Changing coffee

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself

- Leo Tolstoy -

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I was feeling a little reflective today, prompted by someone close to me who has had a few wobbles lately. She's being challenged, feeling overwhelmed and having to step up, take the lead and do some heavy lifting. She's used to it however that doesn't make it any easier and I think it'd be nice if she caught a break.

Thinking about her led me to think about the challenges I've faced throughout my own life, many quite difficult ones, how I've dealt with them and, most importantly, how I've changed with because of them.

Changing through adversity

Can I admit to feeling I've handled adversities and the subsequent changes in myself well? It's not always been the case - that's just how life goes - but with each new challenge and change came a different set of difficulties to overcome. Fortunately, with each came a little more understanding to help with the process next time.

Life isn't just a serious of wobbly moments that force change and some just happens organically: Our tastes in music and food, how we entertain ourselves, build and nurture relationships, what we read, what excites or bores us, attracts and repels. It all changes as life moves on. Today, in my reflection I decided a coffee was required and a thought popped into my head about how much has changed even in that small regard.

Changing coffee

I can't recall the first coffee I had or exactly when I began drinking it regularly although it was in my mid-teens. It's odd thinking back as whilst coffee was popular back then it was nowhere near the mammoth culture it is today where, seemingly, there is a coffee shop on every corner and walking about with a huge cup of coffee is the in thing. I drank coffee in the morning and that was about it.

I used to drink black coffee with a teaspoon of sugar for many years. The bitter flavour being tempered somewhat by the sugar and unsullied by the addition of milk. But around the mid-1990's I added a dash of milk and wondered how I'd been so foolish as to omit it over the previous ten years or so.

I've never been one to go for the large or extra large cups or triple shots; a simple small cup and single shot was all I needed although at about that point I ramped up the single cup to two or so per day.

Around the age of thirty my life changed quite dramatically and something I'd doe for many years, an all-encompassing thing, came to a conclusion and I found so did my long black with a dash of milk. It was all about cappuccino's then, I suppose due mostly to the fact the opportunity to get them was there which wasn't always the case prior; simple coffee had been the order of the day.

I was still adding a small spoon of sugar at that point but the change to an all-milk coffee was quite a change for me. My consumption also increased as I was doing a job where coffee-shop meetings were common. But then change came again...after a trip to France and Italy where I fell in love.

A short change

The espresso captured my heart with its beguiling ways.

I can still recall my first day in France, a croissant and espresso only an hour or so after flying in; it was glorious. I fell deeply in love and the love affair continues to this day. It wasn't my first espresso of course, but there was something special about it and extending that feeling beyond the trip seemed right. It was also then, from that first day in Paris, when I stopped adding sugar and I've not added it to coffee or tea since.

But again, like real life, my coffee-life changed again.

These days I mostly drink a flat white coffee, no sugar and still just a small cup. I drink that about seventy percent of the time and an espresso on other occasions. For several years I was drinking three to four cups a day but now it's more like two to three, and usually none after late afternoon unless it's decaffeinated. I have found a nice decaffeinated espresso that I enjoy which gives the flavour without the sleepless nights.

I wonder if my coffee tastes will change again in the future. I know some who have gone off it completely actually, but I can't see that happening. I'll just roll with the changes though and enjoy the moments, come what may.

I'm someone who can drink coffee alone at a café and enjoy myself, or alternatively share the moment with a friend or small group. In fact in so many of my most valued interactions with people coffee is involved. It's like the fluid that helps lubricate the moment and makes it work better. It seems solving problems, telling tall stories about the past, doing business, or just sitting quietly watching the world pass by is that little bit better with coffee.

I wish I could share a cup with my wobbly friend from above however it's not possible right now. The coffee wouldn't actually help the problem but the coffee-moment might help show some support and solidarity I guess. A burden shared is a burdened lightened they say.

So, that's about it I guess. Feel free to share your favourite coffee below in the comments, or just comment as you please. I'd love to hear from you.