No.

This is typically my answer. It’s also usually accompanied by a rude glare, if you tell me this before 9 a.m.

Go ahead; lecture me on how it’s unhealthy to be reliant on coffee and how it’s bad for my metabolism. Tell me that I’m wasting my money and that I should just get more sleep and drink tea. Previously, I would have just rolled my eyes and ignored you. But now I’m here to explain.

I’m ready to explain why coffee is the best drink, why I drink it, and why I will not stop.

A wise friend once said to me, “there is no simple joy greater than a good cup of coffee." This was in 2009, during my days of lemonade and skim milk; so, I didn’t really understand what he meant. Now I do.

Coffee is more than just a beverage. It is more than a quick zing to get me through the day. Trust me; if I wanted that, I’d just drink a 5-hour Energy. Coffee is a joy.

And even more so, coffee brings people together.

Allow me to elaborate.

Before I came to college, my sister made me a scrapbook that she called, “Meredith’s Coffee Guide to DC." It was filled with pages upon pages of the best coffee shops in DC with $5 in every page to spend on a cup. It was probably the best gift I have ever received.

Some of my favorite adventures this year have come from that scrapbook, and the great coffee my friends and I have found in it.

That scrapbook made me realize how powerful coffee really could be. I can’t count the number of friendships that have begun over a cup of coffee.

Some of my greatest bonding experiences have occurred while contemplating life at Starbucks, working on group projects at Greenberry, or just sipping out of mugs in my living room at home. It’s not only a great way to catch up, but a really, really great interest to have in common with someone.

I am pretty reliable as a person to grab coffee with—morning, noon or night. It has paid off on many occasions. I’ve had countless meaningful discussions with friends and even a job offer or two from conversations that began over coffee.

Meeting someone as into it as I am is always a huge relief – sounds weird, but I feel like I can trust a person more once they agree that, yes, coffee is the elixir of life.

Coffee people will always have your back. I’ve also found that people who can appreciate good coffee can often appreciate a lot of other little things in life too. They are the ones I will go to and talk about the beautiful weather, my new mittens, or the look on so-and-so’s face when they get excited.

There’s something about the taste of really good coffee that just makes people warm from the inside out. After a few cups, I have an entirely new perspective on life. I am optimistic, lively, and ready to take on whatever life may present. Why would I give up that feeling for a few calories from half & half? Opportunity costs, guys. Definitely not worth it.

So, coffee people: unite. Stand up for yourselves. Drink your cappuccino and shake your head at all the unbelievers. Offer to buy them a cup, even. They will probably deny, but at least you tried. Maybe someday they will see what they are missing.