since I was fourteen years old, all of my mornings have begun in the exact same manner: with a cup of coffee.
I blame – no, praise – my mom for my coffee habit. She’s the one who got me hooked, most likely because she wanted a drinking buddy. So, as soon as I started high school, I would begin the day by drinking coffee at the kitchen table with my mother. We bonded over our love for coffee before Lorelai and Rory made it cool. Some might raise their eyebrows at this, and I can hear the mommy bloggers all “tsk tsk”-ing in unison. But, really, who could blame her? Drinking coffee is a social experience, after all. It’s just not as fun to do alone.
- People love to instagram the hell out of their coffee.
Coffee is undeniably one of the most beloved beverages to have ever existed, and it’s just so pretty. It is one of the most instagrammed items, hashtagged over 29 million times. Does anything look better in the aden filter than latte foam in the shape of a heart? Nope. It’s not only the main event in our photos, but it’s a must-have accessory. Taking a picture of your shoes? Gotta have that coffee cup nearby too.
- Coffee makes everyone feel profound.
I don’t care how illogical this seems, when I’m drinking a cup of coffee, my writing immediately gets better. Or, perhaps more accurately, I’m able to write more freely. Once I take my first sip, the writer’s block immediately disappears, my fingers fly across the keyboard, and suddenly I’m being productive. It’s a win/win.
- It’s the perfect time-filler for people who are habitually early.
You know who you are – you’re worried that there will be traffic, or maybe your train will be late, so you leave your apartment with plenty of time to spare. Of course, there’s no traffic, the train is right on time, and you’re left with an awkward thirty minutes until your meeting/date/appointment. What do you do? Duh. Go to Starbucks and order a latte.
- When you don’t want the night to end, coffee is there to help you out.
If you’re on a dinner date that’s going well, chances are you don’t want to leave right after you’ve finished your meals. There’s a weird limbo that exists right after leaving a restaurant on a first or second date, and you probably don’t want to deal with that just yet. So instead, you suggest coffee. This way, you can continue the conversation for just a little longer. It’s a solid strategy, and if your date is a coffee-lover, he or she will most likely be game.
- Coffee can be nostalgic.
For all the (lonely) Starbucks lovers out there, you know that there’s certain flavors that are associated with certain times of the year. Pumpkin spice lattes taste like autumn, and peppermint mochas are the aroma of winter break. I personally can’t drink peppermint coffee without being transported back to every morning I spent writing my senior thesis (see number two in this list). Our taste buds have a crazy way of hitting the rewind button for us, and everyone loves a good opportunity to reminisce, even unconsciously.
- Two words: coffee break
Coffee is literally an excuse to take a break from work. It’s an acceptable interruption, and perfect for those moments when you’re going absolutely crazy from staring at your computer screen. If you have a keurig near your desk, chances are you take a lot of these throughout the day.
- Coffee can facilitate romance
Perhaps the ultimate reason to love coffee – it’s an opening line. Asking someone to grab a cup of coffee is the epitome of casual, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. One cup of coffee can turn into two or three; an afternoon can become an evening. Coffee can taste like a chance at something greater. People can fall in love over coffee, which is exactly why it will forever exist as an icon of possibility. TC mark