Coffee is one of the most brewed, drunk, shared beverages of all time. In all honestly I think it might be the second most quaffed, behind water. Like most adult aged humans, I drink coffee (and lots of it).
Partially for the ritual, partially the flavor, and of course mostly for the caffeine, making and drinking coffee is a very stable stone in the arch of my daily life. In this essay, I'd like to examine coffee: why I drink it, how I drink it, and what value, if any, it provides me.
Why drink coffee
Very few things in life alter your behavior as drastically and noticeably as coffee. Coffee is a rare instance of something that "just works" (unless you have a caffeine allergy, I guess). So the why is seemingly quite easy to answer.
However, while a large portion of its value is the caffeine in it, it isn't everything. How do I know this? I know this because decaf coffee exists, because I often drink coffee even when I am fully awake, and because I sometimes drink coffee at night. These things conflict with the maxim of caffeine yet they constitute a large part of my enjoyment of coffee.
If I close my eyes and wander back to college and those late nights at the movies or at the library, inevitably at some point I have a cup of coffee in my hand. Sometimes it was because I was tired and needed the boost, but oftentimes I was just enjoying the feeling of holding a hot cup and sipping on a predictably tasting beverage. There is a coziness in talking to someone through a swirling haze of steam with a nice, warm mug toasting your palms. For me, that's the main reason I drink it.
Sometimes, when I'm in a rush I miss my morning cup and have to drink it at work. To be completely honest, I don't notice a huge difference in my energy. Sure, I will undoubtably be a bit more tired, but it goes away after a short time anyways.
Yet I still drink that same cup each morning as I walk outside and breath the fresh morning air. There is a strange security I find in coffee's warm and memorable taste. Drinking it feels like saying "Good morning" to an old roommate; it would be strange to wake up and walk silently past them, right?
How I like my coffee
Though I drink lots of coffee and enjoy many different flavors and methods of brewing it, I am by no means a coffee purist. I'll have a beautifully crisp cortadito from an artisan coffee shop just as I'll have Columbian drip from Aldi. Each has their place and their purposes.
Drip I find myself drinking the most these days, mostly due to work. It's inoffensive, easy to drink, and pretty light. I don't add any sugar or milk as I enjoy the pure coffee flavor enough. Still, from time to time I'll enjoy a more interesting cup from a coffee shop. I like red eyes and lattes and macchiatos, though I tend to stay away from iced coffee.
I used to work at Dunkin', so my taste in coffee can be as unrefined as it gets. At the end of the day, whether or not it has all the bells and whistles, if it's a warm, comforting beverage with mild energy boosting qualities, I'll drink it.
At home, I usually put medium-dark, medium-ground coffee into a large, 18-cup moka pot. My understanding is that moka pots are meant for a medium-fine ground level; for whatever reason, my family has always used medium ground coffee (which is typically used for drip coffee). It's a bit under extracted, but its mild enough to lift my tired eyes from the drowsiness of mornings.
The cost
I am of the opinion that one should at some point or another examine all the things they do on a frequent basis to determine whether or not they do it out of thoughtless habit or if it has a real benefit. Basically, practicing mindfulness.
Drinking coffee is definitely something I do without much thought. The thought of not drinking it in the morning is almost strange; it would be like going to work without brushing your teeth. This begs the following question: do I drink coffee because I'm used to it, or because it actually improves my life?
From a health standpoint, I don't think coffee actually has much of an effect. Coffee is mostly water, and besides caffeine, the only effect of drinking coffee regularly is a slight yellowing of teeth (this comes from the brown coffee staining your teeth, not from any teeth damage). Caffeine itself can be dangerous in large quantities, but I consume an average amount, so I would say I'm fine in that regard.
Financially speaking, coffee's cost is minimal. While I have noticed an uptick in recent years, and of course artisan coffee will always have a large upcharge, coffee is quite cheap compared to other drinks and café treats. At home, I can brew a cup for as low as 10¢, and when going out Starbucks sells coffee for as low as $3. In the grandness of life, these are but small prices to pay in exchange for pleasant, relaxing mornings and evenings.
I love coffee: the way it smells; the way steam rises and swirls in the morning light; the taste on my dry lips; the feeling of holding a mug. Though I sometimes have to go to the grocery to get some more, and sometimes have to pay a little extra to have some with dinner, I think the satisfaction and serenity I get is totally worth it.
Ever since it was discovered around the 9th century, coffee has been helping to wake soldiers, painters, politicians, laborers, scientists, and everyone in between when they needed a boost. For that alone, its importance should be respected and examined. For me, I don't coffee will be going away any time soon.