The past two times I have stayed in friends’ homes, I have made it a point in planning to ask whether they had coffee in the house or whether I needed to bring my own. I recognized that this need/desire was a high priority of mine and an essential part of my morning. I had to ask!
You could say that I am a coffee addict, and I am not ashamed to admit it. I drink less coffee than I used to drink but having a couple cups remains a major joy of my early morning.
My parents drank coffee and I thought it smelled and tasted delectable. However, true or not, mom told me it would stunt my growth and I wanted to be a tall basketball player. I didn’t start drinking coffee until I was a senior in high school and realized I was probably not going to get taller.
Although I can still drink most any coffee available to me, I gravitate to bolder and stronger blends. I am also a coffee purist–coffee and a little cream. None of these fruit flavored lattes!
Coffee is now grown worldwide. Its heritage, however, apparently comes from ancient forests on the Ethiopian plateau. The legend says a goat herder first discovered the possibilities of the beans when he noticed that when his goats ate the berries from a particular tree, they became extremely energetic and did not want to sleep at night. A monk in the area experimented with making a drink with the berries and it kept the monks alert during evening prayers. The rest, as they say, is history.
My favorite coffee shop and where I purchase all my beans is Kind Coffee in Estes Park. A former UNC-CH student in our undergraduate degree program is the owner of the shop. She believes in fair trade coffee, organic production, and the philosophy of “being kind.” The website states the Dalia Lama philosophy: BE KIND WHENEVER POSSIBLE. IT IS ALWAYS POSSIBLE.
Kind Coffee is an active member of the organization, 1% For the Planet, which is an alliance of businesses committed to leveraging their resources to create a healthier planet. Members donate at least 1% of their net revenues and believe that taking environmental responsibility is good for business.
The owner of Kind Coffee, Amy Subber Hamrick, once apologized to me that she had not gone into a traditional parks and recreation career. I can think of nothing more leisure oriented than running a socially responsible business that enables people to enjoy coffee and come together in a social setting.
Whether drinking coffee by myself in front of my computer in the early morning, or meeting friends for coffee, I am grateful for that goatherder who discovered the marvels of coffee centuries ago.
I’m with ya, sista — don’t/won’t/can’t leave the house without at least one cup of coffee in me — I’d forget where I was going! Long years ago, I decided to put the bread ingredients in my bread machine before the coffee was ready. Big mistake! I couldn’t remember how much I had/hadn’t measured into the bowl, and had to start over ;( That was the end of doing anything before I have my cup of coffee — and two is better 😉 And while I have most of my coffee at home, Kind Coffee is my choice when I’m out — go Amy!
Thanks for sharing your coffee story!
Drinking my morning coffee and reading your blog. Dark roast in compostable pods.
Good Morning!!! Looking forward to seeing you in August! Be well.
I Love this post— it is so you! 🙂 And while I don’t drink coffee, I will always delight in the smell of coffee, especially early in the morning. I wish I liked it, but I still enjoy the coffee shops and the smells that await when you enter! 🙂
I love coffee, but these interesting facts and special commentary are things I never knew and they make it so interesting and special. Thanks, Karla – ANNE.