I am falling. There is nothing but silence surrounding my paralyzed body. My voice is lost in an infinite tunnel of darkness. Fear overcomes me as a sudden piercing noise emits from this eternal torture. As I focus on this unknown element, I realize that it's constant. A steady, rhythmic beat turns into a terrible annoyance as my senses refocus. The hold of unconsciousness relinquishes power back to my eyes, and I squint into the blinding morning sun. I desperately try to fall back asleep, and viciously attack the sleep button on my alarm—I am not a morning person. I never have been and never will be. However, when I am equipped with a cup of coffee, I'm good at faking the classic early bird aesthetic.

Coffee is an aromatically beautiful substance. It can be paired with a multitude of condiments to alter the texture and flavor, and is still able to kick-start any Monday morning. Substances that can be paired with coffee would include sugar (a classic), milk (you guessed it, another classic), half-and-half, cream, and an array of wild and wacky flavors (for the daredevils). If one were to take my suggestions, and one should, a beginner coffee drinker should pair a classic French Roast with a hazelnut-flavored coffee creamer. This combination ultimately enhances the invigorating flavors of the coffee without the extreme bitterness that some may not be inclined to enjoy. In addition, many coffees have a naturally nutty flavor, and the sweet wonders of hazelnut creamer will create a delightful blend. Drink this beautiful concoction and then enjoy your day as it quickly turns into a rollercoaster of caffeinated fun.

If coffee were an athlete, it would be a decathlete. As one might guess, just like decathletes, coffee is very versatile and can be put through many "events." For one, coffee can be consumed with no additives, and has the power some need to start a day. Secondly, for those who need a bigger wake-up call, there's the espresso—a small, condensed being with a lot of power, much like a sprinter. As I said earlier, coffee will take many additives and condiments and will still perform well. This can be taken to an extreme. Many drinks that are found in Starbucks have more sugar than caffeine, but still have power, albeit mostly from a sugar rush.

Another wonderful way to drink coffee is with ice. On a hot summer day, the heat of a cup of coffee will only increase drowsiness. This is when our friend ice comes in. A cold cup of coffee will not only give you the kick of caffeine, but it will also provide the wonderful alerting powers of the ice! A new trend surfacing in the world of caffeine is drip coffee. This slow process of creation has been known to really intensify each flavor found within the coffee.

Lastly on this list is civet coffee. This is one I have not tried and am not personally excited to try, but it proves the vast amount of ways in which coffee can perform. Civets are essentially a type of cat that eats coffee beans. These beans are then digested and used by many around the world to produce coffee with low acidity. I can't imagine drinking a potentially $30 cup of coffee without the bitter flavor that I have learned to love, especially if it has gone through the digestive tract of an Asian palm civet, but I can never hate coffee.