The Magical Powers of Coffee

It’s the most beautiful day of the year: National Coffee Day!!

As I am sitting here enjoying a beautiful cup of hazelnut coffee, I reminisce about all the cups of coffee I have drank over the years.

I do not recall the exact date of my first sip of coffee, but I do remember that is was sometime in between middle school and high school.

Coffee had always intrigued me. From a young age, I observed it as a “magic potion” that would give people unlimited energy. And me, being an overachieving adolescent, wanted to have more time in the day to be productive (just like the adults).  

One day, I watched from the breakfast table as my mother poured cream and sugar into her coffee and my dad drank his coffee straight black.  It was in that moment that I decided I wanted to drink coffee for the rest of my life.

My mother poured a cup of the brown liquid and sat it in front of me on the dining table. I remember her asking me if I wanted any cream or sugar. But I said no because I decided I could be my father’s daughter and drink my coffee black.

I don’t know why I thought drinking my first cup of coffee without cream or sugar was a good idea. But it wasn’t.

I took one sip and made a disgusted face towards my dad. He gave me a look of pure enjoyment as he watched his youngest daughter’s face go from happiness to pure bitterness.

I was not expecting coffee to taste hot and gross. For some reason, I thought coffee was supposed to taste warm and sweet, like hot chocolate. I swallowed the gulp and then passed my full cup over to my dad to finish.

I was defeated by the adult “magic potion.”

I decided I would never drink coffee again! Never again!

But then I grew older and became a Junior in high school and gained a best friend named Katie.

Katie and Kristen enjoy
Starbucks 

Katie is a spunky, determined human-being and she brought coffee back into my life. After school we would go to our local coffee shop, get coffee and then talk about everything. 

I fell in love with Frappuccino’s because of her.

As we began to hangout more, I began to become a “social” coffee drinker. I would only drink the fancy coffees from coffeehouses but not my parent’s coffee at home.  However, that all changed when I moved in with my roommate during my freshman year of college.

Jackie is a caring, lovable human-being (she is often referred to as the “mom” in our friend group).

I thought it was strange she brought a coffeemaker to college.  I had never met someone that loved coffee so much that they had to have it in the room with them at all times.

It was a cold day in November, I was writing a paper for my Civic Engagement class and Jackie was reading her science fiction book.  Jackie turned to me with a smile and she said “Would you like a cup of coffee? I can make a pot for us.”

I felt obligated as her roommate to accept this kind gesture and so I accepted.  However, little did I know that my life was about to turn upside down.  

Jackie and Kristen take
Chicago.  

Before Jackie handed me my cup of coffee, she asked if I would like some caramel macchiato creamer.  I once again accepted.

I took my first drink of Jackie’s coffee and I fell in love faster than the time it takes for a hot drink to burn someone’s tongue.

It was then that I found my “magic potion.”

I would then go on to ask Jackie to make a pot of coffee at least 50 times a week. I think it was after the 5^th time of me asking that I think Jackie regretted ever offering me coffee. 

Now, I am a Junior in college.  I am a “social” and an “individual” coffee drinker. I like to drink my fancy coffees from coffeehouses and I like to drink coffee that I make at home.

But coffee is more than just a “magical potion” that helps me function on a daily basis. It is also a “magical potion” that brought me close to some of my best friends.

I gained a best friend out of Katie because of coffee. While we were drinking our coffees, we would spill our secrets to each other, laugh over our awkward junior high selves, stalk people on Facebook and so much more. In a crazy and cheesy way, coffee dates with Katie are what kept me sane throughout high school. 

Because of coffee I was also able to bond with my first (and only) college roommate. There were countless times where Jackie would put on a pot of coffee and we would chat about classes and life. In fact, just last week I went over to Jackie and Michaela’s apartment to have coffee and study (however the studying quickly turned into talking).

When your coffee is emotionally
deeper than you 

Coffee has more significance than just a beverage, it’s something that brings people together.

Since today is National Coffee Day, I highly encourage you to grab some friends and go on a coffee date. Life can get crazy busy. But that is why we need to stop and smell the coffee and enjoy coffee dates with our friends.  

USA Today has an awesome article that talks about all the deals you can get on coffee throughout the country.