Coffee/caffeine

Can caffeine slow down weight loss efforts?

Only if you're getting your caffeine from energy drinks that are high in calories and added sugar or from fancy coffees at Starbucks or other cafes. If you drink black coffee or restrict the amount of cream and sugar you use, get your caffeine from teas, or drink sugar free energy drinks it absolutely will not slow down your efforts. Just don't drink it too late in the day and keep yourself up at night and make sure you're getting enough hydration as well.

Also:

Although coffee can have some bad side effects (addiction, acid reflux, staining teeth, cancer, etc.), you can enjoy it's benefits in moderation.

False!

For most types of cancer, coffee appears either to decrease risk of cancer, or to have no effect on cancer risk at all. Even in countries with very high intake of caffeine from coffee, such as Scandinavian countries, research does not support a link between coffee or caffeine and cancer risk.

- http://www.oncologynutrition.org/erfc/hot-topics/caffeine-and-cancer/

I drink mine black, with some artificial sweetener. If it's 5 star coffee I drink it black though.

And no, it hasn't effected performance at all. On the weekends I workout in the morning sometimes, which interferes with my coffee schedule. I try to stop drinking coffee at least an hour before my workout, and also limit my intake to 1-1.5 cups and I'm fine.