One of the greatest joys in my life is finding a great cup of coffee. The coffee I order always depends on my mood: café italiano, cappuccino, straight black coffee, etc. Once I have my choice, I sit down and take everything in. Why do I love local coffee shops besides the drinks they produce? The atmosphere, the warmth, the people I interact with and around me, the inspiration; it drives me.

I’ve always taken my coffee seriously. Comparing certain drinks from different places and commenting on how well it tastes. Each coffee has it’s story: the country is was produced, if it was fair traded or not, locally roasted, etc. With each cup of coffee, also comes my own story to create.

Local coffee shops have added meaningful memories to my life. When I was in Belize, I frequently visited a café called Formosa. I knew the coffee was always local and it was always delicious. It’s a small café, but I enjoyed sitting in there with friends, talk about everything or sit in silence and just enjoy the atmosphere.

One Line Coffee in Columbus, Ohio, brought this sense of home to me. I was in Columbus with my friend Grant for a U.S. soccer match and our goal was to visit one coffee shop since we are both coffee enthusiasts. Not knowing the area, we stumbled upon this place and loved it. The hand brewed coffee from different countries was delicious. In the shop, time seemed to stand still. It also felt like a new adventure.

My mom has also been a big reason as to why I love coffee and traveling to shops so much. One of our favorite places we’ve gone to together is a shop in Decorah, Iowa called Impact Coffee. Besides the delicious custom brewed coffee, we both have had deep conversations there about everything. It has served as a way to reconnect over a cup of something we both enjoy.

I don’t know why exactly some of the best conversations or experiences happen in a coffee shop. Maybe it’s the joy from a great cup of coffee, the atmosphere and vibes bouncing off the walls, or the genuine people you can connect with. No matter where I go in life, those local coffee shops offer a place of retreat from reality and a deeper connection with the world.