Gotta Have That Java

Ever stop to think about it? Some of our habits are so ingrained that we rarely analyze how they became such absolutes in our lives. At our house coffee in the morning is an absolute. It is as much ceremony and expected tradition as it is for the need for a caffeine jolt when we first get up.

Many of us have favorite coffee cups at home or in the office. Somehow, the coffee tastes better in that certain cup. Coffee in hand, we settle down to catch up on the day's news. It used to be newspapers; now, various online websites give us instant information. Sipping coffee, I work through my morning puzzles and answer emails. Big Guy scowls as the various games chirp or buzz to signal success or failure.

We have many options in our community for coffee experiences. You can do a quick drive-through or enjoy a coffee shop with intimate spaces to meet for business or friendship. My Jazzercise groups looks forward to the our coffee meetup after our Wednesday exercise. We catch up on our lives and trade valuable community information. Our sisterhood would not miss Wednesday coffee for anything, except maybe emergency surgery.

Legend has it that it was goat herders who first noticed that the little beans their goats were eating seemed to give them increased energy. So they tried it and the rest is history. The drinking of coffee goes back more than a thousand years. It was even mixed with fat rolled into small balls and given to warriors preparing for battle. Around the year 1000 Ethiopians fermented the coffee in water. The Arabians are credited with making it the hot drink we enjoy today.

Teddy Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States, is counted among America’s great coffee drinkers. He regularly consumed a gallon of coffee daily. Roosevelt is said to have coined the slogan, “Good to the Last Drop” after being served the coffee at Andrew Jackson’s historical Tennessee home, the Hermitage.

Musicians and artists often credit coffee for inspiration and creativity. Johann Sebastian​ Bach, the famed German composer, composed the “Coffee Cantata,” a humorous piece highlighting the public’s obsession with coffee in 18th-century Europe.

Some worry that too much coffee can be bad for you. Turns out it might even be good for you. And the more you drink, the better it is. Want a drug that could lower your risk of diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and colon cancer? The news gets better; there is some evidence that coffee may help manage asthma, stop a headache, boost a mood, and even prevent cavities.

It is difficult not to be in awe of the baristas handling the most complex orders. If you think your coffee order is complicated, just remember that somewhere out there, a barista has probably written “one-pump sugar-free caramel, half-caf, oat milk, upside-down extra-foam macchiato” on a cup with a straight face.

Our coffee in the morning is a treasured ritual. End-of-the-day rituals do not include coffee. You can fill in the blank.