Coffee. Liquid gold. My energizer. My comforter. Most of the people reading this will probably agree that coffee is the best thing to happen since sliced bread. It wasn't until later in life that I discovered this magical substance but when I did, there was no going back. I grew up seeing my dad drink coffee every morning, but I wasn't allowed to have it until I was older. What I learned over the years is that coffee brings people together, and not just in the standard, "We need to catch up. Let's meet for coffee." Allow me to explain.
Growing up, especially in a Hispanic family, there were a lot of parties. There was always a reason to celebrate. Whether it was for holidays like Christmas and New Years, birthdays or a random get together, we were always celebrating. These parties would be loud. They would be filled with laughter, music and food. They would go on for hours. As a kid, I would remember thinking the fun would end soon. Then I would hear the magic words, "Do you want coffee?" This was the cue. The party wasn't over yet. When I got older and was able to understand the conversation, I realized this is where the most important talks took place. Everyone would gather around the dining room table and just enjoy each other's company. The music was no longer playing and instead, I would hear legendary stories about my grandparents and parents. This is where the true family bonding happened.
Then, I got older. I started drinking coffee, and I became a part of this family bonding. After I started college, I started to see my parents less. I became busier with work and school and we had completely different schedules. On the weekends, usually Saturday or Sunday nights, we will go out to Starbucks and get coffee. We sit down, talk and enjoy spending time with each other. On nights that we don't go to Starbucks, we sit at the kitchen table and drink coffee from home. I cherish this time with my parents. It is at these coffee dates that we have discussed important topics like religion, politics and the future. We also share stories and reminisce about funny memories.
Coffee brings people together. It is a magical little drink that makes people share all their emotions. It's because of coffee that I know some of my friends so well. I feel like when you sit down and just relax you are able to get to know someone beyond the surface. Now while the idea that coffee is the actual cause of bringing people together might still be debatable, I think it does. The smell and the feeling just put people in a happier mood. So if you really want to know someone, meet them for coffee.
