Coffee means different things to different people.
When I think of coffee, I think of Meg Ryan reading Pride and Prejudice at Starbucks in You've Got Mail. I think of autumn leaves. Or winters so cold that you can see your breath (even in soCal). I think of fireplaces. I think of the East Coast. I think of breakfast. I think of books for leisure. I think of delicious hazelnut, my favorite.
When I was 12, I was traumatized by Starbucks. I took a sip of my sister's frappuccino and haven't ordered a frappuccino since. Which might be why I prefer hot coffee over iced, even though fraps aren't really coffee. I'm not a big Starbucks coffee fan unless I want to look cool and it goes well with my outfit.
Coffee is personal to me.
To others, coffee means caffeine. It means staying up all night studying for an exam.
All I know is that I don't believe in all-nighters and I don't believe in caffeine in coffee. Except that two cups in one day makes me shaky and sleepy.
Still, to a vast majority of coffee-addicts and twenty-somethings that take pleasure in reading The New York Times at Starbucks (or The Los Angeles Times at Coffee Bean) on a Saturday morning, coffee means catching up.
I ran into someone today who told me we should get coffee sometime, and I knew it meant catching up (though we don't have much catching up to do because we don't really know each other).
I wondered if he even knew I drank coffee. In fact, a lot of people hate coffee. Some large percentage within the 34% of Americans who don't drink coffee probably hate it. I didn't even like coffee until I started college.
And what does coffee really mean to him anyway? I know what it means to me. It means New York. It means change and maturity.
Maybe it means we are both here on this side of the country when we both started off on that side of the country and he wanted to catch up. Maybe he's miserable here while I'm still always fascinated that God has placed me here with such a geniously different population that I can't help but to fall in love with.
I don't know a lot of people who follow through with these kind of coffee-catching-up-session suggestions anyway. Sometimes I wish they wouldn't. That way, coffee would still mean one thing to me, and whatever it means to him, forever.
Ever since Friends, I've been obsessed over finding that kind of homey-couch feel where you could sit for hours talking the world away with people you genuinely enjoy being around.
ReplyDeleteI never felt that from any coffee place. I feel even with the couches at Starbucks, things feel too rushed.
I have felt this affection for diners though. I don't know if you have diners in California but they're these little restaurants often open 24/7 that serve you amazing American classics in large portions.
I like being called hon by the waitress :D
-Josh
great post. one of my favorites. to some people, coffee is just having something in your hand. can i do a response post to your post? :)
ReplyDelete"Maybe he's miserable here while I'm still always fascinated that God has placed me here with such a geniously different population that I can't help but to fall in love with."
probably the best elizabeth lee sentence i've ever read.
50!!!
ReplyDeletei don't really drink coffee anymore - it has a late but long lasting effect on me.
ReplyDeleteand it makes my stomach turn.
tea's my preferred beverage.
i think it's funny that it's universally known that "to have a coffee" either means to catch up or to go on a day-date.
Elizabeth, this has got to be one of the most lovely posts I've read, and I've got to say I love it. Probably one of my favorite posts by you.
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree with you completely.
Maybe because of the season but as soon as winter comes along one of the first things I do is get coffee. I don't even drink coffee on a regular basis but as soon as it gets cold I can't wait to go into starbucks. It's the feeling I get when I sip on the sweet/bitter taste and I feel so refreshed and know that finally winter is here.
Btw, who made that rule of "lets get coffee" to be correlated to "lets catch up" anyways? I feel like it's empty, like when people ask how are you... but they don't really care... haha.
aw, this post makes me want to get coffee RIGHT NOW. i'm not a big fan of starbucks coffee either (dunkin donuts is far superior/cheaper!) but the place still lures me in with its seasonal treats and lovely soundtracks and overall warmth.
ReplyDeletecoffee IS starting to have a negative correlation with all-nighters.. but on the flipside, it's also something to look forward to in the mornings! i became a full-on coffee fiend this summer b/c the kind that they had in my office was freakishly delicious and was all i would think about during my commute.
let's get coffee sometime :) FO'REALZ
Lovely. Not surprised.
ReplyDeleteGreat read. Not surprised.
josh: i DO know what a diner is -____- but we don't have cool rundown diners. must go to a downtown/city for that, but i have been to one in denver and it's a great place for late night talks.
ReplyDeletebtw i'm going to open up a coffee shop/clothing store/music haven one day so you can come there. i think we'll have the atmosphere you want. i'll let you know when the opening is.
jennifer: i think you make me big headed. so stop. BUT, yes, i'd LOVE to read about your response to this!
simon: i know, but i don't think i'm gonna do the entry thing because no one is asking me questions. it's like they're waiting for someone else to ask me questions, but they should be the ones asking me! it's like that theory where everyone hears the gunshot and the screaming but no one calls 911. lame.
ralphie: such an aussie.
jihee: thank you :) i wish WE could get coffee. why didn't we when i was in denver?
sarah: omg LET'S!! perhaps after thanksgiving break? i forgot to mention in my post that when i think of coffee, i also think of sarah lee in new york city walking to work with a starbucks cup in her hand ;)
stephen: vy thank ya.
let's get coffee sometimes eliza.
ReplyDeletei dont think we've ever done it ohhoho.
or coffee flavored bubble tea? :)
I remember getting a frap once, but I don't think I remember how it tastes.
ReplyDelete"When I think of coffee, I think of Meg Ryan reading Pride and Prejudice at Starbucks in You've Got Mail." gives me a very similar thought. Not related to coffee, however.
When I think of delis, I think of Summer Finn reading The Picture of Dorian Gray in (500) Days of Summer.
u mean the bystander effect? you should just call out certain people to give you questions. This would:
ReplyDelete1) Allow you to have questions to answer
2) Have people feel honored to be mentioned in your blog
That's strange, since I started drinking fraps on the way to becoming a coffee-addict. I consider them the gateway coffee drink.
ReplyDeleteReading this post was a lovely break from EEE. Spanks, Eliza! :)
One of my favorite posts (:
ReplyDeletePS There could also be a feeling of not being able to think of a question interesting enough for you. HAHA.
yoojy: sounds like a plan :)
ReplyDeletestanley: ah, 500 days of summer. the contemporary romantic romance that didn't work. and summer finn. the quirky girl that doesn't exist in real life. great movie ;)
simon: YES. that's what it's called. but no, i won't take your suggestion.
angela: no, spank you ;)
anon: thank you!! i would appreciate any question...but now i'm just gonna forget i even said i would do that. no one cares :'(