Java

Coffee has a long history in our country. Some experts believe coffee dates back to 1668 when the Dutch brought it over to New Amsterdam (now New York). As tensions built between the colonists and the British, it became patriotic to drink coffee rather than tea. Time has healed many of those wounds and we now drink coffee because we enjoy it or, in some cases, are addicted to this daily elixir. Guilty, as charged.

As I write this post, I am waiting for friends to join me at a favorite coffee shop. A cozy fireplace is sending out waves of warmth and folks are coming, going, ordering or settling in. The clientele of a coffee shop consists of a variety of people with a variety of agendas.

An elderly gentleman dressed in camouflage pants and a baseball cap thumbs his way through a well-worn Bible. Two younger men are deep in conversation as they wade through the latest challenges in their lives. A woman is set up for business in the corner as she taps on her laptop and determinedly answers phone calls. A middle-aged man enters the shop and also prepares for business with his yellow legal pad and computer. Scattered at the tables are a few loners engrossed in phone-scrolling or reading a book.

Baristas chatter and keep their cool as they take multiple orders involving bean grinders, whizzing blenders and multiple steps for frou-frou drinks. The earthy smell of coffee permeates the room and beckons all to partake, be it frou-frou or straight black, please. Succulent plants perch silently on the window sills while a hanging fern sways gently near a vent. Artwork decorates one wall with colorful paintings by the Artist of the Month.

Contemporary coffee shops now provide a medley of drinks, food and work/relax experiences. Before the 1970's, most of our coffee was served from percolators in homes and in church basements. Words such as cappuccino, espresso and dark roast were never spoken but cream and sugar did help to fancy things up a bit. I can still see my grandfather pouring a little coffee in a saucer and ceremoniously slurping up some of his drink. It beats me why he did that but I found it entertaining while I enjoyed break time with him. I remember thinking that I would like to do that someday. The coffee part came true. Thankfully, I never graduated to slurping.

One thing that hasn't changed over the years is what a cup of coffee often symbolizes and that is time with friends and family. Much laughter and many tears have been shared while clutching a cup. Events ranging from weddings to funerals to banquets to conferences are often bathed by urns of coffee as attendees share stories and new experiences. No less important is the coffee break. My husband's very physical job was made more bearable by gallons and gallons of coffee poured out of his ever-faithful Stanley thermos. Little did he know his Stanley was going to be trendy some day.

I was blessed with several cups of coffee and tea this week with dear friends in a coffee shop, a bagel shop and, yes, even in a church basement. This time honored tradition of sharing time and a cup of coffee or tea with others is certainly worth embracing.