I appreciate a good cup of coffee - but what makes a cup of coffee good? Is it the foam to liquid ratio? Is it the quality of artwork laying atop the drink? Is it the origin of the coffee bean? While all of these are certainly factors, they do not make up the entirety of what an excellent cup of coffee should be. I appreciate a good cup of coffee because I appreciate what comes with it.

Anyone who knows me, knows I drink coffee like a Gilmore. In the infamous words of Lorelai, I like my coffee “only with my oxygen!” However, not every cup of coffee I drink is excellent. My giant mug of Keurig coffee on my desk during a late-night study session is not an excellent cup of coffee. A drink from my favorite coffee shop, while I am distracted by the stress of teaching myself biology, is not an excellent cup of coffee. What makes an excellent cup of coffee is the atmosphere. It is about the place, the people, and the memories.

I am sitting alone in my favorite hometown coffee shop right now, a cappuccino by my side, and doing the thing I love - writing. I am drinking an exquisite cup of coffee. The shop is full, people have to stand due to the lack of tables. I see the baristas hard at work, laughing and smiling with every customer. I Snapchatted all my friends from home because this was, and still is, our favorite place to hang out. The coffee does not make the memories, the memories make the coffee.

Coffee culture is my kind of culture. I enjoy sitting in relatively small buildings for relatively long periods of time. I enjoy getting fashion inspiration from every thick-rimmed glasses wearing hipster that walks through the door. I enjoy the indie music creating subtle white noise amid the chatter. And most importantly, I enjoy sharing my love of coffee with my friends.

When I drink a cup of coffee I want to enjoy it. Sure, the pick-me-up before my Business 101 class is nice, but that is not a good cup of coffee. I like to take everything in when I drink one of the best drinks to grace this earth. Next time you drink your daily joe, take a moment and think. Feel the steam on your face, maybe even watch it fog up your glasses. Look around at the space you are in - whether it is your dorm or a small coffee shop. Take. It. All. In. People always say to stop and smell the roses, well I say, stop and smell the coffee.