just-got-fired slapped me. But now? I crave it. I sip it like I’m about to do someone’s taxes and run a Fortune 500 company at the same time

And here’s the kicker… on my days off, I wake up stumbling around the house thinking, “What is this… emptiness? Why does my soul feel... unplugged?”

After months of denial, I realized it was caffeine withdrawal. There. Was. NO COFFEE AT HOME

Back in my high school and college days — I was out here raw-dogging 4 a.m. mornings with NOTHING but determination and cold water to the face. My friends would say, “I can’t live without my morning coffee!” and I would roll my eyes in TEA-powered superiority

But now? I’ve crossed over. I just bought my first jar of coffee powder for home. I’ve officially been inducted into the “don’t talk to me until I’ve had my coffee” club. My peers are all at the age of quitting coffee for their health, while I just started my addiction!



My mother will have a field day when she opens the kitchen cabinet to see a tall bottle of coffee powder.

 

[astralpro30]

 

[bobby_hill-Punt]

I was raised in a strictly no-coffee household. Coffee? Blasphemy! My mom was loyal to one thing and one thing only: Somali shaax — the royal brew of black tea, infused with spices, wisdom, and generational power. So naturally, our cabinets were stacked high with kenyan black tea and cardamom, and not a single coffee bean dared show its face in front of my mother

Then came adulthood… I entered the workforce about 2 years ago, and boom — they had FREE COFFEE. Free coffee, free sugar, free creamer, free betrayal. I said, “Let me just try it… for the flavors.” I was there for the southern pecan, the French vanilla, the liquid joy in tiny cups

One day I read the label on those creamers and realized I was basically sipping scented motor oil with a splash of sadness “Partially hydrogenated what?!” I nearly cried. I IMMEDIATELY switched to cow milk and sugar, like a reformed caffeine monk. Then I leveled up to the holy trinity: cow milk + brewed coffee + honey. No fake stuff. No chemicals. Just vibes and bitter ambition.

At first? That bitterness SLAPPED me. Like, I-just-got-fired slapped me. But now? I crave it. I sip it like I’m about to do someone’s taxes and run a Fortune 500 company at the same time

And here’s the kicker… on my days off, I wake up stumbling around the house thinking, “What is this… emptiness? Why does my soul feel... unplugged?”

After months of denial, I realized it was caffeine withdrawal. There. Was. NO COFFEE AT HOME

Back in my high school and college days — I was out here raw-dogging 4 a.m. mornings with NOTHING but determination and cold water to the face. My friends would say, “I can’t live without my morning coffee!” and I would roll my eyes in TEA-powered superiority

But now? I’ve crossed over. I just bought my first jar of coffee powder for home. I’ve officially been inducted into the “don’t talk to me until I’ve had my coffee” club. My peers are all at the age of quitting coffee for their health, while I just started my addiction!



My mother will have a field day when she opens the kitchen cabinet to see a tall bottle of coffee powder.

Put down the crack Jamal

 

[empressjamila]

Really? You never drank qaxwo at home?

It’s so nice. Especially with cinnamon, cloves and cardamom

 

[Basra]

I was raised in a strictly no-coffee household. Coffee? Blasphemy! My mom was loyal to one thing and one thing only: Somali shaax — the royal brew of black tea, infused with spices, wisdom, and generational power. So naturally, our cabinets were stacked high with kenyan black tea and cardamom, and not a single coffee bean dared show its face in front of my mother

Then came adulthood… I entered the workforce about 2 years ago, and boom — they had FREE COFFEE. Free coffee, free sugar, free creamer, free betrayal. I said, “Let me just try it… for the flavors.” I was there for the southern pecan, the French vanilla, the liquid joy in tiny cups

One day I read the label on those creamers and realized I was basically sipping scented motor oil with a splash of sadness “Partially hydrogenated what?!” I nearly cried. I IMMEDIATELY switched to cow milk and sugar, like a reformed caffeine monk. Then I leveled up to the holy trinity: cow milk + brewed coffee + honey. No fake stuff. No chemicals. Just vibes and bitter ambition.

At first? That bitterness SLAPPED me. Like, I-just-got-fired slapped me. But now? I crave it. I sip it like I’m about to do someone’s taxes and run a Fortune 500 company at the same time

And here’s the kicker… on my days off, I wake up stumbling around the house thinking, “What is this… emptiness? Why does my soul feel... unplugged?”

After months of denial, I realized it was caffeine withdrawal. There. Was. NO COFFEE AT HOME

Back in my high school and college days — I was out here raw-dogging 4 a.m. mornings with NOTHING but determination and cold water to the face. My friends would say, “I can’t live without my morning coffee!” and I would roll my eyes in TEA-powered superiority

But now? I’ve crossed over. I just bought my first jar of coffee powder for home. I’ve officially been inducted into the “don’t talk to me until I’ve had my coffee” club. My peers are all at the age of quitting coffee for their health, while I just started my addiction!



My mother will have a field day when she opens the kitchen cabinet to see a tall bottle of coffee powder.

An entire essay NOT about Big ideas like LOVE or Life but about coffee beans. I mean- dearest Yaraye-- isn't it better you sought therapy- FINALLY>??

