The scent of coffee

The scent of coffee...fresh ground, fresh brewed. The elixir that bonds us in so many ways. Memories arise - do you remember where you were the first time you caught the scent of coffee? Who were you with? What feelings are evoked?

What about the first time you tasted it? And I mean really tasted it. How it hooked you in with its bitter sweetness, caffeine kick. The gentle buzz that gets one going and ready to face whatever is coming. Turning itself into a regular part of the morning routine.

Coffee grown worldwide can trace its heritage back centuries to the ancient coffee forests on the Ethiopian plateau. There, legend says the goat herder Kaldi first discovered the potential of these beloved beans.

The story goes that that Kaldi discovered coffee after he noticed that after eating the berries from a certain tree, his goats became so energetic that they did not want to sleep at night.

Kaldi reported his findings to the abbot of the local monastery, who made a drink with the berries and found that it kept him alert through the long hours of evening prayer. The abbot shared his discovery with the other monks at the monastery, and knowledge of the energizing berries began to spread.

- from the National Coffee Association

This humble little bean - technically the pit - that creates community and is so entwined in so many cultures. Beginning the day. Providing an excuse for conversation. Connecting people in the afternoon. Transitioning from work to play. Getting fired up for the night life. Espresso. Turkish. Vietnamese. Cappuccino. Brew. Kaffeost. Drip. Frappe. Pour over. Café latte. Americano. Irish. Flat white. Long Black. Coffee. So many moments and stories shared around a simple cup of coffee. People brought together from all walks of life. New friends made, even if just for a moment.

“How you want your coffee?” she asked her guests. “Here we take it black as night, sweet as sin.” - from American Gods by Neil Gaiman

We go for coffee to connect - even when we go out alone. There's a unique atmosphere that the coffee shop offers. A sense of community that invites interaction alongside the solo individual reading the morning paper alongside the writer in the corner alongside the loud laughter of friends alongside the introverted people watcher. A sense of belonging for those who may not "fit in" with society otherwise. The rich beside the poor. The eccentric beside the tame. The silent among the loud.

A multitude of degrees have been supported by caffeine and free Wi-Fi. Countless novels begun and finished in the back corners of local cafés. The community hub. A place to get the latest news and gossip. A place to disappear for a while - tucked in a corner, just observing. A place to be known - when the barista knows what you want, has your drink ready before you reach the counter and greets you by name you have become a regular. A place to just be. No expectations. No facades necessary.

I like my sugar with coffee and cream - Beastie Boys

The simple pleasure of that first sip of that perfect cup of java. Made just the way you like it. The flavours playing across your tongue. The heat headed down to your belly. Warming everything along the way. Feeling the mug in your hands, seeing galaxies in the swirl of cream, and tuning into the sounds around you. Integrating all the senses. Beautiful presence.

She only drinks coffee at midnight, when the timing is not right. - Train, Meet Virginia

Welcoming the pause. The break. Tuning fully in to this moment. Right here. Right now. Present. Nothing else matters. We are here. Separate. Together. Connected. Interconnected. The humble coffee bean bringing us into oneness as we are surrounded by the scent of coffee.