Look out, Dunkin' Donuts. You may be facing some stiff competition from McDonald's, of all places. In November, the mega hamburger chain began serving a new coffee — Green Mountain brand.

To me, the coffee tastes similar to Starbucks. I first tasted Green Mountain coffee at a Donut Inn in Fairfield. To show you how much I know about coffee, I only starting drinking the brew two years ago. I've always been a tea drinker.

Now, I'm a tea and coffee drinker. The coffee from Donut Inn was so good that I went out and bought myself a big bag of Green Mountain coffee at the grocery store. And instead of purchasing coffee already ground, I actually bought the beans. How's that for a novice?

Then, I had to go out and buy a coffee grinder. (I think I just love the smell of fresh coffee.)

When I first purchased the grinder, I tested the coffee out on family and friends. Then, I started making iced coffee for my daughters just like Dunkin Donuts. There was no stopping me.

By the way, did you know that according to the National Coffee Association, more than 172 million adults in the United States drink coffee daily? (Not to mention how many cups that boils down to.)

On vacation this year, I drank Starbucks coffee with my son-in-law, Tracy, who ordered double shots. That was strong coffee and the cup was so small I couldn't add all the cream and milk I really wanted. Two swallows later, it was gone and I wasn't tired or sleepy

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anymore. Coffee does keep you awake. I learned that important lesson early in my new coffee-drinking experience. One evening, my husband and I were invited to a coffee party at a friend's house. I never saw so many delicious desserts and different kinds of coffee in my life. I'm not sure what coffee I drank, but it was good. I was the only person who had to go to work the next day, and, well, that night I never did go to sleep. I closed my eyes. I tossed and turned. I drank hot milk. I tried everything, but, by morning, I was still wide awake.

My lesson? After discussing the problem with a friend, she advised me to say "no thanks" to coffee after 6 p.m.; otherwise, I'd better have a good book to read because I wasn't going to be sleeping that night.

Isn't that the truth.

Marva Hamilton is the librarian at the Connecticut Post and writes on the first Monday of the month. She can be reached at mhamilton@ctpost.com.