Coffee

I love coffee. In my social media profile pictures (see above), I’m holding a tiny cup of espresso and smiling. Mmmm. Coffee. I remember that espresso. It was wonderful.

I’m not a morning person, and I’m basically a zombie until I have my morning coffee. I drink it, I wake up, and I’m happy. I love coffee. And I’m not a coffee snob either. I’ll drink any kind of coffee, as long as it’s got milk or a fake-milk product in it.

If it’s coffee, it makes me happy

Many years ago, I lived with my in-laws for a few months while we sold one house and bought another, and my husband defended his dissertation and drove all our stuff across the country. I had an infant who wouldn’t sleep longer than two hours at a stretch and a four year old who didn’t nap.

My in-laws drank instant coffee in the morning. I did too. Instant coffee. With a little of my father-in-law’s non-dairy, Irish cream creamer. Mmmm. Blurry eyed, nauseous from lack of sleep. Instant coffee made me happy.

What I Drink Now

I’ll drink instant coffee and enjoy it, but that doesn’t mean I don’t recognize a truly superior coffee. (Note smile on face, above, with cup of Parisian cafe espresso).

In December, I got a French press and my husband got a milk frother, so we now make superb coffee at home. Mmmm. It makes me so happy. I pour a generous amount of skim milk into my mug, microwave for 30 seconds, whisk the milk frothy, and pour in the wonderful French press coffee. Happy.

Doing Good in the World

I buy free-trade, sustainably grown coffee. It isn’t hard to find in most American grocery stores. Although it might be slightly more expensive, it is worth it to support sustainability and to pay workers a fair wage. Here is central Wisconsin, Liberation Farms is a good source of sustainable, free-trade coffee.  Doing good in the world. That makes me happy too.

What makes you happy?