Coffee is the greatest beverage on the face of the planet.
Yes, I said it. In my book, it beats water, tea and even Shirley Temples.
Now, I'm a little biased since I worked as a barista for Peet's Coffee for about a year and a half. For 15 hours a week I was surrounded by the smell of fresh coffee beans and the gurgling noise of milk frothing. I also saw one of the ugliest sides of the human race; people before they had their coffee. To see the transformation on a customer's face when handing them their cappuccino was one for the books.
Me being a college student also makes me slightly biased towards thinking coffee is a blessing to this earth. Coffee wakes me up for my 7:25 a.m. class. Coffee gives me a slight glimmer of hope while studying for organic chemistry. Also, if you're reading this and are a part of ASB at your school, here's a tip: offer free coffee and we will come by the masses.
So, back to my original point: coffee is the greatest beverage ever. Coffee is such a unique thing; it's more than a drink and more than a source of caffeine. Coffee brings people together. Whenever you want to catch up with an old friend, or get to know someone new, you go get coffee together. It's never a burger date, smoothie date or a sandwich date. It's a coffee date.
The art of actually making and crafting coffee is an even more enjoyable experience. I consider learning how to steam milk as one of the best experiences of my life. Cappuccinos, lattes and americanos are just a few of the drinks I love to make and enjoy. Grinding coffee beans and making french press coffee is a spiritual experience.
The reason coffee brings me so much joy is that each time I drink coffee, it's a new experience. Each time, I discover new flavor notes in the coffee, and drinking coffee reminds me of old memories; memories of drinking a cappuccino while in Spain with my family, forming friendships with my former coworkers at Peet's or that one time my friend Marlee and I made coffee at 12 in the morning to stay up and finish our homework. I know that when I drink coffee, the day is off to a good start.
Some people might read this and call me obsessed (which may or may not be a valid conclusion). But for me, coffee is more than a drink. Coffee brings me a sense of familiarity and happiness, while at the same time waking up my brain. Thanks to coffee, I'm a functioning human at eight o'clock in the morning, I have an excessive amount of mugs and am a much happier individual.
To all my fellow coffee lovers, I say this: carry on with your lattes and cappuccinos, but don't forget to treat yourself to a "fancy" drink every now and then.
