Coffee

Coffee is a performance enhancing drug that rarely gets you in trouble with the doping authorities. But coffee varies considerably in taste and additives. When you are playing in a chess tournament, do you stop at Starbucks, Caffé Nero, Thomas Hammer, or some other espresso bar enroute, or do you prefer the drip coffee served by tournament organizers? Do you use cream? Do you use sugar? Do you use flavoured syrups?

Now that I think about it, I believe I've never played a chess tournament without a cup of coffee at my side. As a young player without much money, we would ride together in someone's car and pick up coffee at fast food places like Jack in the Box. Back then, it was cream, no sugar.

Now, I usually make my own or stop at an always available Starbucks. I prefer Peet's, but I can't always find one. The quality of coffee is much higher now than it used to be, so I always have it black. Why buy an amazing Ethiopian coffee just to muck it up with cream and sugar and turn it into some kind of liquid candy?

I wish there was a Caffé Nero in my area. I had their coffee in London. It’s far better than Starbucks. Near my house is one called Wake Up Call. Their coffee is good, but I still often go to Starbucks on the way to a youth tournament because they have a sandwich I like. The coffee is not bad. At home, we usually combine Starbucks French roast beans with something lighter like Thomas Hammer (another local roaster) Breakfast Blend.

Even so, at many chess tournaments I am unprepared and end up drinking the drip provided their. It tastes terrible, but when I need the caffeine I take what I can get.

Tim Hortons.

Not in my area. Owned by Burger King, which is on par with McDonald’s for lack of quality, but that also lacks the consistency of McDonald’s. Doesn’t mean they have destroyed what might be a decent coffee shop, but how do they compare to Starbuck’s? Virtually every local coffee roaster in Washington state is better than Starbuck’s, but Starbuck’s is vastly superior to the donut chains, Keurig, etc.

Yeah... but I live in the puckered sphincter of the butt-end of New Brunswick.

Tim Hortons is POSH, where we live.

Well, now THAT'S something to write home about! We used to drive through Dutch Bros. at least once a day, five days a week. When we decided to live a simple life, we gave it up and saved $2,500-3,000 per year.

When playing OTB I only drink mineral water. And as a habit just one brand: Spa (mineral water). After the the game all bets are off, Belgian beers are the best.

Coffee can be good, but it has its bad things.
I recommend that you avoid abusing caffeine to play bullet chess, it creates a reciprocal dependency and you can develop ADHD.

Keep the coffee, but dump the bullet chess. I have a friend who was a strong tournament player in classical chess, but he's convinced that his addiction to bullet has wrecked his game. I agree with him. Bullet tends to make you cheap and superficial.

If you’re losing a chess game drink red bull. You will get wings and be able to fly away

I’ve only had Red Bull once. It was at a chess tournament. At one point that day, I had chest pains while calculating my plans. I lost that game.

I have never drunk red bull, it probably gives you 17 different diseases 🙂

on good day tim hortons is best on a bad day it is not then any local beanery is better but hey are consistent, timmy's is not, best time for tim's is 10:15 to about 11 am coffee is better on avg i should know iam getting tim's about 5/6 different times a day for friends and myself

To have a taste for such swill is the worst of all.

Chess is cup of coffee compatible. 🙂

Coffee, Tea and Energy Drinks move the world. I can't live without them.

Coffee, yes. Tea, yes. Energy drinks have no place in my life.

Chicken Essence is a very good alternative to coffee, tea and energy drink.

Idk if it's legal to chew gums during playing time. I suggest Air Waved to stimulate the brain.