Caffeine is a stimulant that runs our lives. Whether it’s from an energy drink, a can of soda or a cup of coffee, it surrounds us everywhere we go. Americans’ main form of caffeine consumption is coffee with the average joe having three cups of joe a day (did that joke grind up your beans?). But while coffee tastes great and the caffeine is even better, how much is too much?

It is important that you understand how caffeine affects your body and how well it tolerates it. The best thing to do is to track your caffeine intake because too much of it can lead to negative side effects such as anxiety and heart palpitations. The recommended daily limit is 400 milligrams, but caffeine content varies between drinks. For reference, one 16-oz latte is about 126 milligrams of caffeine if it has two shots of espresso. Finding a personal limit based on your tolerance and metabolism can help keep a healthy relationship every time you wake up and smell the coffee.

So, how do you drink more coffee without going overboard with your caffeine intake? The answer: Decaf. Decaf is a wonderful alternative to caffeinated drinks that can often lead to issues that are easily avoidable. Cutting caffeine as a whole can be hard but protecting your health will help your inner self brew every day. A great strategy is to drink one caffeinated beverage and then decaf for the next few hours. This way, you still get caffeine in your system without overdoing it and it is great if you want to drink some coffee while maintaining a healthy intake. Drinks such as coffee, chai and matcha, are all handmade beverages that are equally as delicious and can be found all around Houston in various places. Here are a few small coffee shops in Houston that will satisfy your coffee cravings.

Mercantile
Mercantile is a locally owned coffee shop located at 3321 Stanford St. This coffee shop has a very industrial vibe with some of the smoothest decaf ever. I ordered a decaf oat milk vanilla latte and they were both effortless and elegant. It is a decently priced coffee shop with my bill being $6.25 which includes a one dollar tip. They also serve other goods such as small pastries, and drinks like soda, chai and matcha.

Winfield’s Chocolate Bar
Winfield’s Chocolate Bar is a dessert shop and cafe. Located at 2411 W Alabama, they carry all kinds of sweet treats such as chocolates, cake, ice cream, milkshakes, matcha, tea, chai and various other beverages. Winfield’s Chocolate Bar is the perfect dessert spot and they have all of the coffee amenities to satisfy your cravings. They have their specialty mochas, plain lattes, Americanos, macchiatos, cappuccinos and more. They carry a variety of milk options such as whole, almond and soy, along with different types of syrups. Chocolate Bar is the perfect place to sit down, eat cake, drink coffee and get some homework done.

These two coffee shops are locally owned and have caffeinated and decaffeinated options for coffee, as caffeine is so helpful with our daily grind. So remember to gauge your caffeine levels and tip your baristas!