Friends and loved ones, I have a confession to make.

At the age of 21, I became an addict. It was as everyone warned me it would be. A slow fade. An ever so slight transition into a severe love affair with drinking... drinking coffee.

If you too have succumbed to the magic of coffee an its many magical qualities, then you're reading the right article.

There are so many reasons to love coffee. It is hilarious to most people who know me because, until I turned 21, I always hated coffee. I was the girl who ordered hot chocolate at Starbucks and sat mugless at the dessert part of the meal when everyone is sipping their coffee and nibbling on cheesecake. But science has shown that our tastebuds change every seven years, so I guess it makes sense that I began to expand my horizons in coffee's direction when I turned 21.

Because I began to discover the beauty of coffee when I turned 21, I wanted to share with both my fellow coffee connoisseurs and java skeptics the 21 ways to describe coffee that will make you want to try it.

Coffee is...

"The Great Incentivizer" - According to the infamous Michael Scott, "Coffee is the great incentivizer." I think he definitely is not wrong! Coffee is a great way to bring out productivity, especially in the morning.

A De-stresser - There is something SO relaxing about taking a minute of quiet to sip a cup of coffee and forget about all the responsibilities you have that day. It is multiple moments of freedom from daily stresses.

The Logs on the Friendship Fire - If friendship is a fire, then coffee is the logs that keep it going. Some of the most fruitful and important conversations in my life have been with friends with a cup of coffee in hand.

The Perfect First Date - The enemy of a first date is distraction. What better way to focus in on the other person, who they are and what they are truly like than in a quiet coffee shop drinking a cup of joe??

A Social Staple - I love that all over the world coffee is a symbol of socializing. In Italy it is a shot of espresso after a late dinner with friends. In the U.S. it is the alarm that gets us out of bed in the mornings to go meet a friend at a local coffee house. All are representations of our inherent need for daily social interaction.

A Conversation Starter - Ever had a long overdue hard conversation you've been putting off or a really exciting one you are nervous to bring up because it is a lot to take in? Coffee is the go-to conversation starter. Put a kona mocha in your friend's hand and an Americano in yours and fire away.

An Artform - Just watch the barista next time you go get coffee. There is truly a beautiful process and high skill level to making quality coffee.

A Weight Loss Tool - Yeah, I said the phrase "weight loss" so I know you are paying more attention to this point! The caffeine in coffee can increase your metabolism which helps with weight loss! It also has no calories so it is a free metabolism booster with no repercussions! (Of course that is assuming you're drinking it black and not a latte with sugar and half and half).

A Healthy Choice - Coffee is a great way to cleanse your body. AKA: it makes you go number 2.

A Way to Connect with Jesus - There is so much to say about the correlation between coffee and Jesus, but I will leave at this: the relaxation and state of mind I am in when I sit down to drink a cup of coffee is the perfect time to pull out my Bible and spend time with Jesus. I am focused in on Him and His voice and void of all outside stressors. If nothing else, it gets me out of bed to spend time with Him, even when I don't feel like it.

A Mental Sharpener - Coffee wakes you up and makes your mind sharper and more alert than if you started the day without it.

An Economy Booster - There are a lot of organizations and local coffee shops now jumping on the fair trade train. Fair trade coffee means the beans were not harvested and processed by slaves in third world countries. It is also often supporting the well-being of poor people in other countries by contributing to their economy. Look to make sure you are buying fair trade coffee!

A Relaxing Morning Ritual - If you make french press or aeropress coffee (my personal favorites) or even a pour over, it is a ritual that might take a little more time in the morning, but it is relaxing and quiet "me time" you might not get if you roll by Starbucks on the way to work.

An Emotional Bridge Between Two People - For some reason, two people talking over coffee takes away any barriers and lets down walls. It puts them both the same playing field. I like to think of it has a bridge emotionally between them that often provides understanding and the opportunities to have tough and encouraging conversations.

A Necessity for Insomniacs - If you don't sleep well at night, you clearly need coffee just to get through the day. College students... need I say more?

The Perfect Excuse to Eat Dessert - Coffee and dessert are a match made in Heaven. No questions asked.

A Confidence Booster- For some reason coffee seems to give me confidence. Maybe it is the caffeine pumping through my bloodstream that is just making me hyper. But some of the most brilliant people in the world start their day with coffee and they have lots of confidence soooo...

A Cheap Way to Make Someone's Day - There is nothing like having someone bring you your exact favorite coffee order to your workplace or school to make you feel like a million bucks.

The Best Way to Stay Warm in the Cold Months - If you're like me and you don't have a boo thang, you're going to need some coffee to keep you warm this holiday season.

A Sneaky Way to Get Busy People to Hang Out - Ever have those people who you really love spending time with but they are always too busy for you? Ask them to grab coffee. They were probably going to snag some that morning anyway since they are always on the go.

An Anytime, Anywhere Mug of Happiness - Coffee travels well, thankfully. It can put a smile on your face and warmth in your heart no matter where you are.

All this being said, coffee is not to everyone's taste, and that is totally understandable. It is just amazing to me how many meanings there are behind coffee and what it symbolizes in our culture. If you couldn't even think of one, I just gave you 21 reasons why coffee is worth loving.

If you give a human coffee... you'll have some happiness to go with it.