My Morning Cup of Coffee

I believe in my morning cup of coffee. You may find that to be a menial belief; but like this essay and my fundamental convictions, coffee does not need to be fancy. Yes, I like the occasional $4 jumpstart to my day, but my true happiness is found in run-down, grease-soaked diners and forgotten gas stations. That is how I grew up, and that is what I am used to. But that is what’s great about a cup of coffee: it can be what you want it to be – cheap or expensive, fast or slow, in-bed or on-the-go, with old friends or while making new ones.

The amazing power of coffee is how one trace hint of the stuff can propel you immediately to your past. When I smell coffee, my mind races back to weekend mornings in eastern Kentucky. I would jump out of bed and find my dad sipping out of his “I love my dad” mug on the back porch just waiting for the dew to evaporate. It kicks me back to summers spent at my grandparents’ house where I would diligently inform my nana that Papaw was ready for his morning cup of coffee, please. And more recent in time, the aroma sends me to freshman year of college when finishing my chemistry homework at a reasonable hour became out of the question – the year I first became dependent on my morning cup of coffee. Coffee is not all about recounting memories, but also making memories.

I can confidently say that the best conversations in my life have happened over a cup of coffee – falling in love, deals made, recapping the crazy night before, favors asked. When it comes down to it, coffee serves as the warm, soothing elixir for appreciating the little things in life and those around you. It is a cure-all for life’s small, insignificant troubles that we stress so much over. There is nothing in the morning that I look forward to as much as my cup of Eight O’clock – with a splash of hazelnut creamer, of course. It is this moment in the early hours that I truly take the time for inward reflection and focus – to enjoy and be content with life’s simple pleasures.

Perhaps what I enjoy more than a cup of coffee itself is the ability to allow myself to slow down – at least for a few minutes. Yes, coffee enables you to kick it into high gear, pull all-nighters, and feel invincible; but it also allows you to catch up with friends, warms you up on a cold day, and accompanies you on lazy Saturday mornings. In this era where time is of the essence and deadlines are always approaching, it is essential for me to take the time to step back and look at the big picture of things: what I am working towards, what makes me happy, and what doesn’t. It is even better if these thoughts are shared with loved ones. Essentially, I believe in leaving behind the daily grind; because once you stop rushing through life, you will be amazed at how much more life you have time for. I believe in my morning cup of coffee (or two or three).