How long after you finish drinking a cup of coffee does the caffeine continue to affect you?

Most websites outline the amount of caffeine in a an cup of coffee and an cup of espresso. It's never quite clear if the cup of coffee is the same size as a cup of espresso.

I'm a Disabled Veteran and live alone, and, today I was at a Restaurant and had a cup of Decaff Coffee and it was very tasty. Surely they may use a tasty type of Coffee, but, I'm thinking they just use the right amount.

When I make a Pot of Coffee, I only use 5 "heaping" Tablespoons of Coffee for a 12 cup pot. My Coffee just isn't that tasty. It's rather bland and seems weak.

I use either Hills Bros. or, Folgers "Regular or French Roast". How much should I use to make a Tasty Pot so each cup has a definitive Coffee taste?

What kind of Coffee would you use? I don't like the Coffee's like Hazelnut or Vanilla tastes, and I don't buy or have Cappuccino except once in a great while,......usually seasonaly.

Ladies or anyone that likes a good tasty cup of Coffee ......how much should I use in a standard 12 cup drip maker??

Thanks!
I did buy a small "Breakfast Blend" of Starbuck's at my local grocery quite awhile back, and I used my standard 5 TBs of Coffee from that bag, and although it didn't taste as strong as Starbuck's makes, it did taste better.

I just noticed a great difference in the taste of "my" Coffee today vs. what I had at the Restaurant and it was almost like drinking water compared at my house compared to what I was served. Although it was Decaff today, I gotta' tell you, it was the best tasting Decaff I've ever had and probably in the top 5 best tasting cup-of-coffees I've ever had. I myself use "Lite" or 1/2 Decaff.

Thanks for all your Answers and time! I am going to up the ante' my next pot and try 10 Heaping TableSpoons and adjust from there.

I use Creamora and Sweet N' Low, and my Coffee I usually barely taste the coffee. Today's I used the same C&S and yet the Coffee tasted excellento'!

Thanks again!
ALL GOOD ANSWERS! THANKS!

Ok, so here's the deal.

I have an espresso machine, it used to be my mom's and she gave it to me just recently. It's several years old and hasn't been used in a while, which I don't think really matters as long as it's clean. I ran some water through it to clean it out... but now I don't honestly know HOW to use it. lol.

I would put my coffee in it but I'm worried if I do it wrong I'll just waste coffee. PLUS I see people making a big deal out of the pods, which is actually what I THINK I have. They're espresso roast "individually packaged ground coffee" packets with a little (I'm guessing) pod from Starbucks that my aunt and mom bought me and my roommate as a house warming gift for our apartment. I want to make some espresso with them... but I have no clue what I do with the machine. Which I know makes me sound kiiiinda stupid buuuut I would rather get some advice about how to work it before I go wasting all of our packets of espresso.

It's a Swift espresso, coffee, cappuccino machine which I'm sure isn't the most top of the line machine but I'm fairly positive it'll get the job done as long as I know how to do it right!! The only knob it has is on the side and it goes one way to work the foamer and the other way to make the coffee/espresso.

I would just like some help, or a walkthrough, of the process it takes to make a good espresso shot. I hope I don't sound TOO ignorant for you coffee connoisseurs. If someone could just tell me exactly what to do to get the best cup of coffee/espresso that would be GREAT!!!
There aren't any instructions and I've looked online for a users manual and can't find one.

Plus I came upon a comment someone made to someone else saying it's a crappy machine altogether.

THAT being said.... I still want to know how to make some espresso so I can at least have some BURNT espresso!!
Although thanks Diana, so far you have the best answer!! I think I'll try it.

I know it sounds stupid, but I just needed that simple walkthrough to make sure what I was thinking was the right thing to do. Especially the amount of water to use.

I just got back from my bank where they have a self serve, Starbucks branded coffee machine that allows you to select 1.) Size of cup (Gallon, Carafe, Tall, Small) 2.) Type of Coffee (regular, etc.) and then you hit the start button and it grinds and brews a cup of coffee for you that tastes EXACTLY like the drip brew coffee at a real Starbucks. I am looking into what the name of this machine is, and where I can get one.

Thanks!

I drank a cup of coffee this morning and I have not been the same since. My heart rate is way up. Im shaking, feel like throwing up, and am a little dizzy. Even after eating lunch the feeling has not gone away. Caffeine used to make me pass out but it has been a few years since this has happend. Any suggestions to get the caffeine out of my system!

I've heard that if you drink coffee it takes about seven hours for caffeine to really take effect. That's why it's not recommended after 2 P.M., because it can affect your sleep. And if you are sleepy, a cup of coffee will not help.

I just ate a few, and yes I feel a little more awake.
I tried looking it up on Google, but have found no hard facts that the candy has caffeine in it, or that they have more caffeine than a regular cup of coffee.

Just wondering. Either way, they taste better- being the chocolate lover that I am.

I'm trying to watch out for a lot of caffeine, it makes me jittery since I started taking a particular anti-depressant.

How does a chai latte compare in caffeine to a cup of coffee or a 20oz Lipton fresh brewed black tea? Thanks!

How much caffeine is in coffee ice cream? Compared to a cup of coffee? Does it vary by brand of ice cream? Specifically, how much caffeine is in Hagen Das coffee ice cream?