bringing the world together one cup at a time?

The modern era in the United States and its cutting edge science, its practicality, its fast daily rhythms… from the outside looking in it seems that we have lost an essential element that connects us with the earth and age old traditions of our ancestors, no matter where they originated from.

Then, in steps coffee. The morning ritual that engages a cascade of sense organs from its aroma of that nutty roasted smell to the bitter and sometimes sweet taste to that warm heartfelt feeling as we clutch this vessel in our hands on a cool winter morning. This brew has captivated humans around the world, touching all economic classes, generations, philosophical tendencies and educational demographics. Whether it’s a goat herder in the middle east, a rancher in Texas, weavers and embroiderers in Mexico, school teachers around the globe, CEO’s, video gamers or bird biologists. It is a very modern drink relative to others, and here we are globally and daily partaking in the same pleasure. It’s perhaps one of the rare strands of this earthly web that connects so many in this era of diversity.

Coffee has many names, forms of drinking, ceremonies, filtrations, preparation processes and folk lore surrounding it. In Turkey it is called Sutlu kahvei, Espresso in Italy, Ca Phe Da in Vietnam, Cafe in Mexico, Kaffeost in Finland, Cafezinho in Brazil, Frappe en Greece and as you can imagine this list is immeasurable. There are a myriad of extra indulgences people like to put in their coffee as well, here in the Americas sugar and creamers are commonplace. In places like Tibet or the high mountain regions of Asia butter is added to coffee to bring much needed moisture in an extremely dry climate. MCT oils have hit the scene adding an extra punch of energy and beneficial oils to the body. A pinch of salt or a squeeze of lemon or lime for those who want to cut the bitter taste is also an age-old trick (although as a nutritionist I would argue that we need more bitter in our diet as it is the lost taste!). Adding whipped egg whites to coffee originated in Scandinavia and was later adopted by the Lutheran Church. Hey, who doesn’t want some extra protein at breakfast?  Maybe you enjoy the simple pleasure, perhaps you are more of an explorer with your tastebuds, but one thing is certain, coffee is the palate. Coffee is in all corners of the globe, bringing the world together one cup at a time.