The Romance of Coffee

There are two beverages which elicit quite a bit of romance: wine and coffee. I can't think of other beverages which can cause people to wax poetic or philosophical. The story of the origins of coffee is even romanticized. An Ethiopian goat herder named Kaldi stumbled upon his goats munching on coffee berries. Upon seeing how energized they became he too ate the berries, which later were developed into the coffee we now drink.

In addition to an exotic origin story set in Ethiopia, the history of coffee has been littered with stories of sea faring traders in far away lands, introduction to royalty and clergy, and claims of the Turks developing such a strong drink, that none other could equal(Turkish Coffee). Explorers would carry coffee on their journeys and introduce it to new societies. The past if filled with romantic notions of coffee.

The present has its share of coffee romantic moments. For generations a kindly coffee grower and his burro were shown in television ads bringing coffee to the people. Mrs. Olsen could be depended on to giver motherly advice over a cup of Folgers. Instant coffee brought neighbors together as a romantic couple. Every Christmas, coffee greets a family waking up to find their son has returned to the fold.

If you look at various coffee company websites, you see photos of exotic coffee lands or inviting shots of coffee and espresso drinks. When you go into a coffee house, many baristas dazzle you with latte art, which lends more romance to the cup you are about to drink.

When people describe coffees, you see words like: bright, warm, hints of chocolate, or cherry like flavor. Coffee even smells romantic. Go to a roaster and inhale. The first time I watched a roaster, I too fell under the spell of the coffee. It smelled like Heaven.

When people look at opening coffeehouses, their heads are full of romantic notions of a warm meeting place, a center where people come together to join in coffee. Home roasters want to duplicate the wonders of coffee they have experienced with their creations.

Yes, coffee is full of romance, and that's a good thing. Our wine drinking compadres may think they have the corner on the romance market, but coffee is there, and waiting to seduce you as well.

Charlie