In 2013, I was working 15-hour days in Silicon Valley at Bebo.com.
My answer to the relentless pace? Coffee.
- 1x Americano at 8am
- 1x Flat White at midday
- 1x Cappuccino around 3pm
That’s on a good day. On a bad day? Double it.”
Back then, I believed caffeine was my superpower, the key to productivity and success.
But the reality? It was destroying me.
I contasntly felt…
- Nervous
- Jittery
- Anxious
- Unproductive
- Overwhelmed
- Unable to focus on a single task
- Afternoon energy crashes
My sleep was practically nonexistent as well.
The caffeine I thought was fuelling me was actually draining me, trapping me in a cycle of stress and burnout.
My Facebook profile made me look like some strange kind of coffee influencer.
I’d bought into the culture of less sleep and more work.
The stronger the coffee, the better, I thought.
From Bulletproof Coffee—a potent mix of Brain Octane, butter, and light roast coffee—to “Red Eyes” (a double-shot espresso over brewed coffee), these concoctions often made me feel as if I were levitating.
From importing beans from around the world to practically living in coffee shops, I held one core belief: the more caffeine I consumed, the more energy I’d have, the more I’d accomplish.
It couldn’t have been further from the truth.
Addiction wears many faces.
I was never interested in alcohol, smoking, or drugs.
But I was addicted to caffeine.
The Turning Point
By 2016, I knew something had to change.
I’d hit a wall.
My daily state was one of high anxiety, sleep deprivation, and constant overwhelm.
I started asking myself deeper questions:
– What would be more loving for me?
–What would be more loving for my body?
– What would be more loving for my mind?
I wrote down everything I wanted to feel from a daily ritual, along with an anti-goal list—things I no longer wanted to experience.
-Inner calm, not manic energy.
-Daily presence, not overwhelming stress.
-Sustained energy, not an afternoon crash.
-A soft, gentle focus, not a jittery, scattered mind.
-Something kind to my gut, not highly acidic.
– Something that wouldn’t affect my sleep, something I could enjoy at 9 am and 3 pm.
Living in San Francisco, I’d heard a lot about mushroom coffee and micro-dosing.
People I respected were experimenting with these rituals, so I began exploring medicinal mushrooms, superfoods, and drastically reducing my caffeine intake.
I discovered new ingredients that offered real benefits:
- Lion’s Mane for cognitive performance
- Cordyceps for stamina and sustained energy.
- Reishi for recovery and immunity
- Chaga for vitality
- Turmeric for inflammation
- Cacao for mood elevation
And, for the taste I loved, decaf coffee.
So I started creating my own drink.
At first, the mixtures were terrible. But over time, they became drinkable—and then, enjoyable.
The first week off caffeine felt like moving through fog—exhausted, irritable, wondering if I’d made a mistake.
My body craved the familiar jolt, and withdrawal symptoms hit hard.
But after that challenging week, something incredible happened.
I felt a new kind of energy—steady, natural, and, most importantly, sustainable.
I woke up in the morning without needing an immediate caffeine hit.
My mind was clearer, my anxiety reduced, and for the first time in years, I was sleeping deeply and waking up refreshed.
Breaking free from caffeine wasn’t just about finding a new drink; it was about discovering a new way of living.
I no longer craved the constant stimulation of coffee or late-night energy bursts that left me drained the next day.
Instead, I found myself more present, more connected to my work, and—most surprisingly—more productive.
My focus softened but became more sustained. My energy was calm yet steady.
For five years, I refined this recipe.
“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.” — Steve Jobs
In 2020, I ran the Bordeaux Marathon.
Exercise had always been essential to me. I loved the way it made me feel, the peace of being outside, the clarity of being in nature.
Now, I had a recipe—something I drank daily, thoroughly tested. I wanted to share it with others who might be struggling as I had.
But I had no brand, no design, no idea what it should look or feel like.
Where I was staying was about to change everything.
From moment I walked in, I was captivated.
It was filled with the most beautiful paintings.
Since I was young, I’d loved art.
I was an art scholar at school, and my first job after graduation was buying and selling limited-edition prints by Banksy.
Could I incorporate this beautiful art into my story?
I reached out to the artist, sketched out my idea on paper, and explained why I’d created this drink.
The artist loved it and gave me the go-ahead to use his designs.
Since then, we’ve been on a mission to create the healthiest coffee drinks on the market—your coffee-shop favourites without the sugar, dairy, or high caffeine, but with mood-lifting ingredients that help you feel your best every day—with no mushroom taste.
The Caffeine Trap
We live in a world where everyone’s chasing more—more productivity, more success, more energy.
Caffeine seems like the answer, but it’s just a quick fix that hides deeper issues: burnout, stress, and the feeling that we’re never enough.
We’re overstimulated, overworked, constantly reaching for that next hit—whether from caffeine, sugar, or screens. These habits mask the real problem: burnout.
What if changing something as small as your daily drink could change your life? Could it help us slow down, find balance, and truly feel good?
Caffeine wasn’t giving me energy; it was taking it.
In a culture that values productivity at all costs, breaking free from caffeine feels like a quiet rebellion.
But could a simple change make all the difference to your wellbeing?
Could changing what you drink help you break this cycle?
This journey started with me, but maybe I am not alone.
Breaking free from caffeine, sugar, and distraction isn’t just about feeling healthier—it’s about living a happier, more connected life.
And it all begins with one simple choice.
Sip differently. Think differently.
Kia Kaha & Love
Chris
Xx
Further research into the world of mushrooms?
Watch Fantastic Fungi and Paul Statements Ted Talk, are both wonderful places to start.
The Most Beautiful Game 