Coffee, My Spirit Animal
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Coffee is the caffeine booster you need to get through hump day. There is no denying that, especially considering I am one of those annoying people who can’t function without coffee in the morning. But it’s also more than that. Coffee has evolved — it has become an inseparable, but also addicting, lifestyle tied with ease and familiarity. It is my best companion on this journey of life.
Every morning, I religiously wake up 10 minutes early to make espresso. Obviously to stay awake during classes, but also to set the tone for my morning. I play French café music as I prepare my drink to further set the mood for the day. Sometimes, my roommate joins me for this morning dance party. I can always count on this routine without unpredictability. Despite my need to be spontaneous, for 10 minutes every morning I settle for a scoop of coffee grounds.
Coffee is also highly personalized. Different brands also develop countless flavors of beans for my selection. If I’m making a cappuccino or latte, I can pick any kind of milk to pair with the espresso. I might be clueless about anything else that’s going on in my life, but at least I know how I like my coffee.
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Other than my personal ritual, coffee has also “infiltrated” many social elements. I once read a study that shows people who go on a first date are more likely to stay together if they went for something hot, like coffee, instead of cold, like ice cream. I was amazed. The heat from coffee naturally connects people, flickering a sense of trust and acceptance.
Whenever I meet someone who I want to get to know more, I ask them if they want to get coffee sometime. Not soda, not beer. Coffee. The inherent social aspect associated with coffee created a cultural phenomenon that belongs uniquely to coffee. In movies, the intern’s first job is always to get everyone’s coffee order right, and consequently this task leads to friendship and even romance. The possibilities go on.
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This also might just be me, but coffee after dinner hits so different, especially when it’s a date. Dessert coffee is the secret potion that flushes down everything that doesn't taste that great or calms the bloated belly. It’s the closure at the end of conversations, with a hint of good omens.
Above all, what gets me the most is when someone knows your coffee order — the intimacy is astronomical. Because it is so personally detailed, knowing your order means that someone truly reserves a place in their heart for you. And there is no better feeling in the world than that. Take notes everyone, paying attention and remembering the trivial things could go a long way.
Initially, I fell in love with coffee’s complexity of flavor. But then, I realized the process of brewing coffee is therapeutic. Shortly after, I let coffee become an inseparable part of my social lifestyle. I guess there is no backing out now.
Strike out,
Writer: Helenna Xu
Editor: Kimani Krienke
Notre Dame
