I was surprised to see that CHsince99 seems to be getting good results, even preventive effects, from "drowning myself in coffee, " because in the experiences that I know of, the approach that you describe -- limiting coffee only (or as much as possible) to times when it is needed as an abortive -- seems to have made the caffeine more effective for achieving or helping the abort. Very frequently there is new stuff posted here about so many things related to CH, contradicting or challenging what I thought I knew, and there are so darn many possible variables that I don't see a good way to sort them out, except by the kind of question you ask and seeing what the most common experience is.