HOW TO

GIVE UP
COFFEE

1
 LEAD-IN

1. If you drink co ee, what do you usually order and how

often?

2. Do you believe that Starbucks is one of the best co ee

brands?

3. Are you familiar with the third-wave co ee movement?

4. What distinguishes decaf from ca eine-free drinks?

5. Have you encountered any adverse e ects from drinking

co ee?

6. Is there any evidence of health bene ts from consuming

co ee?
2
ff
ff
ff
ff
fi
ff
ff
ff
VOCABULARY 1/2

 cyclical
occurring in cycles; recurrent; happening at
abruptly
without warning; suddenly or unexpectedly:
regular intervals

gourmet concoctions
relating to high-quality, elaborate, or a mixture of various ingredients or elements
speciality food

embark on acidic
begin (a course of action), start, set in sharp-tasting or sour
motion; involve into something

swill alternate
kitchen refuse and scraps of waste food do or perform in turn repeatedly
mixed with water for feeding to pigs

3
 VOCABULARY 2/2

 carcinogen
a chemical substance capable of causing
cancer in living tissue
out of whack
malfunctioning, nonfunctional, not performing
or able to perform its regular function

better off get (something) over with

being in better circumstances, especially cause or experience the end of (something),
economically to nish (something)

withdrawal symptoms holistic

sweating or depression, experienced by a the parts of something are interconnected and can
drug addict when deprived of the drug be explained only by reference to the whole

go cold turkey menial task

abruptly quitting a habit or addiction anything that takes very little training, skill, or
without any gradual reduction or assistance talent; unskilled

4
fi
 Reading time

8 minutes
ARTICLE
download link Number of words

1384

Read the article, focusing on

New vocabulary
the highlighted words.  16 words

Choose a few interesting

 Level
statements or ideas that you
Advanced
intend to discuss later on.

5
COMPREHENSION
QUESTIONS

1 2 3

What are some

What are two methods the
What is the author's stance on withdrawal symptoms
author suggests for quitting
the health effects of caffeine? Steve experienced when
caffeine?
quitting caffeine?

6
 Your
4 5
Question

According to the article, how What negative effects does

does caffeine affect the caffeine have on the Steve’s
ability to prioritize tasks? sleep and body temperature?

7
 VOCAB CHECK
Fill in the gaps using the words from pages 3-4

Once, there was this co ee fanatic named Bob.

Seriously, this guy was all about the rich aroma and
fancy ________ co ee ________. But one ne day,
Bob decided he'd had enough. He wanted to quit
drinking co ee, like, altogether. So, he ________
this wild ca eine-free journey.

Let me tell you, Bob went ________ ________, just

like that. No more morning cup of joe for him. But
man, he didn't realize what he was getting into. The
________ ________ hit him like a ton of bricks, I'm
talking fatigue, headaches, and being a grumpy
pants all day long.

8
ff
ff
ff
ff
fi
 To deal with those pesky cravings, Bob started trying
out all these ________ remedies. He sipped on
herbal teas and even took up some random,
________ ________ to distract himself. But nothing,
I mean nothing, could replace the amazing aroma
and kick of his beloved co ee. Life just felt
________ of ________ without that ca eine x, you
know?
Then one day, as Bob was strolling past this bustling
café, temptation smacked him right in the face. The
air was lled with the tantalizing smell of freshly
brewed co ee. It was like the universe was testing
him. But hey, our man Bob, he stood his ground. He
took a deep breath, summoned all his willpower, and
walked away like a boss.
But here's the kicker, my friend. Bob knew he needed
some closure to truly move on. So, he decided to
confront those cravings head-on. He strutted into that
café like a hero and ordered a decaf substitute. And as
he took that rst sip, you could see it in his eyes, a mix of
triumph and nostalgia, all rolled into one.
As time went by, Bob adapted to his co ee-less life. He
discovered new pleasures, like sipping on herbal tea and
exploring healthier ________. It wasn't an easy ride. But
Bob learned the power of persistence and how to kick
those vices to the curb.

9
fi
ff
fi
ff
ff
ff
fi
QUOTES

"Even a bad cup of coffee is

better than no coffee at all."
—David Lynch

10
 "If it wasn't for the coffee,
I'd have no identi able
personality whatsoever."
—David Letterman

11
fi
"Science may never come
up with a better of ce
communication system than
the coffee break.”
—Earl Wilson

12
fi
 ROLE-PLAY
Student A: Student B:

You’re heavily addicted to drinking co ee and you
can’t imagine going through a busy day without it.
Even though you understand the consequences
of excessive co ee consumption, there’s nothing
you can do about it. It’s an important daily ritual,
you love having a warm beverage on your desk,
and you simply enjoy the aroma.
You’re becoming more concerned about your friend
who’s been getting more twitchy lately. You assume that
co ee might a possible reason for it. Find out your
friend’s co ee drinking habits and suggest a better
(healthier) solution.

Phrases to use: Phrases to use:

- Midday sleepiness - Substitute

- Overwhelming daily tasks - You’ll be better o with / without
- Energy boost and mental acceleration - Ca eine is the modern drug
13
ff
ff
ff
ff
ff
ff
ANY
QUESTIONS?