Coffee's Frothy Goodness

Why is it that drinking coffee in a coffee shop can instantly make one feel sophisticated, informed, and very sure of him or herself?

Nothing makes me feel as aware as drinking coffee does. Sitting in some quiet little coffee shop, serenely discussing the state of the world and the purpose of life with a dear friend does something for the soul that no other beverage can come close to imitating.

It's true, however, that coffee isn't all about inner tranquility. I'd chance to say that the majority of the time, coffee is the crutch that carries us through our days, keeping us from falling asleep in class or at work, making sure we keep every moment productive.

A lot of lovely things have been said about coffee. People over the ages have praised its taste, touted it as life's driving force, and sadly, even criticized it as a vile, bitter waste. Sure, there are plenty of ways to get caffeine (and I will take a moment here to apologize to my first love - Coke - for this horrible bout of infidelity), but why argue with the 71% of Americans who choose coffee?

What is it about this wonderful drink that has us all hooked? (Besides the caffeine, of course. But really, if we're going through the withdrawal headaches, how can we appreciate the beauty of this roasted drink?)

This luscious obsession can be traced back to 9th century Ethiopia, though this all-important word didn't enter the English language until 1598 - and it's been a constant presence since.

More and more these days, however, coffee has become a specialty, and the statistics are mind-boggling. It's a far cry from the basic roasted bean of yesteryear. Now we have to combine it with sugar, cinnamon, hazelnut, chocolate - or use espresso, steamed milk, foam, flavors, tall, short, low fat, nonfat, extra hot - well, you get the point. Personally a latte, shot of Irish cream, and dollop if whipped cream suit me just fine.

And so, having worked up a thorough craving for just that and having the sudden urge to save the world one coffee shop at a time, I'll leave you with the words of Algerian scholar Abd al-Qadir:

"No one can understand the truth until he drinks of coffee's frothy goodness."