I've worked in a coffeehouse for nearly eleven years. I love the taste of espresso. I always drank it because while the caffeine never made me feel spun out, it took the slightest edge off my morning medication slump. Eleven months ago, I had a severe breakdown. Part of the breakdown (a BIG part) has been extreme anxiety, especially in the morning. For many months I drank only a little bit of espresso, and only decaf. My meds have me stable enough now to be able to drink a half-caf (half regular, half decaf) latte in the morning. So just a little bit of caffeine.

I'm really not sure what to make of caffeine and how it affects people. One thing I've noticed is that the effects of caffeine vary widely from person to person...it is what's known as a "ragged drug". Something else to keep in mind is that green tea and white tea (as well as black) have caffeine in them. I often have a customer order a green tea "because I don't want the caffeine". Wrong. And, of course most sodas have caffeine in them, as does all chocolate.

I fully believe that caffeine might help keep your daughter's focus sharper, considering the meds she takes. Also, something I read about caffeine not too long ago is that research is showing that caffeine might help prevent type 2 diabetes. That said, I'm not in favor of people under age 18 or so consuming too much caffeine...it is a drug and does affect the brain.