Coffee Day
Yes, I know. National Coffee Day in the US is observed in September, and the International Coffee Day is in October. Different nations have different dates for their celebration of the beloved beverage, but I’m talking about my own day that comes along about 100 times a year.
When I wake up on the weekends, I tell my wife that I’m going to have a “Coffee Day”. Obviously, I’m not going to spend the whole day drinking coffee (my doctor advised me to limit my intake to four cups a day), but I dedicate a significant part of the morning to Java.
I’m one of those who likes to grind whole beans. I pause and savor the aroma when I open the container. Some of you know that sensation. It’s a James Brown hit of dopamine. A good way to start the day.
Certain coffee mugs hold sentimental value for me. Last year, I dropped a mug that had belonged to my grandfather when he was alive. I loved drinking out of that thing. It was like a connection to him. So, yeah, I hated breaking it. I’m drinking from an old souvenir as I write this blog post. It’s a mug with the University of Arkansas Razorbacks logo printed on it. I didn’t graduate from the U of A, but my father took me to Razorback football and basketball games when I was a child during the 1970s and 1980s. Anyone who has ever lived in that state knows that it’s a huge part of the culture there. That was our thing to do, so I remember him when I use this mug. It’s almost an act of communion.
My favorite coffee is Ethiopian Yirgacheffe. I had no idea that it existed until about six years ago when a niece gave me a bag of Yirgacheffe as a gift. That’s probably the strongest connection I have to this niece: our shared love for this coffee. Give it a try if you’re looking for a light morning blend. I gravitated to dark roasts before that. The absolute best cup of coffee I ever had? It was back in 2002 on a cool, crisp fall morning at a little hole-in-the-wall I found along the highway while driving from Guadalajara, Jalisco to León, Guanajuato in Mexico. I wish I knew what brand they used. I haven’t tasted anything like it since.
The Coffee Day is a ritual for me. It’s how I start my writing sessions. A lot of my characters’ decisions are made with a coffee mug next to the keyboard. I know I’m not alone, and the ritual doesn’t apply to just writers. Coffee culture is big at my day job. Half the people have a Yeti mug in their hand when I pass them in the hallways; the other half carry little white Styrofoam cups.
We find a reverence for coffee worldwide. Sofia Rivera writes about Kaffeepause in Apartment Therapy. The Norwegian habit offers a communal take on the coffee-break concept. My first thoughts upon reading the article were, Well, we do that whenever we have family and friends over. But that’s a weekend thing, sometimes just a monthly event. What about on a daily basis? I don’t see it happening at my workplace. The nature of the job doesn’t lend itself to anything that would remotely resemble this, and that’s a shame. My job is pretty high-stress. A little koselig could go a long way.
Since I can’t commune with my colleagues, I’ll commune with my characters. I’ll commune with you, the reader…kind of like what I’m doing now: nursing a cup of Yirgacheffe, listening to Mariah, and writing to you. It’s a great way to start a day.
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