Quitting coffee for two weeks changed chemicals in the gut, compared with people who did not usually drink coffee. Newsweek reported on a study of coffee drinkers who took a two-week break. Researchers looked at changes in their gut and how they felt. Coffee was then brought back, with groups drinking regular coffee or decaf. The study also included people who did not normally drink coffee. The standout finding involved small chemicals made or changed in the gut. These changed substantially during the coffee break. Researchers also found differences in gut bacteria between coffee drinkers and non-drinkers. But a change in gut chemicals does not, by itself, mean better health. When coffee returned, both groups reported feeling less stressed. They also had lower Depression / Low Mood scores and were less likely to act without thinking. Those changes happened with both regular coffee and decaf. Caffeine may not explain all of coffee’s effects. The supplied report does not give the size of these changes or the number of people studied. For the Reducing Caffeine community, this highlights a useful distinction. Stopping coffee and switching to decaf are different habits to track. A log could record cups, coffee type, timing, and daily mood ratings. Comparing those details with community peers gives more context than “I quit caffeine” alone. Personal notes cannot show what changed inside the gut. They can help members describe their own experience more clearly. What changes have you noticed or logged when stopping coffee versus switching to decaf?