The Day I Defected to Black Coffee

When did the world become so obsessed with sugar-free?

Just a few years ago, I couldn't drink black coffee. Even with sparkling water, I used to think, "Why would anyone enjoy something that isn't sweet?"

Now, I love both. In fact, I can't stand chuhai unless it's sugar-free.

I wonder when that switch flipped. Before I knew it, my tongue had defected from sugar.

It's like how you watch Anpanman as a kid, but then suddenly find yourself listening to rakugo on NHK late at night. You know what I mean? Probably not. I don't even know.

For that matter, hasn't the "no-sugar" crowd grown suddenly? Look at the convenience store shelves. More than half of the lemon chuhai section is "sugar-free."

Sugar-free, zero sugar, no artificial sweeteners. At this rate, I wouldn't be surprised if the next label we see is "zero presence."

You know, I don't think this sugar-free boom is just about taste. Black coffee has a certain "adult" vibe, doesn't it? And sugar-free sparkling water lets you signal, "I'm cleansing my throat," like a cleanliness flex.

In other words, "sugar-free" isn't a taste preference; it's a stance.

It's a kind of one-upmanship, like saying, "I don't need to rely on sweetness anymore." It's the same as that kid in elementary school who suddenly started using a mechanical pencil and said, "Pencils? Those are for babies."

But you know, I feel like this sugar-free faction, myself included, is betraying our past selves somewhere along the line.
We've left behind that tongue that used to say, "Juice is so good!" without a second thought. It's like a high school reunion where you forget your old bandmates and start quietly talking about stocks.

Whether that's good or bad is beside the point, but at the very least, I can say that a change in taste isn't just a matter of preference—it's an update to how you live your life.

When you choose the unsweetened option, you're choosing "sustainability" over "stimulation." Black coffee isn't sweet. But I feel a little proud of myself for being able to accept that bitterness.

So, I'm cracking open a sugar-free soda again today. Beyond the fizz rising up, I feel like my younger self is laughing and saying, "You've changed, man."

But hey, they'll come over to this side eventually, too. I'm sure of it.


[Image courtesy: Sachiwa]

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