I gave up caffiene for about a year once because I was told it was an appetite stimulant and I was trying to lose weight. All it did was make me long for coffee & diet Coke! When I started drinking it again, I saw no difference in my appetite at all. In fact, I found that often when I was feeling 'snacky' all I really wanted was a hot beverage (coffee, tea, etc).

I drink coffee with just milk (skim if its available and I hate cream and will skip the coffee altogether if that's all there is to use) and I don't use sugar...and I put nothing in my tea at all. Calories are not the issue for me.

As far as health benefits/dangers? Whatever. Coffee is my one major vice and I'm fine with that.