Habituation is the compulsion to experience something as an anchor point in our daily lives from which we are unable to escape. To us students, while seemingly cliché, coffee is our universal drug of choice. Without this 'black gold' we convince ourselves we cannot function; we are truly habituated.

The 'pushers' of this universal stimulant are clearly the numerous branches of Starbucks, which now seem as common and sterile as McDonalds. Every day, we are presented with a wide array of different cafes, delis and even restaurants around campus serving affordable hot food and very good coffee, yet most still opt for Starbucks, which is truly puzzling.

As Edinburgh students, we are even lucky enough to have two separate branches within a matter of metres of each other, in case the distance between them is too unbearable to change the course of our journey.

From the moment you step in, the aroma of coffee granules plunder your sinuses while your ears endure the screech of the coffee machine. You scan the room for a free seat, settling for one cluttered with the prior customer's coffee remains. As you shift the empty cups onto the nearest vacant table to make room for yourself, you’re already aware of a small group of people hovering around your table, intending to invade at the slightest indication that you 're leaving.

As you stand in line gazing at the range of mediocre, overpriced food, you become paralysed when the barista demands your coffee order. The skinny-jean clad hipster with an oversized tacky holiday sweater before you orders a tall skinny caramel macchiato with an extra shot of sugar free caramel syrup and no whipped cream. Evidently, the ordering of a simple cup of hot coffee has become a mental challenge. Then there’s the classic range of ridiculously overpriced thermoses and mugs, which represent nothing of particular value or character yet somehow have you contemplating parting with the remains of your desperate student budget to buy one.

However, you eventually reject this idea upon the arrival of your customised coffee, the details of which you can’t remember. As you sip your coffee you realise that you would never be able to distinguish it from any other ‘blend’ on offer. At least it’s Fair-trade!

As you leave Starbucks, discontent, you pass the artisanal cafes and restaurants you could have visited, each possessing infinite amounts of character and memorable qualities. Looking at their menus, you notice they serve freshly made food and their own selection of Fair-trade products being sold at a fraction of what you just sacrificed from your wallet. You then cannot help but wonder why you hadn’t tried somewhere new, somewhere that would offer you an atmosphere, the WiFi you so desperately need and a more affordable cup of coffee. That's when you know a pusher has you in their grasp.