 

[bobby_hill-Punt]

I was raised in a strictly no-coffee household. Coffee? Blasphemy! My mom was loyal to one thing and one thing only: Somali shaax — the royal brew of black tea, infused with spices, wisdom, and generational power. So naturally, our cabinets were stacked high with kenyan black tea and cardamom, and not a single coffee bean dared show its face in front of my mother

Then came adulthood… I entered the workforce about 2 years ago, and boom — they had FREE COFFEE. Free coffee, free sugar, free creamer, free betrayal. I said, “Let me just try it… for the flavors.” I was there for the southern pecan, the French vanilla, the liquid joy in tiny cups

One day I read the label on those creamers and realized I was basically sipping scented motor oil with a splash of sadness “Partially hydrogenated what?!” I nearly cried. I IMMEDIATELY switched to cow milk and sugar, like a reformed caffeine monk. Then I leveled up to the holy trinity: cow milk + brewed coffee + honey. No fake stuff. No chemicals. Just vibes and bitter ambition.

At first? That bitterness SLAPPED me. Like, I-just-got-fired slapped me. But now? I crave it. I sip it like I’m about to do someone’s taxes and run a Fortune 500 company at the same time

And here’s the kicker… on my days off, I wake up stumbling around the house thinking, “What is this… emptiness? Why does my soul feel... unplugged?”

After months of denial, I realized it was caffeine withdrawal. There. Was. NO COFFEE AT HOME

Back in my high school and college days — I was out here raw-dogging 4 a.m. mornings with NOTHING but determination and cold water to the face. My friends would say, “I can’t live without my morning coffee!” and I would roll my eyes in TEA-powered superiority

But now? I’ve crossed over. I just bought my first jar of coffee powder for home. I’ve officially been inducted into the “don’t talk to me until I’ve had my coffee” club. My peers are all at the age of quitting coffee for their health, while I just started my addiction!



My mother will have a field day when she opens the kitchen cabinet to see a tall bottle of coffee powder.

uff . How can you drink that 40 day old sock bean juice called office coffee.You should banned from posting for 2 months. You got cracked out for office coffee . Really nigga. And y'all state l like cadaan too much. Stop drink office bean juice and try some Qahwa. Youll thank me latter

 

[NordicSomali]

Don’t try French press, you will run to the toilet

 

[Yaraye]

Put down the crack Jamal

I drink 2 cups of coffee a day

 

[Yaraye]

Really? You never drank qaxwo at home?

It’s so nice. Especially with cinnamon, cloves and cardamom

My grandma drinks qaxwo. I drink western coffee sis My mom thinks western coffee is sh!t lol. The other day I ordered a matcha, she had a taste and asked "What is this sh!t?!" She looked at me like I was insane for paying 8 bucks for a cup of grass

However a few years ago, when i stayed with my grandma I used to drink a concoction of somali black tea simmered in cardamon, cloves and cinnamon bark. Strain that and mix in with qaxwo and caano niido powder for cadays. That sh!t slapped so hard!

But it's crazy fattening

 

[bobby_hill-Punt]

I drink 2 cups of coffee a day

Canoon shah is enough for me

 

[Yaraye]

Canoon shah is enough for me

You should try somali black tea simmered with cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon bark. Add a bit of qaxwo (the ones from somali store cuz they taste different than the western coffee powder) and add caano niido for cadays. Finally add some honey (organic). You'll thank me for your new addiction

 

[Yaraye]

An entire essay NOT about Big ideas like LOVE or Life but about coffee beans. I mean- dearest Yaraye-- isn't it better you sought therapy- FINALLY>??

What bigger than your daily coffee?

I'm too far gone for therapy

 

[Yaraye]

uff . How can you drink that 40 day old sock bean juice called office coffee.You should banned from posting for 2 months. You got cracked out for office coffee . Really nigga. And y'all state l like cadaan too much. Stop drink office bean juice and try some Qahwa. Youll thank me latter

I forgot about qaxwa's existence for the past few years lol. Maybe I'll buy a batch, after I finish this one.


Don't underestimate the addiction of office coffee

 

[The alchemist]

Hedonist shordy, what do you think about cold brew?

 

[dhaxabaay]

My grandma drinks qaxwo. I drink western coffee sis My mom thinks western coffee is sh!t lol. The other day I ordered a matcha, she had a taste and asked "What is this sh!t?!" She looked at me like I was insane for paying 8 bucks for a cup of grass

However a few years ago, when i stayed with my grandma I used to drink a concoction of somali black tea simmered in cardamon, cloves and cinnamon bark. Strain that and mix in with qaxwo and caano niido powder for cadays. That sh!t slapped so hard!

But it's crazy fattening

coffee and matcha are so good but the sweetners are too much sugar so I opt to make it at home. I made a blueberry matcha my mind was blown. But matcha is not good for iron levels so I try not to have it as much

 

[Yaraye]

Hedonist shordy, what do you think about cold brew?

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[The alchemist]

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Don't know. I heard a guy talk about it. The concept sounds delicious.

 

[Yaraye]

coffee and matcha are so good but the sweetners are too much sugar so I opt to make it at home. I made a blueberry matcha my mind was blown. But matcha is not good for iron levels so I try not to have it as much

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[Yaraye]

Don't know. I heard a guy talk about it. The concept sounds delicious.

I usually like my coffee hot but I feel like using cold brew for ice coffee would be heaven lol. I feel like cold brew would be done best at home.

 

[The alchemist]

I usually like my coffee hot but I feel like using cold brew for ice coffee would be heaven lol. I feel like cold brew would be done best at home.

You like delicious things too much. Put a restraint, then reward yourself sometimes.